"Gentlemen," said Mr Thudicumb, "on board the _Bussorah Merchant_ we
always used to have morning prayers when the weather permitted, and,
with your leave, we will have them now. We have plenty to pray for, and
much to be thankful for. We should be thankful we have escaped the
dangers from which so many of our fellow-creatures have suffered, and
that we are all alive and well; and we need to pray that a stronger arm
than ours may fight for us, should we be attacked by those fierce and
ignorant savages."

"Very right," said Mr Hooker, "and I am sure all will agree with you."

Mr Sedgwick, however, made no remark. He had never said anything
against religion; but I had observed, since we first found him, that he
did not appear to be in any way under its influence. However, as he did
not object, Mr Thudicumb forthwith produced a Bible which he had found
in the cabin of the brig uninjured. He now read a portion of Scripture,
and then offered up an earnest prayer for our deliverance. I know I for
one felt more cheerful after it, and so I am sure did Emily and Grace,
while a tear stood in Oliver's eye. He had entered more than any of us,
with all his heart, into the simple prayer of the untutored sailor.
Watch was, of course, kept meantime by one of the party, and we then in
good spirits went to breakfast, having lighted our fire as before in the
pit, making as small a one as possible, so as not to allow the smoke to
be seen at a distance.

Once more Tanda went out as a scout to try and ascertain what the
pirates were about. Soon after he had gone, we were aroused by a loud
squeaking which seemed to come from the wood at the bottom of the hill.
It sounded exactly like the cry of a pig. Oliver and I offered to go
down and ascertain what it was. I was starting without any arms, and
had got to the gate, when it occurred to me that I might as well take a
fowling-piece. I ran back for it, and Oliver and I then set forward
down the hill. The squeaking sound increased for a little time, and
then ceased. We had, however, marked the place from whence it had come.
We were making our way through the forest, when Oliver seized my arm.

"Stop, Walter," he exclaimed; "not a step further! See, see!" There,
at the foot of a large tree, with its tail coiled round an upper branch,
its body circling the trunk, was a huge python. Our uncle's pet,
compared to it, was a mere pigmy. It was pressing with its enormous
body a large