f water full in Shaddy's face as the creature struck
the surface with its tail and then disappeared.

"Thank ye," growled Shaddy, wiping his face; "but you got the worst of
it, mate. As aforesaid, maybe, Mr Brazier, sir, we should ha' been
carried right down the stream, and run on a sharp root or trunk as would
ha' drove a hole through the boat or capsized us, and there'd ha' been
the end."

"What could you have been thinking of, Naylor?" cried Brazier angrily;
while Rob looked pityingly and feeling sorry for the staunch, brave man,
who stood there abashed by his position.

"Warn't thinking at all, sir," he growled. "Only ought to ha' been.
There, don't make it worse, sir, by bullying me. You trusted me, and I
thought I was fit to trust, but there's the vanity o' man's natur'. I
arn't fit to trust, so I'd take it kindly if you'd knock me overboard;
but you'd better knock my stoopid head off first to save pain."

This was all spoken with the most utter seriousness, and as Shaddy
finished he slowly laid down the boat-hook and looked full in Brazier's
eyes, with the result that Rob burst into a roar of laughter. Joe
followed suit, and after an attempt to master himself and frown Brazier
joined in, the mirth increasing as Shaddy said sternly,--

"Oh, it arn't nothing to laugh at! If Master Rob there hadn't woke up
before morning, the 'gators and pirani, without counting the other
critters, would have been having a treat. I tell you I'm ashamed of
myself, and the sooner an end's made of me the better. Why, you ought
to do it, sir, in self-defence."

"How near are we to morning?" said Brazier.

"'Tis morning now, sir. Sun'll be up in less an half an hour. No dawn
here."

"Then we had better have breakfast at once, and start, for this is
anything but a pleasant spot."

"Ain't you going to knock me overboard, sir?" said Shaddy.

"No."

"Well, ain't you going to knock me down?"

"No; I'm not going to knock you down either, my good fellow. You've
made a mistake. Over-tired, I suppose, and you dropped asleep. It was
terribly neglectful of you, but I hope and trust that such an error may
not be made again."

"What?"

"Surely I need not repeat my words. You were overcome by fatigue and
slept. I ask you for all our sakes to be more careful in the future."

"Here, I say, Master Rob," cried Shaddy huskily, and he gave his eyes a
rub, "am I still asleep?"

"No, Shaddy, wide awake, and listening to Mr