“Here we have the means of building a house ready to our hands,” said the doctor. “Perhaps they will assist also in decking over the boat.”
“But I doubt if they would keep out the water,” observed Walter. “I think, however, that the fine ends or some of the very small canes may serve for arrows.”
“Dey make very good cups for drinking out of,” said Nub; and asking for the axe, he cut down a large bamboo cane, though not one of the thickest, and showed Walter that numerous divisions or knots filled up the centre of the cane, and that thus each knot would make the bottom of a cup.
On passing near the tree where the doctor had seen the hornbills, they observed one of the birds poking its long beak out of its hole.
“We pay you visit before long,” said Nub, nodding his head. “Me tink I know how.”
Going up the stream, they found a tree which had fallen over it, by which they crossed to the opposite bank. Nub begged to go first. “I go see de way. We no want to pop into de middle of a village; if we do, de women begin to shriek, and de babies cry out, and tink dat white debils come among dem, and den de men come out and kill us.”
The doctor agreed to Nub’s proposal, and they proceeded more cautiously than before. Walter pulled away at every young tree they met, and at last he found one which the doctor thought would suit their purpose. Nub, who came to examine it, was of the same opinion; and they quickly cut down several which grew near to the proper length, and returned with them the way they had come. As they passed under the tree in which they had seen the hornbills, Nub exclaimed, “I tink we come and get dese fellows at once, if de mate will please to accompany us.”
On passing under the tree where the fruit had been found, Walter looked about for some more; but the birds were not feeding, and none had fallen since they had been there. On their arrival at the camp, the mate and Dan had to confess that their traps had not as yet been successful; Nub then told them his plan for reaching the hornbills, which could not fail with regard to the hen, who was certain not to leave her nest, and might possibly either be sitting on her eggs or have some young ones.
“How is that?” asked Walter. “When she sees you, if you succeed in reaching her, she will surely fly away.”
“No, Massa Walter,” said Nub, “she not do dat, for de hole is shut up with clay, and she only got room to poke her head out.”