"Ken, I'm going to have trouble preserving specimens in this hot place," he said.
"Salt and alum will do the trick. Remember what old Hiram used to say," replied Ken.
Shortly after that the boat passed the scene of the first camp, and then drifted under the railroad bridge.
Hal and George, and Pepe too, looked as if they were occupied with the same thought troubling Ken--that once beyond the bridge they would plunge into the jungle wilderness from which there could be no turning back.
VIII
THE FIRST TIGER-CAT
The Santa Rosa opened out wide, and ran swiftly over smooth rock. Deep cracks, a foot or so wide, crossed the river diagonally, and fish darted in and out.
The boys had about half a mile of this, when, after turning a hilly bend, they entered a long rapid. It was a wonderful stretch of river to look down.
"By George!" said Ken, as he stood up to survey it. "This is great!"
"It's all right now," added George, with his peculiar implication as to the future.