floated on, and may be even now at no great distance. We must not
despair; though our position, I own, is very critical."

"Shure, I think the master must have escaped," observed Tim. "He was at
the other end of the vessel when the big bough knocked me overboard, and
he and the skipper may even now be better off than we are; for if they
get the craft in among the trees, they may stop without any trouble of
anchoring; and they will have plenty of grub aboard, which is more than
we are likely to find among these big trees, though we are much obliged
to them for giving us shelter just now."

Poor Marian seemed somewhat comforted by these assurances, and asked no
further questions, but sat on the bough on which we had placed her,
gazing down on the waters, which rolled in rapid eddies beneath us.

We were talking of what we should next try to do, when we heard a loud
chattering above our heads; and looking up, we saw several monkeys,
which had descended from the topmost boughs, gazing down on us,--some
inspecting us with all the gravity of Turks, others swinging backwards
and forwards on the pendent vines, as if they felt themselves at home,
and were perfectly indifferent to our presence. While we remained
quiet, they held their posts. One big fellow, especially, with a long
tail and huge bushy whiskers, was unusually bold; and having crept along
a bough, sat himself down not a dozen yards from the native Kallolo, of
whom he appeared not to have the slightest dread. Kallolo began talking
to him in his own language, and as soon as he ceased the monkey
chattered a reply.

"He know me," said Kallolo. "We soon be great friends. Quacko!--
Quacko! Dat your name, I know. Come here, good Quacko. Tell me where
you been since you ran away from your old master," he continued.

"Quacko!--Quacko!" answered the monkey, imitating the Indian's tone of
voice.

Kallolo then began to work his way along the bough. The monkey, instead
of retreating, came nearer and nearer; when Kallolo stopped, still
speaking in the same soothing tone. Once more he moved on. It seemed
as if the monkey were fascinated; for I could not suppose that the
creature really understood the native, or that the native understood the
meaning of the monkey's chattering. At length Kallolo got within reach
of Quacko, when, gently stretching out his hand, he began to tickle the
monkey's nose. Then he got a little nearer, till he could scratch its
head and