and.

"Well, then, why don't you go?" cried Jack. "I was a-thinking, sir. I
say, as you are awake, and there's plenty of time, why don't you try on
some of your noo things?"

"Bah! because I don't want to make myself ridiculous," said the lad
peevishly.

"You wouldn't look ridiculous, sir. You try 'em, and if I was you I'd
go down to breakfast in 'em. Sir John would be as pleased as Punch to
see you begin to take a little more interest in going."

"Look here!" cried Jack, springing from his pillow to sit upright in
bed, "when I want any of your advice, sir, I will ask for it. Such
impertinence!"

"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, but I only thought you might like to do
what Sir John would wish to see. I put 'em all straight last night, and
laid a suit of tweeds, with knickerbockers, brown plaid worsted
stockings, and high-laced brown shooting-boots, all ready for you."

"Then it was like your insolence, sir."

"Yes, sir, and the boots are lovely, sir; just the thing! Stout strong
water-tights as lace on right to the knee. Leather's as soft as velvet.
They'll be grand for you when you're going through the jungle where
there's leeches and poisonous snakes."

"Ugh!" ejaculated the boy with a shudder.

"Oh, you needn't mind them, sir; I've been reading all about 'em in the
Natural History Sir John's lent me. They always run away from you when
they can."

"And when they cannot they bite venomously," cried Jack.

"That's it, sir," said Edward, "if they can."

"And they can," said Jack.

"If you don't kill 'em first," said the man, laughing, "and that's the
proper thing to do. Kill everything that wants to kill you. Don't want
me then yet, sir?"

"Only to go," said Jack, throwing himself down again and drawing up the
coverings close to his ear.

"Yes, sir; I'll be back again at half-past seven."

Jack made no reply, and the man went off laughing to himself.

"He's getting stirred up," he said. "I never saw him take so much
notice before."

Jack lay perfectly still for another hour, apparently asleep, but really
thinking very deeply of his position, and of how hard it seemed to be
that he should be obliged to give up his calm quiet life among his books
to go upon a journey which, the more he thought of it, seemed to grow
darker and more repellent.

He was still thinking and wishing that he could find some way to escape
when Edward came into the room again, bearing clothes, boots, and
hot-water c