and pointed with a look of triumph to the clear, deep pool. At the
moment a smile of intelligence lit up Paul's features, and he pointed to
the extemporised fly-hook which still dangled from the bank.

Bursting into a hearty fit of laughter, the successful fisher ran up to
the encampment, swinging the trout round his head, to the surprise and
great satisfaction of his father, who had already got the fire alight
and the rabbit skinned.

Need it be said that the meal which followed was a hearty one, though
there was no variety save roast rabbit, roast trout, and roast pork,
with the last of the cakes as pudding?

"A first-rate dinner!" exclaimed Paul, after swallowing a draft of
sparkling water from the stream.

"Not bad," admitted Captain Trench, "if we only had something stronger
than water to wash it down."

Paul made no reply to this remark, but he secretly rejoiced in the
necessity which delivered his friend from the only foe that had power to
overcome him.

"Now," remarked Paul, when he had finished dinner, "I will strengthen my
bow before starting, for it does not send the arrows with sufficient
force, and the only way to do that, that I can think of, is to shorten
it."

"And I will feather the last arrow I made," said Oliver, drawing the
shaft in question out of his quiver.

"Well, as my bow and bolts are all ship-shape and in perfect order, I
will ramble to the top of the ridge before us and take a look out
ahead."

So saying the captain departed, and the other two were soon so deeply
absorbed in their work and in conversation about future plans that they
had almost forgotten him when a loud shout caused them to start up. On
looking towards the ridge they beheld Captain Trench tossing his arms
wildly in the air, and shouting and gesticulating violently.

"Sees savages, I think," said Paul.

"Or gone mad!" cried Olly.

Catching up their arms, the two ran hastily to the top of the ridge,
where they arrived perspiring and panting, to find that their excitable
comrade had only gone into ecstasies about the magnificent scenery that
had burst upon his sight.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

BEAUTIFUL SCENES AND STRANGE EXPERIENCES.

And, truly, the scene which met their gaze was of a nature calculated to
arouse enthusiasm in a much less ardent bosom than that of Captain
Trench. A wide undulating country, studded with lakelets and rich with
verdure, stretched away from their feet to the horizon, where a rang