“Got them this time!” said Brazier in a tone of satisfaction, as five ducks lay on the water waiting to be picked up. “You should have fired too, Rob. We want fresh provisions.”
“What I told him, sir, but he took such a long aim that the deer said, ‘Good-morning; come and be shot another time.’”
“Deer? What deer?”
“One t’other side, sir,” said Shaddy, who had got out to unmoor the boat.
“I wish I had seen it; the meat would have been so valuable to-day.”
“What I telled him, sir.”
“And you didn’t shoot!”
“I was just going to when you fired, and the deer darted away.”
“Naturally,” said Brazier, smiling; and by this time the boat was gliding down the river in the wake of the ducks. These were secured, all but one, which, being wounded, flapped and swam toward the shore, where it was suddenly sucked down by a reptile or fish. Those they secured dropped silvery little arrows, apparently, back into the water in the shape of the tiny voracious fish that had forced their way already between their feathers to reach the skin.
The birds secured, Rob sat gazing with delight at the fresh beauties of the river where it wound off to the right. Birds innumerable were flitting about, chirping and singing; noisy parrots were climbing and hanging head downwards as they hunted out a berry-like fruit from a tall tree; and toucans, with orange-and-scarlet breasts and huge bills, hopped about, uttering their discordant cries. Everything looked so beautiful and peaceful that for the moment he forgot the dangerous occupants of the river, and his eyes grew dim with the strange sense of joy that came over him that glorious morning. But the next moment he became aware of the fact that to all this beauty and brightness there was a terrible reverse side. For suddenly a great falcon dashed with swift wing high up along the course of the river, and cries of fear, warning, and alarm rang out from the small birds, the minute before happy and contentedly seeking their food.