ntly felt during our
passage up the igarape.

"You don't look so much fatigued as I should have expected," observed
the captain; "and a few days on shore, with the good cheer we can offer
you, will set you all to rights."

He then shook hands with Arthur and me, and giving a friendly nod to
Sambo, turned round to welcome my father, the larger raft having closely
followed us to the beach. All the party having landed, the two rafts
were secured to the trunks of some trees growing at the water's edge.
The worthy skipper now conducted us to two huts which he and Peter had
erected. He exhibited them with no little satisfaction. One was small,
but neatly built; the other was of considerable dimensions, and capable
of containing several persons, somewhat thickly stowed.

"I thought of the little maid, and my first care was to build a house
which she might have entirely to herself. In it she may rest as long in
the morning as she likes without being disturbed by us when we go to our
work," he observed.

Marian thanked him warmly as he led her towards the little hut, in which
he had formed a bed-place, and put up a table and a three-legged stool;
which, though roughly made, showed his desire to attend to her comfort.
The bed-place was covered thickly with dry grass. Poor Marian expressed
her pleasure at the thought of being able to rest in quiet on it. The
larger hut was destitute of furniture.

"We must be content, my friends, to sleep and take our meals on the
ground till we can make some hammocks and form a table and benches,"
said the captain. "Peter and I could do no more; we have worked hard to
accomplish this much, I can assure you."

"That you have indeed, Captain van Dunk," observed Uncle Paul. "We are
grateful to you for having laboured so hard for our benefit."

"Peter and I knew that you would require a secure resting-place, where
you might sleep in peace without the fear of being pounced upon by a
jaguar or a puma," answered the skipper. "It will afford accommodation
to you four gentlemen and Peter and me, and the other men will soon run
up a hut for themselves. They must not spend much time on it, for all
hands will have enough to do in building the vessel and procuring food.
We can obtain an ample supply, but we must not sit down and expect it to
drop into our mouths."

"You will find everyone ready to assist you in carrying out your plans,
captain, for a more obedient set of men I have never me