I say, uncle,
you might let me have a shot at one of the crocs now."

Murray laughed, but made no reply, and they sat in silence watching the
wonderful sunset, as the men, well refreshed, sent the boat along at a
pretty good rate, the tide soon afterwards lending its help. This was
kept on till long after dark, and the crew did not cease rowing till
they came abreast of another tiny village. Here they fastened the boat
to a post in company with a couple more, after exchanging a few words
with some dusky-looking figures on the strip of shore, beyond which a
group of huts could be just made out, backed by trees, which looked of
an intense black, while above them was the purple sky spangled with
stars which seemed double the size of those at home.

This time Ned was quite ready for his share of the evening meal, which
was eaten in silence as the travellers sat watching a patch of bushes
which grew where the mangroves ceased.

"Why, it's just like a little display of fireworks," Ned whispered. "As
if the people there were letting them off because we had come."

"Yes; it is very beautiful. Look! they seem to flash out like the
sparks in a wood fire, when the wind suddenly blows over it, and then go
out again."

"Yes," said Ned thoughtfully; "our glow-worms that we used to find and
bring back to put in the garden were nothing to them. Look at that!"

He pointed to where a bright streak of light glided through the darkness
for a few yards, and then stopped suddenly, when all around it there was
a fresh flashing out of the lights.

"Why, uncle!" cried Ned, "if we caught a lot of those and hung them up
in a glass globe, we shouldn't want this lamp."

"I don't know how the experiment would answer, Ned," was the reply.
"But it would be awkward to go plashing about in the mud and water to
catch the fireflies, and we have no glass globe, while we have a lamp."

The coruscations of the fireflies seemed to fascinate Ned so much that
he became quite silent at last, while the Malays sat huddled together
chewing their betel, and talking in a low subdued tone. Then Murray
struck a match to light his pipe, and the flash showed Ned's intent
face.

"What's the matter, boy?"

"I was trying to puzzle it out, uncle."

"What?"

"Oh, there are three things," said Ned, as the half-burned match
described a curve and fell into the water to be extinguished with a
hiss, looking as it flew something like one of the fireflies asho