The Wonders of the Permian 193 



amphibian Eryops too, soon found the courage 

 to come out of the water and start his unmelod- 

 ious croak to be soon answered by a friendly fel- 

 low in the distance. So the life and noises of the 

 quiet jungle took up the accustomed tenor of 

 their ways. The children clapped their hands 

 and shouted when a new form appeared, as de- 

 lighted as if a menagerie were on the tapis, and 

 all the family were deeply interested. I had the 

 boys drive rush stakes into the ground around 

 our clearings, so as to protect us from the in- 

 roads of the big reptiles and amphibians, and ad- 

 mit the air freely. We needed all of that we 

 could possibly get. So we passed the day and 

 night fall found us all gathered in our enclosure 

 listening to the strange noises around us. We had 

 already arranged huts for the entire party and 

 after reading a chapter ( for Mamma had her Bi- 

 ble with her) we offered our evening prayers and 

 went to restful sleep. In the morning we were 

 early astir. It was no need to warn the younger 

 men and women to beware of the treacherous 

 bogs as they already had learned of Maud's ad- 

 venture. We made another appetising dish from 

 the sago flour and I caught some little reptiles 

 not over eight inches long and gar-pike. We fried 

 these in their rich grease, and with the sago 

 mush, had an excellent breakfast. The presence 

 of my beloved family added much to my own 

 pleasure. 



My feeble pen would fail to describe the beauty 



