our way sufficiently to avoid any dangers ahead. Uncle Paul and
Captain van Dunk took it in turn to act as officer of the watch. My
father and Marian were rated as passengers, and the rest of us were
divided into two watches.

It may be supposed, after the visit of the anaconda, that we kept a
bright lookout, lest any monster of the same species might take it in
his head to come on board; and Kallolo and Maco kept their bows ready to
send an arrow into the first pair of open jaws which appeared above the
surface. The night, however, passed away without the appearance of any
unwelcome visitor. The encounter we had had on the previous day seemed,
indeed, like a horrible dream, and we could scarcely persuade ourselves
of its reality. I was very glad when daylight returned, and a fresh
breeze and bright sun stirred up our spirits.

We had not again attempted to light a fire on board; indeed, without
stopping among the trees we could not have obtained fuel. We were
therefore compelled to subsist on the dried meat and fish and the
various fruits and nuts we had brought with us; cold water being our
sole beverage. Marian subsisted almost entirely on fruit and nuts, and
for her sake especially I was anxious to reach dry ground, where we
could cook some more wholesome provisions for her.

We had now, by our calculations, got a considerable way from the
Orinoco, but had not yet found the dry ground of which we were in
search; nor had as yet any mountain ranges appeared over the tops of the
lofty trees surrounding us.

The noonday sun was shining with an intense splendour on the calm
expanse of water over which we glided, when we saw before us an opening
between the trees, through which we concluded the upper waters of the
river we had been navigating flowed. The log was steered for it. It
was of considerable breadth, though narrowed by the far-extending
branches of the trees hanging over it, the lower portions of the stems
being concealed by the water.

We sailed on: Captain van Dunk thought we should, before long, reach a
part with banks considerably above the water. On either side rose
magnificent trees, some to the height of one hundred and fifty feet.
Among the most remarkable were the white-stemmed cecropia; the cow-tree,
of still loftier growth; and the indiarubber tree, with its smooth grey
bark, tall erect trunk, and thick glossy leaves: while intermixed with
them appeared the assai palm, with its slender s