"This paradise, however, has its serpent," she continued. "I don't allude to the cobras among the bamboos, nor even the tiger, and leopards, that abound in the reserves,—but the terror of these forests, is—the leech!"
"I'd much sooner face thousands of leeches, than one leopard," declared Barbie.
"Yes, so would I; but you have no idea how those abominations can drain the lives of man and beast—there are half a dozen on The Cat's legs, at this moment!"
Mallender instantly sprang off, to the rescue of The Cat.
"The only method is this," said the provident matron, handing him as she spoke a little parcel of salt, "I always carry it, when I come down into these regions, and I never remain long. I only wish we could; for of an evening, the fire-flies are a wonder to behold, their illuminations, incredibly magnificent—but we must be going."
"I think, I'd trust the fire-flies to my imagination," said Barbie, "although this is the most marvellous, dreamland, sort of place I've ever seen!"
"Yes, a real tropical forest; and the vegetation is even more dense and splendid in the reserves."
"How I should like to have a day's shooting in one of them," said Geoffrey, "I daresay I'd get a brace of tiger, an elephant, and a bison."
"You'd also get into frightful trouble with the Government; even supposing the wild beasts let you off! The sacred groves are sacred!"
"It makes one think of the Old Testament," said Barbie, "of Baal, and sacrifices, groves, and high places."