ot where he had
located himself. He had been unable to do so, as directly he began to
collect his menagerie it was necessary for him to remain to attend to
his animals. He was also unwilling to go far from the coast, lest, a
vessel passing, he might lose the opportunity of getting on board her.
This had kept him week after week, and month after month, within a few
miles of the shore. He was now, however, very glad to make the proposed
expedition.

Mr Hooker and the mate were sufficiently recovered to move about the
house and to take short walks in the neighbourhood. The girls were both
very anxious to go also, but the Frau strongly objected to their doing
so.

"Suppose we meet snakes, or wild beasts, or savages?" she asked. "Oh
no, no, Frauline Emily and Grace. You must stop and take care of Mr
Hooker and poor Mr Thudicumb. What they do without you?"

We were much amused at the Frau's anxiety, because we suspected that she
supposed if they went she would have to go also, and for this she had no
fancy. She was a very good nurse, and a very good cook; but she took
little interest in beautiful scenery or in natural history.

"We will take very good care of the young ladies if you like to remain
behind," said our uncle. "We can easily make some litters to carry
them, should they be tired, and we will leave you to assist in
garrisoning our castle."

"Oh, but I not like to lose sight of them," she answered; and indeed she
was afraid that they might meet with some accident, or suffer from the
hardships of the journey.

They, however, pleaded their cause so well, that at length it was
arranged they were to go with us.

"I have read that Lady Raffles accompanied her husband, Sir Stamford, in
many of his excursions through Sumatra and other islands of these seas,
and I do not see why we should be afraid of any of the hardships which
she had to go through," observed Emily.

We now busied ourselves in making preparations for our journey. Our
party consisted of our uncle as leader, Oliver and I, Dick Tarbox, Roger
Trew, and Potto Jumbo. Merlin evidently understood that we were going
on an expedition, and wagged his tail and looked up in my face as if to
ask if he might accompany us. First he went to one, and then to
another, making the same request.

"If you can spare him, Hooker, we will take him," observed my uncle.
"He seems so well trained, that I think he will not range too widely and
disturb our game."