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diff --git a/35213.txt b/35213.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a67d25f --- /dev/null +++ b/35213.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10091 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Afloat in the Forest, by Mayne Reid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Afloat in the Forest + A Voyage among the Tree-Tops + +Author: Mayne Reid + +Release Date: February 8, 2011 [EBook #35213] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AFLOAT IN THE FOREST *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Afloat in the Forest +A Voyage among the Tree-Tops +By Captain Mayne Reid +Published by Ticknor and Fields, Boston. +This edition dated 1867. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE BROTHERS AT HOME. + +Twenty years ago, not twenty miles from the Land's End, there lived a +Cornish gentleman named Trevannion. Just twenty years ago he died, +leaving to lament him a brace of noble boys, whose mother all three had +mourned, with like profound sorrow, but a short while before. + +"Squire" Trevannion, as he was called, died in his own house, where his +ancestors for hundreds of years before him had dispensed hospitality. +None of them, however, had entertained so profusely as he; or rather +improvidently, it might be said, since in less than three months after +his death the old family mansion, with the broad acres appertaining to +it, passed into the hands of an alien, leaving his two sons, Ralph and +Richard, landless, houseless, and almost powerless. One thousand pounds +apiece was all that remained to them out of the wreck of the patrimonial +estates. It was whispered that even this much was not in reality +theirs, but had been given to them by the _very respectable_ solicitor +who had managed their father's affairs, and had furthermore _managed_ to +succeed him in the ownership of a property worth a rental of three +thousand a year. + +Any one knowing the conditions under which the young Trevannions +received their two thousand pounds must have believed it to be a gift, +since it was handed over to them by the family solicitor with the +private understanding that they were to use it in pushing their fortunes +elsewhere,--anywhere except in Cornwall! + +The land-pirate who had plucked them--for in reality had they been +plucked--did not wish them to stay at home, divested, as they were, of +their valuable plumage. He had appropriated their fine feathers, and +cared not for the naked bodies of the birds. + +There were those in Cornwall who suspected foul play in the lawyer's +dealings with the young Trevannions, among others, the victims +themselves. But what could they, do? They were utterly ignorant of +their late father's affairs,--indeed, with any affairs that did not +partake of the nature of "sports." A solicitor "most respectable,"--a +phrase that has become almost synonymous with rascality,--a regular +church-goer,--accounts kept with scrupulous exactness,--a man of honest +face, distinguished for probity of speech and integrity of heart,--what +could the Trevannions do? What more than the Smiths and the Browns and +the Joneses, who, notwithstanding their presumed greater skill in the +ways of a wicked lawyer world, are duped every day in a similar manner. +It is an old and oft-repeated story,--a tale too often told, and too +often true,--that of the family lawyer and his confiding client, +standing in the relationship of robber and robbed. + +The two children of Squire Trevannion could do nothing to save or +recover their paternal estate. Caught in the net of legal chicanery, +they were forced to yield, as other squires' children have had to do, +and make the best, of a bad matter,--forced to depart from a home that +had been held by Trevannions perhaps since the Phoenicians strayed +thitherward in search of their shining tin. + +It sore grieved them to separate from the scenes of their youth; but the +secret understanding with the solicitor required that sacrifice. By +staying at home a still greater might be called for,--subsistence in +penury, and, worse than all, in a humiliating position; for, +notwithstanding the open house long kept by their father, his friends +had disappeared with his guests. Impelled by these thoughts, the +brothers resolved to go forth into the wide world, and seek fortune +wherever it seemed most likely they should find it. + +They were at this period something more than mere children. Ralph had +reached within twelve months of being twenty. Richard was his junior by +a couple of years. Their book-education had been good; the practice of +manly sports had imparted to both of them a physical strength that +fitted them for toil, either of the mind or body. They were equal to a +tough struggle, either in the intellectual or material world; and to +this they determined to resign themselves. + +For a time they debated between themselves where they should go, and +what do. The army and navy came under their consideration. With such +patronage as their father's former friends could command, and might +still exert in favour of their fallen fortunes, a commission in either +army or navy was not above their ambition. But neither felt much +inclined towards a naval or military life; the truth being, that a +thought had taken shape in their minds leading them to a different +determination. + +Their deliberations ended by each of them proclaiming a resolve,--almost +sealing it with a vow,--that they would enter into some more profitable, +though perhaps less pretentious, employment than that of either +soldiering or sailoring; that they would toil--with their hands, if need +be--until they should accumulate a sufficient sum to return and recover +the ancestral estate from the grasp of the avaricious usurper. They did +not know how it was to be done; but, young, strong, and hopeful, they +believed it might be done,--with time, patience, and industry to aid +them in the execution. + +"Where shall we go?" inquired Richard, the younger of the two. "To +America, where every poor man appears to prosper? With a thousand each +to begin the world with, we might do well there. What say you, Ralph?" + +"America is a country where men seem to thrive best who have _nothing_ +to begin the world with. You mean North America,--the United States,--I +suppose?" + +"I do." + +"I don't much like the United States as a home,--not because it is a +republic, for I believe that is the only just form of government, +whatever our aristocratic friends may say. I object to it simply +because I wish to go south,--to some part of the tropical world, where +one may equally be in the way of acquiring a fortune." + +"Is there such a place?" + +"There is." + +"Where, brother?" + +"Peru. Anywhere along the Sierra of the Andes from Chili to the Isthmus +of Panama. As Cornish men we should adopt the specialty of our +province, and become miners. The Andes mountains will give us that +opportunity, where, instead of grey tin, we may delve for yellow gold. +What say you to South America?" + +"I like the thought of South America,--nothing would please me better +than going there. But I must confess, brother, I have no inclination +for the occupation you speak of. I had rather be a merchant than a +miner." + +"Don't let that _penchant_ prevent you from selecting Peru as the scene +of mercantile transactions. There are many Englishmen who have made +fortunes in the Peruvian trade. You may hope to follow their example. +We may choose different occupations and still be near each other. One +thousand pounds each may give both of us a start,--you as a merchant of +goods, I as a digger for gold. Peru is the place for either business. +Decide, Dick! Shall we sail for the scenes rendered celebrated by +Pizarro?" + +"If you will it--I'm agreed." + +"Thither then let us go." + +In a month from that time the two Trevannions might have been seen upon +a ship, steering westward from the Land's End, and six months later both +disembarked upon the beach of Callao,--_en route_ first for Lima, thence +up the mountains, to the sterile snow-crested mountains, that tower +above the treasures of Cerro Pasco,--vainly guarded within the bosom of +adamantine rocks. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE BROTHERS ABROAD. + +Ralph and Richard Trevannion. If it were so, a gap of some fifteen +years--after the date of their arrival at Cerro Pasco--would have to be +filled up. I decline to speak of this interval of their lives, simply +because the details might not have any remarkable interest for those +before whom they would be laid. + +Suffice it to say, that Richard, the younger, soon became wearied of a +miner's life; and, parting with his brother, he crossed the Cordilleras, +and descended into the great Amazonian forest,--the "montana," as it is +called by the Spanish inhabitants of the Andes. Thence, in company with +a party of Portuguese traders, he kept on down the river Amazon, trading +along its banks, and upon some of its tributary streams; and finally +established himself as a merchant at its mouth, in the thriving "city" +of Gran Para. + +Richard was not unsocial in his habits; and soon became the husband of a +fair-haired wife,--the daughter of a countryman who, like himself, had +established commercial relations at Para. In a few years after, several +sweet children called him "father,"--only two of whom survived to +prattle in his ears this endearing appellation, alas! no longer to be +pronounced in the presence of their mother. + +Fifteen years after leaving the Land's End, Richard Trevannion, still +under thirty-five years of age, was a widower, with two children,-- +respected wherever known, prosperous in pecuniary affairs,--rich enough +to return home, and spend the remainder of his days in that state so +much desired by the Sybarite Roman poet,--"otium cum dignitate." + +Did he remember the vow mutually made between him and his brother, that, +having enough money, they would one day go back to Cornwall, and recover +the ancestral estate? He did remember it. He longed to accomplish this +design, he only awaited his brother's answer to a communication he had +made to him on this very subject. + +He had no doubt that Ralph's desire would be in unison with his own,-- +that his brother would soon join him, and then both would return to +their native land,--perhaps to dwell again under the same roof that had +sheltered them as children. + +The history of the elder brother during this period of fifteen years, if +less eventful, was not less distinguished by success. By steadily +following the pursuit which had first attracted him to Peru, he +succeeded in becoming a man of considerable means,--independent, if not +wealthy. + +Like his brother, he got married at an early period,--in fact, within +the first year after establishing himself in Cerro Pasco. Unlike the +latter, however, he chose for his wife one of the women of the +country,--a beautiful Peruvian lady. She too, but a short while before, +had gone to a better world, leaving motherless two pretty children, of +twelve and fourteen years of age,--the elder of the two being a +daughter. + +Such was the family of Ralph Trevannion, and such the condition of life +in which his brother's epistle reached him,--that epistle containing the +proposal that they should wind lip their respective businesses, dispose +of both, and carry their gains to the land that had given them birth. + +The proposition was at once accepted, as Richard knew it would be. It +was far from the first time that the thing had been discussed, +epistolary fashion, between them; for letters were exchanged as often as +opportunity permitted,--sometimes twice or thrice in the year. + +In these letters, during the last few years of their sojourn in South +America, the promise made on leaving home was mutually mentioned, and as +often renewed on either side. Richard knew that his brother was as +eager as himself to keep that well-remembered vow. + +So long as the mother of Ralph's children was alive, he had not urged +his brother to its fulfilment; but now that she had been dead for more +than a year, he had written to say that the time had come for their +return to their country and their home. + +His proposal was, that Ralph, having settled his affairs in Peru,-- +which, of course, included the selling out of his share in the mines,-- +should join him, Richard, at Para, thence to take ship for England. +That instead of going round by Cape Horn, or across the Isthmus, by +Panama, Ralph should make the descent of the great Amazon River, which +traverse would carry him latitudinally across the continent from west to +east. + +Richard had two reasons for recommending this route. First, because he +wished his brother to see the great river of Orellana, as he himself had +done; and secondly, because he was still more desirous that his _own +son_ should see it. + +How this last wish was to be gratified by his brother making the descent +of the Amazon, may require explanation; but it will suffice to say that +the son of Richard Trevannion was at that time residing with his uncle +at the mines of Cerro Pasco. + +The boy had gone to Peru the year before, in one of his father's +ships,--first, to see the Great Ocean, then the Great Andes,--afterwards +to become acquainted with the country of the Incas, and last, though not +of least importance, to make the acquaintance of his own uncle and his +two interesting cousins, the elder of whom was exactly his own age. He +had gone to the Pacific side by _sea_. It was his father's wish he +should return to the Atlantic side by land,--or, to speak more +accurately, by _river_. + +The merchant's wish was to be gratified. The miner had no desire to +refuse compliance with his proposal. On the contrary, it chimed in with +his own inclinations. Ralph Trevannion possessed a spirit adventurous +as his brother's, which fourteen years of mining industry, carried on in +the cold mountains of Cerro Pasco, had neither deadened nor chilled. +The thought of once more returning to the scenes of his youth quite +rejuvenated him; and on the day of receiving his brother's challenge to +go, he not only accepted it, but commenced proceedings towards carrying +the design into execution. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +A month afterwards and he might have been seen descending the eastern +slope of the Cordilleras on mule-back, and accompanied by his family and +followers; afterwards aboard a _balsa_,--one of those curious crafts +used in the descent of the Huallaga; and later still on the _montaria_, +upon the bosom of the great river itself. + +With the details of his mountain travels, interesting as they may be, we +have naught to do. No more with his descent of the Huallaga, nor his +long voyage on the Amazon itself, in that up-river portion of the stream +where it is called the "Maranon." Only where it becomes the stupendous +"Solimoes" do we join Ralph Trevannion on his journey, and remain with +him as long as he is "Afloat in the Forest," _or making a voyage among +the tree-tops_. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE GALATEA. + +On an evening in the early part of December, a craft of singular +construction might have been seen descending the Solimoes, and +apparently making for the little Portuguese port of Coary, that lies on +the southern side of the river. + +When we say of singular construction, we mean singular to one +unaccustomed to the navigation of Amazonian waters. There the craft in +question was too common to excite curiosity, since it was nothing more +than a _galatea_, or large canoe, furnished with mast and sail, with a +palm-thatched cabin, or _toldo_, rising over the quarter, a low-decked +locker running from bow to midships,--along each side of which were to +be seen, half seated, half standing, some half-dozen dark-skinned men, +each plying, instead of an oar, a paddle-blade. + +Perhaps the most singular sight on board this embarkation was the group +of animated beings who composed its crew and passengers. The former, as +already stated, were dark-skinned men scantily clad,--in fact, almost +naked, since a single pair of white cotton drawers constituted the +complete costume of each. + +For passengers there were three men, and a like number of individuals of +younger age. Two of the men were white, apparently Europeans; the other +was as black as soot could have made him,--unquestionably an African +negro. Of the young people two were boys, not much differing in size, +and apparently not much in age, while the third was a half-grown girl, +of dark complexion, raven-coloured hair, and beautiful features. + +One of the white men appeared to be, and was, the proprietor of the +montaria, and the employer of its swarthy crew. He was Ralph +Trevannion. + +The young girl was his daughter, and bore her Peruvian mother's name, +Rosa, more often pronounced by its diminutive of endearment, Rosita. +The younger of the two boys--also of dark complexion--was his son Ralph; +while the older, of true Saxon physiognomy and hue, was the son of his +brother, also bearing his father's Christian name, Richard. + +The second white man was unmistakably of European race,--so much so that +any one possessing the slightest knowledge of the Hibernian type would +at once have pronounced him a "Son of the Sod." A pure pug nose, a +shock of curled hair of the clearest carrot colour, an eternal twinkle +in the eye, a volume of fun lying open at each angle of the mouth, were +all characteristics by which "Tipperary Tom"--for such was his +_sobriquet_--might be remembered. + +About the negro there was nothing special, more than that he was a pure +negro, with enormously thick lips, flattened nose, long protruding +heels, teeth white as hippopotamus ivory, and almost always set in a +good-humoured grin. The darkey had been a sailor, or rather +ship-steward, before landing in Peru. Thither had he strayed, and +settled at Cerro Pasco after several years spent aboard ship. He was a +native of Mozambique, on the eastern coast of Africa, to which +circumstance was he indebted for the only name ever given him,--Mozey. + +Both he and the Irishman were the servants of the miner, or rather his +retainers, who served him in various ways, and had done so almost ever +since his establishing himself among the rocks of Cerro Pasco. + +The other creatures of the animated kingdom that found lodgment upon the +craft were of various shapes, sizes, and species. There were +quadrupeds, quadrumana, and birds,--beasts of the field, monkeys of the +forest, and birds of the air,--clustering upon the cabin top, squatted +in the hold, perched upon the gangway, the toldo, the yard, and the +mast,--forming an epitomised menagerie, such as may be seen on every +kind of craft that navigates the mighty Amazon. + +It is not our design to give any description of the galatea's crew. +There were nine of them,--all Indians,--four on each side acting as +rowers, or more properly "paddlers," the ninth being the pilot or +steersman, standing abaft the toldo. + +Our reason for not describing them is that they were a changing crew, +only attached to the craft for a particular stage of the long river +voyage, and had succeeded several other similar sets since the +embarkation of our voyagers on the waters of the upper Amazon. They had +joined the galatea at the port of Ega, and would take leave of her at +Coary, where a fresh crew of civilised Indians--"tapuyos"--would be +required. + +And they _were_ required, but not obtained. On the galatea putting into +the port of Coary, it was found that nearly every man in the place was +off upon a hunting excursion,--turtle and cow-fish being the game that +had called them out. Not a canoe-man could be had for love or money. + +The owner of the galatea endeavoured to tempt the Ega crew to continue +another stage. It was contrary to their habit, and they refused to go. +Persuasion and threats were tried in vain. Coaxing and scolding proved +equally unavailable; all except one remained firm in their refusal, the +exception being an old Indian who did not belong to the Ega tribe, and +who could not resist the large bribe offered by Trevannion. + +The voyagers must either suspend their journey till the Coary +turtle-hunters should return, or proceed without paddlers. The hunters +were not expected for a month. To stay a month at Coary was out of the +question. The galatea must go on manned by her own people, and the old +Indian who was to act as pilot. Such was the determination of Ralph +Trevannion. But for that resolve,--rash as it was, and ending +unfortunately for him who made it,--we should have no story to tell. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENT. + +The craft that carried the ex-miner, his family and following, once more +floated on the broad bosom of the Solimoes. Not so swift as before, +since, instead of eight paddlers, it was now impelled by only half the +number,--these, too, with less than half the experience of the crew who +had preceded them. + +The owner himself acted as steersman, while the paddles were plied by +"Tipperary Tom," Mozey, the old Indian,--who, being of the Mundurucu +tribe, passed by the name of "Munday,"--and Richard Trevannion. + +The last, though by far the youngest, was perhaps the best paddler in +the party. Brought up in his native place of Gran Para, he had been +accustomed to spend half his time either in or upon the water; and an +oar or paddle was to him no novelty. + +Young Ralph, on the contrary, a true mountaineer, knew nothing of +either, and therefore counted for nothing among the crew of the galatea. +To him and the little Rosa was assigned the keeping of the pets, with +such other light duties as they were capable of performing. + +For the first day the voyage was uninterrupted by any incident,--at +least any that might be called unpleasant. Their slow progress, it is +true, was a cause of dissatisfaction; but so long as they were going at +all, and going in the right direction, this might be borne with +equanimity. Three miles an hour was about their average rate of speed; +for half of which they were indebted to the current of the river, and +for the other half to the impulsion of their paddles. + +Considering that they had still a thousand miles to go before reaching +Gran Para, the prospect of a protracted voyage was very plainly outlined +before them. + +Could they have calculated on making three miles an hour for every hour +of the twenty-four, things would not have been bad. This rate of speed +would have carried them to their destination in a dozen days,--a mere +bagatelle. But they knew enough of river-navigation to disregard such +data. They knew the current of the Solimoes to be extremely slow; they +had heard of the strange phenomenon, that, run which way the river +might, north, south, east, or west,--and it _does_ keep bending and +curving in all these directions,--the wind is almost always met with +blowing _up stream_! + +For this reason they could put no dependence in their sail, and would +have to trust altogether to the paddles. These could not be always in +the water. Human strength could not stand a perpetual spell, even at +paddles; and less so in the hands of a crew of men so little used to +them. + +Nor could they continue the voyage at night. By doing so, they would be +in danger of losing their course, their craft, and themselves! + +You may smile at the idea. You will ask--a little scornfully, perhaps-- +how a canoe, or any other craft, drifting down a deep river to its +destination, could possibly go astray. Does not the current point out +the path,--the broad waterway not to be mistaken? + +So it might appear to one seated in a skiff, and floating down the +tranquil Thames, with its well-defined banks. But far different is the +aspect of the stupendous Solimoes to the voyager gliding through its +_Capo_. + +I have made use of a word of strange sound, and still stranger +signification. Perhaps it is new to your eye, as your oar. You will +become better acquainted with it before the end of our voyage; for into +the "Gapo" it is my intention to take you, where ill-luck carried the +galatea and her crew. + +On leaving Coary, it was not the design of her owner to attempt taking +his craft, so indifferently manned, all the way to Para. He knew there +were several civilised settlements between,--as Barra at the mouth of +the Rio Negro, Obidos below it, Santarem, and others. At one or other +of these places he expected to obtain a supply of _tapuyos_, to replace +the crew who had so provokingly forsaken him. + +The voyage to the nearest of them, however, would take several days, at +the rate of speed the galatea was now making; and the thought of being +delayed on their route became each hour more irksome. The ex-miner, who +had not seen his beloved brother during half a score of years, was +impatient once more to embrace him. He had been, already, several +months travelling towards him by land and water; and just as he was +beginning to believe that the most difficult half of the journey had +been accomplished, he found himself delayed by an obstruction vexatious +as unexpected. + +The first night after his departure from Coary, he consented that the +galatea should lie to,--moored to some bushes that grew upon the banks +of the river. + +On the second night, however, he acted with less prudence. His +impatience to make way prompted him to the resolution to keep on. The +night was clear,--a full moon shining conspicuously above, which is not +always the case in the skies of the Solimoes. + +There was to be no sail set, no use made of the paddles. The crew were +fatigued, and wanted rest and repose. The current alone was to favour +their progress; and as it appeared to be running nearly two miles an +hour, it should advance them between twenty and thirty miles before the +morning. + +The Mundurucu made an attempt to dissuade his "patron" from the course +he designed pursuing; but his advice was disregarded,--perhaps because +ill-understood,--and the galatea glided on. + +Who could mistake that broad expanse of water--upon which the moon shone +so clearly--for aught else than the true channel of the Solimoes? Not +Tipperary Tom, who, in the second watch of the night,--the owner himself +having kept the first,--acted as steersman of the galatea. + +The others had gone to sleep. Trevannion and the three young people +under the toldo; Mozey and the Mundurucu along the staging known as the +"hold." The birds and monkeys were at rest on their respective perches, +and in their respective cages,--all was silent in the galatea, and +around,--all save the rippling of the water, as it parted to the +cleaving of her keel. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +THE GALATEA AGROUND. + +Little experienced as he was in the art of navigation, the steersman was +not inattentive to his duty. Previously to his taking the rudder, he +had been admonished about the importance of keeping the craft in the +channel of the stream, and to this had he been giving his attention. + +It so chanced, however, that he had arrived at a place where there were +two channels,--as if an island was interposed in the middle of the +river, causing it to branch at an acute angle. Which of these was the +right one? Which should be taken? These were the questions that +occurred to Tipperary Tom. + +At first he thought of awakening his master, and consulting him, but on +once more glancing at the two channels, he became half convinced that +the broader one must be the proper route to be followed. + +"Bay Japers!" muttered he to himself. "Shure I can't be mistaken. The +biggest av the two ought to be the mane sthrame. Anyway, I won't wake +the masther. I'll lave it to the ship to choose for hersilf." Saying +this he relaxed his hold upon the steering oar, and permitted the +galatea to drift with the current. + +Sure enough, the little craft inclined towards the branch that appeared +the broader one; and in ten minutes' time had made such way that the +other opening was no longer visible from her decks. The steersman, +confident of being on the right course, gave himself no further +uneasiness; but, once more renewing his hold upon the steering oar, +guided the galatea in the middle of the channel. + +Notwithstanding all absence of suspicion as to having gone astray, he +could not help noticing that the banks on each side appeared to be +singularly irregular, as if here and there indented by deep bays, or +reaches of water. Some of these opened out vistas of shining surface, +apparently illimitable, while the dark patches that separated them +looked more like clumps of trees half-submerged under water than +stretches of solid earth. + +As the galatea continued her course, this puzzling phenomenon ceased to +be a conjecture; Tipperary Tom saw that he was no longer steering down a +river between two boundary banks, but on a broad expanse of water, +stretching as far as eye could reach, with no other boundary than that +afforded by a _flooded forest_. + +There was nothing in all this to excite alarm,--at least in the mind of +Tipperary Tom. The Mundurucu, had he been awake, might have shown some +uneasiness at the situation. But the Indian was asleep,--perhaps +dreaming of some Mura enemy,--whose head he would have been happy to +embalm. + +Tom simply supposed himself to be in some part of the Solimoes flooded +beyond its banks, as he had seen it in more places than one. With this +confidence, he stuck faithfully to his steering oar, and allowed the +galatea to glide on. It was only when the reach of water--upon which +the craft was drifting--began to narrow, or rather after it had narrowed +to a surprising degree, that the steersman began to suspect himself of +having taken the wrong course. + +His suspicions became stronger, at length terminating in a conviction +that such was the truth, when the galatea arrived at a part where less +than a cable's length lay between her beam-ends and the bushes that +stood out of the water on both sides of her. Too surely had he strayed +from the "mane sthrame." The craft that carried him could no longer be +in the channel of the mighty Solimoes! + +The steersman was alarmed, and this very alarm hindered him from +following the only prudent course he could have taken under the +circumstances. He should have aroused his fellow-voyagers, and +proclaimed the error into which he had fallen. He did not do so. A +sense of shame at having neglected his duty, or rather at having +performed it in an indifferent manner,--a species of regret not uncommon +among his countrymen,--hindered him from disclosing the truth, and +taking steps to avert any evil consequences that might spring from it. + +He knew nothing of the great river on which they were voyaging. There +_might_ be such a strait as that through which the galatea was gliding. +The channel might widen below; and, after all, he might have steered in +the proper direction. With such conjectures, strengthened by such +hopes, he permitted the vessel to float on. + +The channel _did_ widen again; and the galatea once more rode upon open +water. The steersman was restored to confidence and contentment. Only +for a short while did this state of mind continue. Again the clear +water became contracted, this time to a very strip, while on either side +extended reaches and estuaries, bordered by half-submerged bushes,--some +of them opening apparently to the sky horizon, wider and freer from +obstruction than that upon which the galatea was holding her course. + +The steersman no longer thought of continuing his course, which he was +now convinced must be the wrong one. Bearing with all his strength upon +the steering oar, he endeavoured to direct the galatea back into the +channel through which he had come; but partly from the drifting of the +current, and partly owing to the deceptive light of the moon, he could +no longer recognise the latter, and, dropping the rudder in despair, he +permitted the vessel to drift whichever way the current might carry her! + +Before Tipperary Tom could summon courage to make known to his +companions the dilemma into which he had conducted them, the galatea had +drifted among the tree-tops of the flooded forest, where she was +instantly "brought to anchor." + +The crashing of broken boughs roused her crew from their slumbers. The +ex-miner, followed by his children, rushed forth from the toldo. He was +not only alarmed, but perplexed, by the unaccountable occurrence. Mozey +was equally in a muddle. The only one who appeared to comprehend the +situation was the old Indian, who showed sufficient uneasiness as to its +consequences by the terrified manner in which he called out: "The Gapo! +The Gapo!" + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +THE MONKEY-POTS. + +"The Gapo?" exclaimed the master of the craft. "What is it, Munday?" + +"The Gapo?" repeated Tipperary Tom, fancying by the troubled expression +on the face of the Indian that he had conducted his companions toward +some terrible disaster. "Phwat is it, Manday?" + +"Da Gapoo?" simultaneously interrogated the negro, the whites of his +eyeballs shining in the moonlight. "What be dat?" + +The Mundurucu made reply only by a wave of his hand, and a glance around +him, as if to say, "Yes, the Gapo; you see we're in it." + +The three interrogators were as much in the dark as ever. Whether the +Gapo was fish, flesh, or fowl, air, fire, or water, they could not even +guess. There was but one upon the galatea besides the Indian himself +who knew the signification of the word which had created such a +sensation among the crew, and this was young Richard Trevannion. + +"It's nothing, uncle," said he, hastening to allay the alarm around him; +"old Munday means that we've strayed from the true channel of the +Solimoes, and got into the flooded forest,--that's all." + +"The flooded forest?" + +"Yes. What you see around us, looking like low bushes, are the tops of +tall trees. We're now aground on the branches of a _sapucaya_,--a +species of the Brazil-nut, and among the tallest of Amazonian trees. +I'm right,--see! there are the nuts themselves!" As the young Paraense +spoke, he pointed to some pericarps, large as cocoa-nuts, that were seen +depending from the branches among which the galatea had caught. +Grasping one of them in his hand, he wrenched it from the branch; but as +he did so, the husk dropped off, and the prism-shaped nuts fell like a +shower of huge hailstones on the roof of the _toldo_. "Monkey-pots +they're called," continued he, referring to the empty pericarp still in +his hand. "That's the name by which the Indians know them; because the +monkeys are very fond of these nuts." + +"But the Gapo?" interrupted the ex-miner, observing that the expressive +look of uneasiness still clouded the brow of the Mundurucu. + +"It's the Indian name for the great inundation," replied Richard, in the +same tranquil tone. "Or rather I should say, the name for it in the +_lingoa-geral_." + +"And what is there to fear? Munday has frightened us all, and seems +frightened himself. What is the cause?" + +"That I can't tell you, uncle. I know there are queer stories about the +Gapo,--tales of strange monsters that inhabit it,--huge serpents, +enormous apes, and all that sort of thing. I never believed them, +though the _tapuyos_ do; and from old Munday's actions I suppose he puts +full faith in them." + +"The young patron is mistaken," interposed the Indian, speaking a patois +of the _lingoa-geral_. "The Mundurucu does not believe in monsters. He +believes in big serpents and monkeys,--he has seen them." + +"But shure yez are not afeerd o' them, Manday?" asked the Irishman. + +The Indian only replied by turning on Tipperary Tom a most scornful +look. + +"What is the use of this alarm?" inquired Trevannion. "The galatea does +not appear to have sustained any injury. We can easily get her out of +her present predicament, by lopping off the branches that are holding +her." + +"Patron," said the Indian, still speaking in a serious tone, "it may not +be so easy as you think. We may get clear of the tree-top in ten +minutes. In as many hours--perhaps days--we may not get clear of the +Gapo. That is why the Mundurucu shows signs of apprehension." + +"Ho! You think we may have a difficulty in finding our way back to the +channel of the river?" + +"Think it, patron! I am too sure of it. If not, we shall be in the +best of good luck." + +"It's of no use trying to-night, at all events," pursued Trevannion, as +he glanced uncertainly around him. "The moon is sinking over the +tree-tops. Before we could well get adrift, she'll be gone out of +sight. We might only drift deeper into the maze. Is that your opinion, +Munday?" + +"It is, patron. We can do no good by leaving the place to-night. Wiser +for us to wait for the light of the sun." + +"Let all go to rest, then," commanded the patron, "and be ready for work +in the morning. We need keep no lookout, I should think. The galatea +is as safe here as if moored in a dry dock. She is _aground_, I take +it, upon the limb of a tree! Ha! ha! ha!" + +The thought of such a situation for a sailing craft--moored amid the +tops of a tall tree--was of so ludicrous a nature as to elicit a peal of +laughter from the patron, which was echoed by the rest of the crew, the +Mundurucu alone excepted. His countenance still preserved its +expression of uneasiness; and long after the others had sunk into +unconscious sleep, he sat upon the stem of the galatea, gazing out into +the gloom, with glances that betokened serious apprehension. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +THE GAPO. + +The young Paraense had given a correct, although not sufficiently +explicit, account of the sort of place in which the galatea had gone +"aground." + +That singular phenomenon known as the _Gapo_ (or _Ygapo_), and which is +one of the most remarkable characteristics of the great Amazonian +region, demands a more detailed description. It is worthy of this, as a +mere study of physical geography,--perhaps as pleasant a science as any; +and furthermore, it is here absolutely necessary to the understanding of +our tale. Without some comprehension of the circumstances that +surrounded them, the hardships and sufferings endured, the adventures +accomplished, and the perils passed by the crew of the strayed galatea, +would appear as so many fabulous inventions, set forth to stimulate and +gratify a taste for the merely marvellous. Young reader, this is not +the aim of your author, nor does he desire it to be the end. On the +contrary, he claims to draw Nature with a verisimilitude that will +challenge the criticism of the naturalist; though he acknowledges a +predilection for Nature in her wildest aspects,--for scenes least +exposed to the eye of civilisation, and yet most exposed to its doubting +incredulity. + +There are few country people who have not witnessed the spectacle of a +piece of woodland inundated by the overflow of a neighbouring stream. +This flood is temporary; the waters soon subside into their ordinary +channel, and the trees once more appear growing out of _terra firma_, +with the green mead spreading on all sides around them. But a flooded +forest is a very different affair; somewhat similar in character indeed, +but far grander. Not a mere spinney of trees along the bank of a small +stream; but a region extending beyond the reach of vision,--a vast tract +of primeval woods,--the tall trees submerged to their very tops, not for +days, nor weeks, but for months,--ay, some of them forever! Picture to +your mind an inundation of this kind, and you will have some idea of the +Gapo. + +Extending for seventeen hundred miles along the banks of the Solimoes, +now wider on the northern, now stretching farther back from the southern +side, this semi-submerged forest is found, its interior almost as +unknown as the crater-like caverns of the moon, or the icy oceans that +storm or slumber round the Poles,--unknown to civilised man, but not +altogether to the savage. The aboriginal of Amazonia, crouching in his +canoe, has pierced this water-land of wonders. He could tell you much +about it that is real, and much that is marvellous,--the latter too +often pronounced fanciful by lettered _savans_. He could tell you of +strange trees that grow there, bearing strange fruits, not to be found +elsewhere,--of wonderful quadrupeds, and _quadrumana_, that exist only +in the Gapo,--of birds brilliantly beautiful, and reptiles hideously +ugly; among the last the dreaded dragon serpent, "Sucuruju." He could +tell you, moreover, of creatures of his own kind,--if they deserve the +name of man,--who dwell continuously in the flooded forest, making their +home on scaffolds among the tree-tops, passing from place to place in +floating rafts or canoes, finding their subsistence on fish, on the +flesh of the _manatee_, on birds, beasts, reptiles, and insects, on the +stalks of huge water-plants and the fruits of undescribed trees, on +monkeys, and sometimes upon _man_! Such Indians as have penetrated the +vast water-land have brought strange tales out of it. We may give +credence to them or refuse it; but they, at least, are firm believers in +most of the accounts which they have collected. + +It is not to be supposed that the Gapo is impenetrable. On the +contrary, there are several well-known waterways leading through it,-- +well-known, I mean, to the Indians dwelling upon its borders, to the +_tapuyos_, whose business it is to supply crews for the galateas of the +Portuguese traders, and to many of these traders themselves. These +waterways are often indicated by "blazings" on the trees, or broken +branches, just as the roads are laid out by pioneer settlers in a North +American forest; and but for these marks, they could not be followed. +Sometimes, however, large spaces occur in which no trees are to be seen, +where, indeed, none grow. There are extensive lakes, always under +water, even at the lowest ebb of the inundation. They are of all sizes +and every possible configuration, from the complete circle through all +the degrees of the ellipse, and not unfrequently in the form of a belt, +like the channel of a river running for scores of miles between what +might readily be mistaken for banks covered with a continuous thicket of +low bushes, which are nothing more than the "spray" of evergreen trees, +whose roots lie forty feet under water! + +More frequently these openings are of irregular shape, and of such +extent as to merit the title of "inland seas." When such are to be +crossed, the sun has to be consulted by the canoe or galatea gliding +near their centre; and when he is not visible,--by no means a rare +phenomenon in the Gapo,--then is there great danger of the craft +straying from her course. + +When within sight of the so-called "shore," a clump of peculiar form, or +a tree topping over its fellows, is used as a landmark, and often guides +the navigator of the Gapo to the _igarita_ of which he is in search. + +It is not all tranquillity on this tree-studded ocean. It has its fogs, +its gales, and its storms,--of frequent occurrence. The canoe is oft +shattered against the stems of gigantic trees; and the galatea goes +down, leaving her crew to perish miserably in the midst of a gloomy +wilderness of wood and water. Many strange tales are told of such +mishaps; but up to the present hour none have received the permanent +record of print and paper. + +Be it _our_ task to supply this deficiency. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +THE ECHENTE. + +It would not be true to say that the crew of the galatea were up with +the sun. There was no sun to shine upon the gloomy scene that revealed +itself next morning. Instead, there was a fog almost thick enough to be +grasped with the hand. They were astir, however, by the earliest +appearance of day; for the captain of the galatea was too anxious about +his "stranded" craft to lie late abed. + +They had no difficulty in getting the vessel afloat. A strong pull at +the branches of the sapucaya, and then an adroit use of the paddles, +carried the craft clear. + +But what was the profit of this? Once out in the open water, they were +as badly off as ever. Not one of them had the slightest idea of the +direction they would take, even supposing they could find a clear course +in any direction! A consultation was the result, in which all hands +took part, though it was evident that, after the patron, most deference +was paid to the Mundurucu. The young Paraense stood next in the scale +of respect; while Tipperary Tom, beyond the account which he was called +upon to give of his steersmanship, was not permitted to mingle his +Hibernian brogue in the discussion. + +Where was the river? That was the first problem to be solved, and of +this there appeared to be no possible solution. There was no sun to +guide them, no visible sky. Even had there been both, it would scarce +have mended the matter. The steersman could not tell whether, on +straying from the channel, he had drifted to the south or the north, the +east or the west; and, indeed, an intellect less obtuse than that of +Tipperary Tom might have been puzzled upon the point. It has been +already mentioned, that the Solimoes is so tortuous as to turn to every +point of the compass in its slow course. The mere fact that the moon +was shining at the time could be of little use to Tipperary Tom, whose +astronomy had never extended beyond the knowledge that there was a moon. + +Where lay the river? The interrogatory was repeated a score of times, +without receiving a satisfactory answer; though every one on board--the +little Rosita excepted--ventured some sort of reply, most, however, +offering their opinion with a doubting diffidence. The Mundurucu, +although repeatedly appealed to, had taken small part in the discussion, +remaining silent, his eyes moodily wandering over the water, seeking +through the fog for some clue to their escape from the spot. + +No one plied the paddles; they had impelled her out of sight of the +sapucaya, now shrouded in the thick fog; but, as it was useless paddling +any farther, all hands had desisted, and were now resting upon their +oars. At this moment it was perceived that the galatea was in motion. +The Mundurucu was the first to notice it; for his attention had for some +time been directed to such discovery. For this reason had he cast his +searching glances, now down into the turbid waters, and now out through +the murky atmosphere. A thicket was discernible through the fog, but +every moment becoming less distinct. Of course it was only a collection +of tree-tops; but whatever it was, it soon became evident that the +galatea was very slowly receding from it. On discovering this, the +Mundurucu displayed signs of fresh animation. He had been for some +minutes lying upon his face, craning out over the gangway, and his long +withered arms submerged in the water. The others occupied themselves in +guessing what he was about; but their guesses had been to no purpose. +Equally purposeless had appeared the actions of the Indian; for, after +keeping his arm under water for a period of several minutes, he drew it +in with a dissatisfied air, and once more arose to his feet. It was +just then that he perceived the tree-tops, upon which he kept his eyes +sharply fixed, until assured that the galatea was going away from them. + +"_Hoola_!" he exclaimed, attempting to imitate the cry he had more than +once heard issuing from the lips of Tipperary Tom. "_Hoola_! the river +is out there!" As he spoke, he pointed towards the tree-tops. + +It was the first confident answer to the all-important question. + +"How can you tell that, Munday?" inquired the captain of the craft. + +"How tell, patron? How tell day from night, the moon from the sun, fire +from water? The Solimoes is there." The Indian spoke with his arm +still extended in the direction of the trees. + +"We are willing to believe you," rejoined Trevannion, "and will trust to +your guidance; but pray explain yourself." + +"It's all guess-work," interpolated Tipperary Tom. "Ould Munday knows +no more av fwat he's talkin' about than Judy Fitzcummons's mother. I'll +warrant ye we come in from the t'other side." + +"Silence, Tom!" commanded his master. "Let us hear what Munday has to +say. _You_ have no right to contradict him." + +"Och, awance! An Indyen's opinion prefarred before that ov a freeborn +Oirishman! I wondher what nixt." And as Tipperary completed his +chapter of reproaches, he slank crouchingly under the shadow of the +_toldo_. + +"So you think the river is there?" said Trevannion, once more addressing +himself to the Mundurucu. + +"The Mundurucu is sure of it, patron. Sure as that the sky is above +us." + +"Remember, old man! It won't do for us to make any mistake. No doubt +we've already strayed a considerable distance from the channel of the +Solimoes. To go again from it will be to endanger our lives." + +"The Mundurucu knows that," was the laconic reply. + +"Well, then, we must be satisfied of the fact, before we can venture to +make a move. What proof can you give us that the river lies in that +direction?" + +"Patron! You know the month? It is the month of March." + +"Certainly it is. What of that?" + +"The _echente_." + +"The _echente_? What is that?" + +"The flood getting bigger. The water on the rise,--the Gapo still +growing,--that is the _echente_." + +"But how should that enable you to determine the direction of the +river?" + +"It has done so," replied the Indian. "Not before three months--in +June--will come the _vasante_." + +"The _vasante_?" + +"The _vasante_, patron: the fall. Then the Gapo will begin to grow +less; and the current will be _towards_ the river, as now it is _from_ +it." + +"Your story appears reasonable enough. I suppose we may trust to it. +If so," added Trevannion, "we had better direct our course towards +yonder tree-tops, and lose no time in getting beyond them. All of you +to your paddles, and pull cheerily. Let us make up for the time we have +lost through the negligence of Tipperary Tom. Pull, my lads, pull!" + +At this cheering command the four paddlers rushed to their places; and +the galatea, impelled by their vigorous strokes, once more glided gayly +over the bosom of the waters. