OF THE OLD WORLD. 287 



fell foaming and boiling upon massive boulders of 

 rocks below, and causing a misty vapour to arise, 

 in which numberless mimic rainbows appeared and 

 vanished with magical rapidity. At the base of the 

 fall was a clear pellucid pool, about two hundred 

 yards in diameter, surrounded by live rocks of gray 

 granite, rising high above the water's edge, except 

 upon the side near which we were standing, where 

 there was a shelving bank of sand. 



"What a glorious place that is for a dip, in the 



shade of those overhanging rocks!" cried B , 



after we had gazed for some moments upon the 

 romantic beauty of the scene. 



" Yes," I replied, " if we are sure that it is not 

 infested with 'muggers/ (alligators,) but I must 

 confess I should not like to venture the first plunge 

 until I have made a careful examination of the 

 bank, for I never saw a more likely-looking spot 

 for such kind of vermin." 



" You do not say so," replied he. " By Jove ! 

 how lucky it is that you are with me, for, had I 

 been alone, I should most assuredly have taken a 

 header into that clear part without ever dreaming 

 that such horrid brutes could be concealed in so 

 lovely a spot." 



" I have often met with them in such places," 

 said I. " However, we can soon find out if there 

 are any trails or prints of their claws upon the 

 sand, where they are most likely to bask when the 

 sun enters the ravine at mid-day, and if we do not 



