ainst
the "skeeters."

"But," still objected Lawrence, "how can you lay your head on your
pillow with such a thing--beg pardon, such a veil on?"

"Nuffin easier, massa."

He illustrated his point by rolling over into one of the nearest
hammocks--which had already been hung--and laying his head down, when,
of course, the machine bulged away from his black face, and the
discomfited millions kept thrusting their probosces--and, doubtless,
making faces at him--ineffectually.

"But how if you should want to roll about in your sleep?" asked Pedro.

"_Don't_ want to roll about in your sleep!" replied the negro, curtly.

It is right to say that, in spite of the advice thus firmly given,
Quashy _did_ roll in his sleep that night, with the result that his nose
at last got close to the veil and pressed against it. No malignant foe
ever took advantage of an enemy's weak point more promptly than did the
"skeeters" of Quashy's nocturnal trumpet. They settled on its point
with a species of triumphant hum. They warred with each other in their
bloodthirsty desire to seize on the delicate but limited morsel. It was
"cut and come again"--at least it was "cut away and let others come
on"--as long as the chance lasted. And the consequence was that Quashy
rose next morning with two noses! His natural nose being a mere lump of
fat and the lump raised on it being much the same in form and size with
the original, we feel justified in saying that he had two noses--nearly.

Notwithstanding, it is but fair to add that the veils were afterwards
pronounced a great success.

But to return.

That night, after the veils in question had been made and put on by all
except Tiger, who was skeeto-proof, and the happy wearers were steeped
in blissful repose, a tremendous hurricane burst upon them, with
thunder, lightning, and rain. The wind came in furious gusts which tore
away some of the veils, overturned the hammocks, scattered the bedding,
extinguished the fire, drenched them to the skin, and otherwise rendered
them supremely miserable.

Retiring to a thicker part of the jungle, they cut down branches and
made a temporary erection which they covered with ponchos and blankets;
but as everything had to be done in the dark, it was a wretched affair,
and, at the best, only a partial protection. Into the furthest
extremity of this hut poor Manuela crept. The others followed, and
there they all sat or reclined, shivering, till morning.