106 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



their natural beauties, and to which we were to devote the 

 next few days. The whole run from the " auen " at Mohacs had 

 been very interesting and we had enjoyed many beautiful 

 views, the hours that we had spent on deck, field-glass in hand, 

 having flown so quickly that it was already pretty late when 

 we sat down to dinner. 



Brehm had long promised that while we were on board the 

 vessel he w r ould some day repeat his very interesting lecture 

 on the primeval forests of Africa, which I had unfortunately 

 been prevented from hearing when he had delivered it before 

 a large audience in Vienna ; and after the glorious days spent 

 in the woods of Apatin we were all in the right mood to listen 

 to it with enthusiasm. Brehm spoke a long time with his 

 usual fluency, and in that peculiar style of his which never 

 fatigues either himself or his hearers ; while we followed his 

 words with the most rapt attention, for he has a gift of speech 

 such as I have never before met with among scientific men, 

 and an especially wonderful talent of recalling striking 

 impressions and observations of Nature and of making others 

 realize them. 



It was already rather late when we separated and retired to 

 rest in our cabins. Interesting and probably very toilsome 

 days lay before us. 