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +AN IMPASSABLE BARRIER. + +In a few moments the boat's bow was brought within half a cable's length +of the boughs of the submerged trees. Her crew could see that to +proceed farther, on a direct course, was simply impossible. With equal +reason might they have attempted to hoist her into the air, and leap +over the obstruction that had presented itself before them. + +Not only were the branches of the adjoining trees interlocked, but from +one to the other straggled a luxurious growth of creepers, forming a +network so strong and compact that a steamer of a hundred horse-power +would have been safely brought to a stand among its meshes. Of course +no attempt was made to penetrate this impenetrable _chevaux de frise_; +and after a while had been spent in reconnoitring it, Trevannion, guided +by the counsel of the Mundurucu, ordered the galatea to go about, and +proceed along the selvage of the submerged forest. An hour was spent in +paddling. No opening. Another hour similarly employed, and with +similar results! + +The river might be in the direction pointed out by the Indian. No doubt +it was; but how were they to reach it? Not a break appeared in all that +long traverse wide enough to admit the passage of a canoe. Even an +arrow could scarce have penetrated among the trees, that extended their +parasite-laden branches beyond the border of the forest! By tacit +consent of the patron, the paddlers rested upon their oars; then plied +them once more; and once more came to a pause. + +No opening among the tree-tops; no chance to reach the channel of the +Solimoes. The gloomy day became gloomier, for night was descending over +the Gapo. The crew of the galatea, wearied with many hours of exertion, +ceased paddling. The patron did not oppose them; for his spirit, as +well as theirs, had become subdued by hope long deferred. As upon the +previous night, the craft was moored among the tree-tops, where her +rigging, caught among the creepers, seemed enough to keep her from +drifting away. But very different from that of the preceding night was +the slumber enjoyed by her crew. Amidst the boughs of the sapucaya, +there had been nothing to disturb their tranquillity, save the +occasional shower of nuts, caused by the cracking of the dry shells, and +the monkey-pots discharging their contents. Then was the galatea +"grounded" upon a solitary tree, which carried only its own fruit. +To-night she was moored in the middle of a forest,--at all events upon +its edge,--a forest, not of the earth, nor the air, nor the water, but +of all three,--a forest whose inhabitants might be expected to partake +of a character altogether strange and abnormal. And of such character +were they; for scarce had the galatea become settled among the +tree-tops, when the ears of her crew were assailed by a chorus of +sounds, that with safety might have challenged the choir of Pandemonium. +Two alone remained undismayed,--Richard Trevannion and the Mundurucu. + +"Bah!" exclaimed the Paraense, "what are you all frightened at? Don't +you know what it is, uncle?" + +"I know what it resembles, boy,--the Devil and his legions let loose +from below. What is it, Dick?" + +"Only the howlers. Don't be alarmed, little Rosita!" + +The little Peruvian, gaining courage from his words, looked admiringly +on the youth who had called her "little Rosita." Any one could have +told that, from that time forward, Richard Trevannion might have the +power to control the destinies of his cousin. + +"The howlers! What are they?" inquired the old miner. + +"Monkeys, uncle; nothing more. From the noise they make, one might +suppose they were as big as buffaloes. Nothing of the kind. The +largest I ever saw was hardly as stout as a deerhound, though he could +make as much noise as a whole kennel. They have a sort of a drum in the +throat, that acts as a sound-board. That's what enables them to get up +such a row. I've often heard their concert more than two miles across +country, especially in prospect of an approaching storm. I don't know +if they follow this fashion in the Gapo; but if they do, from the way +they're going it now, we may look out for a trifling tornado." + +Notwithstanding the apparent unconcern with which young Trevannion +declared himself, there was something in his manner that arrested the +attention of his uncle. While pronouncing his hypothetical forecast of +a storm, he had turned his glance towards the sky, and kept it fixed +there, as if making something more than a transient observation. The +fog had evaporated, and the moon was now coursing across the heavens, +not against a field of cloudy blue, but in the midst of black, cumulus +clouds, that every now and then shrouded her effulgence. A dweller in +the tropics of the Western hemisphere would have pronounced this sign +the certain forerunner of a storm; and so predicted the young Paraense. +"We'll have the sky upon us within an hour," said he, addressing himself +more especially to his uncle. "We'd better tie the galatea to the +trees. If this be a _hurricane_, and she goes adrift, there's no +knowing where we may bring up. The likeliest place will be in the +bottom of the Gapo." + +"The young patron speaks truth," interposed Munday, his eyes all the +while reading the signs of the heavens; "The Mundurucu knows by yonder +yellow sky." + +As he spoke, the Indian pointed to a patch of brimstone-coloured clouds, +conspicuous over the tops of the trees. There was no reason why Ralph +Trevannion should not give credit to the two weather-prophets, who could +have no personal motive in thus warning him. He yielded, therefore, to +their solicitation; and in ten minutes more the galatea was secured +among the tree-tops, as fast as cords could make her. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +A TROPICAL TORNADO. + +Notwithstanding the apparently complete security thus obtained for the +craft, the Mundurucu did not seem to be easy in his mind. He had +climbed up the mast to the yard, and, having there poised himself, sat +gazing over the tops of the trees upon the patch of brimstone sky which +was visible in that direction. The others all talked of going to sleep, +except the young Paraense, who counselled them to keep awake. He, too, +like the Mundurucu, was troubled with forebodings. He understood the +weather-signs of the Solimoes, and saw that a storm was portending. +Though the sun had not been visible during the whole day, it was now +about the hour of his setting; and as if the storm had been waiting for +this as a signal, it now boldly broke forth. A few quick puffs, with +short intervals between them, were its precursors. These were soon +followed by gusts, stronger, as well as noisier, in their advent; and +then the wind kept up a continuous roaring among the tops of the trees; +while above the thunder rolled incessantly, filling the firmament with +its terrible voice. Deep darkness and the vivid glare of the +lightning-flashes followed each other in quick succession. At one +moment all was obscure around the crew of the galatea,--the sky, the +trees, the water, even the vessel herself; in the next, everything was +made manifest, to the distance of miles, under a brilliance garish and +unearthly. To add to the unnatural appearance of things, there were +other sounds than those of the thunder or the storm,--the cries of +living creatures, strange and unknown. Birds they might be, or beasts, +or reptiles, or all these, commingling their screams, and other accents +of affright, with the sharp whistling of the wind, the hoarse rumbling +of the thunder, and the continuous crashing of the branches. + +The crew of the galatea were on the alert, with awe depicted on every +face. Their fear was lest the craft should be blown away from her +moorings, and carried out into the open water, which was now agitated by +the fury of the storm. Almost under the first lashing of the wind, huge +waves had sprung up, with white crests, that under the electric light +gleamed fiercely along the yellow swell of the turbid water. Their +anxiety was of short continuance; for almost on the instant of its +rising, it became reality. Unfortunately, the tree to which the craft +had been tied was one whose wood was of a soft and succulent nature,--a +species of _melastoma_. Its branches were too brittle to bear the +strain thus unexpectedly put upon them; and almost at the first onset of +the tornado they began to give way, snapping off one after the other in +quick succession. So rapid was the process of detachment, that, before +fresh moorings could be made, the last cord had come away; and the +galatea, like a greyhound loosed from the leash, shot out from among the +tree-tops, and went off in wild career over the waves of the Gapo. +Before any control could be gained over her by her terrified crew, she +had made several cables' length into the open water, and was still +sweeping onward over its seething surface. To turn her head towards the +trees was clearly out of the question. The attempt would have been +idle. Both wind and waves carried her in the opposite direction, to say +nothing of the current, against which she had been already contending. +The crew no longer thought of returning to the tree-tops, out of which +they had been so unceremoniously swept: Their only chance of safety +appeared to be to keep the craft, as well balanced as circumstances +would permit, and run before the wind. Even this for a time seemed but +a doubtful chance. The wind blew, not in regular, uniform direction, +but in short, fitful gusts, as if coming from every point of the +compass; and the waves rolled around them as high as houses. In the +midst of a chopping, purging sea, the galatea tumbled and pitched, now +head, now stern foremost, at times going onward in mad career, and with +headlong speed. The parrots and macaws upon the yard had as much as +their strong claws could do to keep their perch; and the monkeys, +cowering under the shelter of the _toldo_, clung close to its timbers. +Both birds and beasts mingled their terrified cries with the creaking of +the galatea's timbers and the shouts of her crew. The Gapo threatened +to ingulf them. Every moment might be their last! And with this dread +belief, scarce for a moment out of their minds, did our adventurers pass +the remainder of that remarkable night, the galatea galloping onward, +they could not tell whither. All they knew or could remember of that +nocturnal voyage was, that the vessel kept upon her course, piloted only +by the winds and waves,--at times tossing within deep troughs of +turbulent water, at times poised upon the summits of ridge-like swells, +but ever going onward at high speed, seemingly ten knots an hour! + +For a long while they saw around them only open water, as of some great +lake or inland sea. At a later hour, the lightning revealed the tops of +submerged trees, such as those they had left behind; but standing out of +the water in clumps or coppices, that appeared like so many islands. +Amidst these they were carried, sometimes so close to the trees as to +give them hopes of being able to grasp their boughs. Once or twice the +rigging of the galatea brushed among the branches; and they used every +effort to stay their runaway craft, and bring her to an anchorage. But +in vain. The storm was stronger than the united strength of the crew. +The twigs clutched with eager hands parted in twain, and the +storm-driven vessel swept on amid the surging waters. + +Daylight arrived at length, breaking through a red aurora, soon followed +by a brilliant sunrise. This somewhat cheered our despairing +adventurers. But the tempest was still raging with undiminished fury, +the wind as loud and the waves as high as at any period throughout the +night. Once more they were in the middle of a waste of waters, neither +trees nor land in sight. Another great lake or inland sea? It could +not be that over which they had been already carried? No. The wind was +now blowing more steadily; and could it not have shifted? Even if it +had, they had not returned through the archipelago of tree-top islands. +They were in another opening of the Gapo. Munday was of this opinion, +and that was proof sufficient to satisfy his companions. As we have +said, the returning day did little to restore the confidence of the +galatea's crew. The tornado still continued. Despite the sunlit sky, +the storm showed no signs of abating; and the crazy craft gave tongue in +every timber of her frail frame. The sounds were ominous to the ears of +those who listened to them. It was too evident, that, unless there +should soon come a lull, the galatea would go to the bottom. She had +not been constructed to stand a strain like that to which she had been +thus unexpectedly exposed, and an anchorage either to _terra firma_ or +the tree-tops would soon become necessary to her salvation. Her crew, +convinced of this, were one and all upon the lookout, scanning the +horizon as closely as the crested billows would admit. The Mundurucu +had mounted to the top of the mast, where, with one of the monkeys that +had perched itself on his shoulders, he clung with the tenacity of +despair. All at once he was heard to cry out, the monkey mocking him in +mimic tone. + +"What is it, Munday? What do you see?" were the inquiries that reached +him from below. + +"Land," was the laconic reply. + +"Land!" went up the echo from half a score of joyous voices. + +"Maybe not land,--I mean the _terra firma_," pursued the observer, in a +less confident tone. "It may be only the top of a thick forest like +what we tried to penetrate yesterday. Whatever it is, patron, it seems +along the whole edge of the sky. We are drifting towards it, straight +as the wind can carry us." + +"Thank God!" exclaimed Trevannion, "anything is better than this. If we +can get once more among the tree-tops, we shall at least be saved from +drowning. Thank God, children. We shall be preserved!" + +The Indian descended from the mast, close followed by the monkey, whose +serio-comic countenance seemed to say that he too was satisfied by the +observation just made. Still careering madly onward before the tempest, +the boat soon brought the tree-tops within view, and, after a brief +debate, the conclusion was reached that it was only a submerged forest. +But even this was better than buffeting about on the open billows,-- +every moment in danger of being swamped; and with a universal feeling of +joy our adventurers perceived that their craft was drifting toward that +dark line. They were powerless to control her course. Her rudder had +been unshipped during the night, and they could trust only to the +tempest still raging to carry them to the confines of the forest. In +full hope that this would be the result, they took no measures either to +promote or frustrate the steering of the storm. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE GALATEA TREED. + +Tossed by the tempest, the galatea preserved her course towards the +tree-tops, thus keeping up the spirits and confidence of her crew. +Despite some divergences caused by an occasional contrary gust of wind, +she kept an onward course, in due time arriving within such distance of +the forest, that it was no longer doubtful about her drifting among the +trees. In this there was a prospect of temporary safety at the least, +and our adventurers had begun to congratulate themselves on the +proximity of the event. Just then, a gigantic tree--it must have been +gigantic to stand so high over its fellows, though it could scarce be +fifty feet above the surface of the water--presented itself to their +eyes. It stood solitary and alone, about a quarter of a mile from the +edge of the forest, and as much nearer to the craft, still struggling +through the wind-lashed water. Like that in the top of which they had +first gone aground, it was a sapucaya,--as testified by the huge +pericarps conspicuously suspended from its branches. High as may have +been the inundation, its stem rose still higher, by at least ten feet; +but half-way between the water's surface and the branches, the colossal +trunk forked in twain,--each of the twin scions appearing a trunk of +itself. Through the fork was the water washing at each heave of the +agitated Gapo,--the waves with foaming crests mounting far up towards +the top of the tree, as if aspiring to pluck the ripe fruit depending +from its branches. + +Towards this tree the galatea was now going as straight as if she had +been steered by the finger of Destiny itself. There was no other power +to control her,--at least none that was human. The wind, or destiny,-- +one of the two,--must determine her fate. The waves perhaps had +something to do with it; since the next that followed lifted the galatea +upon its curling crest, and lodged her in the sapucaya in such a fashion +that her keel, just amidships, rested within the forking of the twin +stems. + +"Thank God!" exclaimed her owner, "we are safe now. Moored between two +stanchions like these, neither the winds of heaven nor the waves of the +great ocean itself could prevail against us. Make fast there! Make +fast to the limbs of the tree! Tie her on both sides. These are no +twigs to be snapped asunder. Hurrah! we are anchored at last!" + +The gigantic stems of the sapucaya, rising on both sides above the +beam-ends of the galatea, looked like the supporters of a graving-dock. +It is true the craft still floated upon the bosom of a troubled water; +but what of that? Once made fast to the tree, she could not be carried +farther; therefore was she secure against wind and wave. The tornado +might continue, but no longer to be a terror to the crew. These, partly +relieved from their fears, hastened to obey the master's commands. +Ropes were grasped, and, with hands still trembling, were looped around +the stems of the sapucaya. All at once action was suspended by a loud +crash, which was followed by a cry that issued simultaneously from the +lips of all the crew; who, before its echoes could die away among the +branches of the sapucaya, had become separated into two distinct groups! + +The crash had been caused by the parting of the galatea's keel, which, +resting in the fork of the tree, had broken amidships, on the subsidence +of the wave that had heaved her into this peculiar position. For a few +seconds the two sections of the partly dissevered craft hung balanced +between the air and the water, the fore-deck with its stores balancing +the quarter with its _toldo_. But long before the beam was kicked, the +occupants of both had forsaken them, and were to be seen, some of them +clinging to the branches of the sapucaya, some struggling beneath +against the storm and the current of the Gapo. By noble devotion on the +part of those who could swim, the whole crew were placed beyond the +reach of the waves upon the branches of the sapucaya, where, from their +elevated position, they beheld the craft that had so long safely carried +them parting in two and sinking out of sight. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +A DANGEROUS DUCKING. + +Before the dismembered vessel quite disappeared under the storm-lashed +waves, every individual of her crew had found a foothold upon the +branches of the sapucaya. The tree, while causing the wreck of their +vessel, had saved them from going with her to the bottom of the Gapo. +For some time, however, they were far from feeling secure. They were in +different parts of the tree, scattered all over it, just as they had +been able to lay hold of the limbs and lift themselves above the reach +of the swelling waves. Scarce two of them were in the same attitude. +One stood erect upon a branch with arms around an upright stem; another +sat astride; a third lay along a limb, with one leg dangling downwards. +The young Paraense had taken post upon a stout _lliana_, that threaded +through the branches of the trees, and, with one arm around this and the +other encircling the waist of his cousin, Rosita, he kept both the girl +and himself in a position of perfect security. Young Ralph found +footing on a large limb, while his father stood upon a still larger one +immediately below. The pets, both birds and beasts, had distributed +themselves in their affright, and were seen perched on all parts of the +tree. + +For a time there was no attempt made by any one to change his position. +The tornado still continued, and it was just as much as any of them +could do to keep the place already gained. There was one who did not +even succeed in keeping his place, and this was Tipperary Tom. The +Irishman had selected one of the lowest limbs, that stretched +horizontally outward, only a few feet above the surface of the water. +He had not exactly made choice of his perch, but had been flung upon it +by the swelling wave, and, clutching instinctively, had held fast. The +weight of his body, however, had bent the branch downward, and, after +making several fruitless efforts to ascend to the stem, he had +discovered that the feat was too much for him. There was no choice but +to hold on to the bent branch or drop back into the boiling Gapo, that +threatened from below to ingulf him; terrified by the latter +alternative, Tom exerted all his strength, and held on with mouth agape +and eyes astare. Soon the tension would have proved too much for him, +and he must have dropped down into the water. But he was not permitted +to reach this point of exhaustion. A wave similar to that which had +landed him on the limb lifted him off again, launching him out into the +open water. + +A cry of consternation came from the tree. All knew that Tipperary Tom +was no swimmer; and with this knowledge they expected to see him sink +like a stone. He did go down, and was for some moments lost to view; +but his carrot-coloured head once more made its appearance above the +surface, and, guided by his loud cries, his situation was easily +discovered. He could only sink a second time to rise no more. Sad were +the anticipations of his companions,--all except one, who had made up +his mind that Tipperary Tom was not yet to die. This was the Mundurucu, +who at the moment was seen precipitating himself from the tree, and then +swimming out in the direction of the drowning man. In less than a score +of seconds he was in the clutch of the Indian, who grasping him with one +hand, with the other struck out for the tree. + +By good fortune the swell that had swept Tipperary from his perch, or +one wonderfully like it, came balancing back towards the sapucaya, +bearing both Indian and Irishman upon its crest, landing them in the +great fork where the galatea had gone to pieces, and then retiring +without them! It seemed a piece of sheer good fortune, though no doubt +it was a destiny more than half directed by the arm of the Indian, whose +broad palm appeared to propel them through the water with the power of a +paddle. + +To whatever indebted, chance or the prowess of the Mundurucu, certain it +is that Tipperary Tom was rescued from a watery grave in the Gapo; and +on seeing him along with his preserver safe in the fork of the tree, a +general shout of congratulation, in which even the animals took part, +pealed up through the branches, loud enough to be heard above the +swishing of the leaves, the whistling of the wind, and the surging of +the angry waters, that seemed to hiss spitefully at being disappointed +of their prey. + +Tom's senses had become somewhat confused by the ducking. Not so much, +however, as to hinder him from perceiving that in the fork, where the +wave had deposited him and his preserver, he was still within reach of +the swelling waters; seeing this, he was not slow to follow the example +of the Mundurucu, who, "swarming" up the stem of the tree, placed +himself in a safe and more elevated position. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +A CONSULTATION IN THE TREE-TOP. + +It would scarce be possible to conceive a situation more forlorn than +that of the castaway crew of the galatea. Seated, standing, or astride +upon the limbs of the sapucaya, their position was painful, and far from +secure. The tempest continued, and it was with difficulty they could +keep their places, every gust threatening to blow them out of the +tree-top. Each clung to some convenient bough; and thus only were they +enabled to maintain their balance. The branches, swept by the furious +storm, creaked and crackled around them,--bending as if about to break +under their feet, or in the hands that apprehensively grasped them. +Sometimes a huge pericarp, big as a cannon-ball, filled with heavy +fruits, was detached from the pendulous peduncles, and went _swizzing_ +diagonally through the air before the wind, threatening a cracked crown +to any who should be struck by it. One of the castaways met with this +bit of ill-luck,--Mozey the Mozambique. It was well, however, that he +was thus distinguished, since no other skull but his could have +withstood the shock. As it was, the ball rebounded from the close +woolly fleece that covered the negro's crown, as from a cushion, causing +him no further trouble than a considerable fright. Mozey's looks and +exclamations were ludicrous enough, had his companions been inclined for +laughter. But they were not; their situation was too serious, and all +remained silent, fully occupied in clinging to the tree, and moodily +contemplating the scene of cheerless desolation that surrounded them. + +Till now, no one had speculated on anything beyond immediate safety. To +escape drowning had been sufficient for their thoughts, and engrossed +them for more than an hour after the galatea had gone down. Then a +change began to creep over their spirits,--brought about by one +observable in the spirit of the storm. It was, you remember, one of +those tropical tempests, that spring up with unexpected celerity, and +fall with equal abruptness. Now the tempest began to show signs of +having spent itself. The tornado--a species of _cyclone_, usually of +limited extent--had passed on, carrying destruction to some other part +of the great Amazonian plain. The wind lulled into short, powerless +puffs, and the comparatively shallow waters of the Gapo soon ceased to +swell. By this time noon had come, and the sun looked down from a +zenith of cloudless blue, upon an expanse of water no more disturbed, +and on branches no longer agitated by the stormy wind. + +This transformation, sudden and benign, exerted an influence on the +minds of our adventurers perched upon the sapucaya. No longer in +immediate danger, their thoughts naturally turned to the future; and +they began to speculate upon a plan for extricating themselves from +their unfortunate dilemma. + +On all sides save one, as far as the eye could scan, nothing could be +seen but open water,--the horizon not even broken by the branch of a +tree. On the excepted side trees were visible, not in clumps, or +standing solitary, but in a continuous grove, with here and there some +taller ones rising many feet above their fellows. There could be no +doubt that it was a forest. It would have gratified them to have +believed it a thicket, for then would they have been within sight and +reach of land. But they could not think so consistently with their +experience. It resembled too exactly that to which they had tied the +galatea on the eve of the tempest, and they conjectured that what they +saw was but the "spray" of a forest submerged. For all that, the design +of reaching it as soon as the waters were calm was first in their minds. + +This was not so easy as might be supposed. Although the border of the +verdant peninsula was scarce a quarter of a mile distant, there were but +two in the party who could swim across to it. Had there existed the +materials for making a raft, their anxiety need not have lasted long. +But nothing of the kind was within reach. The branches of the sapucaya, +even if they could be broken off, were too heavy, in their green growing +state, to do more than to buoy up their own ponderous weight. So a +sapucaya raft was not to be thought of, although it was possible that, +among the tree-tops which they were planning to reach, dead timber might +be found sufficient to construct one. But this could be determined only +after a reconnoissance of the submerged forest by Richard Trevannion and +the Mundurucu, who alone could make it. + +To this the patron hardly consented,--indeed, he was not asked. There +seemed to be a tacit understanding that it was the only course that +could be adopted; and without further ado, the young Paraense, throwing +off such of his garments as might impede him, sprang from the tree, and +struck boldly out for the flooded forest. The Mundurucu, not being +delayed by the necessity of stripping, had already taken to the water, +and was fast cleaving his way across the open expanse that separated the +solitary sapucaya from its more social companions. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +A FRACAS HEARD FROM AFAR. + +The castaways watched the explorers until they disappeared within the +shadowy selvage. Then, having nothing else to do, they proceeded to +make themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit, by +selecting for their seats the softest branches of the sapucaya. To be +sure there was not much choice between the limbs, but the great fork, +across which the galatea had broken, appeared to offer a position rather +better than any other. As the swell was no longer to be dreaded, +Trevannion descended into the fork, taking little Rosa along with him, +while the others sat on higher limbs, holding by the branches or stout +llianas growing above them. At best their situation was irksome, but +physical inconvenience was hardly felt in their mental sufferings. +Their reflections could not be other than painful as they contemplated +the future. Their shelter in the sapucaya could be only temporary, and +yet it might continue to the end of their lives. They had no assurance +that they might be able to get out of it at all; and even if they should +succeed in reaching the other trees, it might be only to find them forty +feet deep in water. The prospect was deplorable and their forebodings +gloomy. + +For nearly an hour they exchanged no word. The only sound heard was an +occasional scream from one of the pet birds, or the jabbering of the +monkeys, of which there had been five or six, of different kinds, on the +galatea. Two only had found refuge on the tree,--a beautiful little +_Ouistiti_, and a larger one, of the genus _Ateles_, the black Coaita. +The others, chained or otherwise confined, had gone down with the +galatea. So, too, with the feathered favourites, of many rare and +beautiful kinds, collected during the long voyage on the Upper Amazon, +some of which had been bought at large prices from their Indian owners, +to carry across the Atlantic. The caged had perished with the wreck, +others by the tornado, and, like the _quadrumana_, only two of the birds +had found an asylum on the tree. One was a splendid hyacinthine macaw, +the _Araruna_ of the Indians (_Macrocercus hyacinthinus_); the other a +small paroquet, the very tiniest of its tribe, which had long divided +with the little ouistiti the affections of Rosa. + +About an hour had elapsed since the departure of the swimming scouts, +with no signs of their return. The party cast anxious glances towards +the place where they had last been seen, listening for any sounds from +the thicket that concealed them. Once or twice they fancied they heard +their voices, and then they were all sure they heard shouts, but +mingling with some mysterious sounds in a loud, confused chorus. The +coaita heard, and chattered in reply; so, too, did the ouistiti and +paroquet; but the macaw seemed most disturbed, and once or twice, +spreading its hyacinthine wings, rose into the air, and appeared +determined to part from its _ci-devant_ protectors. The call of Ralph, +whose especial pet it was, allured it back to its perch, where, however, +it only stayed in a state of screaming uncertainty. There was something +strange in this behaviour, though in the anxiety of the hour but little +heed was paid to it; and as the voices soon after ceased, the araruna +became tranquillised, and sat quietly on the roost it had selected. + +Once more, however, the shouting and strange cries came pealing across +the water, and again the araruna gave evidence of excitement. This time +the noise was of shorter duration, and soon terminated in complete +tranquillity. Nearly two hours had now expired, and the countenances of +all began to wear an expression of the most sombre character. Certainly +they had heard the voices of Richard and the Mundurucu mingling with +those unearthly sounds. There was time enough for them to have gone far +into the unknown forest, and return. What could detain them? Their +voices had been heard only in shouts and sharp exclamations, that +proclaimed them to be in some critical, perhaps perilous situation. And +now they were silent! Had they succumbed to some sad fate? Were they +dead? + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +THE JARARACA. + +There are bodily sensations stronger than many mental emotions. Such +are hunger and thirst. The castaways in the tree-top began to +experience both in an extreme degree. By good fortune, the means of +satisfying them were within reach. With a "monkey-cup" emptied of its +triangular kernels they could draw up water at will, and with its +contents conquer the cravings of hunger. At his father's request, and +stimulated by his own sensations, Ralph began climbing higher, to +procure some of the huge fruit-capsules suspended--as is the case with +most South American forest-trees--from the extremities of the branches. +The boy was a bold and skilful climber among the crags and cliffs of his +native Cordilleras. Still a tree did not come amiss to him, and in a +twinkling he had ascended to the top branches of the sapucaya, the macaw +making the ascent with him, perched upon his crown. All at once the +bird began to scream, as if startled by some terrible apparition; and +without losing an instant, it forsook its familiar place, and commenced +fluttering around the top of the tree, still continuing its cries. What +could be the cause? The boy looked above and about him, but could +discover nothing. The screams of the araruna were instantly answered by +the little paroquet in a tiny treble, but equally in accents of terror, +while both the coaita and ouistiti, chattering in alarm, came bounding +up the tree. The paroquet had already joined the macaw, and, as if in +imitation of its great congener, flew fluttering among the top branches, +in a state of the wildest excitement! Guided by the birds, that kept +circling around one particular spot, the boy at length discovered the +cause of the alarm; and the sight was one calculated to stir terror. + +It was a serpent coiled around a lliana that stretched diagonally +between two branches. It was of a yellowish-brown colour, near to that +of the lliana itself; and but for its smooth, shining skin, and the +elegant convolutions of its body, might have been mistaken for one +parasite entwining another. Its head, however, was in motion, its long +neck stretched out, apparently in readiness to seize upon one of the +birds as soon as it should come within striking distance. + +Ralph was not so much alarmed. A snake was no uncommon sight, and the +one in question was not so monstrous as to appear very formidable. The +first thought was to call off the birds, or in some way get them out of +reach of the snake; for the imprudent creatures, instead of retreating +from such a dangerous enemy, seemed determined to fling themselves upon +its fangs, which Ralph could see erect and glistening, as at intervals +it extended its jaws. The little paroquet was especially imprudent, +recklessly approaching within a few inches of the serpent, and even +alighting on the lliana around which it had warped itself. Ralph was +ascending still higher, to take the bird in his hand, and carry it clear +of the danger, when his climbing was suddenly arrested by a shout from +Mozey, the Mozambique, that proclaimed both caution and terror. "Fo' +you life doant, Mass'r Raff!" cried the negro, following up his +exclamation of warning. "Fo' you life doant go near um! You no know +what am dat ar snake? It am de _Jararaca_!" + +"Jararaca!" mechanically rejoined Ralph. + +"Ya--ya--de moas pisenous sarpin in all de valley ob de Amazon. I'se +hear de Injine say so a score ob times. Come down, Mass'r! come down!" + +Attracted by the screaming of the birds and the chattering of the +monkeys, the others listened attentively below. But upon the negro's +quick cry of warning, and the dialogue that ensued, Trevannion ascended +higher, followed by Tipperary Tom,--Rosa remained alone below, in the +fork where her father had left her. Trevannion, on coming in sight of +the snake, at once recognised it as all that Mozey had alleged,--the +most poisonous of the Amazon valley,--a species of _Craspedocephalus_. +He knew it from having seen one before, which the Mundurucu had killed +near Coary, and had described in similar terms,--adding that its bite +was almost instantly fatal, that it will attack man or beast without any +provocation, that it can spring upon its enemy from a distance, and, +finally, that it was more feared than any other creature in the country, +not excepting the jaguar and jacare! + +The appearance of the reptile itself was sufficient to confirm this +account. Its flat triangular head, connected with the body by a long +thin neck, its glittering eyes and red forking tongue, projected at +intervals more than an inch beyond its snout, gave the creature a +monstrous and hideous aspect. It looked as if specially designed to +cause death and destruction. It was not of great size,--scarcely six +feet long, and not thicker than a girl's wrist; but it needed not bulk +to make it dangerous. No one knew exactly what to do. All were without +arms, or weapons of any kind. These had long since gone to the bottom +of the Gapo; and for some minutes no movement was made except by young +Ralph, who on being warned of his danger, had hastened to descend the +tree. The birds were left to themselves, and still continued screaming +and fluttering above. Up to this time the snake had remained +motionless, except his oscillating head and neck. Its body now began to +move, and the glittering folds slowly to relax their hold upon the +lliana. + +"Great God! he is coming down the tree!" The words had hardly left +Trevannion's lips before the snake was seen crawling along the lliana, +and the next moment transferring its body to a branch which grew +slantingly from the main trunk. This was soon reached; and then, by +means of another lliana lying parallel to it, the reptile continued its +descent. All those who stood by the trunk hastily forsook the perilous +place, and retreated outward along the branches. The jararaca seemed to +take no note either of their presence or flight, but continued down the +limb towards the fork of the main stem, where stood little Rosa. "O +heavens!" cried Trevannion, in a voice of anguish, "my child is lost!" + +The girl had risen to her feet, being already fearful of the danger +threatening her friends above; but on looking up, she beheld the hideous +reptile coming straight towards her. Her situation was most perilous. +The lliana by which the snake was descending rose right up from the fork +of the sapucaya. The child was even clasping it in her hand, to keep +herself erect. The reptile could not pass without touching her. In +fact, it must pass over her person to get down from the tree. There was +no likelihood of its gliding on without striking her. Its well-known +character--as the most malicious of venomous serpents--forbade the +supposition. The snake was scarce ten feet above her head, still +gliding onward and downward! It was at this crisis that her father had +given voice to that despairing exclamation. He was about to scramble +down to the trunk, with the design of launching himself upon the +serpent, and grappling it with his naked hands, reckless of +consequences, when a sign from Mozey, accompanied by some words quickly +spoken, caused him to hesitate. + +"No use, Mass'r!" cried the negro, "no use,--you be too late. Jump, +lilly Rosy!" he continued, calling to the child in a loud, commanding +voice. "It's you only chance. Jump into de water, an ole Mozey he come +down sabe you. Jump!" To stimulate the child by his example, the +negro, with his last word, sprang out from his branch and plunged into +the water. In an instant he was upon the surface again, continuing his +cries of encouragement. Rosa Trevannion was a girl of spirit; and, in +this fearful alternative, hesitated not a moment to obey. Short as was +the time, however, it would have proved too long had the snake continued +its descent without interruption. Fortunately it did not. When its +hideous head was close to the child's hand, where the latter grasped the +lliana, it suddenly stopped,--not to prepare itself for the fatal dart, +but because the negro's heavy fall had splashed much water against the +tree, sprinkling child and jararaca too. It was the momentary surprise +of this unexpected shower-bath that had checked the serpent, while Rosa +dropped down into the Gapo, and was caught by her sable preserver. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +HOLD ON! + +Mozey's noble conduct elicited a cry of admiration. It was the more +noble as the negro was a poor swimmer, and therefore risked his own +life. But this produced another effect, and in the shout there was no +tone of triumph. The child was perhaps only rescued from the reptile to +be swallowed with her preserver by a monster far more; voracious, the +ingulfing Gapo. Nor was it yet certain that she had been saved from the +serpent. The jararaca is a snake eminently amphibious, alike at home on +land or at sea. It might follow, and attack them in the water. Then, +too, it would have a double advantage; for while it could swim like a +fish, Mozey could just keep himself afloat, weighted as he was with his +powerless burden. In view of this, Trevannion's heart was filled with +most painful anxiety, and for some time neither he nor any beside him +could think what course to pursue. It was some slight relief to them to +perceive that the snake did not continue the pursuit into the water; for +on reaching the fork of the tree it had thrown itself into a coil, as if +determined to remain there. + +At first there appeared no great advantage in this. In its position, +the monster could prevent the swimmers from returning to the tree; and +as it craned its long neck outward, and looked maliciously at the two +forms struggling below, one could have fancied that it had set itself to +carry out this exact design. For a short time only Trevannion was +speechless, and then thought, speech, and action came together. "Swim +round to the other side!" he shouted to the negro. "Get under the great +branch. Ho, Tom! You and Ralph climb aloft to the one above. Tear off +the lliana you see there, and let it down to me. Quick, quick!" + +As he delivered these instructions, he moved out along the limb with as +much rapidity as was consistent with safety, while Tipperary and Ralph +climbed up to carry out his commands. The branch taken by Trevannion +himself was that to which he had directed the negro to swim, and was the +same by which Tipperary Tom had made his first ascent into the tree, and +from which he had been washed off again. It extended horizontally +outward, at its extremity dipping slightly towards the water. Though in +the swell caused by the tornado it had been at intervals submerged, it +was now too far above the surface to have been grasped by any one from +below. The weight of Trevannion's body, as he crept outward upon it, +brought it nearer to the water, but not near enough for a swimmer to lay +hold. He saw that, by going too far out, the branch would not bear his +own weight, and might snap short off, thus leaving the swimmers in a +worse position than ever. It was for this reason he had ordered the +untwining of the creeper that was clinging above. His orders were +obeyed with the utmost alacrity by Tom and Ralph, as if their own lives +depended on the speed. Almost before he was ready to receive it, the +long lliana was wrenched from its tendril fastenings, and came +straggling down over the branch on which he sat, like the stay of a ship +loosened from her mast-head. + +Meanwhile Mozey,--making as much noise as a young whale, blowing like a +porpoise, spurting and spitting like an angry cat,--still carrying the +child safe on his shoulders, had arrived under the limb, and, with +strokes somewhat irregularly given and quickly repeated, was doing his +very best to keep himself and her above water. It was evident to all, +that the over-weighted swimmer was wellnigh exhausted; and had not the +end of the long lliana plumped down in the nick of time, the Mozambique +must indubitably have gone to the bottom, taking his charge with him. +Just in time, however, the tree-cable came within his clutch, and, +seizing it with all his remaining strength, Rosa relieved him of her +weight by laying hold herself, and the two were drawn up into the tree +amidst cries of "Hold on! hold on!" ending in general congratulation. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE PAROQUET. + +Alas! there was one circumstance that hindered their triumph from being +complete. The jararaca was still in the tree. So long as this terrible +tenant shared their abode, there could be neither confidence nor +comfort. There it lay coiled upon its scaly self, snugly ensconced in +the fork below, with skin glittering brightly, and eyes gleaming +fiercely in the golden sunlight that now fell slantingly against the +tree. How long would the monster remain in this tranquil attitude, was +the question that presented itself to the minds of all, as soon as the +first transport of their joy had subsided. It was evident it had no +intention of taking to the water, though it could have done so without +fear. No doubt the sapucaya was its habitual haunt; and it was not +likely to forsake it just to accommodate some half-score of strange +creatures who had chosen to intrude. Surely some time or other it would +re-ascend the tree, and then--? + +But all speculations on this point were soon interrupted. The little +paroquet, which had shown such excitement on first discovering the +snake, had been quiet while all were engaged in the salvage of Mozey and +the child. Now that a certain quietness had been restored, the bird was +seen returning to the jararaca for the supposed purpose of renewing its +impotent attack. For some minutes it kept fluttering over the serpent, +now alighting upon a branch, anon springing off again, and descending to +one lower and nearer to the jararaca, until it had almost reached its +head. Strange to say, there appeared no hostility in the bird's +movements; its actions betrayed rather the semblance of fear, confirmed +by the tremulous quivering of its frame whenever it came to rest upon a +perch. The spectators' suspicion was further strengthened by the little +creature's continued cries. It was not the angry chattering by which +these birds usually convey their hostility, but a sort of plaintive +screaming that betokened terror. At each flight it approached closer to +the serpent's forked tongue, and then retreated, as if vacillating and +irresolute. + +The reptile meanwhile exhibited itself in a hideous attitude; yet a deep +interest enchained the spectators. Its head had broadened, or flattened +out to twice the natural dimensions; the eyes seemed to shoot forth twin +jets of fire, while the extensile tongue, projected from a double row of +white, angular teeth, appeared to shine with phosphorescent flame. The +bird was being _charmed_, and was already under the serpent's +fascination. + +How could the pretty pet be saved? Young Ralph, noticing the despair +upon his sister's face, was half inclined to rush down the tree, and +give battle to the jararaca; and Tipperary Tom--whose general hostility +to snakes and reptiles had a national and hereditary origin--purposed +doing something to avert the paroquet's fast-approaching fate. +Trevannion, however, was too prudent to permit any interference, while +the negro appeared only anxious that the magic spectacle should reach +its termination. It was not cruelty on his part. Mozey had his +motives, which were soon after revealed, proving that the brain of the +African is at times capable of conception equal, if not superior, to his +boasted Caucasian brother. There was no interruption. The end was not +far off. By slow degrees, the bird appeared to grow exhausted, until +its wings could no longer sustain it. Then, as if paralysed by a final +despair, it pitched itself right into the mouth of the reptile, whose +jaws had been suddenly extended to receive it! There was a slight +flutter of the wings, a tremulous motion of the body, and the +self-immolated creature appeared to be dead. The serpent, half +uncoiling itself, turned its head towards the tree, and, once more +opening its jaws, permitted the now lifeless paroquet to escape from +their clasp, and drop quietly into the crotch formed by the forking of +the stem. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +THE LLIANA UNLOOSED. + +The spectators of this little tragedy of animal life had hitherto +prudently refrained from taking part in it. Curiosity now exerted an +equal effect in preventing their interference; and without speech or +motion they sat on their respective perches to observe the _finale_ of +the drama, which evidently had not ended with the death of the paroquet. +That was but the beginning of the end, for the prey was yet to be +devoured. Though provided with a double row of teeth, it is well-known +that animals of the reptile kind do not masticate their food. These +teeth, set trenchantly, as is commonly the case, are intended only to +capture the living prey, which enters the stomach afterwards by a +process termed deglutition. At the spectacle of just such a process, +with all its preliminary preparations, were the group in the sapucaya +now to be present,--the principal performer being apparently unconscious +of, or at all events unconcerned at, their presence. + +Having deposited the dead bird in the fork of the tree, the serpent +changed its coiled attitude into one that would give it a chance of +filling its belly with less inconvenience. There was not room for it to +extend itself fully; and, in default of this, the tail was allowed to +drop down along the stem of the tree, at least two thirds of the body +remaining in a horizontal position. Having arranged itself apparently +to its satisfaction, it now directed its attention to the paroquet. +Once more taking the dead bird between its teeth, it turned it over and +over until the head lay opposite to its own, the body aligned in a +longitudinal direction. The jaws of the snake were now widely extended, +while the tongue, loaded with saliva, was protruded and retracted with +great rapidity. The serpent continued this licking process until the +short feathers covering the head of the bird, as also its neck and +shoulders, seemed to be saturated with a substance resembling soap or +starch. When a sufficient coating had been laid on to satisfy the +instincts of the serpent, the creature once more opened its jaws, and, +making a sudden gulp, took in the head of the paroquet, with the neck +and shoulders. For a time no further action was perceptible. Yet a +movement was going on: and it was to assure himself of this that the +Mozambique was so attentive. + +We have said that he had a motive for permitting the pet to be +sacrificed, which was now on the eve of being revealed to his +companions. They all saw that there was something upon his mind, and +eagerly anticipated the revelation. Just as the jararaca had succeeded +in bolting the anterior portion of the paroquet,--that is, the head, +neck, and shoulders,--Mozey rose from his seat, stole towards the stem +of the tree, and let himself down toward the fork, without saying a +word. His purpose, however, was manifest the moment after, for he +stretched out his right hand, clutched the jararaca around the small of +the neck, and flung the serpent--no longer capable of defending itself-- +far out into the waters of the Gapo! The monster, with its feathered +morsel still in its mouth, sank instantly, to be seen no more; so +thought Mozey and his associates in the sapucaya. + +But, as the event proved, they had hastened to an erroneous conclusion. +Scarce had their triumphant cheer echoed across the silent bosom of the +Gapo, when the paroquet was observed floating upon the water; and the +snake, having ejected the half-swallowed pill, was once more upon the +surface, swimming with sinuous but brisk rendings of its body in rapid +return to the tree. The situation seemed more alarming than ever. The +fiend himself could hardly have shown a more implacable determination. + +To all appearance the jararaca was now returning to take revenge for the +insult and disappointment to which it had been subjected. Mozey, losing +confidence in his own cunning, retreated up the tree. He perceived, now +that it was too late, the imprudence of which he had been guilty. He +should have permitted the snake to proceed a step further in the process +of deglutition, until the disgorging of the paroquet, against the grain +of its feathers, should have become impossible. He had been too hasty, +and must now answer the consequences. Sure enough, the serpent returned +to the sapucaya and commenced reascending, availing itself of the +lliana, by which all of its enemies had effected their ascent. In a few +seconds it had mounted into the fork, and, still adhering to the +parasite, was continuing its upward way. + +"O heavens!" ejaculated Trevannion, "one of us must become the prey of +this pitiless monster! What can be done to destroy it?" + +"Dar's a chance yet, Mass'r," cried Mozey, who had suddenly conceived a +splendid thought. "Dar's a chance yet. All ob you lay hold on de +creepin' vine, an' pull um out from de tree. We chuck de varmint back +into the water. Now den,--all togedder! Pull like good uns!" + +As the negro spoke, he seized the lliana, by which the serpent was +making its spiral ascent, and put out all his strength to detach it from +the trunk of the sapucaya. The others instantly understood his design, +and grasping the parasite, with a simultaneous effort tried to tear it +off. A quick jerk broke the lliana loose; and the jararaca, shaken from +its hold, was sent whirling and writhing through the air, till it fell +with a plunging noise upon the water below. Once more a triumphant +cheer went up through the sapucaya branches, once more to be stifled ere +it had received the answer of its own echoes; for the jararaca was again +seen upon the surface, as before, determinedly approaching the tree. + +It was a sight for despair. There was something supernatural in the +behaviour of the snake. It was a monster not to be conquered by human +strength, nor circumvented by human cunning. Was there any use in +continuing the attempt to subdue it? Mozey, a fatalist, felt half +disposed to submit to a destiny that could not be averted; and even +Tipperary Tom began to despair of the power of his prayers to Saint +Patrick. The ex-miner, however, as well acquainted with the +subterraneous regions as with upper earth, had no superstition to hinder +him from action, and, instead of desponding he at once adopted the +proper course. Catching hold of the creeper, that had already been +loosened from the trunk, and calling upon the others to assist him, he +tore the creeper entirely from the tree, flinging its severed stem far +out upon the water. In a moment after, the snake came up, intending to +climb into the sapucaya, as no doubt it had often done before. We +wonder what were its feelings on finding that the ladder had been +removed, and that an ascent of the smooth trunk of the sapucaya was no +longer possible, even to a tree snake! After swimming round and round, +and trying a variety of places, the discomfited jararaca turned away in +apparent disgust; and, launching out on the bosom of the Gapo, swam off +in the direction of the thicket,--on the identical track that had been +taken by Richard and the Mundurucu. