tiously began to descend it to reach the river;
but all proved to be silent, and in spite of their caution not a bush
rustled, and their patient movements were in vain.

"I did expect a shot at something," said the elder officer in a
disappointed tone.

"Venison was too much," said Bobby. "I expected it would be a sneaking
leopard, or one of those doggy-looking monkeys."

"The baboons? Oh no; they'd be among the rocky hills. But you need not
be surprised, for this is the land of disappointments."

"Oh, I say, don't talk like that, Drew, old chap," said the younger
officer. "Fishermen have bad luck enough always, without your
prophesying ill before we begin."

"One can't help it out here. Hang it all! we've had nothing but
misfortunes ever since we came. Now then, you sit down on that rock,
and I'll sit on this."

"Why not keep close together?"

"Because if we do we shall be getting our lines tangled."

"Of course; I forgot that. Here, you'll want some bait."

The speaker took a small tin canister from his pocket, unscrewed the
lid, and made by the help of his pocket-knife a fair division of some
nasty, sticky-looking paste, which looked as if it would soon wash off
the hook upon which it was placed; and then the two fishermen separated
and took up their stations about fifty yards apart, the two stones
standing well out in the rapid current which washed around them and
proved advantageous, from the fact that they had only to drop the baited
hook into the water at their feet, when the swift stream bore it outward
and away, the fishers merely having to let out line and wait, watchful
and patient, for a bite.

It was very calm and beautiful in the bend of the river that they had
chosen. There was a faint breeze, apparently caused by the rush of the
stream, whose rippling amongst the stones with which the shore beneath
the cliff-like bank was strewed made pleasant music; and as soon as the
whole of the line was paid out the two young men sat silent and
watchful, waiting for the tug which should tell that there was a fish at
work. But a good ten minutes elapsed, and there was no sign.

"Humph!" grunted Dickenson, after his patience was exhausted. "No
mistake about there being fish here."

"How do you know?"

"One of them has taken my bait."

It was on Drew's lips to say, "Washed off by the stream;" but he
remained silent as he softly pulled in his own line, to find nothing but
the bare hook.

"Th