especially a tall, elegantly-formed fern, which emitted an
agreeable perfume. There were several kinds of flowers, too, but I
did not see so many of these as I should have expected in such a
climate. We also saw a great variety of small birds of bright
plumage, and many paroquets similar to the one that awoke Peterkin
so rudely in the morning.

Thus we advanced to the foot of the hill without encountering
anything to alarm us, except, indeed, once, when we were passing
close under a part of the hill which was hidden from our view by
the broad leaves of the banana trees, which grew in great
luxuriance in that part. Jack was just preparing to force his way
through this thicket, when we were startled and arrested by a
strange pattering or rumbling sound, which appeared to us quite
different from any of the sounds we had heard during the previous
part of our walk.

"Hallo!" cried Peterkin, stopping short and grasping his club with
both hands, "what's that?"

Neither of us replied; but Jack seized his axe in his right hand,
while with the other he pushed aside the broad leaves and
endeavoured to peer amongst them.

"I can see nothing," he said, after a short pause.

"I think it - "

Again the rumbling sound came, louder than before, and we all
sprang back and stood on the defensive. For myself, having