iece.

"No, no; don't shoot," said Poole softly. "It isn't good to eat, and we
might be giving the alarm."

Fitz lowered the double gun with a sigh, and the boat glided on, sending
the rushing water in a wave to go lapping amongst the bushes that
overhung from the bank, and directly after the serpent knot was hidden
by the leaves.

The rapid little river wound here and there, and they went on mile after
mile, with the steamy heat growing at times almost unbearable. But the
men did not murmur, tugging away at their oars and seeming to enjoy the
beauty of the many scenes through which they passed, for every now and
then the river widened out, to look like some shut-in lake. And so mile
after mile was passed, no spot where they could land presenting itself
in the dense jungle which covered the banks, and it was not till
afternoon that at a sudden turn they came upon an opening which had
evidently been produced by the axe, while a short distance farther on at
a word from the skipper the progress of the boat was checked at a
roughly-made pier of piles driven into the mud, to which were pinned
huge sticks of timber, beyond which was a rough corduroy road leading
evidently to something in the way of civilisation.

"It must be up here somewhere, boys," said the skipper. "Two of you
stop as keepers, my lads, while we land and go and see. The hacienda
must certainly be hereabouts from the description Don Ramon gave;" and
as all stepped on to the rough timber pier, the skipper instructed the
boat-keepers to get well under shelter out of the sun and to keep strict
watch, before leading the way along the wooded road through the thick
growth which had newly sprung up amongst the butts of the great trees
that had been felled or burned off level with the soil.

It must not be judged from this, that it was any scene of desolation,
for every stump and relic of fallen tree was ornamented with lovely
orchids, or wreathed with tangling vines. Butterflies of the most vivid
hues fluttered here and there in the glorious sunshine, while
humming-birds literally flashed as they darted by.

The clearing had evidently been the work of many men, and it was plain
to see what the place must have been before the axe was introduced, by
the dense mass of giant trees that stood up untouched a couple of
hundred yards on either side--the primaeval forest in its glory,
untouched by man.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

A NIGHT WATCH.

It was not m