ely large fish. We were not
disappointed. I had the line in my hand. Before long I felt a strong
pull. I gave a jerk, and when I fancied that the unwary creature was
firmly hooked, I began to haul away. I had, however, to call to my
friends for assistance; for I thought it far more likely that the fish
would pull me in, than that I should succeed in pulling him out. Uncle
Paul and the skipper then took hold of the line. Our fear was that the
fish would break away, for there was not line enough to play him, and
our only way of securing him was by main force. At length we got his
head out of the water, when the Indians exclaimed, "Periecu! periecu!"
and stooping down, and putting their fingers in the fish's gills, they
hauled it up. He was upwards of three feet in length, and covered with
beautiful scales--indeed, I have never seen a finer fish. Some blows on
the head finally secured him. The Indians said that his flesh might be
preserved by drying, but thought some days would be required for the
operation. We preferred eating some of it fresh, but not raw; so we
began to think of lighting a fire.

For some time we had been drifting much closer in with the forest, and
we agreed that by a little exertion in rowing we might get up to some of
the trees, from which we could obtain a supply of fuel. This we
accomplished, and lowering our sail, and unstepping our mast, we got
close in under the trees. With our axe and knives we soon got a supply
of dry branches. As no place presented itself on any of the lower
branches where we could light a fire, we resolved to do so on the log.
Having piled up our fuel, we paddled out again into the open water.
Uncle Paul had his tinder-box, and a few cherished matches--not that we
were entirely dependent on them, as the natives could always, by a
little exertion, kindle a flame. We did not step our mast, which, with
the sail and yard, lay alongside. Our fire was soon lighted, and a
portion of our periecu was spitted and placed over it to roast. The
fish appeared to be cooking famously, as we sat on the log, some at one
end and some at the other. Suddenly a light wind got up, and in an
instant what was our dismay to see the whole centre part of the log on
fire! Up it blazed, spreading so rapidly that we had scarcely time,
some seizing one article and some another, to spring overboard with our
floats round our waists. Quacko in a great fright clung to Kallolo's
back, where