30 CRUSOE'S ISLAND. 



water — a delightful place for a bath, though the huge 

 crayfish crawling over its bottom looked formidable. 

 In the rainy season this little stream must rise to the 

 dignity of a roaring torrent, as evidence of it could be 

 seen in scattered trees and branches lodged among 

 the rocks. 



A little kingfisher dashed by like a meteor, leaving 

 behind him a shrill rattling cry, which rang through 

 the gorge like the shriek of a locomotive. Up under 

 the sheer wall of a precipice sat unconcerned a 

 green and golden jacamar ; brilliant humming birds 

 darted from flower to vine and from liane to lialine, 

 halting now and then, suspended in mid-air before my 

 face, as though questioning me as to the reason for 

 my intrusion. 



That I was an intruder I could not but feel con- 

 vinced, for this spot seemed sacred to the birds, who 

 retreated here for shelter in storm and shade at heat 

 of noon. 



Above the sand-drift a roof was formed of the 

 lianes, stretched like the cordage of a ship and like a 

 netted hammock. Against the walls of rock great 

 green leaves were plastered, and across the pool huge 

 fallen tree trunks lay prostrate, heaped with a wealth 

 of parasitic plants and gay with flowers. All the 

 birds here found refuge, and appeared to meet as on 

 common ground — woodpeckers, thrushes, flycatchers, 

 trogons with emerald coats, doves in sober drab, hum- 

 ming birds in iridescent plumage — all gathered here 

 as the heat outside became oppressive. 



They regarded me curiously as I lay prone upon 



