pushing them easily aside as she
drove through them, while they closed up again behind her, effectually
screening her from view from the river, and as effectually obliterating
the track which she had temporarily made through them.

CHAPTER NINE.

HOW PHIL AND DICK VOYAGED UP THE MAGDALENA.

"There, now, what did I tell you?" demanded Stukely, triumphantly, as
the boat slid easily through the reeds and glided alongside a smooth,
grassy bank, the top of which was scarcely a foot above the surface of
the river. "Now," he continued, "if we lower the sail and unstep the
mast, we may remain here as long as we please, undetected."

Indeed the statement was strictly true; for, having lowered the sail and
unshipped the mast, they stepped ashore upon a smooth, grassy lawn, of
some four acres in extent, completely hidden from the river by the
screen of tall reeds, the feathery tops of which rose some ten feet
above the water's surface, while inland it was completely encircled by a
belt of forest the undergrowth of which was so dense as to be absolutely
impenetrable by man without the aid of axes or other hewing implements.
The lawn was thickly dotted with trees and shrubs of various kinds, amid
which was conspicuous the tree which Stukely had asserted was good for
the making of bows; and many of the trees were fruit bearers, among them
being bananas, pawpaws, guavas, mangoes, and other excellent varieties.

Dick stared about him in amazement as he stepped ashore, taking the
boat's painter with him and making it fast to a sturdy bush which grew
conveniently close to the water's edge. "Well," he said, in answer to
Stukely's question, "you were perfectly right, however you came by your
knowledge. And, as to remaining here--well, I think we might do worse.
We ought to accustom ourselves gradually to the outdoor, semi-savage
life which will henceforth be ours; and I think we cannot do better than
begin here. And that reminds me that I have not yet breakfasted, while
yonder I see some bananas that appear to have reached the very pink of
perfection. Are you hungry, Phil?"

"I am," answered Stukely, with emphasis; "and we have a full larder, it
seems; so help yourself, lad. At present we shall be obliged to content
ourselves with an exclusively fruit diet; but in the course of a few
days, when we have provided ourselves with bows and arrows, we can vary
it a little by adding an occasional venison steak, or a parrot or two.