across
and across in the fork of the tree, upon which he laid an abundance of
the smaller stuff, and by degrees formed a fairly level platform, upon
which he persuaded Brazier and Rob to lie down.

"I'll keep watch," he said, "and as soon as you are rested I'll have my
spell below."

They were so utterly wearied out that they gladly fell in with the old
sailor's plan, and dropped off almost as soon as they had stretched
themselves upon the boughs.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

REALITY OR A DREAM?

It was evening when Rob awoke, and found the guide waiting as he had
left him when he lay down.

"Only gone down about an inch, Mr Rob, sir," he said. "Feel as if you
could do your spell at the watch now?"

"Of course. But, Shaddy, I'm terribly hungry."

"So am I, sir. To-morrow morning we must see if we can't do something
to catch some fish."

"Why not to-night?"

Shaddy shook his head, lay down, and in a moment or two was breathing
heavily in a deep sleep.

"I can't watch all night without food," thought Rob, as he looked round
at the waste and wondered how soon the flood would go down. He knew
what food there was, and how it would have to be served, and longed for
his share; but felt that unless the others were present he could not
take his portion, though how he would be able to wait till morning was
more than he felt able to tell.

He looked up at the puma, to see that it had carefully lodged itself on
the upper fork, and was asleep. So was Mr Brazier. Only he was awake
and hungry. Yes, Brazier was, too, for he woke about then with a start,
to question Rob about the advance of time, and their position; ending,
as he heard that the flood had hardly sunk at all, by saying that they
would be compelled to watch fasting that night, so as to make the
provisions last longer.

Rob gave him an agonised look, and, plucking a twig, began to pick off
the leaves to chew them.

"I don't feel as if I could wait till to-morrow," he said faintly.

"It is a case of _must_," said Brazier. "Come, try a little fortitude,
my lad."

"But a little fortitude will not do," said Rob drily. "It seems to me
that we shall want so much of it."

"You know our position, Rob. There, lad; let's be trustful, and try and
hope. We may not have to wait longer than to-morrow for the subsiding
of the flood."

How that night passed neither of them knew, but at last the sun rose to
show that the waters, which had seemed to be al