202 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. their own présence, whilst theîr greatest safety lay in per- fect silence. Supper was prepared. There was lîttle need of cooktng. The meal, as before, consisted of preserved méat and biscuit Fresh water, which they flavoured with a few drops of mm, was obtained from an adjacent stream which trickled through the grass. By way of dessert they had an abundance of ripe mangoes, and the only drawback to their gênerai enjoyment was the discordant outcry which the parrots kept up, as it were in protest against the invasion of what they held to be their own rîghtful domain. It was nearly dark when supper was ended. The even- ing shade crept slowly upwards to the tops of the trees, which soon stood out in sharp relief against the lîghter background of the sky, whîle the stars, one by one, b^an to peep. The wind dropped, and ceased to murmur through the foliage ; to the gênerai relief, the parrots desisted from their clatter ; and as Nature hushed herself to rest, she seemed to bc inviting ail her children to follow her ex ample. " Had we not better light a good lai^e fire ?" asked Dick. " By no means," said Harris ; " the nîghts are not cold, and under this wide-sprcading mango the ground is not likely to be damp. Besides, as I hâve told you before, our best security consists in our taking care to attract no attention whatever from without" Mrs. Weldon interposed, — " It may bc true enough that wc hâve nothing to dread from the Indians, but is it certain that thcrc are no dangerous quadrupeds against which we are bound to be upon our guard ,' " Harris answcred, — " I can positivcly assure you, madam, that there are no animais hère but such as would be infinitely more afraid of you than you would be of them." "Are there any woods without wîld beasts ?" asked Jack. "Ail woods are not alike, my boy," replied Harris;
