No, let's keep on, we may put up something yet."

"And try for the turkeys toward sundown, sir?"

"Yes. Come on," said Brazier; "we had better get slowly back now to the
boat. It is too hot."

He stood wiping the perspiration from his forehead as he spoke, and
then, with Shaddy by his side carrying a spare gun, went on along by the
edge of the forest, Rob and Joe following some distance behind.

"I might as well have shot some of those beautiful toucans," said Rob;
"I could have skinned them, and they would be delightful to bring out at
home and show people, and remind one of this place in years to come."

"Yes, we shouldn't have scared away much game," replied Joe. "What's
that they can see?"

For Shaddy was holding up his hand to stop them, and Brazier, who had
forgotten all about being languid and weary in the hot sunshine, was
hurrying forward bending down and making for one of several clumps of
bushes about half-way between them and the river.

Rob noted that clump particularly, for it was scarlet with the blossoms
of a magnificent passion-flower, whose steins trailed all over it,
tangling it into a mass of flame colour, looking hot in the sunshine,
which made the air quiver as if in motion.

The lads stopped at Shaddy's signal and looked intently, but they could
see no sign of any game, and, rightly concluding that the object of
Brazier's movement must be hidden from them at the edge of the forest,
they crouched down and waited for fully five minutes.

"Here, I'm sick of this," whispered Rob at last; and he rose from his
uncomfortable position.

"So am I," said Joe, straightening himself. "Hullo! Where's old
Shaddy?"

"Lying down and having a nap, I expect," replied Rob. "I can't see him
nor Mr Brazier neither. Shall we go on."

"No: let's wait a bit. They may be seeing a chance for something good
at supper-time."

They waited another five minutes, ten minutes, and had at last
determined to go on, when Brazier's piece was heard, the sharp report
coming from about three hundred yards farther on toward the river.

"There's Shaddy running," cried Joe; and they saw now where he had been
crawling, far beyond the scarlet passion-flower, from whose shelter Mr
Brazier had evidently made a long stalk till he was close to the object
of his search, a bird or animal, which had probably fallen, from the
haste being made to reach the spot.

"Let's make haste," cried Joe, pushing forward.

"No, thank