“Yes, I believe there are.”
“And tarantulas?”
“Probably.”
“And tortoises?”
“I—I’m not sure.”
“Darling, how can we sleep among tortoises, tarantulas, and serpents?”
Even Aileen was at a loss for a reply, though she smiled in spite of herself.
“I’ll tell you what,” she said, cheerfully, “if we must spend the night in the bush we shall get into a tree. That will at least save us from all the venomous creatures as well as dangerous beasts that crawl upon the ground. Can you climb?”
“Climb!” repeated Miss Pritty, with a hysterical laugh, “you might as well ask me if I can dive.”
“Well, you must learn. Come, I will teach you. Here is a capital tree that seems easy to get into.”