MISGIVINGS. 221

who indulged the expectation of beîng in a few hours in a place of sheltar, this vvas not a matter of great con- cem. Evening came, and a hait vvas made for the night be- neath a grève of lofty trees. If Harris had not miscalcu- lated, they could hardly be more than about six miles from theîr destination ; so confirmed, however, vvas Dick Sands în his strange suspicions, that nothing could induce him to relax any of the usual précautions, and he particularly in- sisted upon the negroes, turn by turn, keeping up the accustomed watch. Worn out by fatigue, the little party vvere glad to lie down, but they had scarcely dropped off to sleep when they were aroused by a sharp cry. "Who's that? who's there? what's the matter?" ex- claimed Dick, the first to rise to his feet. " It is I," ansvvered Benedict's voies ; '* I am bitten. Something has bitten me." " A snake ! " exclaimed Mrs. Weldon in alarm. " No, no, cousin, better than that ! it vvas not a snake ; 1 believe it was an orthoptera ; I hâve it ail right," he shouted triumphantly. "Then kill it quickly, sir ; and let us go to sleep again in peace," said Harris. " Kill ît ! not for the world ! I must hâve a light, and look at it ! Dick Sands indulged him, for reasons of his own, in getting a light. The entomologist carefully opened his hand and displayed an insect somewhat smaller than a bee, of a dull colour, streaked with yellow on the under portion of the body. He looked radiant with delight. " A diptera ! " he exclaimed, half beside himself with joy, " a most famous diptera ! " " Is it venomous ? " asked Mrs. Weldon. " Not at ail to men ; it only hurts éléphants and buffa- loes." " But tell us its name ! what is it ? " cried Dick im- petuously. The naturalist began to speak in a slow, oracular tone.