is scene is absolutely familiar to
me; I seem to have gazed upon it--or upon something precisely similar to
it in every respect, thousands of times before. Look at those gigantic
ceibas yonder; those long, trailing ropes of purple orchids; see those
flamingoes with their scarlet, black-barred wings, their long thin legs,
and their curiously twisted beaks; observe those graceful white birds
with their handsome crested heads; ay, and even the very monkeys
swinging down by the creepers to dip up the water and drink it out of
the palms of their hands; it is all much more familiar and homelike to
me than ever was the scenery of Devon. Yet I have never been here
before, unless indeed it has been in my dreams. But could a dream, or
even a series of dreams, impart to me the perfect knowledge that I seem
to possess of everything upon which my eye rests? Now, yonder, for
instance, is a tree out of which I used to make--I mean that in some
strange way I seem to know that splendid bows can be made out of the
wood of that particular tree; and there, growing close beneath its
shade, in the water, is a clump of rushes which, when dried in the sun,
make perfect shafts for arrows. And that reminds me, Dick, that, since
we must save our powder and shot for very special occasions, we ought to
provide ourselves with bows and a good stock of arrows, if only to
enable us to procure game. Now, I know perfectly well, in some
mysterious manner, how to make bows and arrows; and since the materials
for making both are at this moment before our eyes, we ought to avail
ourselves of the opportunity. Don't you think so?"

"Certainly," answered Dick. "Though what you mean by saying that you
know what particular kinds of trees make the best bows, and all the rest
of it, I confess I don't understand."

"Nor do I," admitted Stukely. "But, all the same, I possess the
knowledge, however strange it may appear; and perhaps, later on,
understanding will come to me. Now, there is a good place to land,
among the reeds; push the boat in through them, Dick; we shall find the
bank low just there, with water enough for the boat alongside it."

"Now, how can you possibly know that?" demanded Dick. "Nevertheless,"
he continued, "we will try, because it will afford an excellent
opportunity to test the accuracy of your boasted knowledge." And he put
the helm up and headed the boat straight for the reeds, into the midst
of which she plunged a minute later,