180 MARTIN RATTLER.

main river after the first few days, but wound their
way, in a creeping, serpentine sort of fashion, through
small streams and lakes and swamps, from which the
light was partially excluded by the thick foliage of
the forest. It was a strange scene that illimitable
watery waste, and aroused new sensations in the
breasts of our travellers. As Barney said, it made
him “feel quite solemn-like and eerie to travel
through the woods by wather.”

The canoe was forced under branches and among
dense bushes till they got into a part where the trees
were loftier and a deep gloom prevailed. Here the
lowest branches were on a level with the surface of
the water, and many of them were putting forth
beautiful flowers. On one occasion they came to a
grove of small palms, which were so deep in the
water that the leaves were only a few feet above the
surface. Indeed, they were so low that one of them
caught Martin’s straw-hat and swept it overboard.

“Hallo! stop!” cried Martin, interrupting the
silence so suddenly that Grampus sprang up with a
growl, under the impression that game was in view,
and Marmoset scampered off behind a packing-box
with an angry shriek.

“ What’s wrong, lad ?” inquired Barney.

“Back water, quick! my hat’s overboard, and