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +SERPENT FASCINATION. + +It was some time before Trevannion and his companions in misfortune +could recover from the excitement and awe of their adventure. They +began to believe that the strange tales told them of the Gapo and its +denizens had more than a substratum of truth; for the protracted and +implacable hostility shown by the snake, and its mysterious power over +the bird, seemed surely supernatural. Trevannion reflected on the +singular behaviour of the jararaca. That a reptile of such contemptible +dimensions should exhibit so much cunning and courage as to return to +the attack after being repeatedly foiled, and by an enemy so far its +superior in strength and numbers, together with its hideous aspect, +could not fail to impress him with a feeling akin to horror, in which +all those around him shared. The very monkeys and birds must have felt +it; for when in the presence of snakes, they had never before exhibited +such trepidation and excitement. Long after the serpent had been +pitched for the second time into the water, the coaita kept up its +terrified gibbering, the macaw screamed, and the tiny ouistiti, +returning to Rosa's protection,--no longer to be shared with its late +rival,--sat trembling in her lap, as if the dreaded reptile were still +within dangerous proximity. + +This feeling was but temporary, however. Trevannion was a man of strong +intellect, trained and cultivated by experience and education; and after +a rational review of the circumstances, he became convinced that there +was nothing very extraordinary, certainly nothing supernatural, in what +transpired. The jararaca--as he had heard, and as everybody living on +the Amazon knew--was one of the most venomous of serpents, if not the +most venomous of all. Even the birds and beasts were acquainted with +this common fact, and dreaded the reptile accordingly, not from mere +_instinct_, but from actual knowledge possessed and communicated in some +mysterious way to one another. This would account for the wild terror +just exhibited, which in the case of the paroquet had come to a fatal +end. There was a mystery about this for which Trevannion could not +account. The power which the serpent appeared to have obtained over the +bird, controlling its movements without any apparent action of its own, +was beyond comprehension. Whether or not it be entitled to the name +given it,--_fascination_, certainly it is a fact,--one that has been +repeatedly observed, and to which not only birds, but quadrupeds, have +been the victims; and not only by ordinary observers, but by men skilled +in the knowledge of nature, who have been equally at a loss to account +for it by natural causes. But this link in the chain of incidents, +though mysterious, was not new nor peculiar to this situation. It had +been known to occur in all countries and climes, and so soon ceased to +excite any weird influence on the mind of Trevannion. + +For the other circumstances that had occurred there was an explanation +still more natural. The jararaca, peculiarly an inhabitant of the Gapo +lands, had simply been sunning itself upon the sapucaya. It may have +been prowling about in the water when overtaken by the tornado; and, not +wishing to be carried away from its haunt, had sought a temporary +shelter in the tree, to which an unlucky chance had guided the galatea. +Its descent was due to the behaviour of the birds, which, after having +for a time tantalised it,--provoking its spite, and in all likelihood +its hungry appetite,--had temporarily suspended their attack, returning +down the tree with Ralph and the negro. It was in pursuit of them, +therefore, it had forsaken its original perch. The commotion caused by +its descent, but more especially the ducking it had received, and the +presence of the two human forms in the water below, had induced it to +halt in the forking of the tree, where shortly after its natural prey +again presented itself,--ending in an episode that was to it an ordinary +occurrence. The choking it had received in the hands of the negro, and +its unexpected immersion, had caused the involuntary rejection of the +half-swallowed morsel. In the opaque water it had lost sight of the +bird, and was returning to the sapucaya either in search of its food, or +to reoccupy its resting-place. + +It is well-known that the jararaca has no fear of man, but will attack +him whenever he intrudes upon its domain. The Indians assert that it +will even go out of its way for this purpose, unlike the rattlesnake and +other venomous reptiles, which rarely exert their dangerous power except +in self-defence. So this jararaca reascended the sapucaya undismayed by +the human enemies it saw there, one or more of whom might have become +its victims but for the timely removal of the lliana ladder. + +On this review of facts and fancies, the equanimity of our adventurers +was nearly restored. At all events, they were relieved from the +horrible thoughts of the supernatural, that for a time held ascendancy +over them. Their hunger and thirst again manifested themselves, though +little Rosa and her preserver no longer suffered from the last. In +their short excursion both had been repeatedly under water, and had +swallowed enough to last them for that day at least. Yet they were in +want of food, and Ralph once more climbed the tree to obtain it. He +soon possessed himself of half a dozen of the huge nut capsules, which +were tossed into the hands of those below, and, water being drawn up in +one of the emptied shells, a meal was made, which if not hearty, was +satisfactory. The group could do no more than await the return of their +absent companions; and with eyes fixed intently and anxiously upon the +dark water, and beneath the close-growing trees, they watched for the +first ripple that might betoken their coming. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE WATER ARCADE. + +We must leave for a time the castaways in the tree-top, and follow the +fortunes of the two swimmers on their exploring expedition. + +On reaching the edge of the submerged forest, their first thought was to +clutch the nearest branch, and rest themselves by clinging to it. They +were no longer in doubt as to the character of the scene that surrounded +them, for their experience enabled them to comprehend it. + +"The Gapo!" muttered Munday, as they glided in under the shadows. "No +dry land here, young master," he added, clutching hold of a lliana. "We +may as well look out for a roost, and rest ourselves. It's full ten +fathoms deep. The Mundurucu can tell that by the sort of trees rising +over it." + +"I didn't expect anything else," rejoined young Trevannion, imitating +his companion by taking hold of a branch and climbing up. "My only hope +is that we may find some float timber to ferry the others across. Not +that there's much in it if we do. How we're to find our way out of this +mess is more than either you or I can tell." + +"The Mundurucu never despairs,--not even in the middle of the Gapo," was +the Indian's proud reply. + +"You have hope, then? You think we shall find timber enough for a raft +to carry us clear of the inundation." + +"No!" answered the Indian. "We have got too far from the channel of the +big river. We shall see no floating trees here,--nothing to make a raft +that would carry us." + +"Why then did we come here, if not for the purpose of finding dead +timber for that object?" + +"Dead timber? No! If that was our errand, we might go back as we've +come,--empty-handed. We shall float all the people over here without +that. Follow me, young master. We must go farther into the Gapo. Let +old Munday show you how to construct a raft without trees, only making +use of their fruit." + +"Lead on!" cried the Paraense. "I'm ready to assist you; though I +haven't the slightest conception of what you mean to do." + +"You shall see presently, young master," rejoined Munday, once more +spreading himself to swim. "Come on! follow me! If I'm not mistaken, +we'll soon find the materials for a raft,--or something that will answer +as well for the present. Come along, there! Come!"--and he launched +himself into the water. + +Trevannion followed his example, and, once more consigning himself to +the flood, he swam on in the Indian's wake. Through aisles dimmed with +a twilight like that of approaching night, along arcades covered with +foliage so luxuriant as to be scarce penetrable by the rays of a tropic +sun, the two swimmers, the Indian ever in advance, held their way. + +To Richard Trevannion the Mundurucu was comparatively a stranger, known +only as a _tapuyo_ employed by his uncle in the management of the +galatea. He knew the tribe by rumours even more than sinister. They +were reputed in Para to be the most bloodthirsty of savages, who took +delight not only in the destruction of their enemies, but in keeping up +a ghastly souvenir of hostility by preserving their heads. In the +company of a Mundurucu, especially in such a place,--swimming under the +sombre shadows of a submerged forest,--it can scarce be wondered at that +the youth felt suspicion, if not actual fear. But Richard Trevannion +was a boy of bold heart, and bravely awaited the _denouement_ of the +dismal journey. + +Their swim terminated at length, and the Indian, pointing to a tree, +cried out: "Yonder--yonder is the very thing of which I was in search. +Hoo-hoo! Covered with sipos too,--another thing we stand in need of,-- +cord and pitch both growing together. The Great Spirit is kind to us, +young master." + +"What is it?" demanded Richard. "I see a great tree, loaded with +climbers as you say. But what of that? It is green, and growing. The +wood is full of sap, and would scarce float itself; you can't construct +a raft out of that. The sipos might serve well enough for rope; but the +timber won't do, even if we had an axe to cut it down." + +"The Mundurucu needs no axe, nor yet timber to construct his raft. All +he wants here is the sap of that tree, and some of the sipos clinging to +its branches. The timber we shall find on the sapucaya, after we go +back. Look at the tree, young master! Do you not know it?" + +The Paraense, thus appealed to, turned his eyes toward the tree, and +scanned it more carefully. Festooned by many kinds of climbing plants, +it was not so easy to distinguish its foliage from that of the parasites +it upheld; enough of the leaves, however, appeared conspicuous to enable +him to recognise the tree as one of the best known and most valuable to +the inhabitants, not only of his native Para, but of all the Amazonian +region, "Certainly," he replied, "I see what sort of tree it is. It's +the _Seringa_,--the tree from which they obtain caoutchouc. But what do +you want with that? You can't make a raft out of India-rubber, can +you?" + +"You shall see, young master; you shall see!" + +During this conversation the Mundurucu had mounted among the branches of +the seringa, calling upon his companion to come after him, who hastily +responded to the call. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +THE SYRINGE-TREE. + +The tree into whose top the swimmers had ascended was, as Richard had +rightly stated, that from which the caoutchouc, or India-rubber, is +obtained. It was the _Siphonia elastica_, of the order _Euphorbiaceae_, +of the Amazonian valley. Not that the _Siphonia_ is the only tree which +produces the world-renowned substance, which has of late years effected +almost a revolution in many arts, manufactures, and domestic economies +of civilised life. There are numerous other trees, both in the Old and +New World, most of them belonging to the famed family of the figs, which +in some degree afford the caoutchouc of commerce. Of all, however, that +yielded by the _Siphonia elastica_ is the best, and commands the highest +price among dealers. The young Paraense called it _Seringa_, and this +is the name he had been accustomed to hear given to it. _Seringa_ is +simply the Portuguese for syringe, and the name has attached itself to +the tree, because the use which the aborigines were first observed to +make of the elastic tubes of the caoutchouc was that of squirts or +syringes, the idea being suggested by their noticing the natural tubes +formed by the sap around twigs, when flowing spontaneously from the +tree. For syringes it is employed extensively to this day by Brazilians +of all classes, who construct them by moulding the sap, while in its +fluid state, into pear-shaped bottles, and inserting a piece of cane in +the long neck. + +The caoutchouc is collected in the simplest way, which affords a regular +business to many Amazonians, chiefly native Indians, who dispose of it +to the Portuguese or Brazilian traders. The time is in August, when the +subsidence of the annual inundation permits approach to the trees; for +the _Seringa_ is one of those species that prefer the low flooded lands, +though it is not altogether peculiar to the Gapo. It grows throughout +the whole region of the Amazon, wherever the soil is alluvial and +marshy. The India-rubber harvest, if we may use the term, continues +throughout the dry months, during which time very large quantities of +the sap are collected, and carried over to the export market of Para. A +number of trees growing within a prescribed circle are allotted to each +individual, whose business it is--man, woman, or boy--to attend to the +assigned set of trees; and this is the routine of their day's duty. + +In the evening the trees are tapped; that is, a gash or incision is made +in the bark,--each evening in a fresh place,--and under each is +carefully placed a little clay cup, or else the shell of an +_Ampullasia_, to catch the milky sap that oozes from the wound. After +sunrise in the morning, the "milkers" again revisit the scene of +operations, and empty all the cups into a large vessel, which is carried +to one common receptacle. By this time the sap, which is still of a +white colour, is of the consistency of cream, and ready for moulding. +The collectors have already provided themselves with moulds of many +kinds, according to the shape they wish the caoutchouc to assume, such +as shoes, round balls, bottles with long necks, and the like. These are +dipped into the liquid, a thin stratum of which adheres to them, to be +made thicker by repeated immersions, until the proper dimensions are +obtained. After the last coat has been laid on, lines and ornamental +tracings are made upon the surface, while still in a soft state; and a +rich brown colour is obtained by passing the articles repeatedly through +a thick black smoke, given out by a fire of palm-wood,--several species +of these trees being specially employed for this purpose. As the moulds +are usually solid substances, and the shoes, balls, and bottles are cast +_on_, and not _in_ them, it may be wondered how the latter can be taken +off, or the former got out. King George would have been as badly +puzzled about this, as he was in regard to the apples in the pudding. +The idea of the Amazonian aboriginal, though far more ingenious, is +equally easy of explanation. His bottle-moulds are no better than balls +of dried mud, or clay; and so too, the lasts upon which he fashions the +India-rubber shoes. Half an hour's immersion in water is sufficient to +restore them to their original condition of soft mud; when a little +scraping and washing completes the manufacture, and leaves the commodity +in readiness for the merchant and the market. + +The _Seringa_ is not a tree of very distinguished appearance, and but +for its valuable sap might be passed in a forest of Amazonia, where so +many magnificent trees meet the eye, without eliciting a remark. Both +in the colour of its bark and the outline of its leaves it bears a +considerable resemblance to the European ash,--only that it grows to a +far greater size, and with a stem that is branchless, often to the +height of thirty or forty feet above the ground. The trunk of that on +which the Mundurucu and his companion had climbed was under water to +that depth, else they could not so easily have ascended. It was growing +in its favourite situation,--the Gapo,--its top festooned, as we have +said, with scores of parasitical plants, of many different species, +forming a complete labyrinth of limbs, leaves, fruits, and flowers. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +A BATTLE WITH BIRDS. + +Scarce had the Paraense succeeded in establishing himself on the tree, +when an exclamation from his companion, higher up among the branches, +caused him to look aloft. "Hoo-hoo!" was the cry that came from the +lips of the Mundurucu, in a tone of gratification. + +"What is it, Munday?" + +"Something good to eat, master?" + +"I'm glad to hear it. I feel hungry enough in all conscience; and these +sapucaya nuts don't quite satisfy me. I'd like a little fish or flesh +meat along with them." + +"It's neither," rejoined the Indian. "Something as good, though. It's +fowl! I've found an arara's nest." + +"O, a macaw! But where is the bird? You haven't caught it yet?" + +"Haven't I?" responded the Mundurucu, plunging his arm elbow-deep into a +cavity in the tree-trunk; and dragging forth a half-fledged bird, nearly +as big as a chicken. "Ah, a nest! young ones! Fat as butter too!" + +"All right. We must take them back with us. Our friends in the +sapucaya are hungry as we, and will be right glad to see such an +addition to the larder." + +But Richard's reply was unheard; for, from the moment that the Mundurucu +had pulled the young macaw out of its nest, the creature set up such a +screaming and flopping of its half-fledged wings, as to fill all the +woods around. The discordant ululation was taken up and repeated by a +companion within the cavity; and then, to the astonishment of the twain, +half a score of similar screaming voices were heard issuing from +different places higher up in the tree, where it was evident there were +several other cavities, each containing a nest full of young araras. + +"A regular breeding-place, a macaw-cot," cried Richard, laughing as he +spoke. "We'll get squabs enough to keep us all for a week!" + +The words had scarce passed his lips, when a loud clangour reverberated +upon the air. It was a confused mixture of noises,--a screaming and +chattering,--that bore some resemblance to the human voice; as if half a +score of Punches were quarrelling with as many Judys at the same time. +The sounds, when first heard, were at some distance; but before twenty +could have been counted, they were uttered close to the ears of the +Mundurucu, who was highest up, while the sun became partially obscured +by the outspread wings of a score of great birds, hovering in hurried +flight around the top of the seringa. There was no mystery about the +matter. The new-comers were the parents of the young macaws--the owners +of the nests--returning from a search for provender for their pets, +whose piercing cries had summoned them in all haste to their home. As +yet, neither the Indian nor his young companion conceived any cause for +alarm. Foolish indeed to be frightened by a flock of birds! They were +not allowed to indulge long in this comfortable equanimity; for, almost +on the moment of their arrival above the tree, the united parentage of +araras plunged down among the branches, and, with wing, beak, and +talons, began an instant and simultaneous attack upon the intruders. +The Indian was the first to receive their onset. Made in such a united +and irresistible manner, it had the effect of causing him to let go the +chick, which fell with a plunge into the water below. In its descent it +was accompanied by half a dozen of the other birds,--its own parents, +perhaps, and their more immediate friends,--and these, for the first +time espying a second enemy farther down, directed their attack upon +him. The force of the assailants was thus divided; the larger number +continued their onslaught upon the Indian, though the young Paraense at +the same time found his hands quite full enough in defending himself, +considering that he carried nothing in the shape of a weapon, and that +his body, like that of his comrade, was altogether unprotected by +vestments. To be sure, the Mundurucu was armed with a sharp knife, +which he had brought along with him in his girdle; but this was of very +little use against his winged enemies; and although he succeeded in +striking down one or two of them, it was done rather by a blow of the +fist than by the blade. + +In a dozen seconds both had received almost as many scratches from the +beaks and talons of the birds, which still continued the combat with a +fury that showed no signs of relaxation or abatement. The Paraense did +not stay either to take counsel or imitate the example of his more sage +companion, but, hastily bending down upon the limb whereon he had been +maintaining the unequal contest, he plunged headforemost into the water. +Of course a "header" from such a height carried him under the surface; +and his assailants, for the moment missing him, flew back into the +tree-top, and joined in the assault on Munday. The latter, who had by +this become rather sick of the contest, thinking of no better plan, +followed his comrade's example. Hastily he flung himself into the +flood, and, first diving below the surface, came up beside the Paraense, +and the two swam away side by side in silence, each leaving behind him a +tiny string of red; for the blood was flowing freely from the scratches +received in their strange encounter. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +A CONTEST WITH CUDGELS. + +Our discomfited adventurers did not swim far from the seringa, for the +birds did not follow them. Satisfied with seeing the burglars fairly +beyond the boundaries of their domicile, the tenants of the tree +returned to their nests, as if to ascertain what amount of damage had +been done. In a short time the commotion had almost subsided, though +there was heard an occasional scream,--the wail of the bereaved parents; +for the helpless squab, after struggling a while on the surface of the +water, had gone suddenly out of sight. There was no danger, therefore, +of further molestation from their late assailants, so long as they +should be left in quiet possession of the seringa, and therefore there +was no further necessity for the two swimmers to retreat. A new +intention had shaped itself in Munday's mind by this time, and he +expressed his determination to return, to the surprise of the youth, who +asked his purpose. + +"Partly the purpose for which we first climbed it, and partly," added +he, with an angry roll of his almond-shaped eyes, "to obtain revenge. A +Mundurucu is not to be bled in this fashion, even by birds, without +drawing blood in return. I don't go out from this _igarape_ till I've +killed every arara, old as well as young, in that accursed tree, or +chased the last of them out of it. Follow, and I'll show you how." + +The Indian turned his face towards the thicket of tree-tops forming one +side of the water arcade, and with a stroke or two brought himself +within reach of some hanging parasites, and climbed up, bidding Richard +follow. Once more they were shut in among the tops of what appeared to +be a gigantic mimosa. "It will do," muttered the Mundurucu drawing his +knife and cutting a stout branch, which he soon converted into a cudgel +of about two feet in length. This he handed to his companion, and then, +selecting a second branch of still stouter proportions, fashioned a +similar club for himself. + +"Now," said he, after having pruned the sticks to his satisfaction, +"we're both armed, and ready to give battle to the araras, with a better +chance of coming off victorious. Let us lose no time. We have other +work to occupy us, and your friends will be impatient for our return." +Saying this, he let himself down into the water, and turned towards the +seringa. His _protege_ made no protest, but followed instantly after. +Tightly clutching their cudgels, both reascended the seringa, and +renewed the battle with the birds. The numbers were even more unequal +than before; but this time the advantage was on the side of the +intruders. + +Striking with their clubs of heavy acacia-wood, the birds fell at every +blow, until not one arara fluttered among the foliage. Most of these +had fallen wounded upon the water; a few only, seeing certain +destruction before them, took flight into the far recesses of the +flooded forest. The Mundurucu, true to his promise, did not leave a +living bird upon the tree. + +One after another, he hauled the half-fledged chicks from their nests; +one after another, twisted their necks; and then, tying their legs +together with a sipo, he separated the bunch into two equally-balanced +parts, hanging it over a limb of the tree. "They can stay there till ee +come back, which will be soon. And now let us accomplish the purpose +for which we came here!" Laying aside the club that had made such havoc +among the macaws, he drew the knife from his girdle. Selecting a spot +on one of the larger limbs of the seringa, he made an incision in the +bark, from which the milky juice immediately flowed. + +He had made provision against any loss of the precious fluid in the +shape of a pair of huge monkey-pots, taken from a sapucaya while on the +way, and which had been all the while lying in their place of deposit in +a network of parasites. One of these he gave Richard, to hold under the +tap while he made a second incision upon a longer limb of the seringa. +Both nutshells were quickly filled with the glutinous juice, which soon +began to thicken and coagulate like rich cream. The lids were restored +to their places, and tied on with sipos, and then a large quantity of +this natural cordage was collected and made up into a portable shape. +This accomplished, the Mundurucu signified his intention of returning to +the castaways; and, after apportioning part of the spoil to his +companion, set out on the way they had come. The young Paraense swam +close in his wake, and in ten minutes they had re-traversed the igarape, +and saw before them the bright sun gilding the Gapo at its embouchure, +that appeared like the mouth of some subterraneous cavern. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +CHASED BY A JACARe. + +A few more strokes would have carried the swimmers clear of the water +arcade. Richard was already congratulating himself on the prospect of +escaping from the gloomy shadow, when all at once his companion started, +raised his head high above the surface, and gazed backward along the +dark arcade. As he did so, an exclamation escaped him, which only could +be one of alarm. "A monster!" cried the Mundurucu. + +"A monster! What sort? where?" + +"Yonder,--just by the edge of the igarape,--close in to the trees,--his +body half hid under the hanging branches." + +"I see something like the trunk of a dead tree, afloat upon the water. +A monster you say, Munday? What do you make it out to be?" + +"The body of a big reptile,--big enough to swallow us both. It's the +_Jacare-uassu_. I heard its plunge. Did not you?" + +"I heard nothing like a plunge, except that made by ourselves in +swimming." + +"No matter. There was such a noise but a moment ago. See! the monster +is again in motion. He is after us!" + +The dark body Richard had taken for the drifting trunk of a tree was now +in motion, and evidently making direct for himself and his companion. +The waves, undulating horizontally behind it, proclaimed the strokes of +its strong, vertically flattened tail, by which it was propelled through +the water. + +"The jacare-uassu!" once more exclaimed the Mundurucu, signifying that +the reptile was the great alligator of the Amazon. + +It was one of the largest size, its body showing full seven yards above +the water, while its projecting jaws, occasionally opened in menace or +for breath, appeared of sufficient extent to swallow either of the +swimmers. + +It was idle for them to think of escaping through the water. At ease as +they both were in this element, they would have proved but clumsy +competitors with a cayman, especially one of such strength and natatory +skill as belong to the huge reptile in pursuit of them. Such a +swimming-match was not to be thought of, and neither entertained the +idea of it. + +"We must take to the trees!" cried the Indian, convinced that the +alligator was after them. "The Great Spirit is good to make them grow +so near. It's the only chance we have for saving our lives. To the +trees, young master,--to the trees!" + +As he spoke, the Mundurucu faced towards the forest; and, with quick, +energetic strokes, they glided under the hanging branches. Most nimbly +they climbed the nearest, and, once lodged upon a limb, were safe; and +on one of the lowest they "squatted," to await the approach of the +jacare. In about three seconds the huge saurian came up, pausing as it +approached the spot where the two intended victims had ascended out of +its reach. It seemed more than surprised,--in fact, supremely +astonished; and for some moments lay tranquil, as if paralysed by its +disappointment. This quietude, however, was of short duration; for soon +after, as if conscious of having been tricked, it commenced quartering +the water in short diagonal lines, which every instant was lashed into +foam by a stroke of its powerful tail. + +"Let us be grateful to the Great Spirit!" said the Indian, looking down +from his perch upon the tree. "We may well thank him for affording us a +safe refuge here. It's the jacare-uassu, as I said. The monster is +hungry, because it's the time of flood, and he can't get food so easily. +The fish upon which he feeds are scattered through the Gapo, and he can +only catch them by a rare chance. Besides, he has tasted our blood. +Did you not see him sup at it as he came up the igarape? He's mad now, +and won't be satisfied till he obtains a victim,--a man if he can, for I +can tell by his looks he's a man-eater." + +"A man-eater! What mean you by that?" + +"Only that this jacare has eaten men, or women as likely." + +"But how can you tell that?" + +"Thus, young master. His bigness tells me of his great age. He has +lived long, and in his time visited many places. But what makes me +suspect him to be a man-eater is the eagerness with which he pursued us, +and the disappointment he shows at not getting hold of us. Look at him +now!" + +Certainly there was something peculiar both in the appearance and +movements of the jacare. Young Trevannion had never seen such a monster +before, though alligators were plenteous around Para, and were no rare +sight to him. This one, however, was larger than any he had ever seen, +more gaunt or skeleton-like in frame, with a more disgusting leer in its +deep-sunken eyes, and altogether more unearthly in its aspect. The +sight of the hidden saurian went far to convince him that there was some +truth in the stories of which he had hitherto been sceptical. After +all, the Gapo might contain creatures fairly entitled to the appellation +of "monsters." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +A SAURIAN DIGRESSION. + +It would be difficult to conceive a more hideous monster than this upon +which Richard Trevannion and his comrade gazed. In fact, there is no +form in nature--scarce even in the imagination--more unpleasing to the +eye than that of the lizard, the serpent's shape not excepted. The +sight of the latter may produce a sensation disagreeable and akin to +fear; but the curving and graceful configuration, either at rest or in +motion, and the smooth, shining skin, often brilliantly coloured in +beautiful patterns, tend to prevent it from approaching the bounds of +horror. With the saurian shape it is different. In it we behold the +type of the horrible, without anything to relieve the unpleasant +impression. The positive, though distant, resemblance to the human form +itself, instead of making the creature more seemly, only intensities the +feeling of dread with which we behold it. The most beautiful colouring +of the skin, and the gentlest habits, are alike inefficacious to remove +that feeling. You may look upon the tree-lizard, clothed in a livery of +the most vivid green; the _Anolidae_, in the bright blue of turquoise, +in lemon and orange; you may gaze on the chameleon when it assumes its +most brilliant hues,--but not without an instinctive sense of +repugnance. True, there are those who deny this, who profess not to +feel it, and who can fondle such pets in their hands, or permit them to +play around their necks and over their bosoms. This, however, is due to +habit, and long, familiar acquaintance. + +Since this is so with the smaller species of the lizard tribe, even with +those of gay hues and harmless habits, what must it be with those huge +saurians that constitute the family of the _Crocodilidae_, all of which, +in form, colour, habits, and character, approach the very extreme of +hideousness. Of these gigantic reptiles there is a far greater variety +of species than is generally believed,--greater than is known even to +naturalists. Until lately, some three or four distinct kinds, +inhabiting Asia, Africa, and America, were all that were supposed to +exist. Recent exploration reveals a very different condition, and has +added many new members to the family of the _Crocodilidae_. + +It would be safe to hazard a conjecture, that, when the world of nature +becomes better known, the number of species of these ugly amphibia, +under the various names of gavials, crocodiles, caymans, and alligators, +all brothers or first-cousins, will amount to two score. It is the very +close resemblance in appearance and general habits that has hitherto +hindered these different kinds from being distinguished. Their species +are many; and, if you follow the naturalists of the anatomic school, so +too are the genera; for it pleases these sapient theorists to found a +genus on almost any species,--thus confounding and rendering more +difficult the study it is their design to simplify. In the case of the +_Crocodilidae_ such subdivision is absolutely absurd; and a single +genus--certainly two at the most--would suffice for all purposes, +practical or theoretical. The habits of the whole family--gavials and +alligators, crocodiles, caymans, and jacares--are so much alike, that it +seems a cruelty to separate them. It is true the different species +attain to very different sizes; some, as the _curua_, are scarce two +feet in length, while the big brothers of the family, among the gavials, +crocodiles, and alligators, are often ten times as long. + +It is impossible to say how many species of _Crocodilidae_ inhabit the +waters of the South American continent. There are three in the Amazon +alone; but it is quite probable that in some of its more remote +tributaries there exist other distinct species, since the three above +mentioned do not all dwell in the same portion of this mighty stream. +The Amazonian Indians speak of many more species, and believe in their +existence. No doubt the Indians are right. + +In the other systems of South American waters, as those of the La Plata, +the Orinoco, and the Magdalena, species exist that are not known to the +Amazon. Even in the isolated water deposits of Lake Valencia Humboldt +discovered the bava, a curious little crocodile not noted elsewhere. +The three Amazonian reptiles, though having a strong resemblance in +general aspect, are quite distinct as regards the species. In the +curious and useful dialect of that region, understood alike by Indians +and Portuguese, they are all called "Jacares," though they are +specifically distinguished as the _Jacare-uassu_ the _Jacare-tinga_, and +the _Jacare-curua_. Of the first kind was that which had pursued the +two swimmers, and it was one of the largest of its species, full +twenty-five feet from the point of its bony snout to the tip of its +serrated tail. No wonder they got out of its way! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +TREED BY AN ALLIGATOR. + +For a time the two refugees were without fear or care. They knew they +were out of reach, and, so long as they kept to their perch, were in no +danger. Had it been a jaguar instead of a jacare, it would have been +another thing; but the amphibious animal could not crawl up the trunk of +a tree, nor yet ascend by the hanging limbs or llianas. Their only +feeling was that of chagrin at being stopped on their way back to their +companions in the sapucaya, knowing that their return would be +impatiently expected. They could by shouting have made themselves +heard, but not with sufficient distinctness to be understood. The +matted tree-tops intervening would have prevented this. They thought it +better to be silent, lest their shouts might cause alarm. Richard hoped +that the alligator would soon glide back to the haunt whence it had +sallied, and leave them at liberty to continue their journey, but the +Mundurucu was not so sanguine. + +There was something in the behaviour of the jacare he did not like, +especially when he saw it quartering the water as if in search of the +creatures that had disappeared so mysteriously. + +"Surely it won't lie in wait for us?" was the first question put by his +companion. "You don't think it will?" + +"I do, young master, I do. That is just what troubles the Mundurucu. +He may keep us here for hours,--perhaps till the sun goes down." + +"That would be anything but pleasant,--perhaps more so to those who are +waiting for us than to ourselves. What can we do?" + +"Nothing at present. We must have patience, master." + +"For my part, I shall try," replied the Paraense; "but it's very +provoking to be besieged in this fashion,--separated by only a few +hundred yards from one's friends, and yet unable to rejoin or +communicate with them." + +"Ah! I wish the _Curupira_ had him. I fear the brute is going to prove +troublesome. The Mundurucu can read evil in his eye. Look! he has come +to a stand. He sees us! No knowing now when he will grow tired of our +company." + +"But has it sense enough for that?" + +"Sense! Ah! cunning, master may call it, when he talks of the jacare. +Surely, young master, you know that,--you who are a Paraense born and +bred? You must know that these reptiles will lie in wait for a whole +week by a bathing-place, watching for a victim,--some helpless child, or +even a grown man, who has been drinking too much _cashaca_. Ah yes! +many's the man the jacare has closed his deadly jaws upon." + +"Well, I hope this one won't have that opportunity with us. We mustn't +give it." + +"Not if we can help it," rejoined the Indian. "But we must be quiet, +young master, if we expect to get out of this fix in any reasonable +time. The jacare has sharp ears, small though they look. He can hear +every word we are saying; ay, and if one were to judge by the leer in +his ugly eye, he understands us." + +"At all events, it appears to be listening." + +So the conversation sank to silence, broken only by an occasional +whisper, and no gesture even made communication, for they saw the +leering look of the reptile fixed steadily upon them. Almost two hours +passed in this tantalising and irksome fashion. + +The sun had now crossed the meridian line, and was declining westward. +The jacare had not stirred from the spot. It lay like a log upon the +water, its lurid eyes alone proclaiming its animation. For more than an +hour it had made no visible movement, and their situation was becoming +insupportable. + +"But what can we do?" asked Richard, despairingly. + +"We must try to travel through the tree-tops, and get to the other side. +If we can steal out of his sight and hearing, all will be well. The +Mundurucu is angry with himself; he didn't think of this before. He was +fool enough to hope the jacare would get tired first. He might have +known better, since the beast has tasted blood. That or hunger makes +him such a stanch sentinel. Come, young master!" added the Indian, +rising from his seat, and laying hold of a branch. "We must make a +journey through the tree-tops. Not a word,--not a broken bough if you +can help it. Keep close after me; watch what I do, and do you exactly +the same." + +"All right, Munday," muttered the Paraense. "Lead on, old boy! I'll do +my best to follow you." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +AN AQUA-ARBOREAL JOURNEY. + +It may appear strange, incredible, absurd, that such a journey, for +however short a distance, should have been attempted by human beings. +No doubt to many it _will_ appear so, and be set down as ludicrously +improbable. Twenty minutes passed in the shadowy gloom of a South +American forest would strip the idea of travelling among the tree-tops +of much of its improbability. In many places such a feat is quite +possible, and comparatively easy,--perhaps not so "easy as rolling off a +log," but almost as much so as climbing to the top of one. In the great +_montana_ of the Amazon there are stretches of forest, miles in extent, +where the trees are so matted and interlaced as to form one continuous +"arbour," each united to its immediate neighbours by natural stays and +cables, to which the meshes formed by the rigging of a ship are as an +open network in comparison. In the midst of this magnificent luxuriance +of vegetable life, there are birds, beasts, and insects that never set +foot upon the ground;--birds in a vast variety of genera and species; +beasts--I mean quadrupeds--of many different kinds; insects of countless +orders; quadrumana that never touched _terra firma_ with any of their +four hands; and, I had almost added, _man_. He, too, if not exclusively +confining himself to the tops of these forest-trees, may make them +habitually his home, as shall be seen in the sequel. + +It was no great feat, then, for the Mundurucu and his acolyte to make a +short excursion across the "spray" of the forest, since this is the very +timber that is so tied together. There was even less of danger than in +a tract of woods growing upon the highlands or "Campos." A fall into +the Gapo could only entail a ducking, with a brief interruption of the +journey. + +It does not follow that their progress must be either swift or direct. +That would depend upon the character of the trees and their parasites,-- +whether the former grew close together, and whether the latter were +numerous and luxuriant, or of scanty growth. To all appearance, Nature +in that spot had been beneficent, and poured forth her vegetable +treasures profusely. + +The Indian, glancing through the branches, believed there would be no +more difficulty in getting to the other side of the belt of timber that +separated them from the open water, than in traversing a thicket of +similar extent. With this confidence he set forth, followed by his less +experienced companion. Both began and continued their monkey-like march +in the most profound silence. + +They knew that it was possible and easy for the alligator to bear them +company; for although they were forced to pass through an almost +impervious thicket, down on the water it was altogether different. +There was nothing to impede the progress of the saurian, huge as it was, +except the trunks of the trees. + +To tell the truth, it was a toilsome trip, and both the travellers were +weary of it long before coming within sight of the open water on the +opposite side. Often were they compelled to carry their own weight on +the strength of their arms, by hoisting themselves from tree to tree. +Many a _detour_ had they to make, sometimes on account of the +impenetrable network of creepers, and sometimes because of open water, +that, in pools, interrupted their route. + +The distance to be traversed was not over two hundred yards. At +starting they knew not how far, but it proved about this measure. If +they had made their calculation according to time, they might have +estimated it at half a score of miles. They were a good hour and a half +on the journey; but the delay, with all its kindred regrets, was +forgotten, when they saw the open water before them, and soon after +found themselves on the selvage of the submerged forest. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +A TIMELY WARNING. + +On arriving among the outside frees, our explorers, homeward bound, saw +something to cheer them,--something besides the bright sun and the +shining waters of the Gapo. It was the sapucaya, still bearing its +stupendous fruit, the friends they had left behind them. The Paraense +appeared to be counting them, as if to make sure that all were still +safe upon the tree. Perhaps he was only intent on the discovery of one, +or, having discovered, was feeding his eyes upon her form, slender and +graceful in the distance. He would have shouted to apprise them of the +safety of himself and companion, had not a sign from the latter, +accompanied by a few muttered words, counselled him to hold his peace. + +"Why not, Munday?" + +"Not a word, young master. We are not yet out of the woods; the jacare +may hear us." + +"We left it far behind in the igarape." + +"Ah, true! Who knows where he may be now? Not the Mundurucu. The +monster may have followed us. Who knows? He may be at this moment +within twenty yards, waiting for us to come back into the water." + +As he spoke, the Indian looked anxiously behind him. He could discover +no cause of alarm. All was still under the shadow of the trees. Not +even a ripple could be seen upon the sombre surface of the water. + +"I think we've given it the slip," remarked Richard. + +"It looks so," responded the Indian. "The Mundurucu hears no sound, +sees no sign. The jacare should still be in the igarape." + +"Why should we delay any longer? Several hours have elapsed since we +left the sapucaya. My uncle and everybody else will be out of all +patience. They will be distracted with sheer anxiety. They look as if +they were. Though we have a good view of them, I don't suppose they see +us. If they did, they would be hailing us, that's certain. Let us take +to the water, and rejoin them." + +The Mundurucu, after looking once more to the rear, and listening for a +few moments, replied, "I think we may venture." + +This was the cue for young Trevannion, and, lowering himself from the +limb on which he was supported, the two almost at the same instant +committed themselves to the flood. Scarce had they touched the water +when their ears were assailed by a shout that came pealing across the +Gapo. It neither startled nor surprised them, for they could not fail +to comprehend its meaning. It was a cheer sent forth from the sapucaya, +announcing their reappearance to the eyes of their anxious companions. +Stimulated by the joyous tones, the two swimmers struck boldly out into +the open water. + +Richard no longer thought of looking behind him. In a hasty glance +directed towards the sapucaya, as he rose after his first plunge upon +the water, he had seen something to lure him on, at the same time +absorbing all his reflections. He had seen a young girl, standing erect +within the fork of the tree, throw up her arms as if actuated by some +sudden transport of joy. What could have caused it but the sight of +him? + +The mind of the Mundurucu was far differently employed. His thoughts +were retrospective, not prospective. So, too, were his glances. +Instead of looking forward to inquire what was going on among the +branches of the sapucaya, he carried his beardless chin upon his +shoulder, keeping his eyes and ears keenly intent to any sight or sound +that might appear suspicious behind him. His caution, as was soon +proved, was neither unnatural nor superfluous, nor yet the counsel given +to his companion to swim as if some swift and terrible pursuer were +after him; for although the Indian spoke from mere conjecture, his words +were but too true. + +The swimmers had traversed about half the space of open water that lay +between the sapucaya and the submerged forest. The Indian had purposely +permitted himself to fall into the wake of his companion, in order that +his backward view might be unobstructed. So far, no alligator showed +itself behind them, no enemy of any kind; and in proportion as his +confidence increased, he relaxed his vigilance. It seemed certain the +jacare had given up the chase. It could not have marked their movements +among the tree-tops, and in all likelihood the monster was still keeping +guard near the opening of the igarape. Too happy to arrive at this +conclusion, the Indian ceased to think of a pursuit, and, after making +an effort, overtook the young Paraense, the two continuing to swim +abreast. As there no longer appeared any reason for extraordinary +speed, the swimmers simultaneously suspended the violent exertions they +had been hitherto making, and with relaxed stroke kept on towards the +sapucaya. + +It was fortunate for both that other eyes than their own were turned +upon that stretch of open water. Had it not been so, the silent +swimmer, far swifter than they, coming rapidly up in their rear, might +have overtaken them long before reaching the tree. The shout sent forth +from the sapucaya, in which every voice bore a part, warned them of some +dread danger threatening near. But for late experience, they might not +have known on which side to look for it; but, guided by this, they +instinctively looked back. The jacare, close behind, was coming on as +fast as his powerful tail, rapidly oscillating from side to side, could +propel him. It was fortunate for the two swimmers they had heard that +warning cry in time. A score of seconds made all the difference in +their favour, all the difference between life and death. It was their +destiny to live, and not die then in the jaws of the jacare. Before the +ugly reptile, making all the speed in its power, could come up with +either of them, both, assisted by willing hands, had climbed beyond its +reach, and could look upon it without fear from among the branches of +the sapucaya. