ery
likely change our tune.

"That you would, young gentlemen," observed Fleming. "Remember that
you've only seen the bright side of life as yet. There's a dark side as
well, and you should be prepared for it when it comes, otherwise you
won't be fit to meet it like men. Don't go on fancying that the sun is
always to shine on you, and that you are always to be warm and
comfortable, and to have plenty of money in your pockets, and no
troubles and sorrows, and pains and sicknesses. You'll have your share,
and it is better that you should depend on it, not to make you value
this world too much."

"I say, Fleming, don't preach--there's a good fellow!" exclaimed Jerry.
"I want just now to enjoy my slice of guanaco. I know what you say is
very true, and I'll remember and think about it by-and-by."

Fleming might have made further remarks on the subject, had not a faint
shout, as if from a distance, reached our ears. We listened. Could it
be from Indians or robbers? Jerry put his hand to the top of his head.
"Oh, my scalp!" said he; "it feels very uncomfortable already." Again
the shout reached us. We shouted in return. We had little doubt that
it was raised by the doctor and his companions. Soon they emerged out
of the darkness laden with all sorts of specimens of natural history.
We crowed over them, however, for they had not killed either a guanaco
or a puma. They could not doubt our assertions, as they had proof in
the slices of the former which we cooked for them. Fleming and Old
Surley, too, showed the marks of their encounter with the puma; and we
got great credit for having killed him. We were a very merry party as
we drew round the fire recounting our adventures; and Surley sat up
looking as wise as any of us, and if he could but have put his words
together, he would have told as good a story as any of us. At all
events, he dogfully played his part at the feast, and ate up with
evident relish all the scraps of guanaco flesh which we gave him. Mr
McRitchie was as satisfied as we were with the result of his day's
excursion; and as we had an abundant supply of everything to make the
inner man comfortable, and good cloaks to keep the outer warm, we were
all very happy. Our guide talked a good deal, though no one but Tom
Carver understood a word he said. Tom and Fleming, however, spun the
longest yarns, all about Lord Cochrane and all the wonders he had done,
and how from his daring and bravery he mad