e girls with more openness and candour than civility, expressed
their horror of a black cook, Winny had endeavoured to soften the matter
as much as possible, declaring that even if he had a black face he had
whiter teeth than anybody else, and she was sure that if he could he
would have washed himself long ago, "Besides," she ended, "he is so kind
and gentle, that I am sure his mind and soul are white." Benjie
understood quite enough to make him Winny's slave for life.

He soon returned to us with some enormous gourds. The girls jumped up in
delight, and Gatty seizing hold of one, attempted to carry it--suddenly
she uttered a shriek, dropped her gourd, and ran behind us all; a large
green lizard peeped out of a hole in the gourd, and peering about for a
few moments, finally crawled out, followed by innumerable little ones,
who disappeared like magic in the grass. Nothing would induce Gatty to
touch the gourd again, Benjie soon scooped one out, and, putting green
leaves inside, filled it with grapes, and, covering the hole with some
strong shiny green leaves, gathered from a tree close by, he gave a
shout, using his favourite word "Hi!" Not only did the sky become dark
with the clouds of birds which arose at that unearthly cry, but various
noises in the bushes made us huddle together in fear and alarm. However,
it effected his object, and we could see them eagerly, and apparently in
alarm, looking up from below. Benjie showed every tooth in his head,
and, swinging his gourd round and round, he sent it bounding down from
point to point, until it fell as if on purpose, nearer to little Winny
than any of the other spectators. Nevertheless, as might be expected,
Benjie's "pie-grape" was somewhat damaged in its descent. We, however,
sent them some more, and a note inside one, to say we were all merry and
well, and greeted them right lovingly.

It was now time to move on, Smart took Oscar up and seated him on his
shoulders, saying, "Now, Sir, keep watch up there, and if you see
anything coming just let me know, and, particklarly, a beere, Sir, I
have a notion I should like to kill a beere ere I die." Oscar promised
faithfully, and added, "But I shall not tell you of an elephant, as I
want to shoot that myself." "As you please, Sir," said the willing
Smart, "but I will keep my gun ready in case you misses him."

The point we were aiming for was the highest part of the island;
hitherto we had great difficulty in forcing our way