112 MARTIN RATTLER.

« A-a-a-a-a—ah !” exclaimed the monkey.

A facetious smile overspread Barney’s face. “Och!
be all manes; the same to you, kindly,” said he,
taking off his hat and making a low bow.

The civility did not seem to be appreciated,
however; for the monkey put on a most indignant
frown and displayed a terrific double row of long
brilliant teeth and red gums, while it uttered a shriek
of passion, twisted its long tail round a branch, and
hurled itself, with a motion more like that of a bird
than a beast, into the midst of the tree and disappeared,
leaving Martin and Barney and the hermit each with
a very broad grin on his countenance.

The hunters now arrived at an open space where
there were several large umbrageous trees, and as it
was approaching mid-day they resolved to rest here
for a couple of hours. Birds and insects were
gradually becoming more and more silent, and soon
afterwards the only sounds that broke upon their ears
were the curious metallic notes of the urupongas, or
bell-birds, which were so like to the rapid beating of
a smith’s hammer on an anvil, that it was with the
greatest difficulty Barney was restrained from going
off by himself in search of the “smiddy.” Indeed he
began to suspect that the worthy hermit was deceiving

him, and was only fully convinced at last when he