beetles in armour of violet, green and gold, a couple of
metallic-looking lizards, and a snake that seemed particularly venomous,
but proved to be of quite a harmless nature.

So interesting was the walk that, in spite of the heat, no one felt
tired, and they wandered on and on, forgetful of time or distance. The
part traversed was perfectly new to them all, and when, at last, they
had been walking for a couple of hours, and with one consent sat down to
rest and partake of the lunch provided for the occasion, it was felt
that, though they could not see it, they must be near to the sea on that
side; so after a brief halt it was decided to push on along the side of
the opening for another half-hour, and try whether they could reach the
coast.

"But it's for you to decide," said Drew.

"It ain't far, sir," interposed Wriggs.

"Let us decide, please," said Drew, rather stiffly.

"Certeny, sir."

"But what makes you think we are so near the coast?" said Oliver. "It
is so flat we can see nothing."

"No, sir, you can't; but me and Tommy Smith have been at it for some
time, whenever we gets a puff o' wind."

"Been at what?"

"Sniffin', sir. Every now and then you gets it a smellin' o' hysters.
Next minute it's mussels, and directly after it's cockles all alive o'!"

"And sea-weed, Billy Wriggs."

"So it is, messmate, but I didn't say nowt, cause sea-weed's such common
stuff."

"Yes, he's right," said Drew. "I can smell the sea quite plainly."

"Like mussels, sir?" said Smith.

"No," replied Drew, smiling. "It's more like sea-weed to me, my lad."

"That's it, sir. All the same," growled Smith. "Means as we're close
to the shore, anyhow. I kept on a-listening, 'specting to hear the sea
go _boom, boom_ on the reef; sir, and thinking about the sharp rocks
going through the bottom of a ship."

_Wark, wark, wok, wok, wok_!

The now familiar cawing cry of the paradise bird came from close at
hand, and, with his eyes glistening, Oliver made a sign to the rest to
remain where they were. Then, softly cocking his piece, he stole in
through the thick bush-like tangle which extended for a few yards before
the tall forest tree-trunks rose up to spread branches which effectually
shut out the sun and checked all undergrowth while they turned their
leaves and flowers to the sun, a hundred and fifty or two hundred feet
in the air.

"Hadn't I better foller him, sir?" said Smith.

"No; he is more likely to get a