THE LONG TRAIL 



that he wished the lunch were divided, or 

 that at least part of it were used to sup- 

 plement the black coffee at daybreak. The 

 second morning, as I went down the hall, 

 the dining-room door was ajar, and I 

 caught sight of the table laden with the 

 cold meats and salads that were to serve as 

 part of our elaborate luncheon many dim 

 hours hence. I hurried back to tell father, 

 and we tiptoed cautiously into the dining- 

 room, closing the door noiselessly behind 

 us. While we were engaged in making 

 rapid despatch of a cold chicken, we heard 

 our hosts calling, and the next minute the 

 head of the house popped in the door! 

 As father said afterward, we felt and 

 looked like two small boys caught stealing 

 jam in the pantry. 



The Brazilian exploration was not so 

 carefully planned as the African trip, 

 because father had not intended to make 

 64 



