we cut away the creepers, sometimes crawling
under the trees, sometimes climbing over the stems which bent across our
course. Once more we saw the summit of the hill. It appeared much
higher than we at first supposed it to be. At length we were rewarded
for our exertions by finding that we were actually ascending the side.
On we went, the underwood becoming less dense as we rose higher and
higher. We now had little difficulty in making our way, the trees and
shrubs indeed assisting us in climbing the steep sides. When, however,
we got to the top, we found that what we had supposed to be small shrubs
were, in reality, large trees, covering it so thickly that the view on
every side was shut out.

"I am afraid we have had all our toil for nothing," I observed.

"I am afraid so, too," said Oliver.

"Stay, Massa Walter," observed Macco. "I climb to top of dis tree, and
den see what I can see."

He pointed to the lofty palm under which we were standing. Descending a
little way, he cut a quantity of creepers, which he soon twisted into a
strong hoop round the tree and his own body. He now began, by placing
the hoop a little way above him and leaning back, to climb upwards, and
with wonderful rapidity reached the summit. We asked him what he saw.

"We on good big island!" he shouted out. "Plenty of wood; but no see
water. Dere oder islands." And then pointing to the south-east, he
cried out,--"Dere more land, long, long away dere!"

"Do you make out any vessel?" I asked.

"No; only prow go away to de south."

"That must be the coast of New Guinea," I observed to Oliver. "I only
hope none of the inhabitants may come over to this island, for they are
terrible savages."

"If they come, we must keep out of their way," said Oliver. "It would
be better to remain here than to be carried off and eaten by them."

Macco, having ended his survey, descended the tree. I tried to get up
the same way, wishing to take a look round myself; but I found that,
though not a bad climber, I could not manage it. Seeing no great use in
persisting in the attempt, I gave it up. We could find no other way
down to the shore, besides the one up which we had come. Having cleared
away some impediments, we had less difficulty in returning than we had
found in going upwards. Macco led; indeed, his knowledge of woodcraft
in his native country was of great service to us, for I believe without
him we should very easily have lost our