me become a little more amenable to reason, and in
moments of suspense or danger always awaited my orders.

Once more did we eventually pack in the canoe what remained of the
baggage; once more did we start--that time across a large basin 1,200 m.
broad, with hills on the east side of us on the right bank. On the right
of us, on leaving the basin, we had a beautiful island, 300 m.
long--Ariadne Island--with a fine sand-spit at its southern end, and
gorgeous vegetation upon it. Barring a few boxes of sardines, we had no
more provisions of any kind, as all the food had been wasted, or lost in
our various accidents.

When I look back upon that journey, I am amazed to think how Providence
did help us all along. That day my men were clamouring for food, and were
most unpleasant, putting the entire blame upon me and not upon their own
lack of common-sense. They refused to go on. We pulled up along some
rocks, baking hot from the sun, which simply roasted our naked feet when
we trod upon them.

Some of the men took to their rifles and said they had had quite enough
of exploring. The more we went down that river the worse things seemed to
get. They would not go a metre farther. They claimed the balance of their
salaries at once--I always paid them punctually every month--and said
they would start on foot and try to get somewhere, if God would help
them.

I agreed to pay them their salaries and let them go, taking a few minutes
to distribute the money, as I wished to go to a secluded spot, not caring
to undo the large packages of banknotes before them.

I was walking along the rocks, saying to my men that I would be back in a
few minutes, when a huge _cachorra_, or dog-fish, weighing some thirty
pounds, leapt out of the water and fell on the rocks, wriggling and
bounding convulsively. I called the men, who hastily arrived, and with
the butts of their rifles killed the fish. While they were busy
dissecting it, Alcides, who had not taken part in the quarrel, but had
gone to the forest some little way off, hearing the noise, reappeared
with a huge monkey he had killed.

I left the men to prepare an excellent and plentiful meal while I retired
to a distant spot to count out their salaries. When I returned and handed
them the money--after their appetites had been fully satisfied, and they
had left next to nothing for me--they said I could keep the money, as
they did not want it; they were sorry for what they had said, and would