As Barney said, it made him "feel quite solemn-like and eerie to travel through the woods by wather." The canoe was forced under branches and among dense bushes, till they got into a part where the trees were loftier and a deep gloom prevailed.

Here the lowest branches were on a level with the surface of the water, and many of them were putting forth beautiful flowers.

On one occasion they came to a grove of small palms, which were so deep in the water that the leaves were only a few feet above the surface.

Indeed they were so low that one of them caught Martin's straw-hat and swept it overboard.
"Hallo! stop!" cried Martin, interrupting the silence so suddenly that Grampus sprang up with a growl, under the impression that game was in view; and Marmoset scampered off behind a packing-box with an angry shriek.
"What's wrong, lad ?" inquired Barney.
"Back water, quick! my hat's overboard, and there's an alligator going to snap it up.

Look alive, man!" In a few seconds the canoe was backed and the straw-hat rescued from its perilous position.
"It's an ill wind that blows nae guid, as the Scotch say," remarked Barney, rising in the canoe and reaching towards something among the overhanging branches.