ventures, when he expressed his wish that
we should hang up our hammocks, as it was past his usual hour for
retiring to rest. This was an operation quickly performed, as we had
only to secure them in the usual way to the posts which supported the
roof.

"We should not part," said Ellen, somewhat timidly, "without our usual
prayer; and we have cause to thank God for our preservation from
danger."

The recluse looked at her fixedly. "You are in earnest, I am sure," he
muttered. "Pray, young people, do not depart from your usual custom; I
will wait for you."

Arthur, I should have said, though the youngest, always led us in
prayer. "As he is absent," I remarked to Ellen's request, "I will do
so."

"Oh, you have a young chaplain with you," said the recluse; "and what
pay does he receive?"

"None at all, sir," answered Ellen. "He is only earnest and good."

"I should like to meet him," said the recluse.

"I hope you may, sir," said Ellen, "if you come with us."

A short prayer was offered up. I spoke with the earnestness I felt.
Ellen then read a portion of Scripture from the Bible she had always at
hand in her trunk. Our host listened attentively, his eyes fixed on our
young sister. I had not observed a copy of the blessed Book on his
shelves. He made no remark, however, on the subject, but I thought his
tone was less morose than before.

We were soon in our hammocks, a small oil lamp, which was kept burning
on the table, throwing a subdued light through the chamber. True, I
should have said, from our first meeting with the stranger, had eyed him
askance, having apparently some doubts as to his character. He now came
and coiled himself up in his usual position under my hammock. He had
kept as far off from him as he could during the evening, and did not
seem satisfied till the tall figure of the recluse was stretched out in
his hammock near the entrance of the hut. The rain pattering overhead,
and splashing down on the soft ground round us, kept me for some time
awake. It ceased at length, and soon afterwards, just as I was dropping
off to sleep, a chorus of hideous sounds commenced, coming apparently
from no great distance in the forest. Now they resembled the cries and
groans of a number of people in distress. Now it seemed as if a whole
troop of jaguars were growling and snarling over their prey. Now it
seemed as if a company of Brobdignag cats were singing a serenade. Now
the sounds for a mo