soft as
those heaps of leaves, which we used to pile up beneath the trees for
our beds, and which we could not now introduce into the house for fear
of "making a litter." The prudent citizen--who, having at the
threatened approach of winter laid in a bountiful provision of wood and
coal, put up his hall-stoves and his double windows, now feels quite
ready, in the strength of anthracite and hickory, to snap his fingers in
the face of Jack Frost, and bid him do his worst--is not more impatient
to have the thermometer fall to the neighbourhood of zero, in order that
he may realise the comforts he has paid for, than were we for the advent
of such a storm, as would enable us to say to one another, "Ah! is it
not fortunate that we have a roof over our heads? What should we do
_now_, if we had not made timely preparation?"

Well, at last we had our wish. A shower came up one day, in the
afternoon, which did not cease in half an hour, as the previous ones had
done. On the contrary, when darkness came on the rain still continued
falling steadily, with no sign of abatement. Johnny was in ecstasies.
This was evidently no night for camping out; it was a night to justify
all our expenditure of labour, in planning and perfecting our dwelling.
We hung up every extra mat, and fastened them securely with the store of
wooden pegs and pins prepared for that purpose. To be sure, we were in
complete darkness, but then we were perfectly snug and comfortable; and
what a luxury, to lie sheltered from the storm, and listen to the
pattering of the rain upon the root and the dismal sound of the water
dripping from the eaves!

The second morning after this rain-storm, which had so pleasantly tested
the qualities of our dwelling, we started, under Max's guidance, to make
an excursion to that part of the island, to the south-east of
Castle-hill, of which he had given so glowing an account. After half an
hour's toilsome march over uneven ground, we entered a grove, which, to
Johnny's great exultation, was composed almost entirely of bread-fruit
trees. They grew with much regularity, at almost equal distances, so as
to form broad straight avenues, overarched by a canopy of spreading
branches and dark glossy leaves. Vistas of shapely diamond-chequered
trunks stretched away in every direction, in long and shady perspective.
Among the dense masses of foliage, hung a profusion of large globes, of
a light-delicate green, or a golden yellow, the s