o directing all its efforts in the
way of growth upward toward the sun.

Brazier noticed Rob's looks, and laid his hand upon the lad's shoulder.

"I don't think we need fear any attack from that, Rob," he said, "for
the water, if it goes on rising like this, will soon be between us, and
I don't suppose the serpent will leave one tree to get up into another."

"Not it, sir," interposed Shaddy; "and, excuse me, let's be sharp, for
the water's coming down from miles away on the high ground, and it will
be over here before long. Look at that!"

They were already looking at a great wave sweeping down the furious
river, which was covered with boughs and trees, the latter rolling over
and over in the swift current, now showing their rugged earth and
stone-filled roots, now their boughs, from which the foliage and twigs
were rapidly being stripped.

"Why, it's right over our kitchen now."

"And will carry away my pots!" cried Rob, running away to save the
treasures which had caused him so much trouble to make.

"Look sharp, sir!" cried Shaddy; "here's quite a torrent coming. We'll
make for the tree at once, or we shall be lost once more."

"All right!" cried Rob, as he ran to the far edge of their fireplace,
where the boughs and pieces of wood collected for fuel were beginning to
sail away, and he had just time to seize one great rough pot as it began
to float, when a wave curled over toward the other and covered the lad's
feet.

But he snatched up the vessel and hurried toward the tree in which the
puma was curled up, Brazier and Shaddy following, with the little food
they had left, and none too soon. They handed Rob's two pieces of
earthenware up to him, and then joined him in the fork of the tree.

The water was by now lapping softly about its foot, but from time to
time a wave came sweeping down the river as if sudden influxes of water
kept on rushing in higher up to increase the flood, and in consequence
ring after ring or curve of water swept over the land, gliding now up
amongst the trees of the forest, penetrating farther and farther each
time, and threatening that the whole of the country through which the
river passed would be flooded for miles.

The puma snarled and looked fierce as the two men followed Rob, but it
contented itself with a fresh position, higher up in a secondary fork of
the tree, where it crouched, glaring down at those below, but hardly
noticed, for, after recovering their belongings,