f
carrying all the party who could not find room on the first. As we had
no tools excepting our knives, the operation of cutting down the trees
would not be an easy one; therefore Tim offered to commence at once, so
that we might have some progress made before morning. Uncle Paul
thanked him for his forethought. Sambo, aided by Kallolo, immediately
set to work to break off by main force as many young palm-trees as they
could meet with. Neither Arthur nor I felt that we had strength to
assist them. Indeed, we could do nothing but lie stretched on the trunk
of the tree; and had the Indians come in pursuit of us, I really believe
that we should have been unable to make any efforts to escape. My
father, also, was greatly exhausted; but Uncle Paul, though fatigued,
was still able to exert himself, and to give any directions which were
necessary.

At length the two Indians returned with an ample supply of fruit. We
enjoyed our supper. It was the first we had taken together for several
days. When it was over it was high time to secure sleeping-places
before the shades of night should come down upon us. By arranging some
sepos which hung down from the boughs above, we formed a secure place
for Marian; and then we looked out for similar places for ourselves,
where we might rest without the danger of falling off into the water:
and I could not help reflecting that if we should meet with such an
accident, the creature we had seen would take the opportunity of biting
off a foot or an arm, or of dragging us off to his den to devour us at
his leisure. I had read of people sleeping over volcanoes: our fate
would have been quite as unpleasant, had we fallen into the water, as
that of persons found napping at the moment a volcano commenced sending
forth its streams of lava or showers of ashes.

Though we believed that we were already at a safe distance from the
savages, Uncle Paul considered it prudent to set a watch, that we might
have due notice of the approach of danger. Arthur and I begged that we
might take our share of duty, with one of the men to assist us. Uncle
Paul himself intended to keep the first watch, to give me time to obtain
some rest. I did not sleep very soundly. Frequently I opened my eyes
and saw the tall figure of Uncle Paul pacing up and down on the trunk of
the tree, with a pole in his hand to balance himself, making only three
or four paces between each turn, stopping every now and then to look u