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +IMPROVISED SWIMMING-BELTS. + +The huge saurian swam on to the tree,--to the very spot where Richard +and the Mundurucu had climbed up, at the forking of the stem. On +perceiving that its prey had for a second time got clear, its fury +seemed to break all bounds. It lashed the water with its tail, closed +its jaws, with a loud clattering, and gave utterance to a series of +sounds, that could only be compared to a cross between the bellowing of +a bull and the grunting of a hog. + +Out in the open light of the sun, and swimming conspicuously upon the +surface of the water, a good view of the reptile could now be obtained; +but this did not improve the opinion of it already formed by Richard. +It looked, if possible, uglier than when seen in shadow; for in the +light the fixed leer of its lurid eye, and the ghastly blood-coloured +inside of the jaws, at intervals opened, and showing a triple row of +terrible teeth, were more conspicuous and disgusting. Its immense bulk +made it still more formidable to look upon. Its body was full eight +yards in length, and of proportionate thickness,--measuring around the +middle not less than a fathom and a half; while the lozenge-like +protuberances along its spine rose in pointed pyramids to the height of +several inches. + +No wonder that little Rosa uttered a shriek of terror on first beholding +it; no wonder that brave young Ralph trembled at the sight. Even +Trevannion himself, with the negro and Tipperary Tom, regarded the +reptile with fear. It was some time before they felt sure that it could +not crawl up to them. It seemed for a time as if it meant to do so, +rubbing its bony snout against the bark, and endeavouring to clasp the +trunk with its short human-like arms. After several efforts to ascend, +it apparently became satisfied that this feat was not to be performed, +and reluctantly gave up the attempt; then, retreating a short distance, +began swimming in irregular circles around the tree, all the while +keeping its eye fixed upon the branches. + +After a time, the castaways only bent their gaze upon the monster at +intervals, when some new manoeuvre attracted their notice. There was no +immediate danger to be dreaded from it; and although its proximity was +anything but pleasant, there were other thoughts equally disagreeable, +and more important, to occupy their time and attention. They could not +remain all their lives in the sapucaya; and although they knew not what +fortune awaited them in the forest, beyond, they were all anxious to get +there. + +Whether it was altogether a flooded forest, or whether there might not +be some dry land in it, no one could tell. In the Mundurucu's opinion +it was the former: and in the face of this belief, there was not much +hope of their finding a foot of dry land. In any case, the forest must +be reached, and all were anxious to quit their quarters on the sapucaya, +under the belief that they would find others more comfortable. At all +events, a change could not well be for the worse. + +Munday had promised them the means of transport, but how this was to be +provided none of them as yet knew. The time, however, had arrived for +him to declare his intentions, and this he proceeded to do; not in +words, but by deeds that soon made manifest his design. + +It will be remembered that, after killing the macaws, he had tapped the +seringa, and "drawn" two cups full of the sap,--that he had bottled it +up in the pots, carefully closing the lids against leakage. It will +also be remembered, that he had provided himself with a quantity of +creepers, which he had folded into a portable bundle. These were of a +peculiar sort,--the true sipos of the South American forest, which serve +for all purposes of cordage, ropes ready made by the hand of Nature. On +parting from the seringa, he had brought these articles along with him, +his companion carrying a share of the load. Though chased by the +jacare, and close run too, neither had abandoned his bundle,--tied by +sipos around the neck,--and both the bottled caoutchouc and the cordage +were now in the sapucaya. What they were intended for no one could +guess, until it pleased the Indian to reveal his secret; and this he at +length did, by collecting a large number of nuts from the sapucaya,-- +Ralph and Richard acting as his aides,--emptying them of their +three-cornered kernels, restoring the lids, and then making them +"water-proof" by a coating of the caoutchouc. + +Soon all became acquainted with his plans, when they saw him bind the +hollow shells into bunches, three or four in each, held together by +sipos, and then with a stronger piece of the same parasite attach the +bunches two and two together, leaving about three feet of the twisted +sipos between. + +"Swimming-belts!" cried Ralph, now for the first time comprehending the +scheme. Ralph was right. That was just what the Mundurucu had +manufactured,--a set of _swimming-belts_. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +ALLIGATOR LORE. + +For an hour the castaways remained in the tree, chafing with impatience +and chagrin that their awful enemy still kept his savage watch for them +in the Gapo below, gliding lazily to and fro, but ever watching them +with eager, evil eye. But there was no help for it; and by way of +possessing their souls in more patience, and making time pass quicker, +they fell to conversing on a subject appropriate to the occasion, for it +was the jacare itself, or rather alligators in general. Most of the +questions were put by Trevannion, while the answers were given by the +Mundurucu, whose memory, age, and experience made him a comprehensive +cyclopaedia of alligator lore. + +The Indian, according to his own account, was acquainted with live or +six different kinds of jacare. They were not all found in one place, +though he knew parts of the country where two or three kinds might be +found dwelling in the same waters; as, for instance, the jacare-uassu +(great alligator), the same as was then besieging them, and which is +sometimes called the black jacare, might often be seen in the same pool +with the jacare-tinga, or little alligator. Little jacare was not an +appropriate name for this last species. It was four feet long when full +grown, and he knew of others, as the jacare-curua, that never grew above +two. These kinds frequented small creeks, and were less known than the +others, as it was only in certain places they were found. The jacares +were most abundant in the dry season. He did not suppose they were +really more numerous, only that they were then collected together in the +permanent lakes and pools. Besides, the rivers were then lower, and as +there was less surface for them to spread over, they were more likely to +be seen. As soon as the _echente_ commenced, they forsook the channels +of the rivers, as also the standing lakes, and wandered all over the +Gapo. As there was then a thousand times the quantity of water, of +course the creatures were more scattered, and less likely to be +encountered. In the _vasante_ he had seen half-dried lakes swarming +with jacares, as many as there would be tadpoles in a frog-pond. At +such times he had seen them crowded together, and had heard their scales +rattling, as they jostled one another, at the distance of half a mile or +more. In the countries on the lower part of the Solimoes, where many of +the inland lakes become dry during the _vasante_, many jacares at that +season buried themselves in the mud, and went to sleep. They remained +asleep, encased in dry, solid earth, till the flood once more softened +the mud around them, when they came out again as ugly as ever. He +didn't think that they followed this fashion everywhere; only where the +lakes in which they chanced to be became dry, and they found their +retreat to the river cut off. They made their nests on dry land, +covering the eggs over with a great conical pile of rotten leaves and +mud. + +The eggs of the jacare-uassu were as large as cocoa-nuts, and of an oval +shape. They had a thick, rough shell, which made a loud noise when +rubbed against any hard substance. If the female were near the nest, +and you wished to find her, you had only to rub two of the eggs +together, and she would come waddling towards you the moment she heard +the noise. They fed mostly on fish, but that was because fish was +plentiest, and most readily obtained. They would eat flesh or fowl,-- +anything that chanced in their way. Fling them a bone, and they would +swallow it at a gulp, seizing it in their great jaws before it could +reach the water, just as a dog would do. If a morsel got into their +mouth that wouldn't readily go down, they would pitch it out, and catch +it while in the air, so as to get it between their jaws in a more +convenient manner. + +Sometimes they had terrific combats with the jaguars; but these animals +were wary about attacking the larger ones, and only preyed upon the +young of these, or the jacare-tingas. They themselves made war on every +creature they could catch, and above all on the young turtles, thousands +of which were every year devoured by them. They even devoured their own +children,--that is, the old males did, whenever the _mai_ (mother) was +not in the way to protect them. They had an especial preference for +dogs,--that is, as food,--and if they should hear a dog barking in the +forest, they would go a long way over land to get hold of him. They lie +in wait for fish, sometimes hiding themselves in the weeds and grass +till the latter come near. They seized them, if convenient, between +their jaws, or killed them with a stroke of the tail, making a great +commotion in the water. The fish got confused with fright, and didn't +know which way to swim out of the reptile's reach. Along with their +other food they ate stones, for he had often found stones in their +stomach. The Indian said it was done that the weight might enable them +to go under the water more easily. + +The _Capilearas_ were large animals that furnished many a meal to the +jacares; although the quadrupeds could swim very fast, they were no +match for the alligator, who can make head with rapidity against the +strongest current. If they could only turn short, they would be far +more dangerous than they are; but their neck was stiff, and it took them +a long while to get round, which was to their enemies' advantage. +Sometimes they made journeys upon land. Generally they travelled very +slowly, but they could go much faster when attacked, or pursuing their +prey. Their tail was to be especially dreaded. With a blow of that +they could knock the breath out of a man's body, or break his leg bone. +They liked to bask in the sun, lying along the sand-banks by the edge of +the river, several of them together, with their tails laid one on the +other. They would remain motionless for hours, as if asleep, but all +the while with their mouths wide open. Some said that they did this to +entrap the flies and insects that alighted upon their tongue and teeth, +but he (the Mundurucu) didn't believe it, because no quantity of flies +would fill the stomach of the great jacare. While lying thus, or even +at rest upon the water, birds often perched upon their backs and +heads,--cranes, ibises, and other kinds. They even walked about over +their bodies without seeming to disturb them. In that way the jacares +could not get at them, if they wished it ever so much. + +There were some jacares more to be dreaded than others. These were the +man-eaters, such as had once tasted human flesh. There were many of +them,--too many,--since not a year passed without several people falling +victims to the voracity of these reptiles. People were used to seeing +them every day, and grew careless. The jacares lay in wait in the +bathing-places close to villages and houses, and stole upon the bathers +that had ventured into deep water. Women, going to fetch water, and +children, were especially subject to their attack. He had known men, +who had gone into the water in a state of intoxication, killed and +devoured by the jacare, with scores of people looking helplessly on from +the bank, not twenty yards away. When an event of this kind happened, +the people armed themselves _en masse_, got into their _montarias_ +(canoes), gave chase, and usually killed the reptile. At other times it +was left unmolested for months, and allowed to lie in wait for a victim. + +The brute was _muy ladim_ (very cunning). That was evident enough to +his listeners. They had only to look down into the water, and watch the +movements of the monster there. Notwithstanding its ferocity, it was at +bottom a great coward, but it knew well when it was master of the +situation. The one under the sapucaya believed itself to be in that +position. It might be mistaken. If it did not very soon take its +departure, he, the Mundurucu, should make trial of its courage, and then +would be seen who was master. Big as it was, it would not be so +difficult to subdue for one who knew how. The jacare was not easily +killed, for it would not die outright till it was cut to pieces. But it +could be rendered harmless. Neither bullet nor arrow would penetrate +its body, but there were places where its life could be reached,--the +throat, the eyes, and the hollow places just behind the eyes, in front +of the shoulders. If stabbed in any of these tender places, it must go +under. He knew a plan better than that; and if the brute did not soon +raise the siege, he would put it in practice. He was getting to be an +old man. Twenty summers ago he would not have put up with such +insolence from an alligator. He was not decrepit yet. If the jacare +consulted its own safety, it would do well to look out. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +A HIDE UPON A REPTILE. + +After thus concluding his long lecture upon alligators, the Indian grew +restless, and fidgeted from side to side. It was plain to all, that the +presence of the jacare was provoking him to fast-culminating excitement. +As another hour passed, and the monster showed no signs of retiring, +his excitement grew to auger so intense, as to be no longer withheld +from seeking relief in action. So the Mundurucu hastily uprose, +flinging aside the swimming-belts hitherto held in his hands. +Everything was put by except his knife, and this, drawn from his +_tanga_, was now held tightly in his grasp. + +"What mean you, Munday?" inquired Trevannion, observing with some +anxiety the actions of the Indian. "Surely you are not going to attack +the monster? With such a poor weapon you would have no chance, even +supposing you could get within striking distance before being swallowed +up. Don't think of such a thing!" + +"Not with this weapon, patron," replied the Indian, holding up the +knife; "though even with it the Mundurucu would not fear to fight the +jacare, and kill him, too. Then the brute would go to the bottom of the +Gapo, taking me along. I don't want a ducking like that, to say nothing +of the chances of being drowned. I must settle the account on the +surface." + +"My brave fellow, don't be imprudent! It is too great a risk. Let us +stay here till morning. Night will bring a change, and the reptile will +go off." + +"Patron! the Mundurucu thinks differently. That jacare is a man-eater, +strayed from some of the villages, perhaps Coary, that we have lately +left. It has tasted man's blood,--even ours, that of your son, your +own. It sees men in the tree. It will not retire till it has gratified +its ravenous desires. We may stay in this tree till we starve, and from +feebleness drop, one by one, from the branches." + +"Let us try it for one night?" + +"No, patron," responded the Indian, his eyes kindling with a revengeful +fire, "not for one hour. The Mundurucu was willing to obey you in what +related to the duty for which you hired him. He is no longer a +_tapuyo_. The galatea is lost, the contract is at an end, and now he is +free to do what he may please with his life. Patron!" continued the old +man, with an energy that resembled returning youth, "my tribe would +spurn me from the _malocca_ if I bore it any longer. Either I or the +jacare must die!" + +Silenced by the singularity of the Indian's sentiment and speech, +Trevannion forbore further opposition. No one knew exactly what his +purpose was, though his attitude and actions led all to believe that he +meant to attack the jacare. With his knife? No. He had negatived this +question himself. How then? There appeared to be no other weapon +within reach. But there was, and his companions soon saw there was, as +they sat silently watching his movements. The knife was only used as +the means of procuring that weapon, which soon made its appearance in +the form of a _macana_, or club, cut from one of the llianas,--a +_bauhinia_ of heaviest wood, shaped something after the fashion of a +"life-preserver," with a heavy knob of the creeper forming its head, and +a shank about two feet long, tapering towards the handle. Armed with +this weapon, and restoring the knife to his _tango_, the Indian came +down and glided out along the horizontal limb already known to our +story. To attract the reptile thither was not difficult. His presence +would have been a sufficient lure, but some broken twigs cast upon the +water served to hasten its approach to the spot. In confidence the +jacare came on, believing that by some imprudence, or misadventure, at +least one of those it had marked for its victims was about to drop into +its hungry maw. One did drop,--not into its maw, or its jaws, but upon +its back, close up to the swell of its shoulders. Looking down from the +tree, his companions saw the Mundurucu astride upon the alligator, with +one hand, the left, apparently inserted into the hollow socket of the +reptile's eye, the other raised aloft, grasping the _macana_, that +threatened to descend upon the skull of the jacare. It _did_ descend,-- +crack!--crash!--crackle! After that there was not much to record. The +Mundurucu was compelled to slide off his seat. The huge saurian, with +its fractured skull, yielded to a simple physical law, turned over, +showing its belly of yellowish white,--an aspect not a whit more lovely +than that presented in its dark dorsal posterior. If not dead, there +could be no doubt that the jacare was no longer dangerous; and as its +conqueror returned to the tree, he was received with a storm of +"_Vivas_" to which Tipperary Tom added his enthusiastic Irish +"Hoor-raa!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +TAKING TO THE WATER. + +The Mundurucu merited congratulation, and his companions could not +restrain their admiration and wonder. They knew that the alligator was +only assailable by ordinary weapons--as gun, spear, or harpoon--in three +places; in the throat, unprotected, except by a thin, soft integument; +in the hollow in front of the shoulders, and immediately behind the bony +socket of the eyes; and in the eyes themselves,--the latter being the +most vulnerable of all. Why had the Indian, armed with a knife, not +chosen one of these three places to inflict a mortal cut or stab? + +"Patron," said the Indian, as soon as he had recovered his breath, "you +wonder why the Mundurucu took all that trouble for a _macana_, while he +might have killed the jacare without it. True, the knife was weapon +enough. _Pa terra_! Yes. But it would not cause instant death. The +rascal could dive with both eyes scooped out of their sockets, and live +for hours afterwards. Ay, it could have carried me twenty miles through +the Gapo, half the distance under water. Where would old Munday have +been then? Drowned and dead, long before the jacare itself. Ah, +patron, a good knock on the hollow of its head is the best way to settle +scores with a jacare." + +And as if all scores had been now settled with this fellow, the huge +saurian, to all appearance dead, passed unheeded out of sight, the +current of the Gapo drifting it slowly away. They did not wait for its +total disappearance, and while its hideous body, turned belly upward, +with its human-like hands stiffly thrust above the surface, was yet in +sight, they resumed their preparations for vacating a tenement of which +all were heartily tired, with that hopeful expectancy which springs from +a knowledge that the future cannot be worse than the present. Richard +had reported many curious trees, some bearing fruits that appeared to be +eatable, strung with llianas, here and there forming a network that made +it easy to find comfort among their branches. If there had been nothing +else to cheer them, the prospect of escaping from their irksome +attitudes was of itself sufficient; and influenced by this, they eagerly +prepared for departure. + +As almost everything had been already arranged for ferrying the party, +very little remained to be done. From the hermetically closed +monkey-cups the Mundurucu had manufactured five swimming-belts,--this +number being all that was necessary, for he and the young Paraense could +swim ten times the distance without any adventitious aid. The others +had their share of empty shells meted out according to their weight and +need of help. Rosa's transport required particular attention. The +others could make way themselves, but Rosa was to be carried across +under the safe conduct of the Indian. + +So when every contingency had been provided for, one after another +slipped down from the fork, and quietly departed from a tree that, +however uncomfortable as a residence, had yet provided them with a +refuge in the hour of danger. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +A HALF-CHOKED SWIMMER. + +Munday led off, towing little Rosa after him by a sipo, one end fastened +to his girdle, and the other around her waist. Trevannion followed +close behind, Ralph a little farther off, with Richard keeping abreast +of his cousin and helping him along. Mozey swam next; Tipperary Tom, +who was last to leave the tree, brought up the rear. The ouistiti had +found a berth on the shoulders of young Ralph, who, buoyed up by a good +supply of air-vessels, swam with his back above water. As for the macaw +and coaita, the desperate circumstances in which our adventurers were +placed rendered it not only inconvenient, but out of the question, to +trouble themselves with such pets; and it had been agreed that they must +be abandoned. Both, therefore, were left upon the tree. With the macaw +it was a matter of choice whether it should stay there. By simply +spreading out its great hyacinthine wings it could keep pace with its +_ci-devant_ protectors; and they had hardly left the tree, when the +bird, giving a loud scream, sprang from its perch, hovered a moment in +the air, and then, flying down, alighted on Mozey's wool-covered +cranium, making him hide his astonished head quickly under water. The +arara, affrighted at having wetted its feet, instantly essayed to soar +up again; but its curving talons, that had clutched too eagerly in the +descent, had become fixed, and all its attempts to detach them were in +vain. The more it struggled, the tighter became the tangle; while its +screams, united with the cries of the negro, pealed over the water, +awaking far echoes in the forest. It was sometime before Mozey +succeeded in untwisting the snarl that the arara had spun around its +legs, and not until he had sacrificed several of his curls was the bird +free to trust once more to its wings. + +We have said, that by some mystic influence the big monkey had become +attached to Tipperary Tom, and the attachment was mutual. Tom had not +taken his departure from the tree without casting more than one look of +regret back among the branches, and under any other circumstances he +would not have left the coaita behind him. It was only in obedience to +the inexorable law of self-preservation that he had consented to the +sacrifice. The monkey had shown equal reluctance at parting, in looks, +cries, and gestures. It had followed its friend down to the fork, and +after he had slipped into the water it appeared as if it would follow +him, regardless of both instinct and experience, for it could not swim. +These, however, proved strong enough to restrain its imprudence, and +after its protector had gone it stood trembling and chattering in +accents that proclaimed the agony of that unexpected separation. Any +one listening attentively to its cries might have detected in the +piteous tones the slightest commingling of reproach. How could it be +otherwise to be thus deserted? Left to perish, in fact; for although +the coaita was perfectly at home upon the sapucaya, and could live there +as long as the nuts lasted, there was not the slightest chance of its +getting away from the tree. It must stay there till the _vasante_, till +the flood fell, and that would not be for months. Long before that it +must undoubtedly perish, either by drowning or starvation. + +Whether or not these unpleasant forebodings passed through the monkey's +wits, and whether they nerved it, may never be known. Certainly +something seemed to stimulate the creature to determination; for instead +of standing any longer shivering in the fork of the tree, it turned +suddenly, and, darting up the trunk, ran out upon one of the horizontal +branches. To go directly from the sapucaya to the forest, it was +necessary to pass under this limb; and Tipperary Tom, following in the +wake of the others, had taken this track. He was already far out from +the stem of the tree, almost clear of the overhanging branches, and half +oblivions of the painful parting, when a heavy body, pouncing upon his +shoulders, caused both him and his empty shells to sink some feet under +the water; for just like old Munday on the alligator had the monkey come +down upon Tipperary Tom. The affrighted Irishman, on rising to the +surface, sputtered forth a series of cries, at the same time +endeavouring to rid himself of the unexpected rider on his back. It was +just at this crisis, too, that the macaw had managed to make good its +footing in the fleece of the negro. Mozey, however, was the first to +get clear of his incubus; and then all eyes were directed towards +Tipperary Tom and the clinging coaita, while peals of laughter resounded +from every lip. + +Mozey had enfranchised himself by sacrificing a few tufts of his woolly +hair, but the task was not so easy for Tom. In fact, it proved +altogether impracticable; for the coaita had curled its prehensile tail +around his neck in a knot that would have made a hangman envious. The +more he tugged at it, the more it tightened; and had the Irishman been +left to himself, it would have no doubt ended in his being strangled +outright, a fate he began to dread. At this crisis he heard the +Mundurucu shout to him across the water to leave the coaita alone, as +then it would relax its hold. Fortunately for himself, Tom had the +prudence to obey this well-timed counsel; and although still half +suffocated by the too cordial embrace of his pet, he permitted it to +have its own way, until, having approached the forest, the monkey +relaxed its hold, and sprang up among the branches. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +A SUPPER OF BROILED SQUAB. + +Guided by the Mundurucu, the swimmers entered the water arcade before +described, and proceeded on to the tree that had furnished the +caoutchouc for their swimming-belts. The siphonia, so late the scene of +strife and querulous complainings, was now silent as the tomb; not a +living arara was in sight or within hearing. The few old birds that had +survived the club conflict had forsaken the spot, betaking themselves to +some distant part of the forest, perhaps out of the Gapo altogether, to +mourn over nests laid desolate, over chicks seized and instantly +destroyed by ruthless hands. Only the young were there, suspended in a +bunch from the branches. The Mundurucu mounted first, taking his charge +along with him; and then all the others climbed up into the tree, where +the macaw and the monkey--one upon wing, the other by a passage through +the tree-tops in speed almost equalling the flight of a bird--had +already arrived. + +Farther progress for that night was no part of their purpose. It would +have been as idle as imprudent. The sun was already level with their +gaze, and to have forsaken their perch at that hour would have been like +leaving a good inn for the doubtful chances of the road. The seringa, +with its thickly trellised limbs, offered snug quarters. Upon its +network of parasites it was possible to repose; there were hammocks +woven by the hand of Nature, and, rude as they might be, they were a +pleasant improvement on their couches of the preceding night. + +The tree contained other proofs of its hospitality. The fat fledglings +suspended upon it promised a supper not to be despised; for none of the +party was a stranger to macaw flesh, and, as those were young and +tender, eyes sparkled and mouths watered on beholding them. No one +expected that they were to be eaten raw, though there was more than one +in the party whose appetite had become sharp enough for this. The +Mundurucu would have shown but slight squeamishness at swallowing one of +the squabs as it was, while to Mozey it would have signified less. Even +Tipperary Tom declared his readiness to set about supping without +further preparation. + +The semi-cannibal appetites of his companions were controlled by +Trevannion, who commenced talking of a fire. How was it to be made? +How could the chicks be cooked? His questions did not remain long +unanswered. The Indian, eager to meet the wishes of his employer, +promised that they should be gratified. + +"Wait a bit, patron," said he. "In ten minutes' time you shall have +what you want, a fire; in twenty, roast arara." + +"But how?" asked the patron. "We have no flint nor steel, any of us; +and if we had, where find the tinder?" + +"Yonder!" rejoined the Mundurucu. "You see yonder tree on the other +side of the igarape?" + +"That standing out by itself, with smooth, shining bark, and hoary, +handlike leaves? Yes, I see it. What of it?" + +"It is the _embauba_, patron; the tree that feeds the lazy sloth, the +_Ai_." + +"O, then it is that known as the _Cecropia peltata_. True, its crown of +peltate leaves declares the species. But we were talking of fire, +Munday. Can you obtain it from the cecropia?" + +"In ten minutes, patron, the Mundurucu will draw sparks from that tree, +and make a fire too, if he can only obtain from it a dry branch, one +without sap, decayed, dead. You shall see." + +So saying, he swam out towards the cecropia. On reaching this, he +scaled it like a squirrel, and was soon among its silvery fronds, that +spread palm-like over the water. Soon the snapping of a breaking branch +was heard, and shortly after the Indian came gliding down the tree, and, +holding the piece of cecropia above his head, swam with one hand towards +the caoutchouc, which he once more ascended. On rejoining his +companions, they saw that the stick he had secured was a bit of dry, +dead wood, light, and of porous texture, just such as might be easily +ignited. Not caring to make any secret of his design, he confirmed his +companions in their conjecture by informing them that the embauba was +the wood always employed by his people, as well as the other tribes in +Amazonia, when they wished to make a fire; and saying this, he proceeded +without further delay to make them acquainted with the proper way. +Strange to say, it proved to be the friction process, often described as +practised in remote corners of the world, and by savage tribes who could +never have held the slightest communication with one another. Who +taught them this curious mode of creating fire? Who inducted the Indian +of the Amazon, and the aboriginal of Borneo, into the identical ideas of +the _sumpitan_ and _gradatana_,--both blow-guns alike? Who first +instructed mankind in the use of the bow? Was it instinct? Was it +wisdom from on high? + +While Trevannion was reflecting on this strange theme, the Mundurucu had +shaped a long spindle from a slender branch which he had cut from some +hard wood growing near; and, whirling it between the palms of his hands, +in less than ten minutes, as he had promised, sparks appeared in the +hollowed stick of the cecropia. Dry leaves, twigs, and bark had been +already collected, and with these a flame was produced, ending in a +fire, that soon burned brightly in one of the forks of the seringa. +Over this the young macaws, supported on spits, were soon done brown; +and a supper of roast arara, with parched sapucaya nuts, proved anything +but a despicable meal to the party who partook of it. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +ONCE MORE IN THE WATER. + +Our adventurers passed a tolerable night among the sipos of the seringa. +They might have slept more soundly but for apprehensions about the +future that intruded even into their dreams. Morning brought no relief, +for then reality itself appeared ruder than the visions of fancy in +their slumbers. They had cold macaw for breakfast,--remains of the +preceding night's roast, which had been kept up as long as the fire was +alight, and carefully preserved, to serve for a future occasion. It was +just sunrise, and as soon as the meal was over, they consulted seriously +how to extricate themselves from their unpleasant and perilous +position,--how to work a deliverance from the jaws of the Gapo. +Whereabouts in this strange region were they? How far had they entered +it? They could not even frame a guess of the distance traversed by the +galatea before she had come to grief in the fork of the sapucaya. It +might be twenty miles, it might be fifty; who could tell? They only +knew that the ill-fated vessel had been drifting away from the Solimoes, +and deep into the solitudes of the Gapo. They knew they must be many +miles from the banks of the Solimoes, and, from his hydrographic +knowledge, already tested, the old tapuyo could tell its direction. But +it was no longer a question of getting back to the channel of the great +river. On the contrary, the object now was to reach solid land. It +would be worse than idle to seek the Solimoes without the means of +navigating it; for, even should the stream be reached, it would be one +chance in a thousand to get within hail of a passing vessel. Almost as +well might such be looked for in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. They +were now bent on discovering the shortest route to the mainland that +bordered this inundated region. This should be found in the direction +opposite to that in which the river lay. It might not, but the +probabilities were in favour of that hypothesis. They had but little +difficulty in determining the way to take. The index already pointed +out by the Indian was still to be depended upon. + +The _echente_ was still going on. The current was from the river, if +not with absolute directness, yet with enough to point out the bearing +of the Solimoes. The land might be many miles distant,--farther than +the river itself,--but there was no alternative but to reach it or die. +But how reach it? That was the question. They could hardly hope to +swim the whole distance, for it must be great. A raft? This too was +talked of. But how was a raft to be constructed? Among the tops of +those water-loving trees there could scarce be found a stick light +enough to have floated itself, let alone the carrying of a ponderous +cargo. Out of such heavy timber there would be but little chance of +their constructing a raft, and the idea was abandoned almost as soon as +broached. But Munday's proposal met the approbation of all. The water +arcade chanced to continue in the direction they should take. Why not +once more make use of the swimming-belts, that had already done such +good service, and effect a further exploration of the flooded forest? +The proposition was too reasonable to be rejected. It was unanimously +accepted; and, without more ado, our adventurers descended from the +siphonia, and began to traverse the strait. The macaw and monkey kept +their company as before, but no longer needed to make themselves a +burden to their protectors, since both could travel through the +tree-tops as the swimmers passed below. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +THE IGARAPE. + +They needed no pilot to point out their course. There could be no +danger of straying from it. The strait they were following was of that +kind known as an igarape, which, in the language of the Amazonian +Indian, means literally "the path of the canoe,"--_igarite_ being the +name of the craft most used in the navigation of the Gapo. The strait +itself might have been likened to a canal, running through a thicket, +which formed on both sides a colossal hedge, laced together by an +impenetrable network of parasitical plants. Unlike a canal, however, it +was not of uniform breadth, here and there widening into little openings +that resembled lakes, and again narrowing until the tree-tops stretching +from each side touched one another, forming underneath a cool, shadowy +arcade. + +Up this singular waterway our adventurers advanced, under the guidance +of the bordering line of verdure. Their progress was necessarily slow, +as the two who could swim well were compelled to assist the others; but +all were aided by a circumstance that chanced to be in their favour,-- +the current of the Gapo, which was going in the same direction with +themselves. Herein they were greatly favoured, for the flow of the +flood corresponded very nearly with the course of the igarape; and, as +they advanced, they might have fancied themselves drifting down the +channel of some gently flowing stream. The current, however, was just +perceptible; and though it carried them along, it could not be counted +on for any great speed. With it and their own exertions they were +enabled to make about a mile an hour; and although this rate might seem +intolerably slow, they were not discontented, since they believed +themselves to be going in the right direction. Had they been castaways +in mid-ocean, the case would have been different. Such tardy travelling +would have been hopeless; but it was otherwise in the forest sea that +surrounded them. On one side or the other they could not be more than +fifty miles from real dry land, and perhaps much less. By going right, +they might reasonably hope to reach it, though detained upon the way. +It was of the utmost importance, however, that the direction should be +known and followed. A route transverse to it might take them a thousand +miles, either way, through a flooded forest,--westward almost to the +foot of the Andes,--eastward to the mouth of the Amazon! The +experienced tapuyo, knowing all this, was extremely cautious in choosing +the course they were now pursuing. He did not exactly keep in the line +indicated by the flow of the flood. Although the _echente_ was still +going on, he knew that its current could not be at right angles to that +of the river, but rather obliqued to it; and in swimming onward he made +allowance for this oblique, the igarape fortunately trending at a +similar inclination. + +Several hours were spent in slowly wending along their watery way, the +swimmers occasionally taking a rest, stretched along the surface of the +water, supported by hanging llianas or the drooping branches of the +trees. At noon, however, a longer halt was proposed by the guide, to +which his followers gladly gave consent. All were influenced by a +double desire,--to refresh themselves not only by a good rest, but by +making a meal on the cold roast macaws, several of which were strapped +upon the shoulders of the tapuyo. A tree with broad, spreading branches +offered a convenient place, and, climbing into it, they took their seats +to await the distribution of the dinner, which was committed to the care +of the ex-steward, Mozey. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +ABOUT HUMMING-BIRDS. + +Previous to ascending their dining-tree, the swimmers had been more than +six hours in the water, and, as nearly as they could guess, had made +about that number of miles. They congratulated themselves on having met +with no hostile inhabitants of the Gapo, for the jararaca and jacare, +with the perils encountered while in the presence of these two dangerous +reptiles, were fresh enough in their remembrance to inspire them with +continual fear. All along the way, the Indian had been constantly upon +the alert. Nothing had occurred to cause them alarm, though many +strange sounds had been heard, and strange creatures had been seen. +Most of these, however, were of a character to cheer rather than +affright them. The sounds were mostly musical,--the voices of birds,-- +while the creatures seen were the birds themselves, many of beautiful +forms and bright plumage, perched upon the tree-tops, or winging their +way overhead. Conspicuous among them were the tiny winged creatures +called humming-birds, with which the Gapo abounded. During their swim +they had seen several distinct species of these lovely little sprites, +flashing like meteors over the surface of the water, or darting about +through the tree-tops like sparks of glistening light. They appeared to +be the gnomes and elves of the place. + +While eating dinner, our adventurers were favoured with an excellent +opportunity of observing the habits of these graceful and almost +microscopic creatures. A tree stood near, whose top was surmounted by a +parasite,--a species of bignonia,--in full blossom, that with its array +of sweet-scented flowers completely covered the tree, almost concealing +the green foliage underneath. Over this flowery spot hundreds of +humming-birds were hovering, now darting from point to point, anon +poised upon swiftly whirring wings in front of an open flower, their +tiny beak inserted into the corolla, therefrom to extract the savoury +honey. There were several species of them, though none of them of large +size, and all looking more like insects than birds. But for the +swiftness of their motions, they might have passed for a swarm of wild +bees (_meliponae_) disporting themselves among the flowers. Ralph and +Rosa were delighted with the spectacle, though it was not new to them, +for the warmer valleys of the Andes, through which they had passed in +approaching the headwaters of the Amazon, were the favourite _habitat_ +of the humming-birds, and there a greater number of species exist than +in Amazonia itself. What was new to them, however, and to the rest of +the party as well, was some information imparted by the tapuyo while +they sat conversing after dinner. He said that there were two kinds of +these birds, which, although alike in size, beauty, bright plumage, and +many other respects, were altogether distinct in their habits and ways +of life. By two kinds he did not mean two species, for there were many, +but two sets of species, or groups, as the Indian would have called +them, had he been a student of ornithology. One set, he said,--and the +several species then before their eyes belonged to it,--lived upon the +juice of the flowers, and this was their only food. These frequented +such open _campos_ as those on the southern side of the Solimoes, and +along the rivers running into it from that direction. They were also +common in plantations, and other places where clearings had been made, +or where the forest was thin and scattering, because there only could +they find a sufficiency of flowers. It was only at times that they made +excursions into the great water-forest, when some of the sipo plants +were in blossom, just as the one before them was at that time. The +species they saw did not belong to the Gapo. They had only strayed +there upon a roving excursion, and would soon return to the mainland,-- +the treeless regions. The kinds that frequented the great forest never +went out of it, and cared nothing about flowers. If seen hovering +around a tree in blossom, it was only because they were in pursuit of +insects, which had been attracted thither in search of the sweet juices. +Upon these the forest humming-birds regularly preyed, making their +exclusive diet upon flies, which they caught as much among the foliage +as the flowers, darting upon the insects whenever they perched upon the +leaves, and snapping them up either from the upper or under side. They +built their nests upon the tips of the palm-leaves, choosing the side +that was inward towards the tree, from which they suspended them. They +were purse-shaped, and composed of fibres closely woven together with a +thick lining of a fine, soft silk-cotton, taken from the fruit of a tree +called _samauma_. They did not come much into the sun, like the other +kinds, but kept more in the shade, and might be often met whirring about +in the aisles of the forest. Sometimes they would poise themselves in +the air, right in front of a person passing through among the +tree-trunks, and, after remaining till the intruder's face would be +within a few feet of them, would fly on in advance of him, and again +come to a pause in the same way, repeating the manoeuvre several times +in succession. All these things, averred the observant Indian, made the +humming-birds that kept constantly to the forest very different from +those that only visited it upon occasions, and therefore, in his +opinion, they were of two distinct kinds. And his opinion was the +correct one, founded on observations already made by the ornithologist, +and which have resulted in the classification of the humming-birds into +two great groups, the _Trochilinae_ and _Phaethorninae_. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +A CUL-DE-SAC. + +Notwithstanding the pleasant theme that formed the subject of their +after-dinner discourse, it was not long continued. Both those who took +part in it and those who listened were too anxious about their situation +to enjoy even the most interesting conversation. As soon, therefore, as +they felt sufficiently recruited by the rest, they resumed their aquatic +journey. For several hours they continued to advance at the same slow +rate, without encountering any incident worthy of record. The igarape +still trended in a straight line, with only here and there a slight +turning to one side or the other, preserving, however, the same general +direction, which was northward. This they had discovered on the night +before, not by observing the polar star, which is at no time visible at +the equator, nor until you have travelled several degrees to the north +of it. Even when this well-known star should be seen from the low +latitudes of the torrid zone, it is usually obscured by the hazy film +extending along the horizon. Sirius and other northern, constellations +had guided them. As the sun had been shining throughout the whole of +that day as well as the preceding one, you may suppose there could be no +difficulty in discovering the quarter, within a point or two of the +compass, at any hour of the day. This might be true to any one +travelling in a high latitude, northern or southern, or at certain +seasons of the year, anywhere outside the tropics. Even within the +tropics it might be done by skilful observation, if the observer knew +the exact time of the year. Trevannion knew the time. He knew, +moreover, that it was close upon the vernal equinox, when the sun was +crossing the equatorial line, near to which they were wandering. For +this reason, in the meridian hours the great orb was right over their +heads, and no one--not even a skilled astronomer--could have told north +from south, or cast from west. + +Supposing that the igarape should not be trending in the same direction, +but imperceptibly departing from it? In that case, during the mid-hours +of the day they could have had no guidance from the sky, and must have +suspended their journey till the sun should begin to sink towards the +west, and once more make known the points of the compass. Fortunately +they needed not to make this delay. As already observed, the flow of +the flood was the pilot to which they looked for keeping them in their +course; and, as this still ran with a slight obliquity in the same +direction as the igarape, the latter could not have departed from the +right line upon which, they had been advancing. The current had been +compared with the points of the compass that morning before setting out. +It was a little to the east of north. Northward, then, was the course +of the swimmers. + +They had drawn further inference from the direction in which the flood +was setting. It proved that they had strayed from the Solimoes by its +left or northern bank, and must now be somewhere among the mouths of the +great river Japura. It was no consolation to discover this, but the +contrary. The old tapuyo only looked graver on arriving at the +conviction that such was the case. He knew that in that direction, in +the vast delta formed by the unnumbered branches of the Japura, the Gapo +was of great width, extending far back from the banks of this remarkable +river, and dry land in that direction might be at the greatest distance. +There was no alternative but to keep on, and, by deviating from the +course as little as possible, they might in due time reach the limits of +the flood. Actuated by this impulse and its attendant hopes, they +continued their toilsome journey along "the path of the canoe." + +We have said that for several hours they encountered no incident worthy +of note. It was not destined, however, for that day's sun to set before +one should arise, whose record is not a matter of choice, but necessity, +since it exerted such an influence on the proceedings of the travellers +as to cause a complete change in their mode of progression. What they +encountered was not exactly an incident, but an obstruction. In other +words, their swim was suddenly brought to an end by the ending of the +igarape! + +They had arrived at the termination of this curious canal, which all at +once came to a _cul-de-sac_, the trees closing in on both sides, and +presenting an impenetrable front, that forbade farther progress. The +way was equally obstructed in every other direction; for on neither side +of the igarape, throughout its whole length, had any opening been +observed. At first they fancied that the water might open again beyond +the obstruction, but Munday, after penetrating a short distance among +the tree-trunks, returned to declare his conviction that the igarape was +at an end. Nor did it terminate by any gradual convergence of the two +lines of trees. On the contrary, they came together in an abrupt +circular sweep,--one of colossal size, that rose high above its fellows +and spread far out, standing in the centre, like some Titanic guardian +of the forest, and seeming to say to the igarape, "Hitherto shalt thou +come, but no farther!" + +It was of no use remaining longer in the water for that day. Even had +the obstruction not arisen, it was time to have suspended their +exertions. The sun was sinking towards the tree-tops, and by the time +they could get themselves snugly stowed away, and something ready for +supper, it would be night. Leaving other cares for the morrow, and the +morrow to take care of itself, they at once proceeded to select their +sleeping-place for the night. The colossal tree that had come so +unpleasantly across their track seemed to offer the very quarters they +were in search of; and, without more ado, they accepted the hospitality +of its wide-spreading branches. