t to the hut and emptied
into the other bowl. This done, we took the pots back and hung them up
again. The lasts we now smeared with clay, of which some had been found
at hand. The nuts were lighted, and a dense white smoke ascended
through the hole in the bottom of the bowl. One of the lasts, to which
wooden handles had been fixed, we now dipped into the bowl of
indiarubber juice; and when it was drawn out, a thin layer of juice was
found adhering to it. On being held over the smoke this quickly dried,
and became rather darker than at first. The process was repeated a
dozen times, till the shoe was of sufficient thickness; care being taken
to give a greater number of coatings to the sole. We found, after a
little time, that the various operations required about five minutes,--
then the shoe was complete. One after another the lasts were dipped in
the same way; and the shoes were then hung on cross sticks which had
been put up outside the hut, that they might be exposed to the sun.
There being no risk of our shoes being stolen, we left them, and
returned home as before, having plenty of occupation for the rest of the
day.

Next morning we went back to the hut, and having collected the juice
which had in the meantime trickled into the pots, we finished off the
shoes which had been made on the previous day; and having scored the
soles to prevent them from slipping, we cut them off the lasts, which
were thus ready again for use. We now manufactured some more shoes and
left them to dry, carrying with us those which had just been finished.
Marian was delighted with hers, which were very soft and elastic, though
they would not do to walk far in.

We had now not only the means of making shoes, but bottles and cups; and
Uncle Paul even thought of manufacturing a material which would serve
instead of cloth, and might be formed into cloaks and kilts, if not
trousers--though, as he had no substance to lay it on, he was afraid
that it would easily tear. We agreed, however, that, except in rainy
weather, the matting was likely to prove the more useful article.

We were returning from our indiarubber manufactory the next day, when we
saw an object moving among the boughs of a tree at no great distance
from us. Tim ran forward to ascertain what it was.

"Arrah now, if it's not a live alligator, I don't know what it is," he
exclaimed. "It's my belief that the baste has climbed up into the tree
that he may pounce down up