of the
cabin window showed that the brig's stern was in mid-stream, with the
muddy water turned to ruddy gold by the rising sun, in whose rays the
current flashed and looked glorious beyond the power of words to paint.
The banks of trees which dipped their boughs right into the stream,
instead of looking mysteriously black, were also glowing with colour,
and in several parts full of moving life, as birds of brilliant hues
flitted from bough to bough, and an excited company of active monkeys
swung themselves here and there in their eagerness to get a view of the
strange object which had invaded their forest home.

It was settled at once over breakfast that a boat should be manned
directly after the meal, so that a landing might be effected on one or
the other shore, the forest promising endless attractions for the
naturalists.

"All right, gentlemen," said Captain Banes; "the boat shall be ready,
for there isn't a breath of air this morning."

"Why do you speak like that?" said Sir Humphrey, noting the captain's
manner. "What has the wind to do with it?"

"Only that if there was a breeze I should advise you to take advantage
of it and go on up the river, for you'll do no good here except by
shooting from the boat."

"Oh, but we must land and go up country a bit," cried Brace.

"It isn't to be done, squire," said the captain. "Take your glass when
you go on deck, and you'll see that the forest is all one tangle,
through which you'd have to cut your way, unless you can find a creek
and pole the boat along among the trees."

"There must be a creek in yonder," said Briscoe, "where we heard that
great alligator splashing."

"Well, try, gentlemen," said the captain, smiling; "there's nothing done
without: only don't go and overdo it, for you'll find it terribly hot
and steamy under the trees."

"I'll see to that," said Sir Humphrey quietly; and soon after, well
provided with arms and ammunition, the party stepped into the boat, the
men dropped their oars into the water with a splash, and in an instant
there was a tremendous eddy and a little wave arose, showing the course
made by some startled inhabitant of the river--fish or reptile, probably
the latter, disturbed from where it had lain in the shadow of the brig.

"Might have had a shot if the water had been clear," said Brace
excitedly. "I've got ball in one barrel."

"Good plan," said Briscoe, "for you never know what you may see next.
I'd keep an eye upwar