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +THE BRAZIL-NUTS. + +The tree upon which they had made their roost was one of a species of +which they had observed many during the day. It was the true Brazil-nut +(_Bertholletia excelsa_), own cousin to the sapucaya; for both are of +the same family,--the _Lecythis_,--of which there are many distinct +members. Like the sapucaya, it is a denizen of the low lands and +flooded forests, growing to a stupendous height. It produces large, +showy flowers, which are succeeded by huge capsule-like pericarps, each +enclosing a score or more of Brazil-nuts. But though the flowers are +followed by the fruits, these do not all come together; and, like the +orange and other tropical trees, bud, blossom, and fruit may all be +observed upon the same branch, in various stages of development. + +It need not be said that the nuts of the _Bertholletia_ form one of the +commercial staples of Amazonia. They are too well-known to need further +description; for there are few dwelling-houses in either Europe or +America where they have not been submitted to the squeeze of the +nut-crackers. In the forest, where they are no man's property, they are +collected by whoever chooses to take the trouble, but chiefly by the +Indians and half-breeds who dwell on the borders of the Gapo. The time +to gather the Brazil-nuts is the _vasante_, or dry season, though there +are certain tribes of savages that go nutting in their canoes during the +season of the _echente_. But the real nut harvest is after the floods +have subsided, and the trees once more stand upon dry land. Then the +whole _malocca_ of Indians, or the inhabitants of a village, proceed in +a body to the places where the fruits are to be found, scattered around +the stems of the tall trees that have produced them. + +In gathering their crop the gleaners require to observe certain +precautions, those who go under the trees covering their heads with a +thick wooden cap, resembling a helmet, lest the dropping of the heavy +capsules--big as a cannon-ball, and almost as heavy--might crack a +skull! For this reason the monkeys of the Amazon forest, though crazy +for sapucaya and Brazil-nuts, always give the _Bertholletia_ a wide +berth, never going under, but around it, in a circle whose circumference +lies outside the tips of the branches. Strange to say, these creatures +have no fear of the sapucaya, although its pericarps are as large and +heavy as those of the Brazil-nuts. But the former do not fall to the +ground, or when they do, it is only after the lid has sprung open, and +the huge cup has scattered its contents, leaving it a light and empty +shell. It is for this reason, as much as anything else, that the nuts +of the sapucaya are scarce in the market, and command a higher price. +Having escaped spontaneously from their shell, they are at the mercy of +all comers, birds, quadrupeds, and monkeys; whereas the Brazil-nuts, +protected by their thick woody pericarps, are not so easily accessible. +Even the monkeys cannot get at them, until some animal with teeth better +adapted for chiselling performs for them the service of laying open the +box, and giving them a chance at the treasures contained within. This +is done by several species of rodents, among which the _cutia_ and +_paca_ are conspicuous; and one of the most comical spectacles to be +seen in a South American forest is that of a group of monkeys, watching +from a distance the proceedings of a paca thus employed, and then +springing forward to take forcible possession of the pericarp after it +has been sufficiently opened. + +It was a bit of good fortune that our adventurers found lodgings upon +the _Bertholletia_. Though more hospitality may usually be met with in +an inn, it provided them with at least a portion of their supper,--the +bread-stuff. They had still left a brace of the macaw squabs that had +not been roasted; but Munday, as before, soon produced sufficient fire +to give them a scorching, and keen appetites supplied salt, pepper, and +sauce. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +A TRAVELLING PARTY OF GUARIBAS. + +Supper over, our adventurers only awaited the sunset to signal them to +their repose. They had already selected their beds, or what was to +serve for such,--the spaces of horizontal network formed by the +intertwining of luxuriant llianas. At the best, it was no better than +sleeping upon a raked hurdle; but they had been already somewhat inured +to an uneasy couch on the galatea, and they were every day becoming less +sensitive to necessities and hardships. They were all tired with the +severe exertions they had made; for although their journey had been but +about six miles, it was enough to equal sixty made upon land. They felt +as if they could go to sleep astride of a limb, or suspended from a +branch. + +It was not decreed by fate that they should find rest before being made +the witnesses of a spectacle so curious, that, had they been ever so +much inclined for sleep, would have kept them awake against their will. + +A noise heard afar off in the forest attracted their attention. There +was nothing in it to alarm them, though had they not heard it before, or +something similar to it, their fears might have been excited to the +utmost pitch of terror. What they heard was the lugubrious chant of a +band of howling monkeys. Of all the voices of Nature that awake the +echoes of the Amazonian forest, there is perhaps none so awe-inspiring +as this. It is a combination of sounds, that embrace the various tones +of shrieking, screaming, chattering, growling, and howling, mingled with +an occasional crash, and a rattle, such as might proceed from the throat +of a dying maniac. And yet all this is often the product of a single +_mycetes_, or howling monkey, whose hollow hyoidal bone enables him to-- +send forth every species of sound, from the rolling of a bass drum to +the sharp squeak of a penny-whistle. + +"_Guaribas_!" quietly remarked the Mundurucu, as the distant noise was +first heard. + +"Howling monkeys you mean?" interrogatively rejoined Trevannion. + +"Yes, patron, and the loudest howlers of the whole tribe. You'll hear +them presently. They are coming this way." + +"They're not far off now, I should say, if one may judge by the loudness +of their cries." + +"All of a mile yet, patron. It proves that the forest stretches more +than a mile in that direction, else the guaribas could not be there. If +there be open water between us and them, they won't come this way. If +not, we'll have them here in ten minutes' time. I wish we could only +travel among the tree-tops as they can. We shouldn't stay long in the +Gapo." + +"Just as the Mundurucu expected," continued the tapuyo, after a pause. +"The guaribas are coming towards us. I can hear the swishing of the +leaves as they pass among them. We'll soon see them." + +The howling of the guaribas had for some time ceased, but the rustling +of leaves, with the occasional snapping of a twig, to which the Indian +had directed the attention of his companions, told that the troop was +travelling through the tree-tops, otherwise observing a profound +silence. + +Soon they appeared in sight, suddenly presenting themselves upon a tall +tree that stood by the side of the igarape, about a cable's length from +that occupied by our adventurers. For some minutes the branches of the +tree were seen oscillating up and down, as each black guariba sprang +into it: and this continued until not less than a hundred had found +lodgement upon the limbs. As the leader of the band, who was evidently +chief of the tribe, caught sight of the igarape, he was seen to pause in +an abrupt and ambiguous manner, at the same moment giving utterance to a +cry, easily intelligible as a word of command. It had the effect of +causing those immediately behind him to come to a halt, as also the +others, as they sprang successively into the tree. There could be no +question as to what had caused the halt. It was the igarape crossing +the track which the guaribas were going. With them the only question +was, how they were to get over it. + +At the point where the howlers had clustered together, the strait was +narrower than elsewhere within sight. Between the branches, extending +horizontally from the opposite sides of the igarape, there was a clear +space of about twenty feet; and to the spectators it appeared improbable +that any animal without wings could leap from tree to tree. The +monkeys, however, did not seem to be of this opinion, but were plainly +contemplating the leap; and it was evident that some of them were only +restrained from taking it by an authoritative command from their chief, +which held them in check. For several minutes there was a profound +silence among them, undisturbed until the stragglers had all arrived in +the tree, and squatted on the branches. + +It was now observed that among these last were several mothers, each +carrying a child upon her back, or embraced between her bare arms; the +youngster with face upturned, clinging, not with teeth and toe-nail, but +with hands and tail, to the neck of its maternal parent. To these the +attention of the whole tribe appeared to be directed; and it was evident +that they were the sole cause of the difficulty,--the _impedimenta_ that +had interrupted the onward march of the troop. + +There had been confusion, accompanied by some chattering, after first +coming up; but a sign from the leader had put an end to all noise, and +then succeeded the silence already mentioned. During its continuance +the guariba chief slowly ascended the tree, until he had attained a +position elevated above all his followers. Then squatting down, with +his hams firmly planted upon a branch, his long tail carefully coiled +around another, he commenced his harangue with as much ceremony as if he +had been chairman of a Guild-Hall dinner. Perhaps there was quite as +much sense and eloquence in his speech; at all events, there was more +noise: for during the ten minutes taken up by it--it had the advantage +of brevity--no other sound could have been heard over the Gapo within +the circuit of a mile. + +His address being ended, the chief, by a series of detached speeches, +seemed to invite a reply from his followers, coaxing their assent, or +daring them to contradiction. There appeared to be no dissent, not one +voice. The chattering that responded to the speech was delivered in a +tone that spoke unanimous compliance with the proposal--whatever it +was--which their chief had offered to their consideration. + +Then ensued another interval of silence, much shorter than before, and +again interrupted by the leader of the troop. This time, however, his +words were few and to the purpose. They were pronounced in a tone of +command, that called for prompt obedience, which was yielded +instantaneously and without protest. + +One of the strongest of the guaribas ran out upon the limb overhanging +the igarape, and, stopping at its extremity, braced himself for the +leap. In another instant it was made, and the monkey was seen rushing +up into the tree on the other side of the igarape. A comrade followed, +placing his four hands in the same spot, his body in a similar attitude, +and making the leap so exactly like the guariba that had preceded him, +that it seemed the same monkey repeating the performance. Then went +another, and another, so close following, that the creatures appeared +more like the links of some colossal but quick-moving chain, pulled by +supernatural power across the igarape, than a series of individual and +animated beings. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +THE MONKEY MOTHER. + +Our adventurers sat in silent wonder watching the movements of the +monkeys. It was certainly a spectacle of the most interesting character +to see these creatures making the passage of the igarape. Perhaps the +most singular thing was the similarity of their leaps,--all planting +their feet upon the same spot of the branch from which the leader +sprang, springing exactly in the same way, and alighting on the opposite +side in apparently the same spot and attitude, proving that each and all +must have been actuated by the same thought or instinct at the precise +moment of passing from one tree to the other. Another singular point +was, that during its continuance the intervals between each two were +almost as regular as the ticking of a clock. As soon as one launched +itself out from the branch, another sprang into its place, and was ready +to follow so quickly that the air was never for a moment without a +monkey; and any one looking straight down the opening between the trees, +without glancing to either side, might almost have fancied that it was a +single guariba suspended in mid-air! + +All the males of the tribe had succeeded in making the leap in safety; +and all the females, too,--those carrying their "piccaninnies" along +with the rest,--except one. This was a mother with a very young child +on her back,--in fact a mere infant,--perhaps not nine days old. +Notwithstanding its extreme youth, it appeared to comprehend the +situation, as well as those of more mature age, clinging with its +infantile fingers to the shaggy hide of its mother, while its tiny tail +was twisted around the root of hers, in a loop that appeared tight as a +sailor's knot. + +But the mother, enfeebled by some sickness,--for monkeys are subject to +sickness as well as men,--appeared doubtful of her ability to accomplish +the leap; and, after all the others had crossed, she stood upon the +branch evidently only half determined about following them. At this +crisis occurred a curious incident,--the first of a series. One of +those that had crossed, a man-monkey, was seen to separate from the +crowd, that had by this time ascended to the top of the tree. Returning +along the limb to which they had just leaped, he placed himself opposite +to the hesitating female and began to chatter, intending to encourage +her, as his gestures showed. The mother of the infant made reply; but +although the sounds were unintelligible to the human spectators, they +might be translated as saying, "It's not a bit of use, my trying; I +shall only get a ducking for my pains, and the infant too. It may be +drowned." + +Her reply was delivered in a tone of appeal; and, as if affected by it, +the male monkey--evidently the father of the child--made no more +remonstrance, but bounded back across the open water. It was but the +work of six seconds for him to transfer the juvenile to his own +shoulders; and in as many more both he and it were on the right side of +the igarape. Relieved of her charge and encouraged by the cries of +those already across, the mother sprang out from the branch. The effort +was too great for her strength. With her forefinger she caught the +twigs on the opposite side and succeeded in clutching them; but before +she could lap the branch with her tail,--a more trustworthy means of +prehension,--she had sunk below its level, and, the twigs giving way, +she plunged into the water. + +A universal scream came from the top of the tree, and a score or more of +guaribas leaped down upon the limb from which the unfortunate had +fallen. There was a scene of confusion,--just as there would have been +had the catastrophe happened among human beings,--as when a boat upsets +or some one breaks through the ice, and spectators stand speechless, or +hurry to and fro, no one knowing exactly what to do,--what order to +give, or whom to obey. + +Very like was the scene of surprise, terror, and lamentation among the +monkeys,--except that it did not last quite so long. In this respect +animal instinct, as it is called, has the advantage of bewildered +reason; and, while a crowd upon the sea-beach or the river-bank would +have spent ten minutes before taking action to rescue the drowning +individual, scarcely so many seconds were allowed to elapse before the +guaribas had picked up and safely deposited her trembling person on the +fork of a tree. + +The mode in which this had been accomplished was something to astonish +the spectators, and yet it was performed in a very efficient manner. As +soon as the screaming would permit, the voice of the guariba chieftain +was heard, in a chattering so loud and serious in tone as to indicate +command; and some half-score of the number, in obedience, glided out on +the limb of the tree under which the female was in imminent danger of +being drowned. A bucket could not have descended into a well, or a +pulley-tackle come down from warehouse or mill, more promptly and +speedily than did that string of monkeys, hooked neck and tail to one +another, like the links of a long chain,--the lowest upon the swinging +series being the husband of the half-drowned mother, who had hastily +deposited his baby in one of the forkings of the tree. Neither could +the water-bucket have been filled, nor the wheat-sack hooked on, with +half the speed and agility with which she was picked up and restored. + +Once more shouldering her "chickabiddy," she took her place in the +troop, which, without further delay, moved on amid the tree-tops, +keeping in a direct line of march, as if bent upon a journey that was to +terminate at some spot already known to them. For a long time their +track could be traced by their continuous howling, which then was heard +only at intervals, and at length receded to such a distance as to become +inaudible. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +THE MUNDURUCU DISCOURSES OF MONKEYS. + +The sun was just setting as the guaribas disappeared; and from this +circumstance it was conjectured that they were on their return to some +favourite resting-place. Trevannion supposed that they might be on +their way to dry land; and, if so, the route they had taken might serve +himself and party for a direction. He mentioned this to the Mundurucu, +who shook his head, not doubtfully, but as a simple negative. + +"You think it would be of no use our taking the direction in which they +have gone?" said the miner interrogatively. + +"No, patron; not a bit of good in that. They are as like to be going +from _terra firma_ as towards it. It's all the same to them whether +they sleep over land, or water, so long as they have the trees to cling +to. They are now trooping to some roost they have a fancy for,--perhaps +some very big tree,--which they use at all times for their +night-rendezvous, and where others of the same tribe will be likely to +meet them. These have been off to some favourite feeding-ground, where +the fruit may be more plenty than in the neighbourhood of their regular +dwelling-place; or they may have been upon some ramble for amusement." + +"What! do monkeys make such excursions?" inquired young Ralph. + +"O yes," replied the Mundurucu. "I've often met them trooping about +among the trees, where nuts and fruits were in plenty; and have watched +them, for hours at a time, without seeing them pluck a single one;--only +chattering and screeching and laughing and playing tricks upon each +other, as if they had nothing else to do. Neither have they when +certain sorts of fruit are ripe, especially soft fruits, such as berries +and the pulpy nuts of several kinds of palms, as the _pupunha_ and +_assai_. It is a little different at other seasons, when they have to +live on the Brazil-nuts and sapucayas; then they have something to do to +get at the kernels inside the thick shells, and at this they employ a +good deal of their time." + +"Do they sleep perched on the trees, or have they nests among the +branches in which they can lie down at their ease?" + +"They have nests, but not for that. The females only use them when +about to bring forth their young. As to sleeping at their ease, they +can do that on the very slenderest of branches. It's no hardship to +them, as it is to us. Not a bit." + +"But do they not sometimes fall off in their sleep?" + +"How could they do that, young master, when they have their tails to +hold on by? Before going to sleep they take a turn or two of their long +tail round a branch, not always the one their body is on, but more +commonly a branch a little above it. For that matter they don't need +any branch to rest upon. They can go to sleep, and often do, hanging by +the tail,--for that is the position in which they are most at ease; just +as you would be reclining in a hammock. I've seen them scores of times +asleep that way. To prove that they feel most at home when hanging by +the tail, they take to it whenever any alarm comes suddenly upon them; +and they want to be in readiness for retreat, in case of its proving to +be an enemy." + +"What singular creatures!" said Ralph, half in soliloquy. + +"You speak truth, young master. They have many an odd way, that would +lead one to believe that they had as much sense as some kinds of men. +You have seen how they picked up the old one that fell into the water; +but I've seen them do a still stranger thing than that. It is but the +commonest of their contrivances, put in practice every time they want to +pluck a nut, or some fruit that grows near the end of a branch too +slender to carry their weight. If there's a stronger limb above, they +go out upon it; and then, clinging together as you saw them do, they let +themselves down till the last in the string can lay hold of the fruit. +Sometimes there is no branch right over the spot; but that don't hinder +them from getting what they have coveted, if they can find a stout limb +anyways near. Then they make their string all the same; and, by setting +it in motion, they swing back and forward, until the lowest of the party +is tossed out within reach of the fruit. I've seen them try this, and +find that their string was just a few inches too short, when another +monkey would glide down upon the others, and add his length to complete +it. Then I've seen them make a bridge, young master." + +"Make a bridge! Are you in earnest? How could they?" + +"Well, just in the same way as they get within reach of the nuts." + +"But for what purpose?" + +"To get across some bit of water, as a fast-running stream, where they +would be drowned if they fell in." + +"But how do they accomplish it? To make a bridge requires a skilled +engineer among men; are there such among monkeys?" + +"Well, young master, I won't call it such skill; but it's very like it. +When on their grand journeyings they come to a stream, or even an +igarape like this, and find they can't leap from the trees on one side +to those growing on the other, it is then necessary for them to make the +bridge. They go up or down the bank till they find two tall trees +opposite each other. They climb to a high branch on the one, and then, +linking together, as you've seen them, they set their string in motion, +and swing backward and forward, till one at the end can clutch a branch +of the tree, on the opposite side. This done the bridge is made, and +all the troop, the old ones that are too stiff to take a great leap, and +the young ones that are too weak, run across upon the bodies of their +stouter comrades. When all have passed over, the monkey at the other +end of the string lets go his hold upon the branch; and if he should be +flung into water it don't endanger him, as he instantly climbs up the +bodies of those above him, the next doing the same, and the next also, +until all have got safe into the trees." + +"Be japers," exclaimed Tipperary Tom, "it's wonderful how the craythers +can do it! But, Misther Munday, have yez iver seen them fall from a +tree-top?" + +"No, never, but I've known one to leap from the top of a tree full a +hundred feet in height." + +"Shure it was kilt dead then?" + +"If it was it acted very oddly for a dead animal, as it had scarce +touched the ground when it sprang back up another tree of equal height, +and scampered to the top branches nearly as quick as it came down." + +"Ah!" sighed Trevannion, "if we had only the activity of these +creatures, how soon we might escape from this unfortunate dilemma. Who +knows what is before us? Let us pray before going to rest for the +night. Let us hope that He, in whose hands we are, may listen to our +supplications, and sooner or later relieve us from our misery." And so +saying, the ex-miner repeated a well-remembered prayer, in the response +to which not only the young people, but the Indian, the African, and the +Irishman fervently joined. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +TWO SLUMBERERS DUCKED. + +It was somewhere among the mid-hours of the night, and all appeared to +be as sound asleep as if reclining upon couches of eider-down. Not a +voice was heard among the branches of the Brazil-nut,--not a sound of +any kind, if we except the snore that proceeded from the spread nostrils +of the negro, and that of a somewhat sharper tone from the nasal organ +of the Irishman. Sometimes they snored together, and for several +successive trumpetings this simultaneity would be kept up. Gradually, +however, one would get a little ahead, and then the two snorers would be +heard separately, as if the two sleepers were responding to each other +in a kind of dialogue carried on by their noses. All at once this nasal +duet was interrupted by a rustling among the boughs upon which rested +Tipperary Tom. The rustling was succeeded by a cry, quickly followed by +a plunge. + +The cry and the plunge woke everybody upon the tree; and while several +inquired the cause of the disturbance, a second shout, and a second +plunge, instead of affording a clue to the cause of alarm, only rendered +the matter more mysterious. There was a second volley of +interrogatories, but among the inquiring voices two were missing,--those +of Mozey and the Irishman. Both, however, could now be heard below; not +very articulate, but as if their owners were choking. At the same time +there was a plashing and a plunging under the tree, as if the two were +engaged in a struggle for life. + +"What is it? Is it you, Tom? Is it you, Mozey?" were the questions +that came thick and fast from those still upon the tree. + +"Och! ach!--I'm chokin'!--I'm--ach--drown--ach--drownin'!--Help! help!" +cried a voice, distinguishable as the Irishman's, while Mozey's was +exerted in a similar declaration. + +All knew that Tom could not swim a stroke. With the Mozambique it was +different. He might sustain himself above water long enough to render +his rescue certain. With Tom no time was to be lost, if he was to be +saved from a watery grave; and, almost with his cry for help, Richard +Trevannion and the Mundurucu plunged in after him. + +For a time, Trevannion himself and his two children could hear, +underneath them, only a confused medley of sounds,--the splashing of +water mingled with human voices, some speaking, or rather shouting, in +accents of terror, others in encouragement. The night was dark; but had +it been ever so clear, even had the full moon been shining above, her +beams could not have penetrated through the spreading branches of the +Brazil-nut, melted and lined as they were with thorns and leafy llianas. + +It would seem an easy task for two such swimmers as the Indian and +Paraense to rescue Tipperary Tom from his peril. But it was not quite +so easy. They had got hold of him, one on each side, as soon as the +darkness allowed them to discern him. But this was not till they had +groped for some time; and then he was found in such a state of +exhaustion that it required all the strength of both to keep his chin +above the surface. + +Mozey was fast becoming as helpless as Tom, being more than half +paralysed by the fright he had got from being precipitated into the +water while still sound asleep. Such a singular awaking was sufficient +to have confused a cranium of higher intellectual development than that +of the Mozambique. + +After having discovered their half-drowned companions, neither Richard +nor the Mundurucu knew exactly what to do with them. Their first +thought was to drag them towards the trunk of the tree, under which they +had been immersed. This they succeeded in doing; but once alongside the +stem, they found themselves in no better position for getting out of the +water. There was not a branch within reach by which to raise +themselves, and the bark was as smooth as glass, and slippery with +slime. + +When first ascending into the great tree, they had made use of some +hanging parasite, which now in the darkness they were unable to find. +Even the two swimmers began to despond. If not their own lives, those +of their comrades might be lost in that gloomy aisle, whose pavement was +the subtle, deceitful flood. At this crisis an idea occurred to the +young Paraense that promised to rescue them from their perilous +position, and he called out, "The swimming-belts! fling down the +swimming-belts!" His uncle and cousin, by this time having a clearer +comprehension of what had occurred, at once obeyed the command. Richard +and the Indian were not slow to avail themselves of this timely +assistance; and in a trice the two half-drowned men were buoyed up +beyond further danger. + +On getting back into the Bertholletia, there was a general explanation. +Tipperary Tom was the cause of the awkward incident. Having gone to +sleep without taking proper precautions, his limbs, relaxed by slumber, +had lost their prehensile power, and, sliding through the llianas, he +had fallen plump into the water below, a distance of more than a dozen +feet. His cries, and the consequent plunge, had startled the negro so +abruptly that he too had lost his equilibrium, and had soused down the +instant after. + +The Mundurucu was by no means satisfied with the occurrence. It had not +only interrupted his repose, but given him a wet shirt in which to +continue it. He was determined, however, that a similar incident should +not, for that night, occur,--at least not with the same individuals,-- +and before returning to his roost he bound both of them to theirs with +_sipos_ strong enough to resist any start that might be caused by the +most terrible of dreams. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +OPEN WATER. + +The next day was spent in explorations. These did not extend more than +four hundred yards from their sleeping-place; but, short as was the +distance, it cost more trouble to traverse it than if it had been twenty +miles on land, across an open country. + +It was a thicket through which the explorers had to pass, but such a +thicket as one acquainted only with the ordinary woods of Northern +countries can have no conception of. It was a matted tangle of trees +and parasitical plants, many of the latter--such as the climbing +jacitara palms, the huge cane-briers, and bromelias--thickly set with +sharp spines, that rendered it dangerous to come in contact with them. +Even had there been firm footing, it would have been no easy task to +make way through such a network; but, considering that it was necessary +to traverse the wood by passing from tree to tree, all the time keeping +in their tops, it will not be wondered at that a few hundred yards of +such progress was accounted a day's journey. + +You must not suppose that all the party of our adventurers went even +thus far. In fact, all of them remained in the Brazil-nut, except the +two who had acted as explorers on the former occasion,--Richard and the +Mundurucu. It would have been worse than idle for any other to have +accompanied them. + +It was near sunset when they returned with their report, which to +Trevannion and his party seemed anything but encouraging. The explorers +had penetrated through the forest, finding it flooded in every +direction. Not an inch of dry land had they discovered; and the Indian +knew, from certain signs well understood by him, that none was near. +The rapid drift of the current, which he had observed several times +during the day, was one of these indications. It could not, he +declared, be running in that way, if dry land were in the vicinity. So +far, therefore, as reaching the shore was concerned, they might make up +their minds for a long journey; and how this was to be performed was the +question of the hour. + +One point the explorers had definitely determined. The igarape +terminated at their sleeping-place. There was no sign of it beyond. +Instead, however, they had come upon an opening of a very different +character. A vast expanse of water, without any trees, had been found, +its nearest edge being the limit of their day's excursion. This open +water did not extend quite to the horizon. Around it, on all sides, +trees could be seen, or rather the tops of trees; for it was evident +that the thicket-like bordering was but the "lop and top" of a submerged +forest. On returning to the "roost," Munday urged their going towards +the open water. + +"For what purpose?" inquired the patron, who failed to perceive any good +reason for it. "We can't cross it, there being no sort of craft to +carry us. We cannot make a raft out of these green branches, full of +sap as they are. What's the use of our going that way? You say there's +open water almost as far as you can see,--so much the worse, I should +think." + +"No, patron," replied the Indian, still addressing Trevannion as +respectfully as when acting as his hired _tapuyo_. "So much the better, +if you give me leave to differ with you. Our only hope is to find open +water." + +"Why, we have been all along coming from it. Isn't there plenty of it +behind us?" + +"True, patron; but it's not running in the right direction. If we +launched upon it, the current would be against us. Remember, master, +'tis the _echente_. We couldn't go that way. If we could, it would +only bring us back to the river-channel, where, without some sort of a +vessel, we should soon go to the bottom. Now the open Gapo we've seen +to-day is landward, though the land may be a good way off. Still, by +crossing it, we shall be getting nearer to firm ground, and that's +something." + +"By crossing it? But how?" + +"We must swim across it." + +"Why, you've just said that it stretches almost to the edge of the +horizon. It must be ten miles or more. Do you mean to say we can swim +so far?" + +"What's to hinder us, master? You have, the monkey-pots; they will keep +you above water. If not enough for all, we can get more. Plenty of the +sapucaya-trees here." + +"But what would be the object of our crossing this expanse of water? +You say there is no dry land on the other side; in that case, we'll be +no better off than here." + +"There is land on the other side, though I think not near. But we must +keep on towards it, else we shall never escape from the Gapo. If we +stay here, we must starve, or suffer greatly. We might search the +forest for months, and not find another nesting-place of the araras, or +good food of any kind. Take my advice, patron. Soon as comes the light +of to-morrow, let us cross to the open water. Then you can see for +yourself what is best for us to do." + +As the perilous circumstances in which they were placed had altogether +changed the relationship between Trevannion and his _tapuyo_, the latter +being now the real "patron," of course the ex-miner willingly gave way +to him in everything; and on the morning of the next day the party of +adventurers forsook the Brazil-nut, and proceeded towards the open Gapo. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +THE JACANAS. + +It will be asked how they proceeded. To swim to the open water would +have been next to impossible, even with the assistance of the floats. +Not only would the thick tree-trunks and drooping llianas have hindered +them from making way in any direction; but there would have been nothing +to guide them through the shadowy water, and they must soon lose +themselves in a labyrinth of gloom. No sign of the sky could have +availed them in the deep darkness below; and there were no landmarks to +which to trust. The answer is, that they made their way along much as +did the monkeys which had passed them the day before, only that their +pace was a hundred times slower, and their exertions a thousand times +more laborious. In fact, they travelled among the tree-tops, and +followed the same track which their explorers had already taken, and +which Munday, on his return, had taken the precaution to "blaze" by +breaking a number of twigs and branches. + +Their progress was of the slowest kind,--slower than the crawl of a +cripple; but by dint of perseverance, and the performance of many feats +in climbing and clinging and balancing, and general gymnastics, they +succeeded at length in reaching the edge of the forest, and gaining a +view of the wide watery expanse. It was a relief to their eyes, so long +strained to no purpose amidst the shadowy foliage that had enveloped +them. + +"Now, Munday," asked Trevannion, as soon as he had recovered breath, +after such laborious exertion, "we are here on the edge of the open +water. You talk of our being able to swim across it. Tell us how." + +"Just as we swam the igarape." + +"Impossible, as you've admitted it can't be less than ten miles to the +other side. The tree-tops yonder are scarce discernible." + +"We came nearly as far along the canoe-path." + +"True; but then we had a chance to rest every few minutes, and that gave +us strength to go on. It will be different if we attempt to cross this +great sea, where there is no resting-place of any kind. We should be a +whole day on the water, perhaps more." + +"Perhaps so, patron. But remember, if we do not try to get out of the +Gapo, we may be three, four, five, or six months among these tree-tops. +We may get no food but a few nuts and fruits,--scarcely enough to keep +us alive. We may lose strength, and be no longer able to stay among the +branches; we may grow faint and fall, one by one, into the water, to go +down to the bottom of the Gapo or drop into the jaws of the jacares." + +The alternative thus brought in terrible detail vividly before them +produced a strong impression; and Trevannion offered no objection to any +plan which the Mundurucu should propose. He only requested a fuller +account of the feasibility of that now suggested,--in other words, an +explanation as to how they were to swim a stretch of ten miles without +stopping to rest. + +Munday made no mystery of the matter. He had no other plan than that +already tried with success,--the swimming-belts; only that two +additional sets would now be needed,--one for himself, the other for the +young Paraense. On the short passage from the sapucaya to the forest, +and along the canoe-path, these bold swimmers had disdained the use of +that apparatus; but in a pull of ten miles, even they must have recourse +to such aid. + +No further progress was to be made on that day, as the fatigue of their +arboreal journey required a long rest; and shortly after their arrival +upon the edge of the forest, they set about arranging for the night, +having chosen the best tree that could be found. Unfortunately, their +larder was lower than it had ever been, since the going down of the +galatea. Of the squab macaws there were no longer any left; and some +sapucaya nuts gathered by the way, and brought along by Munday, formed +the substance of their scanty supper. + +As soon as it was eaten, the Mundurucu, assisted by Richard, busied +himself in manufacturing the required swimming-belts; and long before +the sun disappeared behind the forest spray, everything was ready for +their embarkation, which was to take place at the earliest moment of its +reappearance. + +As usual, there was conversation,--partly to kill time, and partly to +keep off the shadows that surrounded, and ever threatened to reduce them +to despair. Trevannion took pains to keep it up, and make it as +cheerful as the circumstances would permit, his object being less to +satisfy himself than to provide gratification for his children. At +times he even attempted to jest; but generally the conversation turned +upon topics suggested by the scene, when the Indian, otherwise taciturn, +was expected to do the talking. The open water became the subject on +this particular occasion. + +"It appears like a lake," remarked the ex-miner. "I can see a line of +trees or tree-tops all around it, with no signs of a break or channel." + +"It is one," rejoined the _tapuyo_. "A real _lagoa_. Water in it at +all seasons,--both _echente_ and _vasante_,--only 'tis fallen now from +the flood. There are no _campos_ in this part of the country; and if it +wasn't a lagoa, there would be trees standing out of it. But I see a +surer sign,--the _piosocas_." + +The speaker pointed to two dark objects at some distance off, that had +not hitherto been observed by any of the party. On more careful +scrutiny, they proved to be birds,--large, but of slender shape, and +bearing some resemblance to a brace of cranes or curlews. They were of +dark colour, rufous on the wings, with a green iridescence that +glistened brightly under the beams of the setting sun. + +They were near enough to enable the spectators to distinguish several +peculiarities in their structure; among others a singular leathery +appendage at the base of the beak, stout, spinous processes or "spurs" +on the wing shoulders, very long, slender legs, and _tarsi_ of immense +length, radiating outward from their shank, like four pointed stare, +spread horizontally on the surface of the water. + +What struck the spectators, not only with surprise, but appeared +unaccountable, was the fact that these birds seen upon the water were +not seated as if swimming or afloat; but standing erect upon their long +tarsi and toes, which apparently spread upon the surface, as if upon +ice! + +Stranger still, while they were being watched, both were seen to forsake +their statue-like attitude, and move first toward each other, and then +apart again, running to and fro as if upon a solid fooling! What could +it all mean? Munday was asked for the explanation. Were they walking +upon the water? + +No. There was a water plant under their feet--a big lily, with a leaf +several feet in diameter, that floated on the surface--sufficient to +carry the weight of the biggest bird. That was what was supporting the +piosocas. + +On scanning the surface more carefully, they could distinguish the big +lily, and its leaf with a turned-up edge resembling the rim of a Chinese +gong, or a huge frying-pan. They became acquainted for the first time +with that gigantic lily, which has been entitled "the Royal Victoria," +and the discoverer of which was knighted for his flattery. + +"'Tis the _furno de piosoca_," said Munday, continuing his explanation. +"It is called so, because, as you see, it's like the oven on which we +bake our Cassava; and because it is the favourite roost of the piosoca." + +By "piosoca" the Indian meant the singular _jacana_ of the family +_Palamedeidae_, of which there are species both in Africa and America. + +The birds had fortunately made their appearance at a crisis when the +spectators required something to abstract their thoughts from the cares +that encompassed them, and so much were they engrossed by the curious +spectacle, that they did not perceive the _tapuyo_, as he let himself +gently down into the water, and swam off under the drooping branches of +the trees, pausing at a point opposite to where the piosocas were at +play. + +From this point they could not have perceived him, as he had dived under +water, and did not come up again until the slender shanks of a jacana, +enveloped in the lily's soft leaf, were clutched by his sinewy fingers, +and the bird with a shrill scream was seen fluttering on the water, +while its terrified mate soared shrieking into the air. + +The party in the tree-tops were at first amazed. They saw a dark, round +object close to the struggling jacana, that resembled the head of a +human being, whose body was under water! It was not till it had come +nearer, the bird still keeping it close company, that they identified +the head, with its copper-coloured face, now turned towards them, as +belonging to their guide and companion,--Munday. A fire was soon +blazing in the branches, and instead of going to sleep upon a supper of +raw sapucayas, our adventurers sought repose after a hearty meal made +upon roast jacana! + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +A COMPANION LEFT BEHIND. + +By daybreak they were once more in the water, each provided with a +complete set of swimming-shells. As the voyage was more extensive, and +altogether more perilous, the greatest pains was taken to have the +swimming apparatus as perfect as possible. Any flaw, such as a weak +place in the waist-belts or shoulder-straps, or the smallest crevice +that would admit water into one of the shells, might be followed by +serious consequences, perhaps even drowning. Besides making the new +belts, therefore, Munday had mended the old ones, giving all the shells +an additional coating of caoutchouc, and strengthening the sipos that +attached them to one another. + +Just as the sun's disk was seen above the tree-tops that skirted the +_lagoa_ on the east, our adventurers embarked on their aquatic +expedition. But it could not be said that they started in high spirits. +They knew not what was to be the sequel of their singular undertaking. +Where their journey was to end, or whether its end might not be for some +of their number--if not all of them--the bottom of the Gapo. + +Indeed, the Indian, to whom they all looked for encouragement as well as +guidance, was himself not very sanguine of success. He did not say so, +but for all that Trevannion, who had kept interrogating him at intervals +while they were preparing to start, had become impressed with this +belief. As the Mundurucu persisted in counselling the expedition, he +did not urge any further opposition, and under the auspices of a +glorious tropical sunrise they committed themselves to the open waters +of the lagoa. + +At the very start there occurred a somewhat ominous accident. As the +coaita would have been a cumbersome companion for any of the swimmers to +carry, it was decided that the creature should be left behind. +Unpleasant as it was to part with a pet so long in the company of the +galatea's crew, there was no alternative but to abandon it. + +Tipperary Tom, notwithstanding his attachment toward it, or rather its +attachment toward him, was but too willing to assent to the separation. +He had a vivid recollection of his former entanglement, and the risk he +had run of being either drowned in the Gapo, or strangled by the +coaita's tail; and with this remembrance still fresh before his fancy, +he had taken the precaution at this new start to steal silently off from +the trees, among the foremost of the swimmers. Everybody in fact had +got off, before the coaita was aware of their intention to abandon it, +and to such a distance that by no leap could it alight upon anybody's +shoulders. On perceiving that it was left behind, it set up a series of +cries, painfully plaintive, but loud enough to have been heard almost to +the limits of the lagoa. + +A similar desertion of the macaw was evidently intended, to which no one +had given a thought, although it was Rosa's pet. The ouistiti had been +provided with a free passage upon the shoulders of the young Paraense. +But the huge parrot was not to be left behind in this free and easy +fashion. It was not so helpless as the coaita. It possessed a pair of +strong wings, which, when strongly and boldly spread, could carry it +clear across the lagoa. Conscious of this superior power, it did not +stay long upon the trees, to mingle its chattering with the screams of +the coaita. Before the swimmers had made a hundred strokes, the macaw +mounted into the air, flew for a while hoveringly above them, as if +selecting its perch, and then dropped upon the negro's head, burying its +claws in his tangled hair. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. + +THE GUIDE ABANDONED. + +As the swimmers proceeded, their hopes grew brighter. They saw that +they were able to make good headway through the water; and in less than +an hour they were a full mile distant from their point of departure. At +this rate they should be on the other side of the lagoon before sunset, +if their strength would only hold out. The voyage promised to be +prosperous; and joy sat upon their countenances. + +Shortly after there came a change. A cloud was seen stealing over the +brow of the Mundurucu, which was the cue for every other to exhibit a +similar shadowing. Trevannion kept scanning the countenance of the +tapuyo to ascertain the cause of his disquietude. He made no enquiry; +but he could tell by the behaviour of the Indian that there, was trouble +on his mind. At intervals he elevated his head above the water, and +looked back over his shoulder, as if seeking behind him for the cause of +his anxiety. As they swam on farther, Munday's countenance lost nothing +of its anxious cast, while his turnings and backward glances became more +frequent. Trevannion also looked back, though only to ascertain the +meaning of the tapuyo's manoeuvres. He could see nothing to account for +it,--nothing but the tree-tops from which they had parted, and these +every moment becoming less conspicuous. Though the patron did not +perceive it, this was just what was causing the tapuyo's apprehensive +looks. The sinking of the trees was the very thing that was producing +his despondency. + +Stimulated less by curiosity than alarm, Trevannion could keep silent no +longer. "Why do you look back, Munday?" he inquired. "Is there any +danger in that direction? Have you a fear that we shall be followed? I +can see nothing except the tree-tops, and them scarcely at this moment." + +"That's the danger. We shall soon lose sight of them altogether; and +then--" + +"What then?" + +"Then--I confess, patron, I am puzzled. I did not think of it before we +took to the water." + +"O, I see what you mean. You've been hitherto guiding our course by the +trees from which we parted. When they are no longer in view we shall +have nothing to steer by?" + +"It is true. The Great Spirit only can guide us then!" The Mundurucu +evidently felt more than chagrin that he had expressed himself so +confidently about their being able to cross the lagoon. He had only +taken into consideration the circumstance of their being able to swim, +without ever thinking of the chance of their losing the way. The trees +sinking gradually to the horizon first admonished him; and as he +continued to swim farther into the clear water, he became convinced that +such mischance was not only possible, but too probable. With a sort of +despairing effort he kept on with even more energy than before, as if +trying how far he could follow a straight line without depending on any +object to pilot him. + +After proceeding thus for two or three hundred yards, he once more +raised his chin to his shoulder and looked back. The tree-tops were +barely visible; but he was satisfied on perceiving that the one from +which they had started rose up directly opposite to him, thus proving +that in his trial stretch he had gone in a straight line, inspiring him +with the hope of being able to continue it to the opposite side. With +renewed confidence he kept on, after uttering a few phrases of cheer to +the others. + +Another stretch of about three hundred yards was passed through in +silence, and without any incident to interrupt the progress of the +swimmers. Then all came to a pause, seeing their conductor, as before, +suspend his stroke, and again make a rearward reconnoissance. This time +he did not appear so well satisfied, until he had raised his head high +over the surface, which he accomplished by standing erect, and beating +the water with his palms downward, when his confidence was again +refreshed, and he started forward once more. + +At the next stopping-place, instead of raising himself once into the +standing poise, he did so several times in succession, each time sinking +down again with an exclamation of disappointment. He could not see the +trees, even at the utmost stretch of his neck. With a grunt that seemed +to signify his assent to the abandoning of their guidance, he again laid +himself along the water, and continued in the direction he had been +already following; but not before assuring himself that he was on the +right course, which fortunately he was still able to do by noting the +relative positions of the others. + +At starting away from this, which he intended should be their last +stopping-place, he delivered a series of admonitions intended for every +swimmer. They were to keep their places, that is, their relative +positions to him and one another, as nearly as might be; they were to +swim gently and slowly, according to the example he should set them, so +that they might not become fatigued and require to pause for rest; and, +above all, they were not to bother him by putting questions, but were, +in short, to proceed in perfect silence. He did not condescend to +explain these strange injunctions further than by telling them that, if +they were not followed, and to the letter, neither he nor they might +ever climb into another tree-top! + +It is needless to say that, after such an intimation, his orders +received implicit obedience; and those to whom he had given them swam +onward after him as silently as so many fishes. The only sound heard +was the monotonous sighing of the water, seething against the hollow +sapucaya-shells, now and then varied by the scream of the _caracara_ +eagle, as it poised itself for a second over their heads, in surprise at +the singular cohort of aquatic creatures moving so mysteriously through +the lagoons. