A CONSIDERATE FISH 
southern end, and gorgeous vegetation upon it. Barring 
a few boxes of sardines, we had no more provisions of 
any kind, as all the food had been wasted, or lost in our 
various accidents. 
When I look back upon that journey, I am amazed 
to think how Providence did help us all along. That day 
my men were clamouring for food, and were most un¬ 
pleasant, putting the entire blame upon me and not upon 
their own lack of common-sense. They refused to go on. 
We pulled up along some rocks, baking hot from the sun, 
which simply roasted our naked feet when we trod upon 
them. 
Some of the men took to their rifles and said they 
had had quite enough of exploring. The more we went 
down that river the worse things seemed to get. They 
would not go a metre further. They claimed the balance 
of their salaries at once — I always paid them punctually 
every month — and said they would start on foot and 
try to get somewhere, if God would help them. 
I agreed to pay them their salaries and let them go, 
taking a few minutes to distribute the money, as I wished 
to go to a secluded spot, not caring to undo the large 
packages of bank-notes before them. 
I was walking along the rocks, saying to my men that 
I would be back in a few minutes, when a huge cachorra, 
or dog-fish, weighing some thirty pounds, leapt out of 
the water and fell on the rocks, wriggling and bounding 
convulsively. I called the men, who hastily arrived, and 
with the butts of their rifles killed the fish. While they 
were busy dissecting it, Alcides, who had not taken part 
in the quarrel, but had gone to the forest some little way 
off, hearing the noise, reappeared with a huge monkey he 
had killed. 
I left the men to prepare an excellent and plentiful 
meal while I retired to a distant spot to count out their 
salaries. When I returned and handed them the money 
vol. ii.— i3 193 
