a moment."

_Mother._--"Thank you very much, Madame, for your very kind interest. Be
assured I will do nothing rashly. What do you say, captain?"

_Capt._--"Why I must say, Madam, every day I live with you ladies adds
to my wonderment. You are no ladies, but brave fine warriors, and
nothing will daunt you. There is not a man in the world has such a soul
as she has," pointing to Schillie. "I'll wager my mither's silver punch
bowl that she's afraid of nothing. You can fire a gun, no doubt, Ma'am?"

_Oscar._--"Yes, to be sure, and a pistol too, and she can load them
also."

_Capt._ (gazing at her with great admiration).--"Well then, she's as
good as another man. There will be Smart and her, and as you must go
quietly, they will be quite enough."

The three girls exclaimed, "But we want to go, captain; we don't fear
anything, and we will be very brave. If you show us how to fire off a
gun, we will do it."

_Schillie._--"Pooh, pooh, girls. I should like to know what peace and
quiet there would be with you three magpies after us."

_Mother._--"I don't see the advantage of going quietly; though I hope we
shall do so peaceably. I think the larger the party the better; and I
therefore propose that Hargrave and Jenny cook the dinner wanted here,
and by that means Benjie can be spared, who will be very useful, as he
is acquainted with the bush and all the things about these places of
which we are ignorant. Therefore, let Smart and Benjie go first, you
next, then the three girls and Oscar and I will bring up the rear."

Schillie was about making a remonstrance, when we were interrupted by a
burst of weeping, most outrageous in its noise; and, between sobs and
passion, Felix blurted forth his indignation and disappointment at not
being included in the party. Taking him up from the ground, where he had
thrown himself in his passion, the good captain tried to console
him--"Come now, come, my little man, don't fret so. Don't you know we
want you here. How could the dear little girls and the good old lady do
without such a grand protector as you."

_Felix_ (blubbering).--"I hate taking care of girls, they do such silly
work, and I won't take care of Madame; and if lions and tigers come,
they may kill them themselves, for I won't do it for any of them."

Even the too indulgent Mother could not help laughing at the absurdity
of such a frit killing tigers and lions, looking not much bigger than an
impudent monkey. Fresh tears f