One evening a tremendous storm of wind and rain, with the accompaniments
of thunder and lightning of the most awe-inspiring nature, gave them a
lesson in the weakness of their shelter-place, for the water swept
through in a deluge, and after a terrible night they gazed in dismay at
the river, which was running swiftly nearly up to the place where they
kept their fire going. That the flood was increasing they had not the
slightest doubt, and it promised before long to be right over where they
stood, fortunately now in the brilliant sunshine, which rapidly dried
their clothes and gave them hope as well.

"We shall have to go inland and seek higher ground," Mr Brazier said at
last.

"And where are you going to find it, sir?" said Shaddy rather gruffly.
"There's high land away back on the far side of the river, but we can't
get there, and all out as far as I've been on this is one dead level.
Look yonder; there's a lesson for us what to do if it gets much worse,"
he continued, pointing toward a great tree at the edge of the forest.

"Yes," said Rob as he watched a little flock of green-and-scarlet
parrots circling round and perching in the upper branches, "but we have
no wings, Shaddy."

"No, my lad, and never will have; but I didn't mean that. Look a bit
lower."

"Oh, you mean in that next tree. Ugh! how horrible!" cried Rob, with a
shudder. "Has that been driven here by the water?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir. I mean that tree I
pointed to. Look there in the fork."

"Yes; I can see it, Rob," said Mr Brazier. "It's comfortably asleep.
We must do as it does. Not the first time an animal has given men a
lesson."

Rob stared from one to the other as if wondering why they did not see
with his eyes.

"Can't you see it, Rob--your puma?"

"Eh? Oh yes, I see him now, but I meant in the other tree. Look! the
great brute is all in motion. Why, it's a perfect monster!"

"Phew!" whistled Shad; "I didn't see it. Look, Mr Brazier, sir. That
is something like a snake."

He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the
boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find
a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had
driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

"What shall we do, Shaddy?" whispered Rob. "Why, that must be nearly
sixty feet long."

"It's nearer two foot long, Mr Rob, sir. My word! how people's eyes do