he river proved to be fairly smooth and deep, so that the
work grew very light, and the only one on board who bemoaned their fate
was Brazier, who had to pass endless specimens which he could not have
for want of room.

"If I'm right in my calculations, Mr Rob, sir," said the old sailor one
morning, after many days' journey, "we shall hit the big river before
to-night, and not very far from the falls."

"What falls?" asked Rob.

"The great cat'ract which comes down a big gorge, which hasn't been
explored yet, and which we might as well try if Mr Brazier thinks good,
for I should say there's a deal to be seen in a land like that, where no
man has been as I've ever heered on."

"I'll ask Mr Brazier, and hear what he says," said Rob. But the
naturalist thought they had done enough for one trip.

The guide was right, for as evening drew near a peculiar dull, heavy
roar came to them on the wind, and this increased till it was felt to be
prudent to moor the boat for the night. The next morning the roar which
had been in their ears all night increased, and long before noon they
had glided imperceptibly into the great river, which here rushed along
so impetuously that much care was necessary in the navigation of their
overladen craft.

But the weather was calm, and the guide's knowledge of the management of
a boat as near perfection as could be, so that in due course, after
three or four more halts, they rowed one day close up among the shipping
lying off the city from which they had started, and here, while waiting
for an opportunity to take passage, with the great packages of plants
they had prepared, they found time to make short expeditions up the
river, one of which was to the mouth of the swift stream which swept off
west through the great veil of trees, and from which they had struck out
north and made quite a circuit through an unknown land.

A month later Brazier and Rob were once more on board Captain Ossolo's
great orange schooner, which, deeply laden as it was, found room for the
specimens collected amidst so much peril and care.

The hours and days flew swiftly now amid rest and ease, use making them
pay little heed to the constant ether-like odour of the orange cargo.
Then, after checks on sandbanks and hindrances from pamperos, Buenos
Ayres was touched at, then Monte Video, with its busy port.

Here there was a long halt before a passage could be taken east, and Rob
and Brazier had plenty of opportuni