.

In one spot, half-way down what looked to be a terribly gloomy chasm, a
broad beam of sunlight shone right across the foam and fine spray that
rose in a cloud, and from time to time this was spanned by a lovely
iris, whose colours looked more beautiful than anything of the kind that
I had before seen.

I could have stood for hours gazing at the soft oily looking water as it
glided over the piled-up rocks, and watched it breaking up into spray
and then plunge headlong into the chaos of water below; but the doctor
laid his hand upon my shoulder and pointed upwards, when, leading the
way, he climbed on and on till we were beyond the rocks which formed the
shelf over which the water glided, and here we found ourselves at the
edge of a narrow ravine, along which the stream flowed swiftly from far
beyond our sight to the spot where it made its plunge.

We were in comparative quiet up here, the noise of the fall being cut
off by the rocks, which seemed to hush it as soon as we had passed.

"Let us get back, my lads," the doctor said then; "I don't think we
shall advance our business by inspecting this grand river;" and so
leaving the water-worn smooth rock of the ravine, we retraced our steps,
and at last, hot and fainting almost with the heat, reached the little
camp, where our black followers were eagerly looking out for our return.

"Where's Jimmy?" I said as I glanced round; but no one knew, and
supposing that he had gone to hunt something that he considered good to
eat I took no further notice then, though the doctor frowned, evidently
considering that he ought to have been in camp. Gyp was there though,
ready to salute his master, who lay down at once, as he informed me in
confidence, to rest his back.

We were only too glad to get under the shelter of the great overhanging
rock, which gave us comparative coolness, situated as it was beneath a
hill that was almost a mountain, towering up in successive ledges to the
summit.

The walk, in spite of the excitement of the adventure, had given us an
excellent appetite, and even Jack Penny ate away heartily, looking
self-satisfied and as complacent as could be.

"Why, what are you laughing at, Jack?" I said, as I happened to look
up.

"I was only smiling," he whispered, "about my accident."

"Smiling--at that!" I exclaimed. "Why, I should have thought you would
have been horrified at the very thought of it."

"So I should if I had been a coward over it, Joe