ed
the naval officer back, Ensign Long was in full command at the island.

The hot and sleep-inviting day had rolled slowly by; never had the river
looked brighter and clearer, or more keenly reflected the rays of the
sun. Far down in its pure depths the middy had watched the darting
about of the fish, which seemed to seek the shadow beneath the steamer's
hull for their playground.

This was noticed at stolen moments, for Bob was generally too full of
his duties to think of the fish, or to do more than cast a longing
glance at the dark shadows beneath the trees. For on board the heat was
terrible, the pitch was oozing out of the seams, and blistering the
paint; every piece of tarry cordage was soft and pliant, and very beads
stood out upon the strands; while beneath the awnings there was a stuffy
suffocating heat that was next to unbearable.

On the island the heat was less hard to be borne, the thick grove of
palms and other trees whose roots were always moist, throwing out a
grateful shade. Still the heat was severely felt, and the general
impression was that the hunting-party had by far the worst of it.

The day glided by, and the sultry tropic night set in, with the great
mellow stars glistening overhead reflected in the clear stream, and
seeming to be repeated in the low undergrowth that fringed the shore.
The watches were set, every precaution taken against surprise, and
though no danger need be apprehended, Captain Smithers had the little
fort quite ready to resist attack.

It was the same on board the steamer, the watch being visited at
frequent intervals by the lieutenant and his subordinate, to the great
surprise of the men, who wondered what made the "luff" so fidgety.

That night passed off without anything to disturb them; and the next day
all was so dull and uniform that Bob Roberts, as he could not go ashore,
was fain to amuse himself with his monkey, which he fed till it could
eat no more, and then teased till it got into a passion, snapped at him,
and took refuge in the rigging till its master's back was turned, when,
to the great delight of the men, it leaped down on the middy's shoulder,
and there seized the back of his jacket-collar and shook it vigorously,
till, seeing its opportunity, it once more leaped up into the rigging,
chattering fiercely, and showing its teeth as Bob threatened it and
called it names.

Evening came on again, not too hot, but quite bad enough to make the
middy glad