roof of green branches,
resting upon rows of columns. Some of the perpendicular shoots had not
yet reached the ground, others had just taken root, and were slender and
flexible, while many of the older ones rivalled the parent stem in size,
and could not easily be distinguished from it.

While we rested here, a pair of the little brown songsters alighted
among the branches of the "banyan," and entertained us with a vocal
performance, in which they took up the strain alternately, responding to
each other, and occasionally uniting in a chorus.

Max now declared himself savagely hungry, and commenced exploring the
neighbourhood in search of something eatable. But no fruit-bearing
trees were to be found, and he returned from his foraging expedition
protesting that the country was a perfect desert, and declaring that he
for one would not proceed a step farther until he took up the line of
march for home. We were all of the opinion that we had done enough for
one day, and it was agreed that, after resting ourselves a short time,
we should commence our return.

Meantime, Arthur caught sight of some trees upon a ridge of land a short
distance further up the stream, whose foliage resembled, as he thought,
that of the "auti," or cloth plant. Saying that he would return in a
few moments, he walked along the west bank of the brook in the direction
of the ridge, followed by Johnny and Eiulo, who seemed as animated and
unwearied as ever. Presently they turned a bend in the stream, and we
lost sight of them. For lack of more interesting occupation, I began to
count the stems of the grove-tree. There were seventeen, of large size,
and a great number of smaller ones. Max discovered a deep pool at the
lower end of the islet, in which were a number of fish, marked like
yellow perch: and as he had a fishing-line of Eiulo's manufacture, in
his pocket he amused himself by angling, using wood-beetles for bait.
Morton and Browne hunted up four flat stones, and commenced pitching
quoits.

After half an hour passed in these various ways, we began to wonder at
Arthur's long delay, and to grow impatient for his return. I had
counted every stem of the banyan-fig, great and small. Max had become
quite disgusted with angling for fish, which were too wary, or too
well-fed, to favour him with even a nibble. Browne, after being beaten
for five successive games, had very naturally lost his interest in the
sport, and tossed his quoits into