Now, as logs were very unusual building material, a word of explanation is necessary.
The girls never conquered their fear of the blacks--even _my_ blacks; and therefore, in order that they might feel secure from night attack (a purely fanciful idea, of course), I resolved to build a hut which should be thoroughly spear-proof.

Bark was also used extensively, and there was a thatch of grass.

When finished, our new residence consisted of three fair-sized rooms--one for the girls to sleep in, one for Yamba and myself, and a third as a general "living room,"-- though, of course, we lived mainly _en plain air_.

I also arranged a kind of veranda in front of the door, and here we frequently sat in the evening, singing, chatting about distant friends; the times that were, and the times that were to be.
Let the truth be told.

When these poor young ladies came to my hut their faces expressed their bitter disappointment, and we all wept together the greater part of the night.