CHAPTER TEN.
ADVENTURE WITH A CAYMAN.
The lane suddenly opened upon a pasture, but within this a thick hedge of jessamines, forming a circle, barred the view.
In this circle was the house, whose roof only could be seen from without.
Not finding any opening through the jessamines, I parted the leaves with my hands, and looked through.

The picture was dream-like; so strange, I could scarcely credit my senses.
On the crest of the little hillock stood a house of rare construction-- unique and unlike anything I had ever seen.

The sides were formed of bamboos, closely picketed, and laced together by fibres of the _pita_.
The roof--a thatch of palm-leaves--projected far over the eaves, rising to a cone, and terminating in a small wooden cupola with a cross.

There were no windows.

The walls themselves were translucent; and articles of furniture could be distinguished through the interstices of the bamboos.
A curtain of green _barege_, supported by a rod and rings, formed the door.