erless creepers and parasitical plants, covered with
gaily-coloured flowers, which hung in fantastic wreaths from the boughs.
I felt that a swim would be very enjoyable. Being somewhat warm,
however, I rested on an overhanging bough before taking off my trousers
to plunge in, while Polo stood near me.

"Well, I think I am cool enough now," I observed to him, and was about
to stand up before taking a plunge into the tempting water, when I saw
the surface disturbed, and presently the huge head and formidable jaws
of an enormous alligator rose above it, his wicked eyes turned towards
me as if he longed to have me in his maw! I shuddered as I gazed at
him, for in another minute I might have been within that fearful mouth,
and carried down beneath the surface, as has been the fate of many
people in this part of the country. I was thankful that I had seen the
creature, for his appearance was a warning to us all not to venture into
the water. Polo, stooping down, assisted me to get off the branch, for
fear I should by any chance slip, and become, after all, a victim to the
monster. I had never before seen so hideous a creature. Though we
shouted, he seemed in no way intimidated, and still floated on the
surface, as if meditating an attack. Polo earnestly advised that we
should retire from the bank, as he said that he had known instances when
alligators, hard pressed by hunger, had rushed on shore, and seizing
persons, had carried them off without a possibility of being rescued by
their friends. I shuddered again as I listened to his account, and
thought of the fearful risk I had run. We sat watching the monster for
some time at a safe distance, with our spears in our hands; but he
showed no inclination to follow us, and at length, turning round, he
went swimming down the stream till he was lost to sight.

We had some difficulty in making our way back through the forest, for
the stream, we found, took a turn away from the settlement, and it led
us further from it than we had supposed. The captain highly approved of
the stones we had brought. Arthur and Tim had already arrived, each of
them having found only one stone adapted to the purpose of hammers; but
they were large and heavy, and were just what was wanted. They had,
however, brought several large pieces of hard stone of flinty nature and
wedge or axe-like form, which the captain pronounced to be of the
greatest value.

"I thought so when I discovered them,"