to the
water to bathe, keeping the rope tight that it might not swim off.

Marian imitated his example with regard to her curassow; and the bird
soon knew her, and showed its pleasure when she approached with its
favourite fruit. At length, feeling pretty sure that it would not fly
away, she let it loose just before its usual feeding time, and then held
out some fruit which she had got in readiness. The bird flew towards
her; and from that day followed her about wherever she went. "Crass,"
(the name we gave to the curassow), soon became a great favourite, and
made Quacko and Ara very jealous. The monkey would, now and then, steal
down and slyly try to pluck the feathers out of Crass, which would
immediately run for protection to Marian; while Ara would fly down and
perch on its head, and peck at its crest.

We had now a little menagerie. Three parrots, of different species, and
another monkey, had been added to our collection. The tapir became
perfectly domesticated, and could be trusted to go out and have a bathe
by itself, when it would invariably come back and lie down in front of
our hut, knowing that it was there safe from its arch enemy the jaguar.
We, however, could not bestow much time on our animals, as we were
employed in the more important business of building our vessel and
supplying our larder. We were never, indeed, in want of food, but we
had to consider the means of preserving a supply for our voyage. The
days passed quickly by; and though the carpenters appeared to work very
slowly, each day saw the vessel further advanced, and it was a
satisfaction to count the numerous ribs which now rose from the keel of
our vessel.

We were all at work one day on the vessel, with the exception of Tim and
Sambo, who had gone out to fish on the lake at a short distance from the
shore, when cunning Master Quacko, observing us engaged, and catching
sight of Crass feeding at a little distance from the huts, slyly stole
towards her. Crass turned her head just in time to see him coming, and
recollecting that she had wings as well as legs, rose in the air and
flew towards a neighbouring tree. Quacko, who had not forgotten the art
of climbing, made chase, and soon got up to the bough on which Crass was
perched. Crass, who had been watching him, flew off to another tree
close to the shore of the lake. Quacko, however, liking the fun, threw
himself from bough to bough and drove Crass further and further off.
Ma