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +ROUND AND ROUND. + +For a full hour our adventurers preserved, not only their relative +positions, but also the silence that had been enjoined upon them. None +of them spoke, even when a dead guariba--that had been drowned, perhaps, +by attempting a leap too great for its strength and agility--came +drifting along among them. Not one of them took any notice of it except +the ouistiti upon the shoulders of Richard Trevannion. This diminutive +quadrumanous specimen, on recognising the body of one of its big +kinsmen, entered upon a series of chatterings and squeakings, trembling +all the while as if suddenly awakened to the consciousness that it was +itself in danger of terminating its existence in a similar manner. + +Its cries were not heeded. Munday's admonition had been delivered in a +tone too serious to be disregarded; and the ouistiti was permitted to +utter its plaint, without a single word being addressed to it, either of +chiding or consolation. Tranquillity was at length restored, for the +little ape, seeing that no notice was taken of it, desisted from its +noisy demonstrations, and once more the swimmers proceeded in silence. + +Half an hour or so might have elapsed before this silence received a +second interruption. It again came in the voice of the ouistiti; which, +rearing itself on its tiny hind-legs, having the shoulders of the +Paraense for a support, craning its head outward over the water, +commenced repeating its cries of alarm. In seeking for an explanation +of this conduct, they contented themselves with watching the movements +of the alarmist, and by turning their eyes towards the object which +appeared to attract the ouistiti and cause it such evident alarm. Each +buoyed himself up to get a good view; and each, as he did so, saw scarce +ten paces ahead of him the carcass of a guariba! It was drifting +towards them in the same manner as the one they had already met; and +before any of them thought of exchanging speech, it was bobbing about in +their midst. + +The reflection that occurred to the swimmers was, that there had been a +general drowning among the guaribas somewhere on the shores of the +lagoon: perhaps a tribe had got into some isolated tree, where their +retreat had been cut off by the inundation. Had the tapuyo not been of +the party, this theory might have satisfied all hands, and the journey +would have been continued, instead of being suddenly interrupted by the +tapuyo himself. He was not so easily deceived. On passing the first +guariba, although he had said nothing, he had carefully noted the +peculiarities of the carcass; and as soon as he swam within +distinguishing distance of the second guariba, he saw that the pair were +identical. In other words, our adventurers had for the second time +encountered the same unfortunate ape. + +There could be but one conclusion. The carcass could not have changed +its course, unless by the shifting of the wind, or the current of the +water. But neither would have explained that second _rencontre_. It +was only intelligible upon the supposition that the swimmers had been +going round and round and returning on their own track! + + + +CHAPTER FORTY NINE. + +GOING BY GUESS. + +Although their guide was the first to discover it, he did not attempt to +conceal the dilemma into which he had been instrumental in leading them. +"'Tis true, patron!" he said, addressing himself to Trevannion, and no +longer requiring compliance with his former regulations. "We have gone +astray. That's the same monkey we met before; so you see we're back +where we were a half-hour ago. _Pa terra_! It's crooked luck, patron; +but I suppose the Great Spirit wills it so!" + +Trevannion, confounded, made scarcely any reply. + +"We mustn't remain here anyhow," pursued the Indian. "We must try to +get to the trees somewhere,--no matter where." + +"Surely," said the ex-miner, "we can accomplish that?" + +"I hope so," was the reply of the tapuyo, given with no great +confidence. + +Trevannion reflected that they had been _swimming in a circle_. Should +this occur again,--and there was every possibility of such a thing,--the +desired end might not be so easy of accomplishment. + +For some minutes speculation was suspended. The guide was engaged in +action. Like a water-spaniel in search of a winged wild-duck, he +repeatedly reared himself above the surface, casting glances of +interrogation to every quarter of the compass. Like the same spaniel, +when convinced that the wounded bird has escaped him, he at length +desisted from these idle efforts; and, laying his body along the water, +prepared to swim disappointedly to the shore. + +With something more than disappointment--something more than chagrin-- +did Munday commence retreating from the lagoon. As he called upon his +companions to follow him, there was a tremor in his voice, and an +irresolution in his stroke perceptible to the least observant of them; +and the fact of his having shouldered the dead guariba, after first +making inspection to see that it was fit for food, was proof of his +entertaining some suspicion that their voyage might be a long one. No +one questioned him; for notwithstanding the failure of his promise to +guide them straight across the lagoon, they still relied upon him. On +whom or what else could they rely? + +After proceeding a considerable distance, he came to a pause, once more +stood up in the water, and, turning as upon a pivot, scanned the circle +of the horizon. Satisfied that there was not a tree-top within view, he +swam onward as before. Could he have ensured keeping a straight course, +no great danger need have been apprehended. The lagoon might be ten +miles wide; or, if twenty, it could not so materially affect the result. +Swim as slowly as they might, a score of hours would see them on its +shore,--whether this was the spray of another submerged forest, or the +true _terra firma_. There was no danger of their going to the bottom, +for their swimming-belts secured them against that. There was no danger +of their suffering from thirst,--the contingency most dreaded by the +castaway at sea, and the strayed traveller in the desert,--of fresh +water they had a surfeit. Nor did hunger dismay them. Since eating the +jacana, they had set forth upon a breakfast of Brazil-nuts,--a food +which, from its oily nature, may be said to combine both animal and +vegetable substance. Moreover, they were now no longer unprovided +against a future emergency: since their guide carried upon his shoulders +the carcass of the guariba. + +Their real danger lay in their deviating from a right line: for who +could swim straight, with his eyes on a level with the surface of the +water, and nothing to direct his course, neither tree, nor rock, nor +star, nor signal of any kind? The tapuyo knew this. So did they all. +Even the children could tell that they were no longer guided, but going +by guess-work. It was no longer a question of getting _across_ the +lagoon, but _out_ of it. The unsteady movements of their guide, instead +of allaying their fears, produced the contrary effect, and the +disconsolate expression on his countenance was evidence that he was +under much apprehension. + +For over an hour this uncertainty continued. The swimmers, one and all, +were beginning to give way to serious alarm. To say nothing of reaching +land, they might never more set eyes upon the submerged forest. They +might swim round and round, as in the vortex of Charybdis, until sheer +exhaustion should reduce them utterly. In due time hunger must overtake +them; and a lingering death by starvation might be their destiny. When +faint from want of food and unable to defend themselves, they would be +attacked by predatory creatures dwelling in the water, while birds of +prey would assail them from the air. Already could they fancy that the +cry of the caracara sounded more spiteful than was its wont; and +exultingly, as if the base bird foreboded for them a tragical ending. + +More than twenty times had the tapuyo repeated his inspection of the +horizon, without seeing aught to cheer him. They had been many hours in +the water, and supposed it to be about noon. They could only conjecture +as to the time, for the sun was not visible. At an early hour in the +morning--almost as they started--the sky had become overcast with a +sheet of leaden grey, concealing the sun's disk from their sight. This +circumstance had caused some discouragement; but for it they might long +since have escaped from their dilemma, as the golden luminary, while low +down, would have served them as a guide. + +Strange to say, at that hour when it was no longer of any concern to +them, the sky became suddenly clear, and the sun shone forth with +burning brilliance. But his orb was now in the zenith, and of no +service to point out the quarter of the compass. Within the equatorial +zone, north, south, east, and west were all alike to him at that season +of the year and that hour of the day. If they could but have the +direction of one of these points, all would have been well. But the sun +gave no sign. + +For all that, the Indian hailed his appearance with a grunt of +satisfaction, while a change came over his countenance that could scarce +be caused by the mere brightening of the sky. Something more than +cheerfulness declared itself in his dark features,--an expression of +renewed hope. + +"If the sun keep on to show," said he, in answer to the questioning of +Trevannion, "it will be all right for us. Now it's no good. In an hour +from now he'll make some shadow. Then we shall swim as straight as can +be, never fear, patron! we shall get out of this scrape before night,-- +never fear!" + +These cheering words were welcome, and produced universal joy where but +the moment before all was gloom. + +"I think, patron," continued the tapuyo. "We may as well stop swimming +for a while, till we see which way the sun goes. Then we can make a +fresh start. If we keep on now, we may be only making way in the wrong +direction." + +The tired swimmers were only too ready to yield compliance to this bit +of advice. The Mundurucu made one more endeavour to catch sight of the +tree-tops, and, being still unsuccessful, resigned himself to +inactivity, and along with the rest lay motionless upon the water. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY. + +GUIDED BY A SHADOW. + +In this way about an hour was spent; though by no means in solemn +silence. Perfectly at ease, so far as physical comfort was concerned, +upon their liquid couch the swimmers could converse, as if stretched +upon a carpet of meadow-grass; and they passed their time in discussing +the chances of their ultimate escape from that cruel situation, to which +an unlucky accident had consigned them. They were not altogether +relieved from apprehension as to their present predicament. If the sky +should become again overcast, they would be worse off than ever, since +there was the loss of time to be considered. All were constantly +turning their eyes upwards, and scanning the firmament, to see if there +were any signs of fresh clouds. + +Munday looked towards the zenith with a different design. He was +watching for the sun to decline. In due time his watchfulness was +rewarded; not so much by observation of the sun itself, as by a +contrivance which declared the course of the luminary, long before it +could have been detected by the eye. + +Having cautioned the others to keep still, so that there should be no +disturbance in the water,--otherwise perfectly tranquil,--he held his +knife in such a way that the blade stood up straight above the surface. +Taking care to keep it in the exact perpendicular, he watched with +earnest eye, as a philosopher watches the effect of some chemical +combination. In a short time he was gratified by observing a _shadow_. +The blade, well balanced, cast an oblique reflection on the water; at +first, slight, but gradually becoming more elongated, as the experiment +proceeded. + +Becoming at length convinced that he knew west from east, the tapuyo +restored his knife to its place, and, calling to his companions to +follow him, he struck off in the direction pointed out to him by the +shadow of the steel. This would take the swimmers in an easterly +direction; but it mattered not what direction so long as it carried them +out of the lagoon. As they proceeded onward, the guide occasionally +assured himself of keeping the same course, by repeating the experiment +with his knife; but after a time he no longer needed to consult his +queer sun-dial, having discovered a surer guide in the spray of the +forest, which at length loomed up along the line of the horizon. + +It was close upon sunset when they swam in among the drooping branches, +and once more, with dripping skins, climbed up into the tops of the +trees. Had it not been that they were glad to get to any port, they +might have felt chagrin on discovering that chance had directed them to +the very same roost where they had perched on the preceding night. + +The drowned guariba which Munday had carried from the middle of the +lagoon was roasted, and furnished their evening meal; and the epicure +who would turn up his nose at such a viand has never tasted food under +the shadow of an Amazonian forest. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. + +AROUND THE EDGE. + +Discouraged by their failure, our adventurers remained upon their perch +till nearly noon of the next day, in listless lassitude. The exertions +of the preceding day had produced a weariness that required more than a +night's rest, for not only their bodies, but their spirits were under +the influence of their long toil, until their state of mind bordered +upon despondency. As the hours wore on, and their fatigue was gradually +relieved by rest, their spirits rose in like proportion; and before the +sun had reached its meridian, the instinctive desire of life sprang up +within their bosoms, and once more they began to consider what steps +should be taken to prolong it. + +Should they make another attempt to cross the lagoon by swimming? What +chance would there be of steering in the right course, any more than +upon the day before? They were just as likely to go astray a second +time, and perhaps with a less fortunate _finale_. If again lost amidst +the waste of waters, they might not be able to get sight of the +tree-tops, but swim on in circles or crooked turnings, until death, +arising from sheer exhaustion, or want of food, should complete their +misery. + +Even the Mundurucu no longer urged the course in which he had formerly +expressed such confidence; and for some time he declined giving any +advice whatever,--his silence and his gloomy looks showing that he felt +humiliated by the failure of his plan. No one thought of reproaching +him; for although their faith in his power was not quite so strong as it +had hitherto been, there was yet confidence in his superior skill. Had +they been castaways from a ship, escaping in an open boat, or on some +raft or spar, in the middle of the great ocean, their cook would +doubtless have disputed his right to remain master. But in the midst of +that strange inland sea, whose shores and islands consisted only of +tree-tops, the Mozambique acknowledged himself to be no more than a +novice. + +Trevannion himself took the lead in suggesting the next plan. It was +not intended to give up the idea of crossing the lagoon. It was a +general belief that on the other side there must be land; and therefore +to reach it became the paramount thought of the party. To go around it, +by keeping upon the trees, was clearly out of the question. Even had +these continued all the way with interlacing branches, still the journey +would have been one that apes alone could perform. It would have +occupied days, weeks, perhaps a month; and what certainty was there of +finding food for such a length of time? Still, if they could not travel +upon the tree-tops, what was to hinder them from going _under_ them? +Why should they not use the forest to steer by,--swimming along the edge +of the trees, and making use of them at intervals for rest, and for a +sleeping-place during the night? + +The idea was excellent, and, coming from Trevannion himself, was of +course approved without one opposing voice. Even the Indian +acknowledged that it was a sagacious design, and superior to his own. +Fortunately it required but slight preparation for trial, and as the sun +shone down from the zenith they forsook their resting-place, and once +more betook themselves to the water, with their swimming-belts carefully +adjusted again about them. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. + +THE MASSARANDUBA. + +They advanced at the rate of about a mile an hour. Could they have kept +on steadily, this would have given them ten or twelve miles a day, and +two or three days might have brought them to the other side of the +lagoon. It was necessary, however, that they should stop at intervals +to obtain rest; and their progress was further impeded by the piosoca +plants,--the huge water-lilies already described,--whose broad, circular +leaves, lying along the surface like gigantic frying-pans, came directly +in their course. Here and there they had to traverse a tract of these +lilies several acres in extent, where the rims of the rounded leaves +almost touched each other; and the thick succulent stalks formed a +tangle underneath, through which it was very difficult for a swimmer to +make way. More than once they were compelled to go around these watery +gardens for a distance of many hundreds of yards, but thus shortening +the journey made in the right direction. + +On account of such impediments they had not gone more than three miles +from their point of starting, when the Mundurucu recommended a halt for +the night, although it could not have been later than six o'clock, as +could be told by the sun, still high up in the heavens. + +"I am hungry, patron," said the Indian at last; "so are you all. We +must have some supper, else how can we go on?" + +"Supper!" echoed Trevannion. "Yes, sure enough, we are hungry. I knew +that an hour ago. But upon what do you propose to sup? I see nothing +but trees with plenty of leaves, but no fruit. We cannot live upon +leaves like the sloth. We must be starving before we take to that." + +"We shall sup upon milk, master, if you don't object to our making a +camping-place close by." + +"Milk!" exclaimed Tom. "What div yez say, Misther Munday? Div yez mane +milk? Och! don't be after temptin' wan's stomach with a dilicacy that +can't be obtained in this land av wather! Shure now we're not only a +hundred modes from the tail av a cow, but a thousand, may be, from that +same." + +"You may be wrong there," interrupted the Paraense. "There are cows in +the Gapo, as well as upon land. You have seen them yourself as we came +down the river?" + +"Troth, yis,--if yez mane the fish-cow," (the Irishman alluded to the +_Vaca marina_, or manatee,--the _peixe-boi_ or fish-cow of the +Portuguese, several species of which inhabit the Amazon waters). "But +shure the great brute could not be milked, if we did cotch wan av them; +an' if we did we should not take the throuble, when by sthrippin' the +skin av her carcass we'd get somethin' far betther for our suppers, in +the shape av a fat steak." + +"Yonder is what the Mundurucu means!" said the guide. "Yonder stands +the cow that can supply us with milk for our supper,--ay, and with bread +too to go along with it; don't you see the _Massaranduba_?" + +At first they could see nothing that particularly claimed attention. +But by following the instructions of the guide, and raising their heads +a little, they at length caught sight of a tree, standing at some +distance from the forest edge, and so far overtopping the others as to +appear like a giant among pygmies. It was in reality a vegetable +giant,--the great massaranduba of the Amazon,--one of the most +remarkable trees to be found even in a forest where more strange species +abound than in any other part of the world. To Tom and some others of +the party the words of the Mundurucu were still a mystery. How was a +tree to supply them with a supper of bread and milk? + +Trevannion and Richard required no further explanation. The former had +heard of this singular tree; the latter had seen it,--nay, more, had +drank of its milk, and eaten of its fruit. It was with great joy the +young Paraense now looked upon its soaring leafy top, as it not only +reminded him of a spectacle he had often observed in the woods skirting +the suburbs of his native city, but promised, as the tapuyo had +declared, to relieve the pangs of hunger, that had become agonisingly +keen. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. + +A VEGETABLE COW. + +The tree which had thus determined them to discontinue their journey, +and which was to furnish them with lodgings for the night, was the +famous _palo de vaca_, or "cow-tree" of South America, known also as the +_arbol de leche_, or "milk-tree." It has been described by Humboldt +under the name _Galactodendron_, but later botanical writers, not +contented with the very appropriate title given to it by the great +student of Nature, have styled it _Brosium_. It belongs to the natural +order of the _Atrocarpads_, which, by what might appear a curious +coincidence, includes also the celebrated breadfruit. What may seem +stranger still, the equally famous upas-tree of Java is a scion of the +same stock, an _atrocarpad_! Therefore, just as in one family there are +good boys and bad boys, (it is to be hoped there are none of the latter +in yours,) so in the family of the atrocarpads there are trees producing +food and drink both wholesome to the body and delicious to the palate, +while there are others in whose sap, flowers, and fruit are concealed +the most virulent of poisons. + +The massaranduba is not the only species known as _palo de vaca_, or +cow-tree. There are many others so called, whose sap is of a milky +nature. Some yield a milk that is pleasant to the taste and highly +nutritious, of which the "hya-hya" (_Tabernaemontana utibis_), another +South American tree, is the most conspicuous. This last belongs to the +order of the _Apocyanae_, or dog-banes, while still another order, the +_Sapotacae_, includes among its genera several species of cow-tree. The +massaranduba itself was formerly classed among the _Sapotads_. + +It is one of the largest trees of the Amazonian forest, frequently found +two hundred feet in height, towering above the other trees, with a top +resembling an immense vegetable dome. Logs one hundred feet long, +without a branch, have often been hewn out of its trunk, ready for the +saw-mill. Its timber is very hard and fine grained, and will stand the +weather better than most other South American trees; but it cannot be +procured in any great quantity, because, like many other trees of the +Amazon, it is of a solitary habit, only two or three, or at most half a +dozen, growing within the circuit of a mile. + +It is easily distinguished from trees of other genera by its reddish, +ragged bark, which is deeply furrowed, and from a decoction of which the +Indians prepare a dye of a dark red colour. The fruit, about the size +of an apple, is full of a rich juicy pulp, exceedingly agreeable to the +taste, and much relished. This is the bread which the Mundurucu hoped +to provide for the supper of his half-famished companions. + +But the most singular, as well as the most important, product of the +massaranduba is its milky juice. This is obtained by making an incision +in the bark, when the white sap flows forth in a copious stream, soon +filling a calabash or other vessel held under it. On first escaping +from the tree it is of the colour and about the consistency of rich +cream, and, but for a slightly balsamic odour might be mistaken for the +genuine produce of the dairy. After a short exposure to the air it +curdles, a thready substance forming upon the surface, resembling +cheese, and so called by the natives. When diluted with water, the +coagulation does not so rapidly take place; and it is usually treated in +this manner, besides being strained, before it is brought to the table. +The natives use it by soaking their _farinha_ or maize-bread with the +sap, and it is also used as cream in tea, chocolate, and coffee, many +people preferring it on account of the balsamic flavour which it imparts +to these beverages. + +The milk of the massaranduba is in great demand throughout all the +district where the tree is found, both in the Spanish and Portuguese +territories of tropical South America. In Venezuela it is extensively +used by the negroes, and it has been remarked that these people grow +fatter during the season of the year when the _palo de vaca_ is plenty. +Certain it is that no ill effects have been known to result from a free +use of it; and the vegetable cow cannot be regarded otherwise than as +one of the most singular and interesting productions of beneficent +Nature. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR. + +A MILK SUPPER. + +It was some time before they swam under the massaranduba's +wide-spreading branches, as it did not stand on the edge of the forest, +and for a short time after entering among the other trees it was out of +sight. The instincts of the Indian, however, directed him, and in due +time it again came before their eyes, its rough reddish trunk rising out +of the water like a vast ragged column. + +As might have been expected, its huge limbs were laden with parasites, +trailing down to the surface of the water. By these they found no +difficulty in making an ascent, and were soon safely installed; its huge +coreaceous leaves of oblong form and pointed at the tops, many of them +nearly a foot in length, forming a shade against the fervent rays of the +sun, still several degrees above the horizon. + +As the Indian had anticipated, the tree was in full bearing, and ere +long a number of its apples were plucked, and refreshing the parched +palates that would have pronounced them exquisite had they been even +less delicious than they were. Munday made no stay even to taste the +fruit. He was determined on giving his companions the still rarer treat +he had promised them, a supper of milk; and not until he had made some +half-dozen notches with his knife, and placed under each a +sapucaya-shell detached from the swimming-belts, did he cease his +exertions. + +They had not long to wait. The vegetable cow proved a free milker, and +in twenty minutes each of the party had a pericarp in hand full of +delicious cream, which needed no sugar to make it palatable. They did +not stay to inquire how many quarts their new cow could give. Enough +for them to know that there was sufficient to satisfy the appetites of +all for that night. + +When, after supper, the conversation naturally turned to the +peculiarities of this remarkable tree, many other facts were elicited in +regard to its useful qualities. Richard told them that in Para it was +well-known, its fruit and milk being sold in the streets by the negro +market-women, and much relished by all classes of the inhabitants of +that city; that its sap was used by the Paraense joiners in the place of +glue, to which it was equal, if not superior, guitars, violins, and +broken dishes being put together with it in the most effective manner, +its tenacity holding against both heat and dampness. Another curious +fact was, that the sap continues to run long after the tree has been +felled: that even the logs lying in the yard of a saw-mill have been +known to yield for weeks, even months, the supply required by the +sawyers for creaming their coffee! + +And now our adventurers, admonished by the setting of the sun, were +about stretching themselves along the branches, with the intention of +going to sleep. But they were not to retire without an incident, though +fortunately it was such as to add to the cheerfulness lately inspiring +the spirits of all, even to the macaw and little monkey, both of whom +had amply regaled themselves upon the succulent fruits of the +massaranduba. The great ape, again left behind, had been altogether +forgotten. No one of the party was thinking of it; or, if any one was, +it was only with a very subdued regret. All knew that the coaita could +take care of itself, and under all circumstances it would be safe +enough. For all this, they would have been very glad still to have kept +it in their company, had that been possible; and all of them were glad +when a loud chattering at no great distance was recognised as the +salutation of their old acquaintance, the coaita. Directly after, the +animal itself was seen springing from tree to tree, until by a last long +leap it lodged itself on the branches of the massaranduba, and was soon +after seated upon the shoulders of Tipperary Tom. + +While the swimmers were proceeding by slow stages, the ape had kept them +company among the tops of the adjacent trees; and, but for its being +delayed by having to make the circuit around the various little bays, it +might have been astride the vegetable cow long before the swimmers +themselves. Coming late, it was not the less welcome, and before going +to sleep it was furnished with a fruit supper, and received a series of +caresses from Tom, that in some measure consoled it for his double +desertion. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE. + +ONLY A DEAD-WOOD. + +Despite the coarse netting of the hammocks on which they were +constrained to pass the night, our adventurers slept better than was +their wont, from a certain feeling of security,--a confidence that God +had not forgotten them. He who could give them food in the forest could +also guide them out of the labyrinth into which their own negligence had +led them. + +A prayer to Him preceded their breakfast on the cream of the cow-tree, +and with another they launched themselves upon their strings of shells, +with renewed confidence, and proceeded along the curving selvage of the +trees. As before, they found their progress impeded by the "ovens" of +the piosoca; and despite their utmost exertions, at noon they had made +scarce three miles from their starting-point, for the gigantic tree that +had sheltered them was full in sight, and even at sunset they could not +have been more than six miles from it. + +In the forest about them there appeared no resting-place for the night. +The trees stood closely together, but without any interlacing of +branches, or large horizontal limbs upon which they might seek repose. +For a time it appeared as if they would have to spend the night upon the +water. This was a grave consideration, and the guide knew it. With +their bodies immersed during the midnight hours,--chill even within the +tropics,--the consequences might be serious, perhaps fatal. One way or +another a lodgement must be obtained among the tree-tops. It was +obtained, but after much difficulty. The climbing to it was a severe +struggle, and the seat was of the most uncomfortable kind. There was no +supper, or comfort of any kind. + +With the earliest appearance of day they were all once more in the +water, and slowly pursuing their weary way. Now slower than ever, for +in proportion to their constantly decreasing strength the obstruction +from the piosocas appeared to increase. The lagoon, or at least its +border, had become a labyrinth of lilies. + +While thus contending against adverse circumstances, an object came +under their eyes that caused a temporary abstraction from their misery. +Something strange was lying along the water at the distance of about a +quarter of a mile from them. It appeared to be some ten or twelve yards +in length, and stood quite high above the surface. It was of a dark +brown colour, and presented something the appearance of a bank of dried +mud, with some pieces of stout stakes projecting upward. Could it be +this? Was it a bank or spit of land? + +The hearts of the swimmers leaped as this thought, inspired by their +wishes, came into every mind. If land, it could be only an islet, for +there was water all around it,--that they could perceive. But if so, an +islet, if no bigger than a barn-door, would still be land, and therefore +welcome. They might stretch their limbs upon it, and obtain a good +night's rest, which they had not done since the wreck of the galatea. +Besides an islet ever so small--if only a sand-bar or bank of mud--would +be a sort of evidence that the real dry land was not far off. + +The dark form at first sight appeared to be close in to the trees, but +Munday, standing up in the water, pronounced it to be at some distance +from them,--between fifty and a hundred yards. As it was evident that +the trees themselves were up to their necks in water, it could hardly be +an island. Still there might be some elevated spot, a ridge or mound, +that overtopped the inundation. Buoyed up by this hope, the swimmers +kept on towards it, every eye scanning intently its outlines in order to +make out its real character. All at once the projections which they had +taken for stakes disappeared from the supposed spot of mud. They had +assumed the shape of large wading birds of dark plumage, which, having +spread their long, triangular wings, were now hovering above the heads +of the swimmers, by their cries proclaiming that they were more +astonished at the latter than they could possibly be at them. + +It was not until they had arrived within a hundred yards of the object +that its true character was declared. "_Pa Terra_!" Munday cried, in a +sonorous and somewhat sorrowful voice, as he sank despairingly upon his +breast;--"no island,--no bank,--no land of any kind. _Only a +dead-wood_!" + +"A dead-wood!" repeated the patron, not comprehending what he meant, and +fancying from the chagrined air of the Indian that there might be +mischief in the thing. + +"That's all, master. The carcass of an old _Manguba_, that's been long +since stripped of his limbs, and has been carried here upon the current +of the Gapo; don't you see his huge shoulders rising above the water?" + +Richard proceeded to explain the Indian's meaning. "The trunk of a dead +tree, uncle. It's the silk-cotton-tree, or manguba, as Munday calls it. +I can tell that by its floating so lightly on the water. It appears to +be anchored, though; or perhaps it is moored among the stalks of the +piosocas." + +The explanation was interrupted by a shout from the Indian, whose +countenance had all at once assumed an expression of cheerfulness,-- +almost joy. The others, as they turned their eyes upon him, were +surprised at the sudden change, for but a moment before they had noticed +his despairing look. + +"The Mundurucu must be mad, patron," he shouted. "Where is his head? +Gone down to the bottom of the Gapo along with the galatea!" + +"What's the matter?" inquired Tom, brightening up as he beheld the +joyful aspect of the Indian. "Is it dhroy land that he sees? I hope +it's that same." + +"What is it, Munday?" asked Trevannion. "Why do you fancy yourself +insane?" + +"Only to think of it, patron, that I should have been sorry to find but +the trunk of a tree. The trunk of a tree,--a grand manguba, big enough +to make a _montaria_, an _igarite_,--a galatea, if you like,--a great +canoe that will carry us all! Cry _Santos Dios_! Give thanks to the +Great Spirit! We are saved!--we are saved!" + +The words of the tapuyo, wild as they might appear, were well +understood. They were answered by a general shout of satisfaction,--for +even the youngest of the party could comprehend that the great log lying +near them might be made the means of carrying them clear of the dangers +with which they had been so long encompassed. + +"True,--true," said Trevannion. "It is the very thing for which we have +been searching in vain,--some sort of timber that would carry its own +weight in the water, and us beside. This dead manguba, as you call it, +looks as if a ton would not sink it a quarter of an inch. It will +certainly serve us for a raft. Give thanks to God, children; his hand +is in this. It fills me with hope that we are yet to survive the perils +through which we are passing, and that I shall live to see old England +once more." + +No flock of jacanas ever created such a commotion among the leaves of +the Victoria lily as was made at that moment. Like frail leaves the +thick stems were struck aside by the arms of the swimmers, strengthened +by the prospect of a speedy delivery from what but the moment before +seemed extremest peril; and almost in a moment they were alongside the +great trunk of the manguba, in earnest endeavour to get upon it. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SIX. + +THE STERCULIADS. + +In their attempts at boarding they were as successful as they could have +expected. The top of the gigantic log was full six feet above the +surface of the water, and there were huge buttresses upon it--the +shoulders spoken of by Munday--that rose several feet higher. By dint +of hard climbing, however, all were at length safely landed. + +After they had spent a few minutes in recovering breath, they began to +look around them and examine their strange craft. It was, as the Indian +had alleged, the trunk of a silk-cotton-tree, the famed _Bombax_ of the +American tropical forests,--found, though, in many different species, +from Mexico to the mountains of Brazil. It is known as belonging to the +order of the _Sterculiads_, which includes among its _genera_ a great +number of vegetable giants, among others the _baobab_ of Africa, with a +stem ninety feet in circumference, though the trunk is out of proportion +to the other parts of the tree. The singular hand-plant of Mexico +called _Manita_ is a sterculiad, as are also the cotton-tree of India +and the gum-tragacanth of Sierra Leone. + +The bombax-trees of Tropical America are of several distinct species. +They are usually called cotton or silk-cotton-trees, on account of the +woolly or cottony stuff between the seeds and the outer capsules, which +resemble those of the true cotton plant (_Gossypium_). They are noted +for their great size and imposing appearance, more than for any useful +properties. Several species of them, however, are not without a certain +value. _Bombax ceiba_, and _Bombax monguba_, the monguba of the Amazon, +are used for canoes, a single trunk sufficing to make a craft that will +carry twenty hogsheads of sugar along with its crew of tapuyos. The +peculiar lightness of the wood renders it serviceable for this purpose; +and there is one species, the _ochroma_ of the West Indies, so light as +to have been substituted for cork-wood in the bottling of wines. + +The silk or cotton obtained from the seed-pods, though apparently of an +excellent quality, unfortunately cannot be well managed by the +spinning-machine. It lacks adhesiveness, and does not form a thread +that may be trusted. It is, however, extensively used for the stuffing +of couches, cushions, and other articles of upholstery; and the +Amazonian Indians employ it in feathering the arrows of their blow-guns, +and for several other purposes. + +A peculiarity of the Sterculiads is their having buttresses. Some are +seen with immense excrescences growing out from their trunks, in the +form of thin, woody plates, covered with bark just like the trunk +itself, between which are spaces that might be likened to stalls in a +stable. Often these partitions rise along the stem to a height of fifty +feet. The cottonwood (_Populus angulata_) and the deciduous cypress of +the Mississippi (_Taxodium distichum_) partake of this singular habit; +the smaller buttresses of the latter, known as "cypress knees," +furnishing the "cypress hams," which, under their covering of +lime-washed canvas, had been sold (so say the Southerners) by the Yankee +speculator for the genuine haunch of the corn-fed hog! + +In spite of its commercial inutility, there are few trees of the South +American forest more interesting than the manguba. It is a conspicuous +tree, even in the midst of a forest abounding in types of the vegetable +kingdom, strange and beautiful. Upon the trunk of such a tree, long +since divested of its leaves,--stripped even of its branches, its +species distinguishable only to the eye of the aboriginal observer,--our +adventurers found a lodgment. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN. + +CHASED BY TOCANDEIRAS. + +Their tenancy was of short continuance. Never did lodger retreat from a +shrewish landlady quicker than did Trevannion and his party from the +trunk of the silk-cotton-tree. That they so hastily forsook a secure +resting-place, upon which but the moment before they had been so happy +to plant their feet, will appear a mystery. Strangest of all, that they +were actually driven overboard by an insect not bigger than an ant! + +Having gained a secure footing, as they supposed, upon the floating +tree-trunk, our adventurers looked around them, the younger ones from +curiosity, the others to get acquainted with the character of their new +craft. Trevannion was making calculations as to its capability; not as +to whether it could carry them, for that was already decided, but +whether it was possible to convert it into a manageable vessel, either +with sails, if such could be extemporised, or with oars, which might be +easily obtained. While thus engaged, he was suddenly startled by an +exclamation of surprise and alarm from the Indian. All that day he had +been the victim of sudden surprises. + +"The _Tocandeiras_!--the _Tocandeiras_!" he cried, his eyes sparkling as +he spoke; and, calling to the rest to follow, he retreated toward one +end of the tree-trunk. + +With wondering eyes they looked back to discover the thing from which +they were retreating. They could see nothing to cause such symptoms of +terror as those exhibited by their guide and counsellor. It is true +that upon the other end of the tree-trunk, in a valley-like groove +between two great buttresses, the bark had suddenly assumed a singular +appearance. It had turned to a fiery red hue, and had become apparently +endowed with a tremulous motion. What could have occasioned this +singular change in the colour of the log? + +"The Tocandeiras!" again exclaimed Munday, pointing directly to the +object upon which all eyes were fixed. + +"Tocandeiras?" asked Trevannion. "Do you mean those little red insects +crawling along the log?" + +"That, and nothing else. Do you know what they are, patron?" + +"I have not the slightest idea, only that they appear to be some species +of ant." + +"That's just what they are,--ants and nothing else! Those are the +dreaded _fire-ants_. We've roused them out of their sleep. By our +weight the manguba has gone down a little. The water has got into their +nest. They are forced out, and are now spiteful as hungry jaguars. We +must get beyond their reach, or in ten minutes' time there won't be an +inch of skin on our bodies without a bite and a blister." + +"It is true, uncle," said Richard. "Munday is not exaggerating. If +these ugly creatures crawl upon us, and they will if we do not get out +of the way, they'll sting us pretty nigh to death. We must leave the +log!" + +And now, on the way towards the spot occupied by the party, was a fiery +stream composed of spiteful-looking creatures, whose very appearance +bespoke stings and poison. There was no help for it but to abandon the +log, and take to the water. Fortunately each individual was still in +possession of his string of sapucaya-shells; and, sliding down the side +of the log, once more they found themselves among the grand gong-like +leaves of the gigantic lily. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT. + +A LOG THAT WOULDN'T ROLL. + +It now became a question, what they were to do. Abandon the log +altogether, for a swarm of contemptible insects, not larger than +lady-bugs, when, by the merest chance, they had found a raft, the very +thing they stood in need of? Such a course was not contemplated,--not +for a moment. On gliding back into the Gapo, they had no idea of +swimming away farther than would secure their safety from the sting of +the insects, as Munday assured them that the fire-ants would not follow +them into the water. But how regain possession of their prize? + +The ants were now seen swarming all over it, here and there collected in +large hosts, seemingly holding council together, while broad bands +appeared moving from one to the other, like columns of troops upon the +march! There was scarce a spot upon the surface of the log, big enough +for a man to set his foot upon, that was not reddened by the cohorts of +this insect army! + +"How shall we dispossess them?" inquired Trevannion. + +"Shure," said Tipperary Tom, answering as if the appeal had been made to +him, "can't we sit thim on fire, an' burn thim aft the log? Cudn't we +gather some dry laves out av the threes, an' make a blaze that 'ud soon +consume ivery mother's son av thim?" + +"Nonsense, Tom. We should consume the log, as well as the ants, and +then what would be the advantage to us?" + +"Well, thin, iv yez think fire won't do, why can't we thry wather? Lit +us thry an' drownd thim off the log. Munday sez they can't swim, an' iv +they can't, shure they must go to the bottom." + +"How would you do it?" asked Trevannion, catching at the idea suggested +by the Hibernian. + +"Nothing asier. Give the did three a rowl over on its back, an' thin +the ants'll get undher the wather; an' won't they have to stay there? +Lit us all lay howlt on the log, an' see iv we can't give the swate +craythers a duckin'." + +Convinced that there was good sense in Tom's counsel, swimming back +towards the log, they stretched their arms upward, and commenced trying +to turn it over. The attempt proved unsuccessful. Partly from the +enormous weight of the dead tree, saturated as one half of it was with +water, and partly owing to the great buttresses acting as outriggers, +they could only turn it about one tenth part of its circumference. It +rolled back upon them, at first dipping a little deeper, but afterwards +settling into its old bed. They were about to discontinue their efforts +when a cry came from Tom, as if some new source of terror had been +discovered in the manguba. Soon each and all found an explanation in +their own sensations, which were as if they had been sharply stung or +bitten by some venomous insect. While shouldering the log in vain +endeavours to capsize it, some scores of the ants had been detached from +its sides, and fallen upon the bodies of the swimmers. Instead of +showing gratitude for this temporary respite from drowning, the spiteful +insects had at once imbedded their poisoned fangs in their preservers, +as if conscious that they owed all their misfortunes to the intruders +who had so rudely disturbed their rest. But when these stray ants that +had been stinging them were disposed of, their attention was once more +directed towards the manguba, with a still more determinate resolution +to repossess what in their eyes was more valuable than a selected log of +the finest Honduras mahogany! + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY NINE. + +DROWNING THE TOCANDEIRAS: FIVE MEN IN A FEVER. + +For a time the brains of our adventurers were busied in devising some +plan for routing the tocandeiras from their floating citadel, of which +they now retained sole possession. At last Tipperary Tom again became +the suggester of a scheme for dispelling the multitudinous hosts. + +"If we can't spill thim aff the log," said he, "we can wather thim aff +it." + +"Not such a bad idea," said Richard. "Come on, let us surround the +trunk, and attack them on all sides, and let all heave together." + +The dark mud colour that had characterised it when first seen, and +during the time while they were approaching it, was now changed to a hue +of fiery red, here in spots of patches, there in broad lists or streaks, +running irregularly between the extremities. Of course the red bands +and blotches mottling its sombre surface were the tocandeiras, whose +crowded battalions were distributed all over it. On closer scrutiny, it +could be seen that they were in motion, passing to and fro, or in places +circling around as if in search of the intruders who had disturbed them. + +At a word from Trevannion, all the assailants commenced heaving up water +with the palms of their hands, and the log became shrouded under a +shower of sparkling drops that fell fast and thickly over it, +dissipating into a cloud of vapour like the spray of a waterfall. Under +such a drenching the tocandeiras could not possibly retain their hold, +however tenacious might be their sharp curving claws, and it was but +natural that thousands of them should soon be swept from the manguba. +Their assailants saw it, and, rejoicing at the success of their scheme, +gave utterance to triumphant shouts, just like boys destroying with hot +water a nest of wasps or hornets. Louder than all could be heard the +voice of Tipperary Tom. It was he who had suggested the scheme, and the +thought of having his character for sagacity thus raised caused his +boisterous fit of self-congratulation. + +But the splashing suddenly ceased, and the six pairs of palms, instead +of being turned upward and forward to bale water upon the log, were now +exerted in the opposite direction, backward and downward, while the +owners of them commenced swimming away from the spot; as they went off, +making vigorous efforts to free themselves from the spiteful creatures +again clinging to them. Not one of them said a word about staying +longer by the dead manguba; but, picking up little Rosa on the way, they +continued their retreat, nor paused again until they felt sure of having +distanced the tocandeiras. + +As a matter of course they had retreated towards the tree-tops. After +so many surprises, accompanied by almost continuous exertion, they stood +in need of rest. Having chosen one that could be easily climbed, they +ascended to its branches, and there seated themselves as comfortably as +circumstances would permit. On perceiving that the sun was already over +the meridian, and satisfied, moreover, that the task of getting rid of +their enemies was one that it might take time to accomplish, they +determined to remain all night in their new situation. But there was a +more powerful reason for suspending their journey at this point. They +were suffering great pain from the stings of the tocandeiras, and, until +that should be to some extent allayed, they could think of nothing else, +unless indeed it might be a mode of avenging themselves. + +It was fortunate they had found a safe place of repose, and that Munday, +who suffered less than the rest, preserved sufficient composure to make +their beds or hammocks of sipos, for, in less than twenty minutes after +ascending the tree, every one of the party, Munday and Rosa excepted, +found himself in a raging fever from the stings inflicted by the +tocandeiras, since these bloodthirsty insects not only bite as other +ants, but have the power of stinging like wasps, only that the pain +produced by their sting is much greater,--more like that of the black +scorpion. + +As the sun went down, a cool breeze began to play over the waters of the +lagoa; and this--the fever having burnt itself out--restored them to +their ordinary health, though with a feeling of languor that disinclined +them to do anything for that night. Stretched upon their rude aerial +couches, they looked up at the stars, and listened to Munday as he made +answer to the interrogatories of Trevannion giving an account of one of +the singular customs of his tribe,--that known as the "Festival of the +Tocandeiras." