r was still a goodly stream, and its muddy waters ran deep and
showed no sign of rock on either shore.

Day after day the same kind of thickly-wooded forest was seen on both
shores, until it became almost monotonous.

Now and then they saw a bare trunk, high up whose jagged, splintered
branches were marks--dried, muddy weeds and seeds--which still clung and
showed to what a marvellous height the river must rise at times, turning
the surrounding country for miles into one vast marsh.

"Fine river this, mister," said the captain one day, as they were
gliding slowly on, the pressure of the wind being just sufficient to
make the brig master the stream. "Plenty of water; no rocks. I think
it would be a bit different if it was up yonder where you come from."

"Yes," said Briscoe, smiling. "There'd be plenty of towns on the banks,
well-cultivated farms everywhere, and all kinds of plantations; and
instead of crawling along like this we should be travelling up in a
steamer."

"With plenty of niggers along the banks to cut down the forests for
burning in the engine fires, eh?" the captain asked.

"Yes; these forests would soon be put to some purpose, captain."

"Yes," said Sir Humphrey; "it must seem strange to you to sail on for
hundreds of miles through wild land and find it quite in a state of
nature. How much farther do you think we shall be able to sail up
here?"

The captain did not answer immediately, but smiled in a curiously grim
fashion. Then he said:

"If you'll tell me how long these favourable winds will last, sir: how
long we shall be without a storm in the mountains: and how long it will
be before we encounter rocks and falls, perhaps I can answer you; but
this is all as new to me as it is to you, and I cannot tell you anything
about what's going to happen to-morrow. But I suppose it don't matter
for a few weeks. You don't want to do any boat work till you get
better."

"That's true," said Sir Humphrey; "and it is very pleasant sailing up
between these wonderful banks of trees."

"Yes, very pleasant, sir; but it makes my crew so idle that I'm afraid
they won't understand the meaning of the word work, much less be able to
spell it when I want it done."

"Never mind, captain," said Brace. "Sail away: it's all so gloriously
new."

So they sailed on and on through what seemed to be eternal summer.

Now and then a shot was obtained, and some beautiful bird was collected,
or a loathsome reptile