e he rapidly cleaned the fish, treated them as before, and
placed them in the embers, which were glowing still.

While the fish cooked Shaddy busied himself in crushing some of the nuts
by using one stone as a hammer, another as an anvil, and some of them he
set to roast by way of a change.

By the time the fish were ready the sun was rapidly going down, and when
the meal was at an end--a meal so delicious, in spite of the
surroundings, that it was eaten with the greatest of enjoyment--it was
too dark to see about bows and arrows, and the disposition of all three
was for sleep.

So the boughs collected on the previous night were carried in beneath
the shelter and made into beds, upon which, after well making up the
fire, all stretched themselves, and, utterly wearied out by the arduous
toil of the day, fell asleep at once, in spite of the chorus of
nocturnal creatures around, among which a couple of cicadas settled in
their rudely made roof and kept up a harsh chirping loud enough to have
kept awake any one who had not gone through as much work as two ordinary
men.

"But it can't be morning," thought Rob as he was awakened by Shaddy
touching him on the shoulder, and then he uttered his thought aloud.

"Well, if it ain't, my lad, the sun's made a mistake, for he'll be up
directly. Coming out?"

"Yes; wait till I wake Mr Brazier."

"Nay; let him be till we've got breakfast ready, my lad. He looked
regularly done up last night. He can't bear it all like young chaps
such as we."

Rob laughed, and then a cloud came over him as he stepped out into the
soft grey morning, for he had caught sight of the hurrying river, and
this brought up the boat and the loss of his companion and friend.

"Look here, Mr Rob," said Shaddy, changing the current of the boy's
thoughts directly, "I've been thinking out that bow and arrow business."

"Yes, Shaddy."

"And I've found out some splendid tackle for making arrows."

"What! this morning? Then you have been out and about!"

"Yes, soon as I could see my way. I found a bed of reeds which will
make capital arrows with a point of hard wood a bit burned, and there's
no end of 'em, so there's our shot all straight as--well, as arrows.
Now you and I are going to get a fish and put him to cook, and after
that we'll try and find a bit of wood good enough for a bow."

"And where's your string, Shaddy?"

"Round your neck, sir. You don't think you're going to indulge in such
lux