to flavour it. But what I want to find is some of those leaves they
make into South American tea."

Just then Shaddy smiled and rose to his knees, watching Brazier, who had
moved off thirty or forty yards away.

"What are you laughing at?" asked Rob.

"Mr Brazier's want of good manners, sir. Don't seem the thing for a
gen'leman like him to go washing his face and hands in his tea and
coffee-cup; now do it?"

"Plenty of room, Shaddy!" said Rob. "I'm going to follow his example."

He stretched out over the water from the bank, reached down his hands,
and began to bathe his face, the water feeling deliciously cool to his
brow and eyes as he scooped up handsful, and he was just revelling in an
extra good quantity, when he uttered an ejaculation of alarm, for he
felt himself seized by the collar as if he were about to be hurled into
the river, but it proved only to be Shaddy snatching him away.

"Why did you do that?" cried Rob angrily, as he pressed the water out of
his eyes and darted a resentful look at the big rough fellow, who stood
looking at him coolly.

"'Cause we wanted you to be useful, my lad, and because you didn't want
to go below yonder and feed the fishes," replied Shaddy, laughing.
"Didn't you see that 'gator?"

"No. Where? Was it near me?"

"Pretty near, sir. I happened to look, and saw him coming slowly nearer
and nearer, ready for making a dash at you, and as I'd neither gun nor
spear to tackle him, I had to pull you out of the way."

"Was it big?" said Rob, with a shudder.

"No, sir, only a little one, about six foot long, but quite strong
enough to have hung on and overbalanced you into the water, where there
would have been plenty more to help him. Now I tell you what, sir, Mr
Brazier had better be told to be careful," continued Shaddy. "Ah, he
sees danger; so it's all right."

For Brazier suddenly shrank away from the edge of the river, rose, and
called to them.

"Take care, Rob!" he shouted; "the water here swarms with alligators.
One little wretch was coming at me just now."

"Yes, sir, better mind!" cried Shaddy. "We've just had one here." Then
turning to Rob,--

"Now, Master Rob, sir, what do you say to our spending the day making
bows and arrows?"

"I'm ready."

"And perhaps, Mr Brazier, sir, you wouldn't mind trying for another
fish for dinner, in case we don't get our shooting tackle ready."

Brazier nodded, and soon after prepared to fish, but even in their
pec