with all their care they came once too near it, and it banged them right away into the water again. Just one flap was enough, it was such an awful tail!

The monkey now made signs that it would. show them how to manage, and it climbed up a tree which grew conveniently near, dropping from a low branch right upon the crocodile's back. That was all very well for a monkey, you know, but how in the world could Chatty and the savage do such a thing? Well, they had to try, and they did it, for people do things in adventures which I am quite, quite sure they never could do out of them. Didn't I once run and stand before Mamma when I thought a red cow was going to chase us, and Mamma said it was quite an adventure. could have done that if it had not been one, I never feel certain. At all events Chatty and the savage jumped down, all right, from the very same branch as the monkey had done, and found themselves in safety on the crocodile's back.

I

When once they had got there they did not

quite know what to do, for it was not pleasant walking, though it was long enough to take a good many turns up and down. But Chatty did not come all that way in a big ship only to walk up and down a crocodile's back. He wanted to kill him, and immediately drew out his knife and began trying all the blades and things, one after the other on him. But oh, his skin was so tough! Chatty couldn't make a hole anywhere.

This time the monkey got them into trouble, for he went peering and peeping all about (for he had never been on a crocodile's back before, and thought it a very curious place) until he whisked his tail into the crocodile's eye. The monster gave one glance over his shoulder, and sure enough there was Master Chatty scraping away with the biggest blade at one of the bumps on his back. Chatty had not hurt him yet, nor had the savage, who was taking shelter behind one of the creature's ears, and catapulting him with stones right down into his brain. But, bless you,

whenever a pebble hit the crocodile's brain-because I believe you really can get to the brain through the ear-it did not hurt him a bit! He fancied it was only an idea—a bright idea—which had struck him. However, the crocodile thought he would be safer in the big river where no fish dare to come within a mile of him, than on shore among these strange and impudent creatures. Accordingly he waddled over the shingle (and dreadfully jolty he made it for Chatty and the savage), until he got to the stream, into which he plunged without hesitation.

Luckily the crocodile wanted to go to the mouth of the river where it flows into the sea, and Chatty had nothing to do except to sit on his back and hold tight. If the creature had gone the other way I don't know whatever Chatty would have done, for it was growing quite late and dark, and he wanted to get back to his ship. He began to feel very hungry too, and he also wanted to show his monkey to the captain. The

monkey had to hold on tight, and so had the savage, but they all three reached the mouth of the river quite safely, as the crocodile was so obliging as to swim the way they wanted to go. Chatty found his boat all ready, and waiting for him. He took a friendly leave of the savage, who had been really very kind to him, though he was such a dreadful coward, and he presented him with his catapult. The savage made signs that he was very much pleased, only he practised on Chatty as long as he could reach him whilst he was rowing away. Chatty did not like being hit every now and then by a big stone, but then I daresay the cats don't like it either, and yet he is always doing it to them. Perhaps, though, they may consider it an adventure, and tell other cats about it.

Chatty reached the ship in safety, monkey and all, and immediately set sail and came back. He didn't want any more adventures, he said, and I think myself those are quite enough to happen to any boy, especially in one day.

M

CHAPTER VI.

TO-MORROW MORNING.

MAMMA took me to see Ruth Cousins yesterday. She has been ill a long time; even before the primroses came this year. How pale and thin she looked last evening; as for her hands, I am sure they are no thicker than a sheet of paper, and just as white. Yet there is nothing dreadful about her, as I always thought there must be about a person who is so very sick. Ruth says she is going to get well, though-quite well. When I asked her how she felt yesterday, she said very softly-for I haven't heard her speak loud for a long time-"I shall be well by to-morrow morning, miss, the doctor says he thinks."