the leaves of shrubs and grass to rest after
their long flight. The whole district where they had settled wore a
curious appearance, for they had cut the grass uniformly to one inch
from the ground.

The surface was covered with their small round grey exuvia. Had they
passed over any cultivated ground, as they do occasionally, the entire
crops of the farms would have been destroyed. They leave nothing green
behind them, and devour even such things as woollen garments, skins, and
leather, with the most astonishing rapidity. Though they fly very high
in the air when they are making their journeys, they pitch usually on
the ground, not touching the forests, or one could easily conceive that
they would in the course of a year or two strip the trees of their
leaves, and leave them with a thoroughly wintry aspect.

As, owing to the grasshoppers, we did not expect to obtain any game in
the open country, we returned to the wood, and were fortunate in killing
a number of wood-pigeons.

On our arrival at the camp, Martin and Robin shouted out to us that the
canoe was finished, and only required to have the seams gummed. This
task was soon accomplished; and as we were in a hurry to try the canoe,
Alick and I, lifting her up with the greatest ease, carried her down to
the bank. Without hesitation we stepped in and placed her on the water,
when she floated with perfect evenness.

"Hurrah!" exclaimed Martin, who stood on the bank, throwing up his cap
in his delight at the triumphant success of his undertaking; "I knew
she'd do! I knew she'd do!"

Bouncer, who had followed us down, apparently as much interested as any
one, leaped up on his hind legs, barking loudly; while Robin, who had
remained at the fire attending to the gum-pot, that we might stop any
leaks which were discovered, echoed our shouts. We had indeed reason to
congratulate ourselves, for though the canoe was not equal to the one we
had lost, yet it would answer our purpose, and convey us safely, we
hoped, to our destination. As it was too late to start that day, we
lifted her up again, and employed ourselves in finishing off two fresh
paddles, in lieu of those which had been lost.

We were very merry that evening, as it appeared to us that our
difficulties were well-nigh over. We had meat enough to last us for
some days, and we might reasonably expect to obtain as much as we could
want on the voyage by landing and spending a day or part of a day in
hu