lking and fighting
our way through the tangle."

Rob noted his companion's careful management, and that whenever they had
to pass round a tree which stood right in their way Shaddy was very
exact about starting afresh exactly straight, and after a time in making
off again to their left, so as to hit the river near the clearing. But
for some time they found nothing to take their attention.

"And that's the way of it," said Shaddy in reply to an observation of
Rob's. "You generally find what you are not looking for. Now, if we
wanted plenty of fine hardwood timber, here it is, and worth fortunes in
London town, and worth nothing here. I'd give the lot, Mr Rob, for one
of our fine old Devonshire apple-trees, well loaded down with
yellow-faced, red-cheeked pippins, though even then we've no flour to
make a dumpling."

"And no saucepan to cook it in."

"Oh, we could do without that, my lad. Worse things than baked
dumplings."

"Are we going right, Shaddy?" said Rob suddenly.

The old sailor took an observation, as he called it, before he answered,
so as to make sure.

"Yes," he said thoughtfully, "and if we keep straight on we shall hit
the clearing. Strikes me that if we go pretty straight we shall come
upon Mr Brazier loaded down to sinking point with plants, and glad of a
bit of help to carry 'em. Don't you be down-hearted, sir! This is a
bit of experience; and here we are! something at last."

As he spoke he pointed to a tree where the sun penetrated a little, and
they could see that it was swarming with small birds evidently busy over
the fruit it bore. Shaddy was pressing forward, but Rob caught his arm.

"What is it, lad?"

"Look!" whispered Rob. "What's that?"

"Eh? Where? See a tiger?"

"No, that horrible-looking thing walking along the branch. It has gone
now."

"Ugly monkey?"

"Oh no," whispered Rob, "a curious creature. Alligators don't climb
trees, do they?"

"Never saw one," said Shaddy. "Might if they were taught, but it
wouldn't be a pleasant job to teach one. Well, where is it?"

"Gone," whispered Rob. "No; there it is on that branch where it is so
dark."

"I see him," said Shaddy in a subdued tone. "Ought to have known. Now
then, your bow and arrows! That's a skinful of good meat for us. You
won't mind shooting that?"

"No," said Rob, quickly fitting an arrow to the string, "I don't mind
shooting that. But not to eat, thank you."

"You will not be so particul