e action of the whirling current sufficed to suck the bait right
down, while Brazier and Rob looked on with the interest of those who
depended upon success to give them the food from the want of which they
were suffering keenly.

"Now then," said Shaddy cheerfully, "if the bait don't come off, if a
fish takes it, if there are any here, if the hook don't break and the
line give way, I may catch our breakfast. Plenty of ifs, Mr Rob, sir!
Remember the big doradoes we caught up yonder?"

"Oh, if you could catch one now!" replied the lad.

"Ah, if I could, sir! Perhaps I shall, but I don't want a big one. Now
for it!"

A quarter of an hour passed away, during which time Shaddy pulled up and
examined his bait twice, to see if it was safe, but there was no sign of
fish there, though out in mid-stream and toward the farther shore there
was evidently abundance, the water being disturbed and some big fellow
springing out every now and then, to come down with a mighty splash,
scattering the sparkling drops in all directions.

"I shall have to come down to a toe, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy grimly.
"The fish don't seem to care for fruit so early in the morning. It's
all very well for dessert, but they like a substantial meal first. Now
then, get your knife ready. Whose is it to be? Shall we pull straws
for the lot?"

"Try a little farther this way, Shaddy," said Rob, ignoring the remark.

"Right, sir! I will," said Shaddy, shifting the position of his bait,
"but it strikes me we've got into a 'gator hole, and consequently
there's no fish."

"Do you think they can see you?"

"No, sir. Water's too thick. Look yonder."

"What at?"

"Monkeys in that tree watching us. Now if you'd got a bow and arrows
you might bring one or two down."

"What for?"

"What for, my lad?" cried the guide in astonishment. "And he asks what
for, when we're all starving. Why, to eat, of course."

"Ugh! I'm not so hungry as that!" cried Rob, with a shudder.

"You ain't? Well, my lad, I am, and so I tell you. They're capital
eating. Why, I remember once when I was up the river with a party we
all had--A fish! a fish!" he cried as upon raising his line, to see if
the bait were all right, he suddenly felt a fierce tug; and the next
minute the pool began to be agitated in a peculiar way.

"Here, Mr Rob, I'm going to hand you the line, and you've got to run
him out at once upon the bank. If I try to play him he's sure to go.
Ther