er
mias might appear. In vain we scanned the horizon. No sail appeared,
no object which we could even mistake for the boat, and with sad hearts
we returned to the house. The sun had just set. As we were coming
along the path to the house, we saw some large creatures moving about in
the air with a peculiar motion unlike birds. Going a little way we saw
two more, and then another couple appeared. Oliver raised his gun and
fired, when down fell a huge creature which looked like a quadruped with
wings. Though unable to fly, it began to defend itself bravely, and
Oliver had to give it several severe blows before he could venture to
touch it. "It will be a prize to Mr Sedgwick, whatever it is," he
observed, fastening a line round the animal's neck. He dragged it up to
the house, and when we brought it up to the light we found that it was a
huge bat. The Frau, when she saw it, declared that it was a flying-fox.
Mr Sedgwick, however, said it was really a bat, and when he measured
it he found that is was four feet six inches from tip to tip of its
wings. Oliver said it looked quite like an antediluvian animal. Mr
Hooker said he had often seen them; that one day he found one hanging to
the bough of a tree with its head downwards. He fired several shots
before the creature would release its crooked claws from the bough to
which it held. Tanda proposed skinning and cooking it, saying it was
good to eat. However, Grace and I begged that we might not be asked to
sup upon it, as the appearance of the animal was far from tempting. Mr
Hooker called the creature Oliver had shot a _Pteropus_.

Although, through the industry of my uncle and Tanda, we were well
supplied with vegetable food, we were greatly in want of meat. He
therefore invited Oliver to accompany him on an expedition to shoot wild
ducks on a lagoon at some distance. He advised us, during their
absence, to keep within sight of the house, or at all events not to go
far from it. Ursula begged that Merlin should remain with us.

"Yes, yes," said my uncle: "he might act as a retriever for us; at the
same time, I dare say, we can do without him, and he will serve as your
guard, and a very faithful one he seems to be."

I do not know why, but I felt rather anxious about my uncle and Oliver
when they set out. I could not help thinking of the serpents and wild
beasts they might encounter. They were going also to a district where
crocodiles abounded. I was mor