hough the rigging of the craft was not
complete. All hands therefore worked away till darkness put an end to
our labours. Kallolo and Maco then volunteered to go out as scouts, to
ascertain if the strangers were approaching, that we might not be taken
by surprise.

The night, however, passed away as usual; and next morning, as soon as
daylight returned we were all on foot--the seamen of the party engaged
in rigging the vessel, while the rest of us carried provisions on board.
Marian took her share in all our labours, as she had done in
manufacturing the sails, the matting for making the baskets, and even
the ropes, and in preparing the provisions. We were all, indeed, as
busy as ants, going backwards and forwards from the storehouse to the
vessel. The last of the provisions carried on board were the turtles
and tortoises. The former were laid on their backs on deck, covered
with a piece of matting; and the latter were shut up in a box formed for
them in the hold.

Another day came to an end, and the Indians, as before, went out to act
the part of scouts. On their return they brought the intelligence that
the strangers had kept on the other side of the lake, and would, they
supposed, pass at a distance from the settlement. However, as we could
not be certain that this would be the case, it was agreed that it would
be wise to keep a sharp lookout as long as we remained on shore.

We had now only to bend the sails. All who were required were engaged
in the work, while the rest were employed in conveying on board the last
remaining articles. Polo, who, never having been at sea, was the least
handy on board, had gone a short distance from the huts to shoot some
parrots from a flock which frequented the neighbourhood, and which had
already supplied us with several of their number. They were to be
cooked, with the flesh of one of the turtles, before we embarked, as our
culinary appliances on board were limited. We had contrived a stove
made of clay, but, as it was of small dimensions, it would only serve
for boiling our kettle and preparing small dishes. I was assisting
Marian to pack up some food for her favourites, which were standing
around her: the ara parrot perched on her shoulder, the curassow running
round and picking up the grain which I let drop, while Quacko was seated
on the roof of her hut, munching a nut. My father and Arthur were
engaged in some other way; and Tim had just got a load on his should