r able to
proceed than I was at first; as, I believe, were the rest of the party.
I heard Tim joking with Sambo. "Arrah now, sure, I am altogether turned
into a big fish with this long swim, and it will be a hard matter to
take to walking again on the dry earth!" he exclaimed. "How do you
feel, Sambo?"

"I verry like a fish too, Massa Tim," answered the black. "But still I
hope to turn into man again."

I felt much as Sambo said he did, and certainly should have been well
content to find myself safe on shore, and in a comfortable abode--a
luxury we were not likely to enjoy for many a day to come.

As on the previous day, with the bright sun shining down upon us, I felt
my spirits rise, and the dangers I had so dreaded in the dark appeared
of a less terrific character. After all, should the savages come up
with us, as Maco and his brother had escaped from them, so might we.
Perhaps, too, they might not be quite so savage as we had supposed, and
might have been prompted by curiosity, rather than from any hostile
feelings, to pursue us. Still, of course, it would be prudent to keep
out of their way. Uncle Paul thought so too, and told me to pass the
word to those astern, that we must be prepared to swim on till we could
come up with Marian and my father and Arthur. On, therefore, we went.
It was swim, swim, swim, hour after hour. Of course, had we not had the
gourds to support us, it would have been impossible to continue on so
long as we did. Resting on them, there was no great difficulty, as we
could drive ourselves on with our feet, while we merely guided our
course with our arms. Still, even though thus supported, and without
any actual danger of sinking, we at length again grew weary; and, in
addition, we began to feel the pangs of hunger.

Tim was the first to cry out. "Arrah, Master Guy! couldn't you just
speak to Mr Paul, and tell him we are starving? If it's all the same
to him, we will just put ashore on one of the big trunks and stow away a
little food in our insides; for though it's something like the life of
fishes we are leading, we cannot eat, as they do, in the water."

I told Uncle Paul what Tim said; and we accordingly once more climbed on
to a convenient resting-place, where food was served out to all hands.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

WHERE ARE QUACKO AND ARA?--THE SWIM CONTINUED--ESCAPE FROM AN
ALLIGATOR--MARIAN AND MY FATHER--REACH A LAKE--A CURIOUS SAIL--FISHING.

We had been resting f