ng us like this, captain?" asked Rodd.

"_Quien sabe_?" he said. "It is a free country, and you will not mind?"

"Mind! No," cried Rodd. "But they will have to cook what are left for
themselves. I say, uncle, can we trust them to put the fire out
afterwards?"

"Oh yes, my lad. I suppose we must."

"That's right, Mr Rodd, sir. They'll take care not to fry themselves.
But here, cookie, don't you leave them our pan."

Once more as the boat swept round a bend a glimpse was caught of the two
blacks, who had no hesitation now about paddling across to the deserted
halting-place.

The Spaniard was as good as his word that evening in guiding them to
another bivouac, and that night, feeling perfectly secure, the lads lay
down to sleep, looking forward to another day of intense enjoyment in
the wondrous labyrinth of Nature's beauties, far from feeling satisfied
with what had gone before.

Three more days passed, and halt after halt had been made at spots which
always presented just the right facilities required, the Spaniard
proving how great was his knowledge of the geography of the country
through which they rowed or sailed, while the two blacks, who over and
over again seemed to have disappeared, always turned up again ready for
the departure of the travellers, who now took it as a matter of course
to leave plenty of fish or flesh collected by the guns for the poor
savages' support.

More than once the lads had made advances to these men, to try and get
them to approach, but their shyness and suspicion were most marked, and
they never came near till the departing boat was some distance off.

"Now," said the doctor, one evening, "I have been mentally marking down
such birds and insects as I wish for us to collect, so to-morrow morning
all this pleasure-seeking must come to an end, and we'll all work hard,
shooting, skinning, and boxing a few butterflies as well."

"What a pity!" said Rodd. "I should like to go on yet for weeks."

"So should I, Pickle, but we must get back to the schooner."

"And the brig," cried Morny eagerly.

"Yes, my lad," said the doctor, "and I am afraid the Count will think we
have exceeded our time; but we shall be going steadily back from
to-morrow morning, collecting as we go, and I am sure you will agree
that we have had a grand excursion, everything having been most
successful."

The following morning broke as gloriously fine as ever. The fire was
crackling, and Joe Cross anno