Johnny every now and then, without any apparent object, unless to evince his entire superiority to any feeling of timidity, separated himself from the rest and disappeared for a time in the forest, generally returning with a specimen of some new plant or flower, or an account of some strange bird, or curious tree, which he had seen. From one of these adventurous excursions, he came rushing back; closely followed by Eiulo, both looking a good deal frightened, and, as soon as he had recovered breath sufficiently to be able to speak, he earnestly affirmed that he had heard a man call out to him in the wood. His statement was strange enough; he had found a twining plant, with a flower like a morning glory, and called loudly for Eiulo, who was a little way off, to come and see if it was the patara vine. The root of this plant is a valuable and nutritious esculent, and Arthur had described the leaf and flower to us, in order that we might recognise it if met with. Immediately a harsh voice issued from a neighbouring thicket, uttering some words which he did not distinctly understand, but they were in French, and were something about Napoleon. "In French!--and about Napoleon!" cried Arthur, in amazement. "Are you quite sure, Johnny, that you heard any words at all;--any thing more than a strange noise of some kind?" But Johnny was positive;--he had heard the "Napoleon," as plainly as he ever heard any thing. There were only a few words--not more than two or three, but they were spoken very distinctly, and quite loud, as if the person were cheering; he could not be mistaken. "Only two or three words," pursued Arthur, "would you know them again if you should hear them repeated?" "Yes, I think I should." "Was it `Vive Napoleon!' that you heard?" "Those are the very words!" cried Johnny; "they were spoken as plainly as you speak them, but in a rougher voice." "Did you see any thing--did you look towards the thicket!" "I saw something stir, but could not tell what it was. The voice was harsh and angry, and I was frightened, and ran away as fast as I could. I thought perhaps it was a wild man--some one who had been shipwrecked here many years ago, and lived alone in the woods until he had grown wild or mad."