th
some thin string, making quite a net round it."

"That will do then," said Rob, who felt some compunction at trying for
fish which had been lunching off a large cat; and in due time the bait
was carefully bound on.

"This place will suit," said Shaddy, "because the water will carry the
hook out softly right toward the middle in this eddy, and we shan't have
to throw and knock off our bait. Ready?"

_Bang_!

CHAPTER NINE.

THE DOUBLE CATCH.

The sharp report was from Brazier's piece, and as all looked round it
was to see a large turkey-like bird beating and flapping the ground with
its strong pinions, evidently being badly wounded.

"Ah!" cried Shaddy, "that'll be better meat than our fish;" and dropping
the line, he trotted towards the spot where the bird lay close to the
edge of the forest, just as Brazier started on the same mission from his
end of the opening; while quite a flock of small birds and a troop of
monkeys came flying and bounding through the trees, as if to see what
was the meaning of the strange noise, and filling the air with their
chatterings and cries, but hardly displaying the slightest dread.

"I happened to look round," cried Brazier, "and saw it come out from
among the trees."

This was just as he and Shaddy neared the bird, where it lay half a
dozen yards from the dense mass of interwoven foliage, when, to the
disgust of both, the bird suddenly rose to its feet, made a bound, and,
with its wings whistling loudly, flew right in through an opening, while
its would-be captors were brought up short by the to them impenetrable
forest.

"How vexatious!" cried Brazier, stamping his foot.

"There goes our supper!" grumbled Shaddy; "and that's about the joociest
bird I know."

"I wish I'd given it the other barrel," said Brazier.

"Better load, sir," said Shaddy. "Never mind. You'll get another
chance soon. Eh? Oh, very well then, have a try."

This was to one of the boatmen, who, roused by the shot, came up smiling
with his sword-like knife in his hand, evidently with the intention of
cutting his way in and trying to retrieve the bird.

"I don't think it is of any use," said Brazier.

"Dunno, sir. Perhaps it is. The bird was hard hit, and maybe hasn't
gone far. Let him try. He may just as well do that as lie and sleep."

They both stopped for a few minutes watching the man, who bent down, and
going on all-fours, passed in between the interlacing growth. They saw
hi