peering into the waters in search of new finds, 

 and were abundantly rewarded by queer sights* 

 For several days our progress continued thus 

 without serious event* The jungle, however, 

 became alarmingly denser, so that it was now 

 almost arched overhead and presented a gloomy 

 outlook* Unaccountable noises and glimpses 

 of strange forms came to us through the weak 

 light, but unfortunately nearer acquaintance 

 had so far been avoided. Matters did not 

 improve, so that we were soon hastening 

 along beneath a complete covering of dense 

 matted vegetation so effective in blotting out 

 the daylight that, but for the fact that here 

 was the home of phosphorescent fungi, we 

 should have been in utter darkness. This 

 greenish^ white luminescent forest seemed weird 

 in the extreme after the red light to which we 

 had been so much accustomed. ^ Presently 

 our meditations were disturbed by a volley of 

 strong expletives of a nautical character coming 

 from the starboard bow. We were just in 

 time to rescue our comrade from the clutch 

 of a dangerous^looking spider^like monster, 

 several feet in length, that had attempted to 

 board us. Invasions of these monster waters 

 bears, as well as unavoidable affrays with 

 giant species of rotifers, were all too common 

 42 



