eding one had been, except that we were able to
keep up a fire without the fear of betraying our retreat.

Next morning, having left Marian in her bower, with Tim, armed with one
of the guns, to keep guard, I accompanied Arthur--who carried the other
gun--into the woods in search of game. Uncle Paul meanwhile went down
to the seashore to look out for any vessel which might be approaching
the coast; intending, should she prove to be English, to make a signal,
in the hope that a boat might be sent on shore to take us off. We
caught sight of him in the distance during our ramble, but as we looked
seaward we could make out no vessel on any part of the ocean over which
our eyes ranged.

"Not much chance of getting off today," I observed.

"Nor for many days, probably," answered Arthur. "The chances are
against any vessel coming near enough to this exact spot to see us; so
we must make up our minds, I suspect, to remain here for some weeks, or
perhaps months, to come. However, the life may not prove an unpleasant
one; and, at all events, it will be far better than being shut up in the
dungeons of the Inquisition."

"I should think so, indeed," I said. "And if I knew that my poor father
was safe, I should not care, but rather enjoy it; and so, I am sure,
would Marian."

We made our way down to the bank of the river, which appeared to be
broad and deep, and thickly shaded on both sides by trees. Knowing that
all the rivers in Trinidad abound with fish, we regretted that we had
neither spears, nor rods and lines, with which we might: easily have
caught an ample supply. Arthur, however, made good use of his gun, and
soon shot a number of birds; among which were several parrots with
flaming scarlet bodies, and a lovely variety of red, blue, and green on
their wings. Loaded with the results of our sport, we returned to the
encampment, which by this time afforded us more comfort than at first.

Uncle Paul, with the aid of the natives, had been busy at work erecting
a small hut, or rather an arbour, for Marian; and they had also formed a
bed-place for each of us, raised off the ground, and roofed over with
palm-leaves. Uncle confessed that he could not tell when we might get
off, and that it would be wise, for the sake of our health, to make
ourselves as comfortable as we could. We might indeed remain where we
were in safety, for if the inquisitors had given up the search for us,
they had probably done so under the be