I really thought we should have been eaten
up. Didn't you, mamma?"
"Well, my dear, I thought that they would perhaps leave something
of us till morning, but I felt almost inclined to go mad and jump
overboard. It was a dreadful night. I do hope they are not so bad
here, Frank."
"No, Clara, they are nothing like so bad as they were last night;
but still, as we are so close to the river, they will, no doubt, be
troublesome, and I question whether the beds at the hotel have
mosquito curtains; but if you take my advice, and all sleep with
the sheet over your heads, you will manage to do pretty well. It is
better to be hot than to be bitten all over."
In spite, however, of the expedient of the sheets, all the party
passed a bad night, and were quite ready to get up before daylight
to start for their ride to Mr. Percy's estancia. They were all to
ride, with the exception of Sarah, who took her place in one of the
bullock carts; and they would therefore reach the estancia before
the heat of the day fairly set in. Terence having been told that
Sarah was going to ride, had cut some boughs, with which he made a
sort of arbor over the cart to shade her from the sun--a general
method of the country, and at which Sarah was much gratified. She
had at first felt rather anxious at the thought of going without
her mistress; but Terence assured her: "Sure, miss, and it's
meself, Terence Kelly, that will take care of ye; and no danger
shall come near your pretty face at all, at all; ye'll be quite as
safe as if ye were in the auld country.
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