in tropical midday repose.

"Well," said the mate, as he and Ben bestowed themselves in the bottom
of the boat on some blankets, "if you get too sleepy call Ben. We'll
have to cover our heads on account of these wretched gnats and
mosquitos."

While the two slumbered, Ralph amused himself at first by examining the
mechanism of his Winchester. Tiring of this he fell into a reverie so
deep that he hardly realized that he was dozing until roused to
wakefulness by a slight pressure upon his hat, which was pulled forward
over his eyes.

His first impulse was to start up, but a long, skeleton leg with tiny
claws at the end--horribly hairy in a miniature way--slowly protruded
over the front brim of his headgear, sending a curdling chill through
his veins as he wondered what kind of a creature its owner might be.

Thoughts of the strange, poisonous insects of abnormal size, which he
had read of as being common in certain warm countries, coursed through
his mind. If he stirred, the thing might claw or bite, and the merest
scratch was said, in some kinds of these venomous species, to be fatal.

He dared not move, but lay there in a sort of physical coma, though
with every nerve strung to the point of agonized apprehension.

After feeling first with one claw, then another, the creature began to
descend. The first touch upon his face was indescribably loathsome to
Ralph, and as its round, egg-like body came in view, he closed his eyes
and held his breath.