with the birds.

There were times when it seemed as if the channel was literally blocked
with them, and as the boat advanced they dived under the surface or flew
with harsh, discordant cries past the travelers' heads.

There were tantales with hard, crooked beaks, white heron, the
spoon-bill with pink plumage, long necked flamingoes with flaming wings,
cranes on their stilt-like legs, and teal and ducks in greatest variety.

Only once did Cummings allow any shooting to be done, and then it was to
bring down a jacana that the boys might see the long spur, sharp as
steel, which nature has placed under the wing, thus rendering him a
formidable antagonist even to the boa.

For the noon-day meal there was plenty of provisions left from
breakfast, and while the canoe was being borne along by the current at
the rate of three or four miles per hour, the little party regaled
themselves with meat or fruit as fancy dictated.

When the sun was within an hour of sinking behind the trees the word to
halt was given, and that they had covered a long distance since morning
could be told from the alligators and the turtles which were so numerous
as to often render navigation dangerous.

"You will indulge in no more baths this side of Progresso," Cummings
said, as the boys leaped ashore just as the long snout of an alligator
appeared at the very edge of the water, its owner waiting in the hope
that by falling overboard some of the boatmen would provide him with a
supper. "The presence of these fellows shows that we are nearing the
coast, and if they will give us half a chance you shall know the taste
of fresh water turtle, which is much finer than that of their cousins
from the sea."

It would have been a very agile alligator who could have stopped Poyor
in his search for a toothsome morsel, and in a short time two, known as
hicoteas, were roasting in the midst of a roaring fire.

"While a fellow is traveling in this manner he can't complain of the
bill of fare," Jake said, in a tone of most perfect content, as he
helped himself to another portion of the turtle. "With a different kind
of food at each meal, and all of the primest quality, we ought to grow
fat."

"More especially since you are not obliged to exert yourself in the
slightest," Teddy added with a laugh.

"There's a good deal in that also, though I never refuse to do my share
of the work."

"Except when you feel very tired."

"Well a man must take care of himself