The major grunted.
"Look here, you two boys," he said, "I must have a nap, and your chatter's a nuisance. Do you want to get fever and sunstroke?"
Beecher laughed.
"I only want to go up the river in one of the bigger boats, sir, to be rowed up to the clear water beyond the tideway. We should be under the attap awning all the time, and I want to see if there are any fish to be caught, or any birds or beasts to be shot."
"Well, I suppose you must. You'll be back before dark, of course?"
"Oh no; I meant for us to camp for the night, and come back to-morrow. There wouldn't be time to go up far enough without."
"You'll get fever," said the major shortly. "The jungle teems with it."
"We should sleep in the boat," said Beecher.
"Humph! Well, take care of yourselves, and don't get into any trouble with the people."