now appeared on the scene, and beard his servant's last
words. "What made you go out to meet those people? Answer that. I
care not what you tell us that you said to them, or they said to you."

Gab was dumb.

"The fellow has probably been all along in communication with your
enemies, Senor Desmond; and his object is to gain a reward for
conducting them to this place," exclaimed the doctor. "Take my advice,
and hang him forthwith. As I brought him here, I feel answerable for
his behaviour; and it would be a bad return for your kindness should the
villain betray you."

I am very sure the doctor said this to frighten Gab, for he was not at
all of a sanguinary disposition, and even the beasts of the forest he
only slew in the cause of Science. But Gab, believing him to be in
earnest, trembled all over, and pleaded for mercy, promising to be
faithful to his master in future, and to endeavour to mislead the enemy
should they come into the neighbourhood. Our own blacks, on hearing
this, shouted out,--"Don't trust him; he has got two faces--one for the
enemy, and one for you!"

"I don't intend to do so," answered my father. "We will shut him up for
the present, till we have settled what punishment to inflict."

With this the rest of the blacks were far from satisfied; and I believe
that, had he been handed over to them, they would very quickly have
disposed of him.

He was forthwith conveyed to the room in which the Indian had been
confined--a plank being nailed over the window to prevent him from
communicating with any one outside, and the bedding taken away, so that
he had but the bare ground to sleep on, and the naked walls to look at.
He was not likely to make his escape, as our former captive had done.

Two or three days passed. The doctor was mostly out in the woods
shooting birds and collecting animals and insects. Among the first were
some beautiful humming-birds, which in great numbers frequented the
neighbourhood, one species scarcely larger than a humble-bee. The
doctor came home delighted with his spoils. He observed that he found
different species of humming-birds in different localities. One
species, which he called a "thorn-bill," does not, as do most of its
race, mount to the tops of the trees, but seeks its food among the low
flowering shrubs. He exhibited the little creature, which was not so
large as many moths. It was of a golden green colour on the upper
parts, with a dull brown below