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY. + +THE FESTIVAL OF THE TOCANDEIRAS. + +When a youth of the Mundurucu nation, or its kindred tribe, the Mahue, +has reached the age for assuming the dignities of manhood, he is +expected to submit himself to an ordeal that well deserves to be called +fiery. This more especially if the youth's ambition inclines him to +become a warrior or otherwise distinguished in the tribe. The ordeal is +voluntary; but without undergoing it, the young Mundurucu must consent +to an existence, if not disgraced, at least inglorious; and if not +absolutely scorned by the girls of the Malocca, he will have but slight +chance of winning their smiles. + +It must be known to my young readers that a custom prevails among many +tribes of North American Indians of submitting their young men who +aspire to become "braves" to a test of courage and endurance so severe +at times as to be a torture quite incredible to those unacquainted with +the Indian character. You might fancy the South American a very +trifling affair, compared with the torture of the Mandans and other +Northern tribes, when you are told that it consists simply in the +wearing of a pair of gloves, or mittens, for a certain length of time,-- +so long that the wearer can make the round of the Malocca, and finish up +by an obeisance to the _tuchao_, or chief, who awaits him at the door of +his hut. But these mittens once described to you, as they were +described by Munday to his companions on the tree, you will perchance +change your mind; and regard the Mundurucu ceremony as one of the most +severe that was ever contrived to test the constancy and courage of any +aspirant to distinction. + +When the young Mundurucu declares his readiness to put on the gloves, a +pair of them are prepared for him. They are manufactured out of the +bark of a species of palm-tree, and are in fact only long hollow +cylinders, closed at one end, and large enough to admit the hand and arm +up to the elbow. Before being drawn on they are half filled with ants +of the most spiteful and venomous kinds; but chiefly with tocandeiras, +from which the ceremony derives its name. + +Thus accoutred, and accompanied by a crowd with horns, drums, and other +musical instruments in use among the Indians, the candidate for +manhood's rights has to make the round of the village, presenting +himself before every hut, and dancing a jig at every halt that is made. +Throughout all the performance he must affect signs of great joy, +chanting a cheerful strain, loud enough to be heard above the beating of +the drums, the blowing of the horns, and the fracas of his noisy +followers. Should he refuse to submit to this terrible ordeal, or +during its continuance show signs of weakness or hesitation, he is a +lost man. He will be forever after the butt and scorn of his tribe; and +there is not a Mundurucu girl who will consent to have him for a +sweetheart. His parents and relatives will also be affected in the +event of his proving a coward, and he will be regarded as a disgrace to +the family. + +Stimulated by these thoughts, he enters upon the trial, his friends +urging him forward with cries of encouragement, his parents keeping by +his side, and with anxious entreaties fortifying him against a failure. +He has courageously thrust his hands into the fiery gauntlets, and with +like courage he must keep them there, until the ceremony is completed. +He suffers cruel torture. Every moment increases his agony. His hands, +wrists, and arms feel as if surrounded by fire. The insect poison +enters his veins. His eyes are inflamed. The sweat pours from his +skin,--his bosom palpitates,--his lips and cheeks grow pale; and yet he +must not show the slightest acknowledgment of suffering. If he does, it +will cover him with shame; and he will never be permitted to carry the +Mundurucu war-spear, nor impale upon its point the head of his slain +enemy. He knows the awful fate that must result from failure; and, +though staggering in his steps, he keeps courageously on. At length he +stands in the presence of the tuchao, seated to receive him. + +Before the chief the ceremony is repeated with increased excitement; the +dance is redoubled in vigour,--the chant is louder than ever,--both +continuing until his strength fails him through sheer exhaustion. His +gloves are then removed, and he falls into the arms of his friends. + +He is now surrounded by the young girls of the tribe, who fling their +arms around him, covering him with kisses and congratulations. His +sufferings prevent him from appreciating their soft caresses, and +breaking away from their embrace, he rushes down to the river, and +flings his fevered body into the grateful current. There remaining +until the cool water has to some extent alleviated his pain, he comes +forth and retires to the Malocca, to receive fresh congratulations from +his fellow-savages. + +He has proved himself of the stuff of which warriors are made, and may +now aspire to the hand of any Mundurucu maiden, and to the glory of +increasing the number of those hideous trophies that adorn the +council-room of the tribe, and which have earned for these Indians the +distinctive surname of _Decapitadores_ (Beheaders). + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY ONE. + +AMAZONIAN ANTS. + +Succeeding this thrilling account of the tocandeira festival, ants +continued for a time to form the staple subject of conversation, which +was not confined to the particular species they had encountered upon the +log, but related to many others that inhabit the forests and _compos_ of +the Amazon valley. Scores of sorts were known to the Mundurucu,--all +differing from each other, not only in size, shape, colour, and what may +be termed _personal_ characteristics, but also in their modes of life, +habits, and dwelling-place; in short, in every particular except those +essential traits which make them all members of the same family. + +The entomologist who would make a study of ant-life could find no better +school to pursue it in than the grand valley of the Amazon. In all +parts of it he will find these insects in countless numbers, and in a +vast variety of species,--separated from each other by all distinctions +of classes founded on habits of life quite opposed to each other. Some +species inhabit the earth, never descending below its surface. Others +live _under_ it, in subterranean dwellings, scarce ever coming out into +the light of day. Others again live above the earth, making their home +in the hollow trunks of trees; while still others lead a more aerial +life, building their nests among the twigs and topmost branches. + +In their diet there is a still greater range. There are _carnivora_ and +_herbivora_,--some that feed only on flesh, others that confine +themselves to vegetable substances. There are, moreover, kinds that +devour their meat before the life is out of it; while other carnivorous +species, like the vulture among birds, prey only on such carrion as may +chance to fall in their way, and in search of which their lives seem +principally to be spent. + +Then there are the vegetable feeders, which not only strip the leaves +from plants and trees, but destroy every other sort of vegetable +substance that they may fancy to seize upon. The clothes in a chest or +wardrobe, the papers in a desk, and the books in a library, have all at +times been consumed by their devastating hosts, when foraging for food, +or for materials out of which to construct their singular dwellings. +These dwellings are of as many different kinds as there are species of +ants. Some are of conical shape, as large as a soldier's tent. Some +resemble hillocks or great mounds, extending over the ground to a +circumference of many yards. Others represent oblong ridges, traversed +by numerous underground galleries, while some species make their +dwellings in deep horizontal tunnels, or excavations, often extending +under the bed of broad rivers. Many kinds lead an arboreal life, and +their nests may be seen sticking like huge excrescences to the trunks of +the forest-trees, and as often suspended from the branches. + +To give a detailed account of the different kinds of Amazonian ants,--to +describe only their appearance and ordinary habits,--would require, not +a chapter, but a large volume. Their domestic economy, the modes of +constructing their domiciles, the manner of propagating their species, +their social distinction into classes or castes, the odd relations that +exists between the separate castes of a community, the division of +labour, their devotion to what some writers, imbued with monarchical +ideas, have been pleased to term their _queen_,--who in reality is an +individual _elected_ for a special purpose, render these insects almost +an anomaly in nature. It is not to be expected that the uneducated +Indian could give any scientific explanation of such matters. He only +knew that there were many curious things in connection with the ants, +and their indoor as well as out-door life, which he had himself +observed,--and these particulars he communicated. + +He could tell strange tales of the _Termites_, or white ants, which are +not ants at all,--only so called from a general resemblance to the +latter in many of their habits. He dwelt longest on the sort called +_Saubas_, or leaf-carrying ants, of which he knew a great number of +species, each building its hill in a different manner from the others. +Of all the species of South American ants, perhaps none surprises the +stranger so much as the sauba. On entering a tract of forest, or +passing a patch of cultivated ground, the traveller will come to a place +where the whole surface is strewn with pieces of green leaves, each +about the size of a dime, and all in motion. On examining these leafy +fragments more closely, he will discover that each is borne upon the +shoulders of a little insect not nearly so big as its burden. +Proceeding onward he will come to a tree, where thousands of these +insects are at work cutting the leaves into pieces of the proper size, +and flinging them down to thousands of others, who seize upon and carry +them off. On still closer scrutiny, he will observe that all this work +is being carried on in systematic order,--that there are some of the +insects differently shaped from the rest,--some performing the actual +labour, while the others are acting as guards and overseers. Were he to +continue his observation, he would find that the leaves thus transported +were not used as food, but only as thatch for covering the galleries and +passages through which these countless multitudes make their way from +one place to another. He would observe, moreover, so many singular +habits and manoeuvres of the little crawling creatures, that he would +depart from the spot filled with surprise, and unable to explain more +than a tenth part of what he had seen. + +Continuing his excursion, he would come upon ants differing from the +saubas not only in species, but in the most essential characteristics of +life. There would be the _Ecitons_, or foraging ants, which instead of +contenting themselves by feeding upon the luxurious vegetation of the +tropics, would be met upon one of their predatory forays,--the object of +their expedition being to destroy some colony of their own kind, if not +of their own species. It may be that the foraging party belong to the +species known as _Eciton-rapax_,--the giant of its genus, in which many +individuals measure a full half-inch in length. If so, they will be +proceeding in single file through the forest, in search of the nests of +a defenceless vegetable-feeding ant of the genus _Formica_. If they +have already found it, and are met on their homeward march towards their +own encampment, each will be seen holding in its mouth a portion of the +mangled remains of some victim of their rapacity. + +Again, another species may be met travelling in broad columns, +containing millions of individuals, either on the way to kill and +plunder, or returning laden with the spoil. In either case they will +attack any creature that chances in their way,--man himself as readily +as the most defenceless animal. The Indian who encounters them retreats +upon his tracks, crying out, "_Tauoca_!" to warn his companions behind, +himself warned by the ant-thrushes whom he has espied hovering above the +creeping columns, and twittering their exulting notes, as at intervals +they swoop down to thin the moving legion. + +Of all the kinds of ants known to the Mundurucu, there was none that +seemed to interest him more than that which had led to the +conversation,--the tocandeira, or, as the Brazilians term it, _formigade +fogo_ (fire-ant). Munday had worn the formidable mittens; and this +circumstance had no doubt left an impression upon his mind that the +tocandeira was the truest representative of spitefulness to be found in +the insect world. + +Perhaps he was not far astray. Although an ant of ordinary size,--both +in this and general appearance not differing greatly from the common red +ant of England,--its bite and sting together are more dreaded than those +of any other species. It crawls upon the limbs of the pedestrian who +passes near its haunt, and, clutching his skin in its sharp pincer-like +jaws, with a sudden twitch of the tail it inserts its venomous sting +upon the instant, holding on after it has made the wound, and so +tenaciously that it is often torn to pieces while being detached. It +will even go out of its way to attack any one standing near. And at +certain landing-places upon some of the Amazonian rivers, the ground is +so occupied with its hosts that treading there is attended with great +danger. In fact, it is on record that settlements have been abandoned +on account of the fire-ant suddenly making its appearance, and becoming +the pest of the place. + +Munday, in conclusion, declared that the tocandeiras were only found in +the dry forests and sandy _campos_; that he had never before seen one of +their swarms in the Gapo, and that these in the dead-wood must have +retreated thither in haste, to escape drowning when caught by the +inundation, and that the log had been afterwards drifted away by the +_echente_. + +Whether this statement was true or not, the ants appeared to have made +up their minds to stay there, and permit no intruders to deprive them of +their new, strange domicile,--at all events until the _vasante_ might +enable them once more to set foot upon dry land. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY TWO. + +THE ANTS STILL EXCITED. + +At break of day the party were all awake; and after refreshing +themselves with a little _cheese_--which was only some coagulated milk +of the massaranduba, preserved in sapucaya-shells--they once more turned +their attention to the floating trunk. To their surprise, it was no +longer where they had left it! + +There was a fog upon the water, but that was rapidly becoming +dissipated; and as the sun peeped over the tree-tops, the lagoa was +sufficiently free from mist for any dark object as large as a man's +head, within a mile's distance, to be distinguished. The manguba had +been left scarce a hundred yards from their sleeping-place. Where was +it now? + +"Yonder!" said Munday, "close in by the trees. By our splashing in the +water, we started it from its moorings among the piosocas. There has +been a little breeze through the night, that has brought it this way. +It is now at anchor against yonder tree. I shouldn't wonder if the ants +would try to escape from it, and take to the branches above them. The +dead manguba is not their natural home; nor is the Gapo their +dwelling-place. The tocandeiras belong on land; and no one would expect +to find them here. They must have had their home in the hollow of the +log while it was lying on dry land. The _echente_ set it afloat while +they were inside, and the current has carried them far away from their +own country." + +So they now turned to ascertain whether Munday's conjectures were true, +that the ants had taken to the tree that stood over the dead-wood, which +was at no great distance; and as the sun had now completely dispelled +the fog, they could see it very distinctly. The tocandeiras were still +upon it. Their countless hosts were seen moving over its surface in all +their red array, apparently as much excited as when putting to flight +the swimmers who had intruded upon them. + +The log, although close to the stem of the standing tree, was not in +connection with it. Something held it several feet off; and as none of +the drooping branches reached quite down, it was impossible for the +insects to reach the tree, although they evidently desired to make this +change, as if suddenly dissatisfied with their quarters on the drifting +trunk, and wishing to change them for others less at the mercy of the +winds and waves. + +As there was something curious in all this, something that could not +fail to fix the attention of the observer, our adventurers remained +silent, watching the movements of the insect multitude, in hopes that +they might find some way of detaching themselves from the floating log, +and leave in peaceable and undisputed possession the quarters they +appeared so desirous of quitting to those who were equally desirous of +entering upon them. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY THREE. + +THE TAMANDUA: THE ANT-THRUSH. + +Trusting to the explanation given by the tapuyo, they did not think of +inquiring further into the cause of the commotion among the ants. While +scanning the tree closely, several of the party perceived a movement +among its branches, and soon after the form of a singular creature that +was causing it. It was a quadruped, about the size of a raccoon or cat, +but of a shape peculiarly its own. Its body was long and cylindrical, +terminating posteriorly in a round, tapering tail, while its low, flat +head, prolonged into a smooth, slender muzzle, also tapered nearly to a +point. The eyes were so small as scarcely to be seen, and the mouth +more resembled a round hole than the closing of a pair of jaws. It was +covered with a dense silky fur, of a uniform length over the body, and +slightly crisped, so as to give it a woolly aspect. This fur was +straw-coloured, with a tinge of maroon and brown on the shoulders and +along the back, while the tail presented a ringed appearance from an +alternation of the two colours. + +"_Tamandua_!" exclaimed Munday, at sight of the strange quadruped. "The +ant-eater. Not the great one, which is called _Tamandua assu_, and +don't climb up the trees. That you see is the little one; he lives all +his life among the branches,--sleeps there, either upon his breast, or +suspended by his tail,--travels from one tree to another in search of +honey, bees, wasps, grubs, but, above all, of such ants as make their +nests either in holes, or stick to the twigs. Ha!" he continued, "what +could I have been thinking of? The tocandeiras wishing to climb up to +the tree? Not a bit of it. Quite the contrary. It's the tamandua +that's keeping them in motion! See the cunning beast preparing to make +a descent among them!" + +Nothing could be more certain than that this was the tamandua's +intention; for almost on the instant it was seen to move among the +branches, descending from one to the other, partly using its strong, +hooked claws, and partly its tapering and highly prehensile tail. Once +upon the dead-wood, it lay flat down upon its breast and belly; and +shooting out its long, thread-like tongue, coated with a sticky shining +substance resembling saliva, it commenced licking up the tocandeiras +that swarmed in thousands around it. It was to no purpose that the ants +made an attack upon it. Nature had provided it with an armour proof +both against their bite and sting. Rage around it as they might, the +tocandeiras could do nothing to hinder it from licking them up from the +log, and tucking them in hundreds into its capacious stomach. Finally +the tamandua had taken his fill,--breakfasted to his heart's content; +then, erecting himself on his hind-legs after the manner of a squirrel +or marmoset, he sprang back upon the branch from which he had descended. +Going a little higher up, he selected another and larger branch, +placing himself so that his belly rested along its upper surface, with +the legs hanging down on each side; and then, burying his proboscis in +the long fur of his breast, and taking two or three turns of his tail +around head, body, and legs, he fell fast asleep. + +The old saw, that there is "many a slip between the cup and the lip," is +as true in the life of ant-eater as in that of a man; and when the +tamandua awoke,--which it did some twenty minutes afterwards,--and +looked down upon the dead-wood, it was astonished to discover that not a +tocandeira was in sight. + +What had become of them? When left by the tamandua to their own devices +there were myriads still surviving. The few thousands which the +devourer licked up had made no perceptible diminution in their numbers; +and on the retiring of their enemy, they were swarming as thickly and +countlessly as ever. Now not one was visible upon the log, the hue of +which, from being of a flaming red, had returned to its original colour +of sombre grey. A few were discovered upon the standing tree, crawling +up its trunk and lower branches, with excited air and rapid movements, +as if escaping from terrible disaster. These refugees did not amount to +many hundreds; thinly scattered over the bark, they could have been +counted. They were too few to tempt the hunger of the tamandua. It +would not have been worth his while to project his slimy tongue for the +sake of a single tocandeira; so he retained it--not behind his teeth, +for he had none--but within the cylinder-shaped cavity of his mouth. +What had become of the tocandeiras? It is possible that the tamandua +mentally put this question to himself; for there is no animal, however +humble its organisation, that has not been gifted by beneficent Nature +with a mind and powers of reasoning,--ay, with moral perceptions of at +least the primary principles of right and wrong, as even the little +ant-eater gives evidence. + +Perhaps you have yourself witnessed the proof. You have seen one ant +rob another of its crumb of bread, that by a laborious effort has been +carried far. You have seen the companions of both gather around the +spot, deprive the despoiler of its ill-gotten prize, restore the crumb +to its lawful possessor, and punish the would-be pilferer. If you have +not seen this, others have,--myself among the number. Surely, it is +reason; surely, it is moral perception. If not, what is it? The +closet-naturalist calls it _instinct_,--a ready word to cloak that +social cowardice which shrinks from acknowledging that besides man there +are other beings upon the earth with talents worth saving. + +Soon after the ant-eater had gone to sleep, a little bird about the size +of a starling was seen flitting about. It was of the ordinary shape of +the shrikes, or fly-catchers, and, like them, of sombre plumage,--a dull +grey blended with bluish slate. As already said, it was flitting about +among the tree-tops, now and then rising above them, and hovering for a +while in the air; then lighting again upon a branch, and from this +hopping to another, and another, all the time giving utterance to +twittering but scarcely musical notes. + +"An ant-thrush," Munday said. "It's hunting about for the very +creatures that are swarming on that log. If it should spy them we'll +have no more trouble with the tocandeiras. That friend will clear them +out of our way. If it but gets its eye on that red crowd, it'll treat +them very differently from what the beast has done. In twenty minutes +there won't be a tocandeira to sting us. May the Great Spirit prove +propitious, and turn its eyes upon the dead-wood!" + +For a time the bird kept up its flickering flight and twittering cry, +while our adventurers watched it manoeuvres, keeping quiet, as a +precaution against scaring it away. All at once the ant-thrush changed +its tactics, and its louder note proclaimed a surprise. It had come +close to the tree that contained the tamandua, and saw the quadruped +taking its _siesta_ upon the branch. From the presence of the ant-eater +it argued the proximity of their common prey. + +The swarm of fire-ants, reddening the log, formed too conspicuous an +object to escape being seen. The ant-thrush soon saw them, and +announced the discovery with a screech, which was a signal to scores of +hungry companions. It was answered by what seemed a hundred echoes, and +soon the air resounded with whistling wings, as the feathered ant-eaters +came crowding to the feast. + +Boy reader, you have bred pigeons, and fed them too. You have flung +before them whole baskets of barley, and pecks of oats, until the +pavement was thickly strewed. You have observed how quickly they could +clear the ground of the grain. With the like rapidity was the log +cleared of the tocandeiras. In ten minutes not a single insect could be +seen upon it; and then the feathered ant-eaters, without giving the +tamandua a hint that his premises had been despoiled, flew off into the +forest in search of a fresh swarm. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR. + +ANT-EATERS--BIPED AND QUADRUPED. + +The spectacle of the bird ant-eaters engaged in their work of +destruction is one that may be seen almost every day in the Amazonian +region. The presence of an army of ants passing from place to place +through the forest--themselves often bent upon a marauding and murderous +expedition--may often be discovered long belong the insects themselves +are in sight, by the twittering cries and excited actions of the +ant-thrushes, that in large flocks are seen hovering above them. The +traveller takes warning by the spectacle. Experience has long ago +taught him that to stray into the midst of a party of foraging ants is +no slight matter. It would be like dancing an Irish jig over a nest of +hornets. He is sure of being attacked, bitten, and stung by the +venomous insects; and on hearing the call of the ant-thrush, he beats an +instant retreat. The quadruped licking up his insect prey is a sight of +less frequent occurrence. + +Of these four-footed ant-eaters there are many distinct kinds, differing +very considerably in their habits of life. Four species are known to +naturalists; but it is probable that there are many more yet to be +discovered and described. The Indians who are best acquainted with the +remote haunts of the great mountain wilderness of interior South America +assert that there are others; and their testimony is generally derived +from acute observation. Of the four known species there is the great +ant-eater (_Myrmecophaga jubata_) called Tamanoir, large as a mastiff +dog, and a match for most dogs in strength, often even killing one by +squeezing the breath out of his body between its thick, muscular +fore-limbs. This is the _Tamandua bandeira_, or "banner tamandua" of +the natives, so called from the peculiar marking of its skin,--each side +of the body being marked by a broad blackish band running obliquely from +the shoulders, and suggesting the resemblance of an heraldic banner. It +lives in the drier forests, making its haunt wherever the white ants +(_termites_), those that construct the great hills, abound. Of the +habits of this species a more complete account has been given elsewhere. +[See "The Forest Exiles," by the author of this story.] + +The second species of tamandua--that is, in size--is quite a different +creature. It scarcely ever descends to the earth, but passes from +branch to branch and tree to tree by means of its strong, curving claws, +and more especially by the aid of a very long and highly prehensile +tail. Its food consists exclusively of ants, that construct huge earthy +nests high up among the branches or against the trunks of the trees, +where they present the appearance of grotesque excrescences. This +tamandua often moves about during the day, in its slow progress much +resembling the sloths, though its food is so very different from the +animal of the Cecropia-tree (_bicho de embauba_). This species dwells +chiefly in the thick forests, and goes into the Gapo at all seasons of +the year, and it was one of this sort which the party had seen. + +But there are still two other kinds that make their home upon the +trees,--both exceedingly curious little animals, and much more rarely +seen than the large tamanduas. They are distinguished by the name of +_tamandua-i_, which in the Indian language means "little tamandua." One +of them, the rarest of the family, is about the size of a half-grown +kitten. Instead of hair, it wears a fine wool of a greyish-yellow +colour, soft and silky to the touch. The other is of the same size, but +dingy brown in colour, and with hair of a coarser kind. These little +ant-eaters both sleep through the day, curled up in the cavity of a +tree, or in some fork of the branches, and only display their activity +by night. + +Thus it is that the ants have no chance of escaping from their numerous +enemies. On the earth they are attacked and destroyed by the great +ant-eater, in the trees by his brother with the four curving claws. By +day one species preys upon them,--by night, another. Go where they +will, there is a foe to fall upon them. Even when they seek security +under the earth, there too are they pursued by enemies of their own +tribe, the savage _ecitons_, which enter their subterranean dwellings, +and kill them upon their own hearths, to be dragged forth piecemeal and +devoured in the light of the sun! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE. + +THE CHASE OF THE TAMANDUA. + +If the tamandua had been surprised by the disappearance of the +tocandeiras, it was not less so to see approaching a creature more than +ten times its own size. This creature was of a dark bronze colour, +having a long, upright body, a pair of legs still longer, arms almost as +long as the legs, and a roundish head with long black hair growing out +of its crown, and hanging down over its shoulders. If the ant-eater had +never before seen a human being,--which was probable enough,--it saw one +now; for this creature was no other than old Munday, who had taken a +fancy to capture that tamandua. Perhaps the little quadruped may have +mistaken him for an ape, but it must have also thought him the grandest +it had ever set eyes upon. Swinging itself from branch to branch, using +both claws and tail to effect its flight, it forsook the tree where it +had slept, and took to another farther into the forest. But Munday had +anticipated this movement, and passed among the branches and over the +matted llianas with the agility of an ape,--now climbing up from limb to +limb, now letting himself down by some hanging sipo. + +He was soon joined in the pursuit by Richard Trevannion, who was an +expert climber, and, if unable to overtake the ant-eater in a direct +chase, could be of service in helping to drive it back to the tree it +had just left, and which stood at the end of a projecting tongue of the +forest. It is possible that Munday might have been overmatched, with +all his alertness; for the tamandua had reached the narrowest part of +the peninsula before he could get there. Once across the _isthmus_, +which consisted of a single tree, it would have had the wide forest +before it, and would soon have hidden itself amid the matted tangle of +leaves and twigs. Richard, however, was too cunning to let the +ant-eater escape him. Dropping into the water, he swam towards the +isthmus with all his strength, and reached the tree before the tamandua. + +By this time Munday had arrived from the opposite quarter, and was +already climbing into the same tree. Seeing itself intercepted on both +sides, the tamandua began crawling up towards the topmost branches. But +Munday was too quick for it, and springing after, with the agility of a +cat, he caught hold of it by one of the hind-legs. Being an animal +insignificant in size, and apparently in strength, the spectator +supposed he would speedily have dragged it down. In this however they +were mistaken, not taking account of the power in its fore-limbs and +tail. + +Notwithstanding the tapuyo exerted all his strength, he could not detach +it from the tree; and even when assisted by his companion, was only able +to get the fore-legs free. The tail, lapped several times around a +limb, resisted all their efforts. But Munday cut the clinging tail with +his knife, leaving two or three of its rings around the branch. Then, +twisting the stump around his wrist, he swung the animal back against +the trunk with a force that deprived it at once of strength and life. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY SIX. + +ROAST ANT-EATER. + +Instead of returning to the tree, the Indian and Richard swam directly +to the dead-wood, where they were quickly joined by the rest of the +party. Although the dead-wood was as hard as any other wood, and to +sleep upon it would be like sleeping on a plank, still it would give +them the feeling of security; so, as if by general consent, though +nothing was said, they stretched themselves along the trunk, and were +soon fast asleep. + +The old Indian, tough as the sipos of his native forests, seemed as if +he could live out the remainder of his life without another wink of +sleep; and when the rest of his companions were buried in profound +repose, he was engaged in an operation that required both energy and the +most stoical patience. In a place where the bark was dry, he had picked +out a small circular cavity, beside which he had placed some withered +leaves and dead twigs collected from the tree that spread its branches +above. Kneeling over this cavity, he thrust down into it a straight +stick, that had been cut from some species of hard wood, and trimmed +clear of knots or other inequalities, twirling it between the palms of +his hands so as to produce a rapid motion, now one way, now the other. +In about ten minutes a smoke appeared, and soon after sparks were seen +among the loose dust that had collected from the friction. Presently +the sparks, becoming thicker, united into a flame; and then, dropping +the straight stick, he hastily covered the hole with the dry leaves and +chips, and, blowing gently under them, was soon cheered by a blaze, over +which a cook with even little skill might have prepared a tolerable +dinner. This had been Munday's object; and as soon as he saw his fire +fairly under way, without dressing or trussing the game,--not even +taking the hide off,--he laid the tamandua across the fire, and left it +to cook in its skin. + +It was not the first time by scores that Munday had make that repast, +known among Spanish-Americans as _carne con cuero_. He now proceeded to +prevent the spreading of the flames. The dead-wood around was dry as +tinder. Stripping off the cotton shirt that, through every vicissitude, +still clung to his shoulders, he leant over the side of the floating +log, and dipped it for several minutes under the water. When well +soaked, he drew it up again, and taking it to the spot where the fire +was crackling, he wrung the water out in a circle around the edge of his +hearth. When the tamandua was done brown, he then awakened his +companions, who were astonished to see the fire, with the bronzed body +of the Indian, nude to the waist, squatting in front of it,--to hear the +crackling of sticks, the loud sputtering of the roast, and the hissing +of the water circle that surrounded the hearth. But the savour that +filled the air was very agreeable. They accepted his invitation to +partake of the repast, which was found greatly to resemble roast goose +in taste; and in an inconceivably short time only the bones of the +ant-eater, and these clean picked, could be seen upon the ceiba. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN. + +THE JUAROUa. + +Postponing till the next day the task of making a canoe out of their +log, the party soon betook themselves to rest again; but they had been +slumbering only about an hour when a low whimpering noise made by the +monkey awoke Tipperary Tom, close to whose ear the animal had squatted +down. Its master raised himself up, and, leaning upon his elbow, looked +out over the Gapo. There was nothing but open water, whose smooth +surface was shining like burnished gold under the beams of the setting +sun. He turned toward the trees. He saw nothing there,--not so much as +a bird moving among the branches. Raising his head a little higher, and +peeping over the edge of the dead-wood, "It's thare is it, the somethin' +that's scyarin' ye?" he said to his pet. "An' shure enough there is a +somethin' yandher. There's a `purl' upon the wather, as if some +crayther was below makin' a disturbance among the weeds. I wondther +what it is!" + +At length the creature whose motion he had observed, whatever it was, +came near enough for him to obtain a full view of it; and though it was +neither a snake nor a crocodile, still it was of sufficiently formidable +and novel appearance to cause him a feeling of fear. In shape it +resembled a seal; but in dimensions it was altogether different, being +much larger than seals usually are. It was full ten feet from snout to +tail, and of a proportionate thickness of body. It had the head of a +bull or cow, with a broad muzzle, and thick, overhanging lip, but with +very small eyes; and instead of ears, there were two round cavities upon +the crown of its head. It had a large, flat tail, not standing up like +the tail of a fish, but spread in a horizontal direction, like that of a +bird. Its skin was smooth, and naked of hairs, with the exception of +some straggling ones set thinly over it, and some tufts resembling +bristles radiating around its mouth and nostrils. The skin itself was +of a dull leaden hue, with some cream-coloured spots under the throat +and along the belly. It had also a pair of flippers, more than a foot +in length, standing out from the shoulders, with a teat in front of +each, and looking like little paddles, with which the huge creature was +propelling itself through the water, just as a fish uses its fins or a +man his arms. + +The Irishman did not stay to note half of these characteristics, but +hastily woke Munday, crying, "What is it? O what is it?" + +The Indian, rousing himself, looked round for a moment dreamily, and +then, as he caught sight of the strange object, replied, "Good fortune! +it is the _juaroua_." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT. + +A FISH-COW AT PASTURE. + +The Irishman was no wiser for Munday's answer, "The juaroua." + +"But what is it?" he again asked, curious to learn something of the +creature. "Is it a fish or a quadruped?" + +"A _peixe-boi_,--a _peixe-boi_!" hurriedly answered the tapuyo. "That's +how the whites call it. Now you know." + +"But I don't, though, not a bit betther than before. A pikes-boy! +Troth, it don't look much like a pike at all, at all. If it's a fish av +any kind, I should say it was a sale. O, luk there, Munday! Arrah, see +now! If it's the owld pike's boy, yandher's the young wan too. See, it +has tuk howlt av the tit, an' 's sucking away like a calf! An' luk! the +old wan has got howlt av it with her flipper, an' 's kapin' it up to the +breast! Save us! did hever I see such a thing!" + +The sight was indeed one to astonish the Irishman, since it has from all +time astonished the Amazonian Indians themselves, in spite of its +frequency. They cannot understand so unusual a habit as that of a fish +suckling its young; for they naturally think that the peixe-boi is a +fish, instead of a cetacean, and they therefore continue to regard it +with curious feelings, as a creature not to be classified in the +ordinary way. + +"Hush!" whispered the Indian, with a sign to Tom to keep quiet. "Sit +still! make no noise. There's a chance of our capturing the juaroua,--a +good chance, now that I see the _juaroua-i_ [little one] along with it. +Don't wake the others yet. The juaroua can see like a vulture, and hear +like an eagle, though it has such little eyes and ears. Hush!" + +The peixe-boi had by this time got abreast of the dead-wood, and was +swimming slowly past it. A little beyond there was a sort of bay, +opening in among the trees, towards which it appeared to be directing +its course, suckling the calf as it swam. + +"Good," said Munday, softly. "I guess what it's going after up there. +Don't you see something lying along the water?" + +"Yes; but it's some sort av wather-grass." + +"That's just it." + +"An' what would it want wid the grass? Yez don't mane to till me it +ates grass?" + +"Eats nothing else, and this is just the sort it feeds on. Very like +that's its pasturing place. So much the better if it is, because it +will stay there till morning, and give me a chance to kill it." + +"But why can't yez kill it now?" said Tom. + +"For want of a proper weapon. My knife is of no use. The juaroua is +too cunning to let one come so near. If it come back in the morning, I +will take care to be ready for it. From it we can get meat enough for a +long voyage. See, it has begun to browse!" + +Sure enough it had, just as the Indian said, commenced pasturing upon +the long blades of grass that spread horizontally over the surface; and +just as a cow gathers the meadow sward into her huge mouth, at intervals +protruding her tongue to secure it, so did the great water cow of the +Amazon spread her broad lips and extend her rough tongue to take in the +floating herbage of the Gapo. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY NINE. + +THE PASHUBA SPEAR. + +Munday was now prepared to set out on a little exploring excursion, as +he said; so, enjoining upon Tom, who was determined to awake the +sleepers that they might share the sight of the feeding fish-cow, to +keep them all strictly quiet until his return, he slipped softly into +the water and swam noiselessly away. + +The enforced silence was tedious enough to the party, who were all eager +to talk about the strange spectacle they saw, and it would surely have +been soon broken, had not the Indian returned with a new object for +their curiosity. He had stolen off, taking with him only his knife. At +his reappearance he had the knife still with him, and another weapon as +well, which the knife had enabled him to procure. It was a staff of +about twelve feet in length, straight as a rush, slightly tapering, and +pointed at the end like a spear. In fact, it _was_ a spear, which he +had been manufacturing during his hour of absence out of a split stem of +the _pashuba_ palm. Not far off he had found one of these trees, a +water-loving species,--the _Martea exorhuza_,--whose stems are supported +upon slanting roots, that stand many feet above the surface of the soil. +With the skill known only to an Amazonian Indian in the use of a +knife-blade, he had split the pashuba, (hard as iron on the outside, but +soft at the heart,) and out of one of the split pieces had he hastily +fashioned his spear. Its point only needed to be submitted to fire, and +then steel itself would not serve better for a spear-head. Fortunately +the hearth was not yet cold. A few red cinders smouldered by the wet +circle, and, thrusting his spear point among them, the Indian waited for +it to become hardened. When done to his satisfaction, he drew it out of +the ashes, scraped it to a keen point with the blade of his knife, and +then announced himself ready to attack the juaroua. + +The amphibious animal was yet there, its head visible above the bed of +grass upon which it was still grazing. Munday, while rejoiced at the +circumstance, expressed himself also surprised at it. He had not been +sanguine of finding it on his return with the spear, and, while +fabricating the weapon, he had only been encouraged by the expectation +that the peixe-boi, if gone away for the night, would return to its +grazing ground in the morning. As it was now, it could not have +afforded him a better opportunity for _striking_ it. It was reclining +near the surface, its head several inches above it, and directly under a +large tree, whose lower limbs, extending horizontally, almost dropped +into the water. If he could but get unperceived upon one of those +limbs, it would be an easy matter to drive the spear into its body as +far as his strength would enable him. + +If any man could swim noiselessly through the water, climb silently into +the tree, and steal without making sound along its limbs, that man was +the Mundurucu. In less time than you could count a thousand, he had +successfully accomplished this, and was crouching upon a limb right over +the cow. In an instant his spear was seen to descend as the spectators +were expecting it to do; but to their astonishment, instead of striking +the body of the peixe-boi, it pierced into the water several feet from +the snout of the animal! What could it mean? Surely the skilled +harpooner of fish-cattle could not have made such a stray stroke. +Certainly he had not touched the cow! Had he speared anything? + +"He's killed the calf!" cried Tipperary Tom. "Luk yandher! Don't yez +see its carcass floatin' in the wather?" + +Still the spectators could not understand it. Why should the calf have +been killed, which would scarce give them a supper, and the cow spared, +that would have provisioned the whole crew for a month? Why had the +chance been thrown away? Was it thrown away? They only thought so, +while expecting the peixe-boi to escape. But they were quickly +undeceived. They had not reckoned upon the strong maternal instincts of +that amphibious mother,--instincts that annihilate all sense of danger, +and prompt a reckless rushing upon death in the companionship or for the +protection of the beloved offspring. It was too late to protect the +tiny creature, but the mother recked not of this. Danger deterred her +not from approaching it again and again, each time receiving a fresh +stab from that terrible stick, until, with a long-drawn sigh, she +expired among the sedge. + +These animals are extremely tenacious of life, and a single, thrust from +such a weapon as he wielded would only have put the peixe-boi to flight, +never to be encountered again. The harpoon alone, with its barbed head +and floats, can secure them for a second strike; and not being provided +with this weapon, nor the means of making it, the old tapuyo knew that +his only chance was to act as he had done. Experience had made him a +believer in the affection of the animal, and the result proved that he +had not mistaken its strength. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY. + +CURING THE FISH-COW. + +Nothing was done for that night. All slept contentedly on the +dead-wood, which next day became the scene of a series of curious +operations. This did not differ very much from the spectacle that might +be witnessed in the midst of the wide ocean, when whalemen have struck +one of the great leviathans of the deep, and brought their ship +alongside for the purpose of cutting it up. + +In like manner as the whale is "flensed," so was the fish-cow, Munday +performing the operation with his knife, by first skinning the creature, +and then separating the flesh into broad strips or steaks, which were +afterwards make into _charqui_, by being hung up in the sun. + +Previous to this, however, many "griskins"--as Tom called them--had been +cut from the carcass, and, broiled over the fire kindled upon the log, +had furnished both supper and breakfast to the party. No squeamishness +was shown by any one. Hunger forbade it; and, indeed, whether with +sharp appetites or not, there was no reason why they should not relish +one of the most coveted articles of animal food to be obtained in +Amazonia. The taste was that of pork; though there were parts of the +flesh of a somewhat coarser grain, and inferior in flavour to the real +dairy-fed pig. + +The day was occupied in making it ready for curing, which would take +several days' exposure under the hot sun. Before night, however, they +had it separated into thin slices, and suspended upon a sort of +clothes-line, which, by means of poles and sipos, Munday had rigged upon +the log. The lean parts alone were to be preserved, for the fat which +lies between these, in thick layers of a greenish colour and fishy +flavour, is considered rather strong for the stomach,--even of an Indian +not over nice about such matters. When a peixe-boi has been harpooned +in the usual manner, this is not thrown away, or wasted. Put into a +proper boiling-pot, it yields a very good kind of oil,--ten or twelve +gallons being obtained from an individual of the largest and fattest +kind. + +In the present instance, the fat was disregarded and flung back into the +flood, while the bones, as they were laid bare, were served in a similar +fashion. The skin, however, varying from an inch in thickness over the +back, to half an inch under the abdomen, and which Munday had removed +with considerable care, was stowed away in a hollow place upon the log. +Why it was kept, none of the others could guess. Perhaps the Indian +meant it as something to fall back upon in the event of the charqui +giving out. + +It was again night by the time the cow-skin was deposited in its place, +and of course no journey could be attempted for that day. On the morrow +they intended to commence the voyage which it was hoped would bring them +to the other side of the lagoa, if not within sight of land. As they +ate their second supper of _amphibious steaks_, they felt in better +spirits than for many days. They were not troubled with hunger or +thirst; they were not tortured by sitting astride the branches of a +tree; and the knowledge that they had now a craft capable of carrying +them--however slow might be the rate--inspired them with pleasant +expectations. Their conversation was more cheerful than usual, and +during the after-supper hour it turned chiefly on the attributes and +habits of the strange animal which Munday had so cleverly dissected. + +Most of the information about its habits was supplied by the Indian +himself, who had learned them by personal experience; though many points +in its natural history were given by the patron, who drew his knowledge +of it from books. Trevannion told them that a similar creature--though +believed to be of a different species--was found in the sea; but +generally near to some coast where there was fresh water flowing in by +the estuary of a river. One kind in the Indian seas was known by the +name of _dugong_, and another in the West Indies as the _manati_ or +_manatee_,--called by the French _lamantin_. The Spaniards also know it +by the name of _vaca marina_ (sea-cow), the identical name given by the +Dutch of the Cape Colony to the hippopotamus,--of course a very +different animal. + +The manati is supposed to have been so named from its fins, or flippers, +bearing some resemblance to the hands of a human being,--in Spanish, +_manos_,--entitling it to the appellation of the "handed" animal. But +the learned Humboldt has shown that this derivation would be contrary to +the idiom of the Spanish language, which would have made the word +_manudo_ or _manon_, and not _manati_. It is therefore more likely that +this name is the one by which it was known to the aborigines of the +southern coast of Cuba, where the creature was first seen by the +discoverers of America. Certain it is that the sea species of the West +Indies and the Guianian coast is much larger than that found in the +Amazon and other South American rivers; the former being sometimes found +full twenty feet in length, while the length of the fish-cow of South +America rarely reaches ten. + +Here Munday took up the thread of the discourse, and informed the circle +of listeners that there were several species of juaroua--this was the +name he gave it--in the waters of the Amazon. He knew of three kinds, +that were distinct, not only in size, but in shape,--the difference +being chiefly observable in the fashion of the fins and tail. There was +also some difference in their colour,--one species being much lighter in +hue than the others, with a pale cream-coloured belly; while the abdomen +of the common kind is of a slaty lead, with some pinkish white spots +scattered thinly over it. + +A peculiar characteristic of the peixe-boi is discovered in if lungs,-- +no doubt having something to do with its amphibious existence. These, +when taken out of the animal and inflated by blowing into them, swell up +to the lightness and dimensions of an India-rubber swimming-belt; so +that, as young Richard observed while so inflating them, they could +spare at least one set of the sapucaya-shells, if once more compelled to +take to the water. + +Munday gave a very good account of the mode practised in capturing the +juaroua, not only by the Indians of his own tribe, but by all others in +the Amazon valley. The hunter of the peixe-boi--or fisher, as we should +rather call him--provides himself with a _montaria_ (a light canoe) and +a harpoon. He rows to the spot where the creature may be expected to +appear,--usually some solitary lagoon or quiet spot out of the current, +where there is a species of grass forming its favourite food. At +certain hours the animal comes thither to pasture. Sometimes only a +single individual frequents the place, but oftener a pair, with their +calves,--never more than two of the latter. At times there may be seen +a small herd of old ones. + +Their enemy, seated in his canoe, awaits their approach in silence; and +then, after they have become forgetful of all save their enjoyment of +the succulent grass, he paddles up to them. He makes his advances with +the greatest caution; for the fish-cow, unlike its namesake of the +farm-yard, is a shy and suspicious animal. The plunge of the paddle, or +a rude ripple of the water against the sides of the montaria, would +frighten it from its food, and send it off into the open water, where it +could not be approached. + +The occupant of the canoe is aware of this, and takes care not to make +the slightest disturbance, till he has got within striking distance. He +then rises gently into a half-crouching attitude, takes the measure of +the distance between him and his victim, and throws his harpoon with +unerring aim. A line attached to the shaft of the weapon secures the +wounded animal from getting clear away. It may dive to the bottom, or +rush madly along the surface, but can only go so far as that terrible +tether will allow it, to be dragged back towards the montaria, where its +struggles are usually terminated by two or three thrusts of a spear. + +The sport, or, more properly speaking, the trade, of harpooning this +river cetacean, is followed by most of the Amazonian Indians. There is +not much of it done during the season of the floods. Then the animals, +becoming dispersed over a large surface of inundated forest, are seen +only on rare occasions; and a chase specially directed to discover them +would not repay the trouble and loss of time. It is when the floods +have fallen to their lowest, and the lagoas or permanent ponds of water +have contracted to their ordinary limits, that the harpooning of the +fish-cow becomes profitable. Then it is followed as a regular pursuit, +and occupies the Indian for several weeks in the year. + +Sometimes a lagoon is discovered in which many of these creatures have +congregated,--their retreat to the main river having been cut off by the +falling of the floods. On such occasions the tribe making the discovery +reaps a plentiful harvest, and butchering becomes the order of the day. + +The malocca, or village, is for the time deserted; all hands--men, +women, children, and curs--moving off to the lagoa, and making their +encampment upon its edge. They bring with them boiling-pots, for trying +out the oil, and jars to contain it, and carry it to the port of +commerce; for, being of a superior quality, it tempts the Portuguese +trader to make long voyages up many remote tributaries where it is +obtained. + +During these grand fisheries there is much feasting and rejoicing. The +"jerked" flesh of the animal, its skin, and, above all, its valuable +oil, are exchanged for knives, pigments, trinkets, and, worse still, for +_cashaca_ (rum). The last is too freely indulged in; and the fishing +rarely comes to a close without weapons being used in a manner to bring +wounds, and often death. + +As the old Mundurucu had been present at many a hunt of the fish-cow, he +was able to give a graphic account of the scenes he had witnessed, to +which his companions on the log listened with the greatest attention. +So interested were they, that it was not till near midnight that they +thought of retiring to rest. