“Swing back on the vines; a few farther up are left!” shouted I.
“It is gone!” said Regan. “Look!”
There was a mighty surge of the waves, a few tremendous tossings; then the water settled silently, and whatever became of the monster in the depths below we saw it no more.
“Like lead or like a leaf, all is the same in those swallowing waters!” said we, as we wearily sought a path home.
Then I could but think how brave he was, that Regan, to return from comparative safety upon the very block of his danger to drag from death one who claimed not even to be his friend!
I could not understand why so persistently Regan always befriended me to the utmost of his power when our natural hate was unconcealed from each other! I was forced to admire his courage. I could not comprehend why he should take so much unnecessary and thankless trouble, for I almost wished that I had died rather than that he had saved me.
Having learned the signs of the lairs of these beasts, we avoided them in our future visits. They were somnolent creatures and never woke but under provocation. With greater precautions we continued our investigations in the forests, for we must know the resources and productions of our world.
There was a long, long winter before us, far off, but inevitable.
We made collections of large plantain-shaped leaves, which we used for building triple platforms to serve for shades above the roofs of our houses.