Wishing to ascertain the coastwise dimensions of the island, and also the approaches to it from sea, they directed their course along the hard, smooth beach, occasionally ascending the bluff for the purpose of observing the adjacent country. Their rate of traveling was at first intentionally slow, for they were both pedestrians enough to know that the more slowly a journey is commenced, the more likely it is to be comfortably continued.

At the end of six miles they plainly discerned the southern extremity of the island, lying a mile beyond, and marked by a high bank of sand, thrown up in such profusion as almost to smother a group of dwarfed, illformed cedars. Beyond the bluff they saw the river setting eastward from the sea, and bordered on its further side with a dense growth of mangroves. Satisfied with this discovery, and observing that, after proceeding inland for a few miles, the river bent suddenly to the north, they turned their faces eastward, resolved to strike for some point upon the bank. The sterile soil of the beach, and its overhanging bluff, which was varied only by an occasional clump of cedars and a patch of prickly pears, with now and then a tall palmetto, that stood as a gigantic sentry over its pigmy companions, was exchanged, as they receded from the coast, first for a thick undergrowth of low shrubs and a small variety of oak, then for trees still larger, which were often covered with vines, whose pendant branches were loaded with clusters of purple grapes. At about the middle of the island the surface made a sudden ascent, assuming the peculiar character known as "hummock," and which, to un

practiced eyes, looks like a swamp upon an elevated ridge.

Before leaving the beach the boys had quenched their thirst at a spring of cool, fresh water, found by digging in the sand at high water mark; but now the clusters of grapes were too tempting to be resisted. They seated themselves under a heavy canopy of vines, and ate their frugal dinner in sight of a luscious dessert, hanging all around and above them.

Resuming their journey to the east, they proceeded about a mile farther, when Mum, who had trotted along with quite a philosophic air, as if knowing that his masters were engaged in something else than hunting, was seen to dash forward a few steps, smell here and there intently, and then with a growl of warning, come beside his masters for protection.

"That is a panther, I'll warrant," said Robert. "At least Mum acted exactly in that way the other day when I put him upon the panther's track. Had we not better avoid it?"

"By no means," replied Harold. "Let us see what the creature is. We are on an exploring tour, you know, and that includes animals as well as land and trees. A panther is a cowardly animal, unless it has very greatly the advantage; and if you could conquer one with a single load of duck shot when alone and surprised, surely we two can manage another."

"Yes," said Robert, "but, I assure you, my success was more from accident than skill; and I would rather not try it again. However, it will do no harm to push on cautiously, and see what sort of neighbors we have."

They patted their dog, and gave him a word of encouragement. The brave fellow looked up, as if to remonstrate against the dangerous undertaking, but, on their persisting, went cheerfully upon the trail. He took good care, however, to move very slowly, and to keep but little in advance of the guns. The two boys walked abreast, keeping their pieces ready for instant use, and proceeded thus for about fifteen minutes, when their dog came to a sudden halt, bristled from head to tail, and with a fierce growl showed his teeth; while from a thicket, not ten paces distant, there issued a deep grumbling sound, expressive of defiance and deadly hate. Harold stooped quickly behind the dog, and saw an enormous she-bear, accompanied by two cubs that were running beyond her, while she turned to keep the pursuers at bay.

"We must be cautious, Robert," said Harold; "a bear with cubs is not to be trifled with. We must either let her alone, or follow at a respectful distance. What shall we do? She has a den somewhere near at hand, and no doubt is making for it."

Robert was not very anxious for an acquaintance with so rough a neighbor, but, before the fearless eye of his cousin, every feeling of trepidation subsided. The two followed, governing themselves by the cautious movements of their dog, and able to catch only a casual glimpse of the bear and her cubs, until they came within thirty paces of a tulip tree, five feet in diameter, with a hollow base, into which opened a hole large enough to admit the fugitives.

"There, now, is the country residence of Madame

Bruin," said Robert, stopping at a distance to reconnoiter the premises. "Shall we knock at her door, and ask how the family are?"

"I think not," replied Harold; "the old lady is rather cross sometimes, and I suspect from the tones of her voice she is not in the sweetest humor at present. Take care, Robert, she is coming! Climb that sapling! Quick! Quick!"

The boys each clambered into a small tree, and as soon as they were well established, Harold remarked: "Now let her come, if she loves shot. A bear cannot climb a sapling. Her arms are too stiff to grasp it; she needs a tree large enough to fill her hug."

But Madame Bruin, like the rest of her kin, was a peaceable old lady, not at all disposed to trouble those that let her alone, and on the present occasion she had two sweet little cherubs, whose comfort depended upon her safety; so she contented herself with going simply to her front door, and requesting her impertinent visitors to leave the premises. This request was couched in language which, though not English, nor remarkably polite, was perfectly intelligible.

"I suppose we shall have to go now," said Harold; "it will not be civil to keep prying into the old lady's chamber. But when Sam can join us, we will come prepared to make bacon of her and pets of her cubs."

They called off the dog, patted him in praise of his well-doing, and then retreated, blazing the trees all the way from the tulip tree to the river.

Nothing more of interest occurred that day. On leaving the river, the explorers turned into the woods

and kept a northerly course parallel with the shore. About sunset they stopped beside a large log of resinous pine, and here they determined to make their encampment that night, intending to set the log on fire. Around it they cleared an irregular ring, which they fired on the inner side, thus providing a place for sleeping free from insects, and from which fire could not escape into the surrounding forest. Next, they made themselves a tent of bushes, by bending down one sapling, fastening its top to the stem of another, and then piling against it a good supply of evergreens, so inclined as to allow a narrow space beneath. A neighboring tree supplied them with moss for a superb woodland mattress, and while Robert was preparing that, Harold collected a quantity of pine knots, to be reserved in case their fire should decline.

By the time these preparations were completed darkness closed around. Jupiter, at that time the evening star, glowed brightly from the western sky, while Orion, with his brilliant belt, gleamed cheerily from the east. The boys sat from time to time luxuriating in their rest, listening to the musical roar of their fire and watching the red glare which lighted up the somber arches of the forest; then uniting in their simple repast and giving Mum his share, they lay down to sleep, having committed themselves to the care of Him who slumbers not, and who is as near his trustful worshipers in the forest as in the city.

There is a wild pleasure in sleeping in the deep dark woods. The sense of solitude, the consciousness of exposure, the eternal rustle of the leafy canopy, or else