36 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 
the waist by a girdle. This was becoming serious. 
If there were any more rocks in our path, I felt morally 
certain they would dodge behind them. And then 
how would they appear? My hair began to bristle. 
I was resolved to stop it at all hazards. 
* Look here, Marie!” 
“Yes, monsieur.” 
“Don’t do that any more.” 
* What, monsieur? ” 
“Don’t go behind any more rocks; don’t take off 
any more garments.” 
“ Why no, monsieur ; it is impossible !” 
No amount of italicizing or exclamation-points can 
render the astonishment in her tone as she thus as- 
sured me; and feeling that I could then safely proceed, 
I gave the order to go on. We reached the river — 
the stream that flows out of the mountain lake — broad 
and with gravelly beach, with immense bowlders as 
islands, and a wall of vegetation on either side that rose 
straight up a hundred feet. Here my guides left me 
to my own devices and waded into the stream in search 
of crayfish. I saw a bird I had not seen before, and 
pursued it along the shore until stopped by a cascade. 
It was within shot, however, and at the report of my 
gun it fell into a little pool. The rocks were smooth 
as glass, and my great boots, though good protection 
from the vines and thorns, were but poor aids in 
clambering over these rocks. The result was that I 
unexpectedly sat down upon a rock, and very sud- 
denly I came down, too. There was a stream of 
water rushing over that rock six inches in depth, so 
that my fall did not hurt me; but the rapid-flowing 
sheet struck my back with great force, and climbed 
