between the two divisions.  The next night proved the wisdom of this bifurcation.  The united booty of earth, air and water, under the form of a squirrel, a pair of toucans and a variety of fish, afforded a meal which the porters described as comida opipara or a sumptuous festival.  Lulled and comforted by the sensation which a contented stomach wafts toward the brain, the explorers, after washing their hands and rinsing their mouths at the riverside, betook themselves to a cheerful repose sub jove, the locality offering no reeds of the articulated species with which to construct a shelter.

The party, then, betook themselves to slumber with unusual contentment, repeating the splendid supper in their dreams, with the addition of every famous wine that Oporto and Rheims could dispense, when they were awakened by a sudden and terrible storm.  A waterspout stooped over the forest and sucked up a mass of crackling branches.  The camp-fire hissed and went out in a fume of smoke.  A continuity of thunder, far off at first, but approaching nearer and nearer, kept up a constant and increasing fusillade, to whose reports was soon added the voice of the Cconi, lashed in its bed and bellowing like the sea.  The surprising tumult went on in a crescendo.  The hardly-interrupted charges of the lightning gave to the eye a strange vision of flying woods and soaring branches.  Startled, trembling and sitting bolt upright, the adventurers asked if their last hour were come.  The rain undertook to answer in spinning down upon their heads drops that were like bullets, and which for some time were taken for hail.  Fearing to be maimed or blinded as they sat, the party crowded together, placing themselves back to back; and, unable to lay their heads under their wings like the birds, sheltered them upon their knees under the protection of their crossed arms.  The fearful deluge of heated shot lasted until morning.  Then, as if in laughter, the sun came radiantly out, the landscape readjusted its disheveled beauties, and the ground, covered with boughs distributed by the whirlwind, greedily drank in the waters from heaven.  Soon there remained nothing of the memorable tempest but the diamonds falling in measured cadence from the refreshed and stiffened leaves.

Up to sunrise the unfortunates rested stoically silent, their knees in their mouths, and receiving the visitation like a group of statuary.  The rain ceasing with the same promptitude with which it had risen, they raised their heads and looked each other in the face, like the enemies over the fire in Byron’s Dream.  Each countenance was blue, and decorated with long flat locks of adhesive hair.  The teeth of the whole party were chattering like a concert of castanets.  The sun, like a practical joker, laughed ironically at the general picture.