ld be very convenient, sir, and the meat would dry
nicely; but when we wanted it you may take my word it wouldn't be
there."

"Would some one steal it?" cried Rob. "No; you told me there were no
Indians about."

"So I did, sir; but there are hundreds of other things would take it."

"Hang it up in a tree, then."

"Ready for the vultures to come and carry it off? That wouldn't do,
sir. No; there's no way of doing it but hanging it up in your boat.
The animals can't get at it, nor the ants neither, and the birds are
afraid to come."

"I did not think of that," said Rob apologetically.

"No, sir, s'pose not. I used to think as you did. I didn't want to
have anything that might smell on my boat, and I did as you advised till
I found out that it would not do. Don't take too much at a time," he
growled to the man who was loading himself, "and mind and lay out all
the pieces separate. Is the fire burning?"

The man replied in his own tongue, and went off.

"I'll get on now, sir," said Shaddy, "and see to the pieces frizzling
for our dinner, if you'll stop and see that the men don't leave before
they are done."

"How am I to speak to them? I don't know their tongue."

"No need to speak, sir. If they see you're watching them they won't
neglect anything, but will do it properly. I was only afraid of their
wanting to step off to the fireside to begin broiling bones."

Shaddy shouldered his gun, and went off after the man who was loaded
with strips of flesh to make what is called biltong, and the two left
worked on very diligently, with the boys wandering here and there in
search of objects of interest and finding plenty--brilliant
metallic-cased beetles, strange flowers which they wanted named, birds
which it was a delight to watch as they busied themselves about the
fruit and flowers of the trees at the forest edge.

"I shall be glad when they've done," said Joe at last, as they were
walking back to where Brazier stood leaning upon the muzzle of his gun.
"I am so hungry. Wonder whether these berries are good to eat!"

He turned aside into the bushes to begin picking some bright yellow
fruit, and scaring away a little parrot from the feast.

"I want something better than those," said Rob contemptuously; and he
went on, expecting that Joe was close behind.

All at once, when he was about twenty yards away from where Brazier was
standing, Rob saw him start, raise his gun, and cock it as he glared
wildly