t liking his looks, started back,
and it was some time before they could be persuaded to pat him on the
head. Although Janet called Jumper and Bruce to accompany them, the
latter only obeyed; the former bounded towards the house.

"The rogue has gone to see what he can get in the kitchen; if he can
catch Biddy off her guard, he'll snatch up anything he can find, and be
away with it," observed Mary.

The menagerie was in the flower-garden, where several of their pets
which could not be allowed to remain at liberty were confined. Among
the prettiest was a flying squirrel, a little animal with beautiful fur,
its legs united by a membrane which enables it to float from the
treetops to the ground without injury, then to run up the trunk of
another, once more to descend, and thus make its way along. Poor little
"Fussy!" its habits were nocturnal, and it had been accustomed to roam
about at large in the house; but Captain Berrington, fearing that it
might disturb his guests, had turned it out of doors to live with
several other animals which his children had tamed.

The young ladies had made their way along a path which had been cut
through the scrub, close to the banks of the river, that Mary might show
her cousins the views she had spoken of. They had been joined by Rob
and Edgar, who considered that they could not let them go so far from
home without an efficient escort.

"With such valiant guards we may, I think, venture further than we have
been accustomed to," said Mary. "We shall have to stoop now and then to
get under the vines, or squeeze ourselves between the trunks of the
trees. We have no wild animals to fear, and need only be careful not to
tread upon a snake."

"A snake!" exclaimed Evelina. "Oh, how dreadful! Let's go home."

"Oh, come on," cried Bob, "I'll clear the road, and kill any snakes
which may show their ugly heads."

Flourishing his hatchet, which he drew from his belt, he proceeded to
cut away the vines and any branches which impeded their way.

Their progress was of course slow, but Rob asserted that they would soon
come out into a more open spot, when they would be able to walk as fast
as they liked. The air beneath the shade of the tall trees was
deliciously cool compared to the hot atmosphere of the open ground; and
even Evelina acknowledged that it was very pleasant. She had not gone
far, however, before she shrieked out to Mary--

"You said there were no savage creatures! Loo