In spite of the risks run from the ravenous reptiles, whose daring
proved that they had a hard struggle for existence, familiarity soon
bred contempt, and the sailors laughed, as they proceeded up the
beautiful river, at perils which not many days before would have made
them turn pale.
For they were enjoying an excursion that seemed to present fresh
beauties at every yard. As a rule the forest came down to the flowing
water on both sides in waves of verdure, with grand trees which every
now and then presented the aspect of some gorgeous flower garden, here
red, there blue, at other times in lovely wreaths of white, while it
seemed, Joe Cross said to the lads, as if one of the blossoming trees
took flight every now and then and came skimming over the boat, filling
the sky with flowers, so beautiful were the flocks of parrots and other
birds that, apparently attracted by the strangers, flew screaming and
whistling overhead.
There was no question about getting a shot at some beautiful green and
orange long-tailed paroquet, or at one of the soft grey scarlet-tailed
parrots which, as they flew across the river, shrieking at those who had
interrupted their solitude, gave place to others of a delicate pink; but
upon seeing Rodd raise his gun, the Spaniard laughed and said--
"Never mind them. I could fill my schooner with those things at any
time. You wait till we get up into the little side river. There will
be something better worth shooting then; or perhaps you would like to
kill a few as you are coming back."
"Yes, Rodd," said the doctor; "that would be wiser, my lad."
"But suppose we don't see them as we come back," said the lad.
"Not see them?" said the Spaniard, laughing. "Why, the country's alive
with them!"
Then as the party sated their eyes upon the various objects they passed,
a light soft breeze arose when they turned into a bend of the river, and
the Spaniard expressed his satisfaction, and suggested that the sail
should be hoisted.
This was rapidly done, the oars were laid in, and Joe Cross came aft to
preside at the newly-shipped rudder, while all through the rest of the
day, and after the tide had run its course and become adverse, they
tacked from side to side, or glided onward with the wind astern, the men
only having at very rare intervals to take to their oars.
It was soon after mid-day that the doctor proposed that the boat should
be run ashore and that they should land to dine at a lovely park-like
opening where the dense portion of the forest had receded farther from
the bank; but the Spaniard shook his head.
"No," he said, "don't do that. It looks very nice, but it isn't safe.
There are the crocodiles basking about the bank, snakes and serpents
nearly everywhere, and the leopards and other great cats hanging about
among the trees. Keep aboard. It's safer here."
"He means to take care of us, Morny," said Rodd, in French, and directly
after he gave his companion a meaning look, for the Spanish skipper
turned to the doctor and said--
"Tell your men to have their guns handy."
"What for?" said the doctor. "Do you scent danger?"
"Nothing particular," replied the man, "but up here in these parts you
never know what may happen next. Something may come just when you think
you are safe, and it's best to be always ready."
So that and the following meal were eaten in the boat, which just before
dark was at the Spaniard's suggestion run up into a calm reach where the
forest had become very distant, while the river seemed to have widened
out to double its former size.
Here he proposed that they should anchor for the night and wait for the
morning before continuing their journey.
This was disappointing to the lads, who looked longingly at the shore,
while Rodd suggested that there were several places that looked level,
and where it would be easy to rig up a tent where they might sleep.