my uncle suggested that we
should kindle a small one, the light from which would enable us to
obtain fuel with greater ease. We followed his advice, and in a short
time had collected dried branches sufficient, as we hoped, to keep the
fire burning during the night.

The men then began to cry out for something to eat, when Uncle Denis
remembered that he had a tin of biscuits and a case of wine, which he
had brought for emergencies. We had a tin cup and a small breaker; but
the men, supposing that they would not be long absent from the schooner,
had neglected to fill it with water, while that in the stream, as the
tide was then rising, was brackish. They continued grumbling for some
time, till Uncle Denis produced the biscuits and a bottle of wine, which
he divided among them and ourselves. Our scanty supper being finished,
the men threw themselves down by the side of the fire, hoping that the
smoke would keep off the mosquitoes, which swarmed round us in myriads.

"Hallo, my lads!" observed Uncle Denis; "you take things too easily. We
must set a watch, or our fire will go out, and by the morning some one
among us may have lost the number of his mess."

This hint aroused them, and they agreed that we should each keep watch
for two hours at a time, and draw lots who should keep the first watch.
The lot fell upon me. So, while the rest of the party lay down, I stuck
a brace of pistols in my belt, took a fowling-piece in my hand, and
prepared to do the duty of a sentry.

The scene to me was strange and novel. The dark forest towering above
our heads, the flickering flames casting an uncertain light on the giant
trunks, and the tracery of sepos or twisting vines, which interlaced the
branches and hung down in festoons and ropelike lines to the ground,
along which they ran, often assuming the appearance of huge serpents;
indeed, more than once, as I paced up and down, I could not help
fancying that an anaconda, or boa-constrictor, or rattlesnake was
creeping towards us. In the centre of the small open space was the
fire, with my companions sleeping round it; near them the pile of
baggage and the overturned boat; while the dark stream flowed by with a
murmuring sound. Beyond, though we were sheltered from the wind, I
could see the lofty summits of the trees waving in the gale, which
howled amid their branches, making them rattle and creak; while from the
depths of the forest came strange unearthly cries. At first