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE. + +A SAIL OF SKIN. + +By daybreak they were astir upon their new craft; and after breakfast +they set about moving it away from its moorings. This was not so easily +accomplished. The log was a log in every respect; and though once a +splendid silk-cotton-tree, covered with gossamer pods, and standing in +airy majesty over the surrounding forest, it now lay as heavy as lead +among the weeds and water-lilies, as if unwilling to be stirred from the +spot into which it had drifted. + +You may wonder how they were able to move it at all; supposing, as you +must, that they were unprovided with either oars or sails. But they +were not so badly off as that. The whole of the preceding day had not +been spent in curing the fish-cow. Munday's knife had done other +service during the afternoon hours, and a pair of paddles had been the +result. Though of a rude kind, they were perfect enough for the purpose +required of them; while at the same time they gave evidence of great +ingenuity on the part of the contriver. They had handles of wood, with +blades of _bone_, made from the fish-cow's shoulder-blades, which Munday +had carefully retained with the skin, while allowing the offal to sink. +In his own tribe, and elsewhere on the Amazon, he had seen these bones +employed--and had himself employed them--as a substitute for the spade. +Many a cacao patch and field of mandioca had Munday cleared with the +shoulder-blade of a fish-cow; and upon odd occasions he had used one for +a paddle. It needed only to shaft them; and this had been done by +splicing a pole to each with the tough sipos. + +Provided with these paddles, then,--one of them wielded by himself, the +other by the sturdy Mozambique,--the log was compelled to make way +through the water. The progress was necessarily slow, on account of the +tangle of long stalks and broad leaves of the lilies. But it promised +to improve, when they should get beyond these into the open part of the +lagoon. Out there, moreover, they could see that there was a ripple +upon the water; which proved that a breeze had sprung up, not +perceptible inside the sheltering selvage of the trees, blowing in the +right direction,--that is, from the trees, and towards the lagoa. + +You may suppose that the wind could not be of much use to them with such +a craft,--not only without a rudder, but unprovided with sails. So +thought they all except the old tapuyo. But the Indian had not been +navigating the Gapo for more than forty years of his life, without +learning how to construct a sail; and, if nothing else had turned up, he +could have made a tolerable substitute for one out of many kinds of +broad, tough leaves,--especially those of the _miriti_ palm. + +He had not revealed his plans to any one of the party. Men of his race +rarely declare their intentions until the moment of carrying them into +execution. There is a feeling of proud superiority that hinders such +condescension. Besides, he had not yet recovered from the sting of +humiliation that succeeded the failure of his swimming enterprise; and +he was determined not to commit himself again, either by too soon +declaring his designs, or too confidently predicting their successful +execution. + +It was not, therefore, till a stout pole had been set up in a hollow dug +out by his knife in the larger end of the log, two cross pieces firmly +lashed to it by sipos, and the skin of the fish-cow spread out against +these like a huge thick blanket of caoutchouc, and attached to them by +the same cordage of creepers,--it was not till then that his companions +became fully acquainted with his object in having cut poles, scooped the +hollow, and retained the skin of the cow, as he had done to their +previous bewilderment. + +It was all clear now; and they could not restrain themselves from giving +a simultaneous cheer, as they saw the dull dead-wood, under the +impulsion of the skin sail, commence a more rapid movement, until it +seemed to "walk the water like a thing of life." + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO. + +BECALMED. + +Once out on the open lagoa, and fairly under sail, in what direction +should they steer their new craft? They wanted to reach the other side +of the lagoa, which the Indian believed to extend in the right direction +for finding _terra firma_. They had skirted the edge upon which they +were for several miles, without finding either the sign of land or an +opening by which they might penetrate through the forest, and it was but +natural that they should wish to make trial the other side, in the hope +of meeting with better fortune. + +Mozey, who prided himself on being the best sailor aboard, was intrusted +with the management of the sail, while Trevannion himself acted as +pilot. The Indian busied himself in looking after the curing of the +charqui, which, by the help of such a hot sun as was shining down upon +them, would soon be safely beyond the chance of decay. The young +people, seated together near the thick end of the log--which Mozey had +facetiously christened the quarter-deck of the craft--occupied +themselves as they best might. + +The cloud that had shadowed them for days was quite dispelled. With +such a raft, there was every expectation of getting out of the Gapo. It +might not be in a day, or even in a week. But time was of little +consequence, so long as there was a prospect of ultimate release from +the labyrinth of flooded forests. The charqui, if economised, would +feed all hands for a fortnight, at least; and unless they should again +get stranded among the tree-tops they could scarcely be all that time +before reaching dry land. + +Their progress was sadly slow. Their craft has been described as +"walking the water like a thing of life." But this is rather a poetical +exaggeration. Its motion was that of a true dead-wood, heavily weighted +with the water that for weeks had been saturating its sides. It barely +yielded to the sail; and had they been forced to depend upon the +paddles, it would have been a hopeless affair. A mile an hour was the +most they were able to make; and this only when the breeze was at its +freshest. At other times, when it unfortunately lulled, the log lay +upon the water with no more motion than they caused as they stepped over +it. + +Towards noon their progress became slower; and when at length the +meridian hour arrived the ceiba stood still. The sail had lost the +power of propelling it on. The breeze had died away, and there was now +a dead calm. The shoulder-blades of the peixe-boi were now resorted to, +but neither these, nor the best pair of oars that ever pulled a +man-o'-war's boat, could have propelled that tree-trunk through the +water faster than half a knot to the hour, and the improvised paddles +were soon laid aside. + +There was one comfort in the delay. The hour of dinner had now arrived, +and the crew were not unprepared for the midday meal; for in their hurry +at setting out, and the solicitude arising from their uncertainty about +their craft, they had breakfasted scantily. Their dinner was to consist +of but one dish, a cross between fish and flesh,--a cross between fresh +and dried,--for the peixe-boi was still but half converted into charqui. + +The Indian had carefully guarded the fire, the kindling of which had +cost him so much trouble and ingenuity. A few sparks still smouldered +where they had been nursed; and, with some decayed pieces of the ceiba +itself, a big blaze was once more established. Over this the choicest +tit-bits were suspended until their browned surface proclaimed them +"done to a turn." Their keen appetites furnished both sauce and +seasoning; and when the meal was over, all were ready to declare that +they had never dined more sumptuously in their lives. Hunger is the +best appetiser; scarcity comes next. + +They sat after dinner conversing upon different themes, and doing the +best they could to while away the time,--the only thing that at all +discommoded them being the beams of the sun, which fell upon their +crowns like sparks of fire showered from a burning sky. Tom's idea was +that the heat of the sun could be endured with greater ease in the water +than upon the log; and, to satisfy himself, he once more girdled on the +cincture of shells, and slipped over the side. His example was followed +by the patron himself, his son and nephew. + +Little Rosa did not need to retreat overboard in this ignominious +manner. She was in the shade, under a tiny _toldo_ of broad leaves of a +_Pothos_ plant, which, growing parasitically upon one of the trees, had +been plucked the day before, and spread between two buttresses of the +dead-wood. Her cousin had constructed this miniature arbour, and proud +did he appear to see his little sylph reclining under its shade. + +The tapuyo, accustomed to an Amazonian sun, did not require to keep cool +by submerging himself; and as for the negro, he would scarce have been +discommoded by an atmosphere indicated by the highest figure on the +thermometer. These two men, though born on opposite sides of the +Atlantic Ocean, were alike types of a tropical existence, and equally +disregarded the fervour of a tropic sun. + +Suddenly the four, who had fallen a little astern, were seen making +towards the log; and by the terror depicted on their countenances, as +well as their quick, irregular strokes, it was evident something in the +water had caused them serious alarm. What could it all mean? It was of +no use to ask the swimmers themselves. They were as ignorant of what +was alarming them as their companions upon the log; they only knew that +something was biting them about the legs and feet; but what it was they +had not the slightest idea. It might be an insect,--it might be a +water-snake, or other amphibious reptile; but whatever it was, they +could tell that its teeth were sharp as needles, and scored their flesh +like fish-hooks. + +It was not till they had gained footing upon the log, and their legs +were seen covered with lacerations, and streaming with fresh blood, that +they ascertained the sort of enemy that had been attacking them. Had +the water been clear, they might have discovered it long before; but +discoloured as it was, they could not see beneath the surface far enough +to make out the character of their secret assailants. But the tapuyo +well understood the signs, and, as soon as his eye rested upon them, his +perplexity disappeared; and, with an exclamation that rather betokened +relief, he pronounced the simple phrase, "Only _piranhas_!" + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE. + +THE PIRANHAS. + +The companions of the tapuyo were no wiser for his words, until piranhas +was explained to them to mean "biting fish," for such were the unseen +enemies that assailed them. + +They belong to the great tribe of the _Salmonidae_, of which there are +many varieties in the different Amazonian rivers, all very voracious, +and ready to bite at anything that may be thrown into the water. They +often attack bathers, putting them to flight; and a swimmer who should +unfortunately be surrounded by them, when far from the shore or a boat, +would have the greatest difficulty to escape the fearful late of being +eaten up alive. Most of the species are fish of small size, and it is +their numbers that the swimmer has chiefly to dread. + +As it was, our adventurers were more scared than hurt. The commotion +which they had made in the water, by their plunging and kicking, had +kept the piranhas at a distance, and it was only an odd one that had +been able to get a tooth into them. + +For any injury they had sustained, the Mundurucu promised them not only +a speedy revenge, but indemnification of a more consolatory kind. He +knew that the piranhas, having tasted blood, would not willingly wander +away, at least for a length of time. Although he could not see the +little fish through the turbid water, he was sure they were still in the +neighbourhood of the log, no doubt in search of the prey that had so +mysteriously escaped them. As the dead-wood scarcely stirred, or +drifted only slightly, the piranhas could keep alongside, and see +everything that occurred without being seen themselves. This the tapuyo +concluded they were doing. He knew their reckless voracity,--how they +will suddenly spring at anything thrown into the water, and swallow +without staying to examine it. + +Aware of this habit, he had no difficulty in determining what to do. +There was plenty of bait in the shape of half-dried charqui, but not a +fish-hook to be found. A pair of pins, however, supplied the +deficiency, and a piece of string was just right for a line. This was +fastened at one end to the pashuba spear, to the pin-hook at the other; +and then, the latter being baited with a piece of peixe-boi, the fishing +commenced. + +Perhaps never with such rude tackle was there more successful angling. +Almost as soon as the bait sank under the water, it was seized by a +piranha, which was instantly jerked out of its native element, and +landed on the log. Another and another and another, till a score of the +creatures lay upon the top of the dead-wood, and Tipperary Tom gave them +the finishing touch, as they were caught, with a cruel eagerness that +might to some extent have been due to the smarting of his shins. + +How long the "catch" might have continued it is difficult to say. The +little fish were hooked as fast as fresh bait could be adjusted, and it +seemed as if the line of succession was never to end. It did end, +however, in an altogether unexpected way, by one of the piranhas +dropping back again into the water, and taking, not only the bait, but +the hook and a portion of the line along with it, the string having +given away at a weak part near the end of the rod. + +Munday, who knew that the little fish were excellent to eat, would have +continued to take them so long as they were willing to be taken, and for +this purpose the dress of Rosita was despoiled of two more pins, and a +fresh piece of string made out of the skin of the cow-fish. + +When the new tackle was tried, however, he discovered to his +disappointment that the piranhas would no longer bite; not so much as a +nibble could be felt at the end of the string. They had had time for +reflection, perhaps had held counsel among themselves, and come to the +conclusion that the game they had been hitherto playing was "snapdragon" +of a dangerous kind, and that it was high time to desist from it. + +The little incident, at first producing chagrin, was soon viewed rather +with satisfaction. The wounds received were so slight as scarce to be +regarded, and the terror of the thing was over as soon as it became +known what tiny creatures had inflicted them. Had it been snakes, +alligators, or any animals of the reptile order, it might have been +otherwise. But a school of handsome little fishes,--who could suppose +that there had been any danger in their attack? + +There had been, nevertheless, as the tapuyo assured them,--backing up +his assurance by the narrative of several narrow escapes he had himself +had from being torn to pieces by their sharp triangular teeth, further +confirming his statements by the account of an Indian, one of his own +tribe, who had been eaten piecemeal by piranhas. + +It was in the river Tapajos, where this species of fish is found in +great plenty. The man had been in pursuit of a peixe-boi, which he had +harpooned near the middle of the river, after attaching his weapon by +its cord to the bow of his montaria. The fish being a strong one, and +not wounded in a vital part, had made a rush to get off, carrying the +canoe along with it. The harpooner, standing badly balanced in his +craft, lost his balance and fell overboard. While swimming to overtake +the canoe, he was attacked by a swarm of piranhas ravenous for prey, +made so perhaps by the blood of the peixe-boi left along the water. The +Indian was unable to reach the canoe; and notwithstanding the most +desperate efforts to escape, he was ultimately compelled to yield to his +myriad assailants. + +His friends on shore saw all, without being able to render the slightest +assistance. They saw his helpless struggles, and heard his last +despairing shriek, as he sank below the surface of the water. Hastening +to their canoes, they paddled, rapidly out to the spot where their +comrade had disappeared. All they could discern was a skeleton lying +along the sand at the bottom of the river, clean picked as if it had +been prepared for an anatomical museum, while the school of piranhas was +disporting itself alone, as if engaged in dancing some mazy minuet in +honour of the catastrophe they had occasioned. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR. + +A STOWAWAY. + +The new-caught fishes looked too temptingly fresh to be long untasted; +and although it was but an hour since our adventurers had eaten their +dinner, one and all were inclined for an afternoon meal upon piranha. +The Mundurucu set the fire freshly astir, and half a dozen piranhas were +soon browned in the blaze and distributed among the party, who one and +all endorsed the tapuyo, by pronouncing them a delicacy. + +After the second dinner they were more gay than ever. The sun sinking +westward indicated the quarters of the compass; and already a few puffs +of wind promised them an evening breeze. They saw that it was still +blowing in the same direction, and therefore favourable to the +navigation of their craft, whose thick sail, spread broadly athwart +ships, seemed eager to catch it. + +Little dreamt they at that moment that, as it were, a volcano was +slumbering under their feet; that separated from them by only a few +inches of half-decayed wood was a creature of such monstrous size and +hideous shape as to have impressed with a perpetual fear every Indian +upon the Amazon, from Para to Peru, from the head waters of the Purus to +the sources of the Japura! At that moment, when they were chatting +gaily, even laughingly, in confidence of a speedy deliverance from the +gloomy Gapo,--at that very moment the great _Mai d'Agoa_, the "Mother of +the Waters," was writhing restlessly beneath them, preparing to issue +forth from the cavern that concealed her. + +The tapuyo was sitting near the fire, picking the bones of a piranha, +which he had just taken from the spit, when all at once the half-burned +embers were seen to sink out of sight, dropping down into the log, as +cinders into the ash-pit of a dilapidated grate. "Ugh!" exclaimed the +Indian, giving a slight start, but soon composing himself; "the +dead-wood hollow at the heart! Only a thin shell outside, which the +fire has burnt through. I wondered why it floated so lightly,--wet as +it was!" + +"Wasn't it there the tocandeiras had their nest?" inquired Trevannion. + +"No, patron. The hole they had chosen for their hive is different. It +was a cavity in one of the branches. This is a hollow along the main +trunk. Its entrance will be found somewhere in the butt,--under the +water, I should think, as the log lies now." + +Just then no one was curious enough to crawl up to the thick end and +see. What signified it whether the entrance to the hollow, which had +been laid open by the falling in of the fire, was under water or above +it, so long as the log itself kept afloat? There was no danger to be +apprehended, and the circumstance would have been speedily dismissed +from their minds, but for the behaviour of the coaita, which now +attracted their attention. + +It had been all the time sitting upon the highest point which the +dead-wood offered for a perch. Not upon the rudely rigged mast, nor yet +the yard that carried the sail; but on a spar that projected several +feet beyond the thick end, still recognisable as the remains of a root. +Its air and attitude had undergone a sudden change. It stood at full +length upon all fours, uttering a series of screams, with chatterings +between, and shivering throughout its whole frame, as if some dread +danger was in sight, and threatening it with instant destruction. + +It was immediately after the falling in of the fagots that this began; +but there was nothing to show that it was connected with that. The +place where the fire had been burning was far away from its perch; and +it had not even turned its eyes in that direction. On the contrary, it +was looking below; not directly below where it stood, but towards the +butt-end of the ceiba, which could not be seen by those upon the log. +Whatever was frightening it should be there. There was something about +the excited actions of the animal,--something so heart-rending in its +cries,--that it was impossible to believe them inspired by any ordinary +object of dread; and the spectators were convinced that some startling +terror was under its eyes. + +Tipperary Tom was the first to attempt a solution of the mystery. The +piteous appeals of his pet could not be resisted. Scrambling along the +log he reached the projecting point, and peeped over. Almost in the +same instant he recoiled with a shriek; and, calling on his patron +saint, retreated to the place where he had left his companions. On his +retreat Munday set out to explore the place whence he had fled, and, on +reaching it, craned his neck over the end of the dead-wood, and looked +below. A single glance seemed to satisfy him; and, drawing back with as +much fear as the man who had preceded him, he exclaimed in a terrified +shriek, "_Santos Dios_! 'tis the Spirit of the Waters!" + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY FIVE. + +THE SPIRIT OF THE WATERS. + +"The _Mai d'Agoa_! the Spirit of the Waters!" exclaimed Trevannion, +while the rest stood speechless with astonishment, gazing alternately +upon the Indian and the Irishman, who trembled with affright. "What do +you mean? Is it something to be feared?" + +Munday gave an emphatic nod, but said no word, being partly awed into +silence and partly lost in meditating some plan of escape from this new +peril. + +"What did _you_ see, Tom?" continued Trevannion, addressing himself to +the Irishman, in hopes of receiving some explanation from that quarter. + +"Be Sant Pathrick! yer honour, I can't tell yez what it was. It was +something like a head with a round shinin' neck to it, just peepin' up +out av the wather. I saw a pair av eyes,--I didn't stay for any more, +for them eyes was enough to scare the sowl out av me. They were +glittherin' like two burnin' coals! Munday calls it the spirit av the +wathers. It looks more like the spirit av darkness!" + +"The _Mai d'Agoa_, uncle," interposed the young Paraense, speaking in a +suppressed voice. "_The Mother of the Waters_! It's only an Indian +superstition, founded on the great water serpent,--the anaconda. No +doubt it's one of these he and Tom have seen swimming about under the +butt-end of the log. If it be still there I shall have a look at it +myself." + +The youth was proceeding towards the spot so hastily vacated by Munday +and Tom, when the former, seizing him by the arm, arrested his progress. +"For your life, young master, don't go there! Stay where you are. It +may not come forth, or may not crawl up to this place. I tell you it is +the Spirit of the Waters!" + +"Nonsense, Munday; there's no such thing as a _spirit_ of the waters. +If there were, it would be of no use our trying to hide from it. What +you've seen is an anaconda. I know these water-boas well enough,--have +seen them scores of times among the islands at the mouth of the Amazon. +I have no fear of them. Their bite is not poisonous, and, unless this +is a very large one, there's not much danger. Let me have a look!" + +The Indian, by this time half persuaded that he had made a mistake,--his +confidence also restored by this courageous behaviour,--permitted +Richard to pass on to the end of the log. On reaching it he looked +over; but recoiled with a cry, as did the others, while the ape uttered +a shrill scream, sprang down from its perch, and scampered off to the +opposite extremity of the dead-wood. + +"It _is_ an anaconda!" muttered the Paraense, as he made his way +"amidships," where the rest were awaiting him; "the largest I have ever +seen. No wonder, Munday, you should mistake it for the _Mai d'Agoa_. +'Tis a fearful-looking creature, but I hope we shall be able to destroy +it before it can do any of us an injury. But it is very large, and we +have no arms! What's to be done, Munday?" + +"Be quiet,--make no noise!" entreated the Indian, who was now himself +again. "May be it will keep its place till I can get the spear through +its neck, and then--Too late! The sucuruju is coming upon the log!" + +And now, just rising through a forked projection of the roots, was seen +the horrid creature, causing the most courageous to tremble as they +beheld it. There was no mistaking it for anything else than the head of +a serpent; but such a head as not even the far-travelled tapuyo had ever +seen before. In size it equalled that of an otter, while the lurid +light that gleamed from a pair of scintillating orbs, and still more the +long, forked tongue, at intervals projected like a double jet of flame, +gave it an altogether demoniac appearance. + +The water out of which it had just risen, still adhering to its scaly +crown, caused it to shine with the brightness of burnished steel; and, +as it loomed up between their eyes and the sun, it exhibited the +coruscation of fire. Under any circumstances it would have been fearful +to look at; but as it slowly and silently glided forth, hanging out its +forked red tongue, it was a sight to freeze the blood of the bravest. + +When it had raised its eyes fairly above the log, so that it could see +what was upon it, it paused as if to reconnoitre. The frightened men, +having retreated towards the opposite end of the dead-wood, stood as +still as death, all fearing to make the slightest motion, lest they +should tempt the monster on. + +They stood about twenty paces from the serpent, Munday nearest, with the +pashuba spear in hand ready raised, and standing as guard over the +others. Richard, armed with Munday's knife, was immediately behind him. +For more than a minute the hideous head remained motionless. There was +no speech nor sound of any kind. Even the coaita, screened by its +friends, had for the time ceased to utter its alarm. Only the slightest +ripple on the water, as it struck against the sides of the ceiba, +disturbed the tranquillity of the scene, and any one viewing the tableau +might have supposed it set as for the taking of a photograph. + +But it was only the momentary calm that precedes the tempest. In an +instant a commotion took place among the statue-like figures,--all +retreating as they saw the serpent rise higher, and, after vibrating its +head several times, lie flat along, evidently with the design of +advancing towards them. In another instant the monster was advancing,-- +not rapidly, but with a slow, regular motion, as if it felt sure of its +victims, and did not see the necessity for haste in securing them. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX. + +AN UNEXPECTED ESCAPE. + +The great reptile had already displayed more than a third of its hideous +body, that kept constantly thickening as it rose over the butt-end of +the log; and still the tapuyo appeared irresolute. In a whisper, +Trevannion suggested their taking to the water. + +"No, patron; anything but that. It would just be what the sucuruju +would like. In the water it would be at home, and we should not. We +should there be entirely at his mercy." + +"But are we not now?" + +"Not yet,--not yet,--stay!" From the fresh confidence with which he +spoke, it was evident some plan had suggested itself. "Hand me over +that monkey!" he said; and when he took the ape in his arms, and +advanced some paces along the log, they guessed for what the pet was +destined,--to distract the attention of the anaconda, by securing for it +a meal! + +Under other circumstances, Tom might have interfered to prevent the +sacrifice. As it was, he could only regard it with a sigh, knowing it +was necessary to his own salvation. + +As Munday, acting in the capacity of a sort of high-priest, advanced +along the log, the demon to whom the oblation was to be made, and which +he still fancied might be the _Spirit of the Waters_, paused in its +approach, and, raising its head, gave out a horrible hiss. + +In another instant the coaita was hurled through the air, and fell right +before it. Rapidly drawing back its head, and opening wide its serrated +jaws, the serpent struck out with the design of seizing the offering. +But the ape, with characteristic quickness, perceived the danger; and, +before a tooth could be inserted into its skin, it sprang away, and, +scampering up the mast, left Munday face to face with the anaconda, that +now advanced rapidly upon him who had endeavoured to make use of such a +substitute. + +Chagrined at the failure of his stratagem, and dismayed by the +threatening danger, the tapuyo retreated backwards. In his confusion he +trod upon the still smouldering fire, his scorched feet scattering the +fagots as he danced through them, while the serpent, once more in +motion, came resolutely on. + +His companions were now more frightened than ever, for they now saw that +he was, like themselves, a prey to fear. For again had he become a +believer in the Spirit of the Waters. As he stood poising his spear, it +was with the air of a man not likely to use it with effect. The young +Paraense, with his knife, was more likely to prove a protector. But +what could either do to arrest the progress of such a powerful monster +as that, which, with only two thirds of its length displayed, extended +full twenty feet along the log? Some one of the party must become a +victim, and who was to be the first? + +The young Paraense seemed determined to take precedence, and, with the +generous design of protecting his friends,--perhaps only little Rosa was +in his thoughts,--he had thrown himself in front of the others, even the +spearman standing behind him. It appeared that his time was come. He +had not confidence that it was not. What could he do with a knife-blade +against such an enemy? He stood there but to do his duty, and die. + +And both would quickly have been accomplished,--the duty and the +death,--but that the Omnipotent Hand that had preserved them through so +many perils was still stretched over them, and in its own way extricated +them from this new danger. To one unacquainted with the cause, it might +have been a matter of surprise to see the reptile, hitherto determined +upon making an attack, all at once turn away from its intended victims; +and, without even showing its tail upon the log, retreat precipitately +into the water, and swim off over the lagoa, as if the ceiba was +something to be shunned beyond everything else that might be encountered +in the Gapo! + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVEN. + +HISTORY OF THE ANACONDA. + +Though it may be a mystery to the reader why it had retreated, it was +none to our adventurers, who had seen it crawl over the scattered +fagots; they had heard the hissing, sputtering sound, as the live coals +came in contact with its wet skin; they had witnessed its dismay and +flight at a phenomenon so unexpected. They were therefore well aware +that it was the scorching hot cinders that had caused the sucuruju to +forsake the dead-wood in such a sudden and apparently mysterious manner. + +It was some time before they were entirely relieved of their fears. +Notwithstanding its precipitate retreat, they could not tell but that +the anaconda might change its mind and come back again. They could see +it swimming for some time in a tortuous track, its head and part of its +neck erect above the water; then it took a direct course, as if +determined upon leaving the lagoa. It was, therefore, with no ordinary +feeling of relief that they saw it finally disappearing from view in the +far distance. + +The mystery of its presence upon the dead monguba was soon cleared up. +The log was hollow inside, the heart-wood being entirely decayed and +gone. In the cavity the serpent had perhaps sought a sleeping-place +secure from intrusion during some protracted slumber that had succeeded +the swallowing of a gigantic prey,--deer, paca, or capivain. Here it +had lain for days,--perhaps weeks; and the log, carried away by the +rising of the floods, had done nothing to disturb its repose. Its first +intimation that there was any change in the situation of its +sleeping-place was when the fire fell in through the burnt shell, and +the hot cinders came in contact with its tail, causing it to come forth +from its concealment, and make the observation that resulted in its +attacking the intruders. The hollow that had contained the colony of +tocandeiras was altogether a different affair. It was a cavity of a +similar kind, but unconnected with that in the heart of the tree; and it +was evident that the little insects and the great reptile, although +dwelling in such close proximity,--under the same roof, it may be +said,--were entirely unacquainted with each other. + +When the serpent was quite out of sight, our adventurers once more +recovered their spirits, and conversed gayly about the strange incident. +The breeze, having freshened, carried their raft with considerable +rapidity through the water, in the right direction, and they began to +scan the horizon before them in the hope of seeing, if not land, at +least the tree-tops ahead. These, however, did not show themselves on +that day, and before the sun went down the forest behind them sank out +of sight. The night overtook them, surrounded by a smooth surface of +open water, spotless and apparently as limitless as the great ocean +itself. + +They did not "lay to," as on the night before. The breeze continued +favourable throughout the night; and, as they were also favoured with a +clear sky, and had the stars to pilot them, they kept under sail till +the morning. Before retiring to rest they had supped upon roast charqui +and fish broiled over the coals; and, after supper, talk commenced, as +usual, the chief topic being the anaconda. On this subject the tapuyo +had much to say, for of all the animals that inhabit the water +wilderness of the Amazon there is none that inspires the Indian with +greater interest than the sucuruju. It is the theme of frequent +discourse, and of scores of legends;--some real and true, while others +have had their origin in the imagination of the ignorant aboriginal; +some even having proceeded from the excited fancy of the colonists +themselves, both Spanish and Portuguese, who could boast of a higher +intelligence and better education. + +The fanciful say that there are anacondas in the waters of the Amazon +full thirty yards in length, and of a thickness equalling the dimensions +of a horse! This has been stated repeatedly,--stated and believed in, +not only by the ignorant Indian, but by his instructors, the monks of +the missions. The only fanciful part of the statement is what regards +the size, which must be merely an exaggeration. What is real and true +is of itself sufficiently surprising. It is true that in the South +American rivers there are anacondas, or "water-boas," as they are +sometimes called, over thirty feet in length and of proportionate +thickness; that these monstrous creatures can swallow such quadrupeds as +capivains, deer, and even large-sized animals of the horse and cattle +kind; that they are not venomous, but kill their prey by +_constriction_,--that is, by coiling themselves around it, and crushing +it by a strong muscular pressure; and that, once gorged, they retire to +some safe hiding-place,--of which there is no scarcity in the +impenetrable forests of Amazonia,--go to sleep, and remain for a time in +a sort of torpid condition. Hence they are much more rarely seen than +those animals which require to be all the time on the alert for their +daily food. + +Of these great snakes of Tropical America there are several species; and +these again are to be classified, according to their habits, into two +groups markedly distinct,--the "boas," properly so called, and the +"water-boas," or anacondas. The former are terrestrial in their mode of +living, and are to be found upon the dry road; the latter, though not +strictly living in the water or under it, are never met with except +where it is abundant; that is to say, on the banks of rivers and +lagoons, or in the submerged forests of the Gapo. They swim under +water, or upon the surface, with equal facility; and they are also +arboreal, their powers of constriction enabling them to make their way +to the tops of the highest trees. It is these that are more properly +called sucurujus,--a name belonging to the common language spoken upon +the Amazon, a mixture of Portuguese with the ancient tongue of the +Supinampas, known as the _lingua geral_. No doubt, also, it is from +some unusually large specimen of sucuruju, seen occasionally by the +Indian hunters and fishermen, that these simple people have been led +into a belief in the existence of the wonderful _Mai d'Agoa_, or "Mother +of the Waters." + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHT. + +A SNAKE "YARN." + +Cheered by the thought that the breeze was bearing them in the right +direction, our adventurers sat up till a late hour. When they at length +resolved upon going to sleep, it was arranged that two should sit up,-- +one to mind the sail, the other to ply a paddle, and keep the craft +steadily to her course, as well as could be done with such a rudder. +The old sea-cook still had charge of the sheets and halyards, while +Tipperary, notwithstanding that he had already proved himself such an +indifferent helmsman, was intrusted with the steering. + +After the many perils through which they had passed, and under the +apprehension of the many more through which they might yet have to pass, +Tom's mismanagement,--the original cause of all their misfortunes,--if +not forgotten, was not remembered against him with resentment. It had +been only an error of judgment,--a fault of the head, and not of the +heart. + +Even the negro, whose race appears, almost by instinct, to inherit an +antipathy to the countrymen of Tom, and who, previous to the +catastrophe, was not always on the best of terms with the Irishman, no +longer showed signs of spite: rather had the two become friends. Their +friendship sprung from the ties of a common misfortune, and any little +difference that now displayed itself was in a rivalry as to which should +make himself most useful to the floating community. + +On this particular night they sat together as white and black brothers; +Mozey attending to the sipo that served for a sheet to the sail, and Tom +steering the craft by a star that had been pointed out to him as that +towards which he was to keep her head. + +Both African and Irishman were not a little vain of being thus left to +themselves. Up to that time both had been playing a very subordinate +part; the Indian taking upon himself almost the sole management of +affairs, and treating them as nobodies. From the night on which they +had made their unfortunate mistake by straying into the Gapo, every +movement had been made by his counsel and direction: moreover, both had +suffered humiliation by his having saved their lives from drowning. +Although they were not ungrateful for that, they were nevertheless +chagrined to think that they should be so looked upon. + +On this night, Munday, worn out by his long-continued exertions, was +urged by Trevannion to desist, and recruit his energies by good repose. +As there was no particular reason why he should remain awake, he had +consented to do so; and, with his back against one of the buttresses, he +reposed, silent as the Sphinx. + +Neither the man of Mozambique, nor he of Tipperary, was given to habits +of silence; and they continued to converse long after the others had +sunk into slumber. After what had that day occurred, it was natural +that the theme should be _snakes_. "Yez have got some in your +counthry,--haven't yer, Mozey?" inquired Tom. + +"Dar you'se 'bout right, Masser Tum. Haven't we got um! Snakes ob de +biggest kind." + +"But none so big as the wun we saw the day?" + +"Buf! you call dat a big snake. He not more den ten yard long. I've +hab some on de coass of Africa, down dere by Mozabeek, dat measure more +den a mile,--ticker round de body den dis ere log we sittin' on." + +"More than a mile long!" rejoined Tipperary. "And thicker than this +tree! Yez don't mane to say ye iver saw wan ov that size yerself?" + +"Well, I's not say it war a whole mile. It mout be less, an' it mout a +been more dan a mile. Ob one ting I's sartin shoo: it wa'n't less den +three quarters ob a mile. Youz may b'lieve um or not; jess as you +pleeze 'bout dat, Massa Tipprary. All I'b got to say is, dat de snake I +'peak 'bout war long nuf to go clar roun' de kraal, and twice roun' +too." + +"A kraal! what moight that be? I know what a _kreel_ is. Miny's the +wan I've carried on me back, full ov turf at that, in the bogs of +Tipperary. Yez don't mane a kreel, div ye?" + +"Kreel! no. I'm 'peakin' 'bout de place we niggers live in,--village, +you white folk call 'um." + +"A village! that is a town av people,--men, weemen, and childher." + +"Jess so. Da be men, woman, and chillen in de kraal,--sartin to be +plenty of boaf de last,--an' dar am dogs, and sheeps, and goats, and +sometime big cattle. Dat's zactly what we brack folks ob de African +coass call de kraal. Some am bigger dan oders; but de one I 'peak +'bout, dat war surrounded by de snake, war a kraal ob de mod'rate size. +It had 'bout a hundred houses, and, ob coorse, it contain zackly hundred +families, excludin' de piccaninnies." + +"A snake to extind round a hundherd houses! Whin was that?" + +"When dis chile was a piccaninny hisself. If you like, Massa Tipprary, +I tell you all 'bout it. Ye see, dat de kraal I 'peak 'bout war my +native place, wha dis chile fust saw de shinin' ob de sun. I 'pose I +war 'bout ten year ole jess at dat time when de sacumstance 'curred ob +which I go tell you. Near de village dar war a big foress. It wa' +filled with all sorts ob dangerous beasts. Da wa' buffaloes and +elephants, an' de rhinoceros, an' hipperpotamusses, an' dar war big +monkeys ob de baboon 'pecies. These lass war partickler dangerous, +'pecially to de women ob de place, for if any ob de nigga gals strayed +too fur into de foress, den de baboons carried dem up into de tops ob de +highest trees, an' dere kep' dem prisoner fo' eber. But de wussest ting +in dat wood war de snakes. Da war ob all sorts an' sizes. Dere war de +cobera, berry benemous, dat killed you wif him bite, an' de spit snake +dat fo' pizen beat de cobera all holler, as it kud kill ye by jess +spittin' upon yer from among de branches ob a tree. An' da war de +whip-snake, dat lashed folks to deaph wif him tail; an' de rock-boa dat +twisted itself roun' you body an' crushed you to de jelly. But none ob +dese kud hold a candle to de great big snake ob all,--de one I tell you +'bout. Munday, he call dat we see, de spirit ob de waters. Our big +snake we nigga of Mozabeek call de _debbil ob de woods_. Nebba mind +'bout de name. He come one fine mornin', dis debbil come, while de +people ob de kraal war all 'sleep, dat is 'fore anybody get up to go +'bout dar bisness. He surroun' the village _twice_." + +"You mane that he crawled twice round it?" + +"Not a bit ob dat;--he may hab crawled twenty time roun' it: nobody +know. De people all 'sleep when he come. What dis chile mean is, dat +when de people get out ob dar beads, an' come to de door, de debbil ob +de woods, he hab him body all roun' de place in two great coil, one on +top ob de odder, like de cable 'board ship,--de two makin' a fence roun' +do kraal, more'n ten feet high." + +"Saint Pathrick prasarve us!" + +"Ah, Masser Tom, I tink I hear you say dat de San Parfick you 'peak +'bout was a great snake-killer in yur country. I wish he had been in de +island of Mozabeek on dat same mornin'. Pahps dis nigger might still +hab a fadder an' a modder. He loss dem boaf on de occasion we now 'peak +ob. You see de snake, after enclosin' de kraal twice roun' wif him +body, left enuf ob de neck to reach all ober de place; den stretchin' +out him mouf, dat war wide nuf to swaller a man 'ithout chewin' him, he +went from house to house, pickin' out de people, till der want one lef', +neider man, woman, nor chile. He eat up de chief ob de kraal jess de +same as de commonest scum ob de village. As fo' de piccaninnies, he +swallow dem eight or ten at a time, jess de same as we see de ant-eater +do wif de ants. Boaf de men an' de women an' de chillen try to 'scape +out ob de place. 'Twa'n't no manner ob use. When dey tried to climb +ober de body ob de snake, de ole debbil gub hisself a shake, an' down +dey slipped from him sides, as if him skin had been coated from de slush +cask. Ob course da wa' soon all destroyed." + +"But yerself, Mozey; how did yez manage to 'scape?" + +"Ah, how! dat wor de bess joke ob de whole. As I's been tellin' you, I +war at de time only a piccaninny, 'bout ten years ob de age. I war +considered 'bove de common for dat age, an' wa' employed in de house ob +de chief which war called de palace. Well, jess when I see dat great +big mouf sarchin' from place to place an' swallerin' up ebberybody, I +know it wan't no use to hide down dar among de houses. Now dar war a +big pole dat stood righ' in front ob de palace, wif a flag floatin' on +de top. When de odder folk war runnin' about ebbery wha else, I climbed +up de pole, an' when I got to de top, I drawed de flag roun' me, so as +to hide de whole ob my body. When dat 'ere debbil ob de woods had +finished off wif de oder people, and cleared out de kraal complete, he +nebber thought 'bout lookin' up de pole, or 'spectin' whether tha wa' +anybody wrop up in de flag at de top. Dis chile kep' up dar till he see +de snake 'tretch out him long body, an' go back to de big foress. Den I +slip down from de tree, an' make my way to de nearest place wha da war +people. As boaf my fadder and modder had been eat up 'long wi' de ress, +I atterwards left home an' tuk to de sea. Dat's why dis nigger hab +wandered all de way fom dat 'ere island ob Mozabeek. Buf! de snake we +see here, de spirit ob de water, a'n't no more to de debbil ob de woods +dan a tadpole am to de biggest alligator in all de waters ob de Amazum." + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE. + +SAINT PATRICK'S PERFORMANCE. + +Notwithstanding the serious air with which Mozey told his very +improbable story, Tom did not appear to give implicit credence to it. +He evidently suspected that the rogue had been cheating him; and, after +several exclamations of wonder, but without betraying incredulity, he +sat in silence, apparently cogitating some scheme for repaying him. It +was not long before an opportunity offered, his companion +unintentionally furnishing him with a cue. + +"I's hab heer, Massa Tum, dat dar am no snake in de country wha you come +from. Dat 'ere de troof?" + +"Yis. Nayther snake nor toad in owld Oireland,--nayther could live for +a single hour, if ye plants them thare. The green island wudn't contain +thim bekase they're condimned to die the moment they sit fut on the +sod." + +"But what condemn dem?" + +"Saint Pathrick, to be shure. Trath, thare's a story about that. May +be yez wud loike to be afther hearin' it, Mozey?" + +"Like um berry much, Massy Tum." + +"Will, thin, I'll till it to yer. It isn't such a wondherful story as +yours; but it had a betther indin', as yer'll see when ye've heerd it. +Instid av the snakes killin' all the people exciptin' wan, the riptiles +got killed thimsilves, all but wan,--that was the father of ivry sirpint +in the world. He's livin' yit, an' must now be about five thousand +years uv age. So the praste sez. + +"A long toime ago, owld Oireland was very badly infisted wid thim +craythers. They wur so thick all over the swate island, that yez cudn't +sit your fut down widout triddin' on wan av their tails; an' to kape out +av their way the people had to build a great scaffoldin' that extinded +all over the counthry, and slape on the threes, just as we've been doin' +over the gyapo. + +"Whiniver they wanted anythin' to ate, such as purtaties, an' the loike, +they were compilled to git it up from the ground wid long forks; and +whin they wur in need to dhrink, they had to dip it up in buckets, as if +they were drawin' it out av a well. + +"Av coorse this was moighty inconvanient, an' cudn't last long no how. +The worst ov it was, that the snakes, instid ov gettin' thinned off, +were ivery year growin' thicker, by razin ov their large families ov +young wuns. Will, it got so bad at last that ther' wusn't a spot av +groun' bigger than the bunch ov your hand that warn't occupoyed by a +snake, an' in some places they were two deep. The people up on the +platform that I towld yez about, they cursed an' swore, an' raged, an' +raved, an' at last prayed to be delivered from the inimy." + +Here Tom paused to note the effect of his speech on his sable listener. + +"But dey war delibbered,--wur dey?" + +"Trath, wur they. If they hadn't, is it at all loikely that yer wud see +me here? Will, the people prayed. Not as your countrymen prays, to a +stick or a stone, or beloike to the sarpints themselves, that could do +them no benefit; but to a lady, that was able to protect them. We, in +owld Oireland, call her the Virgin Mary. She was the mother av Him that +came down from the siventh heaven to save us poor sinners. But what's +the use of my tryin' to explain all that to an ignorant haythen, loike +you?" + +"No use, Massa Tum, no use," rejoined the African, in a tone of +resignation. + +"Never moind, Mozey. The lady heerd their prayer, and that was an ind +to it." + +"She killed da snakes!" + +"Arrah now; did yez think the Virgin Mary--a raal lady as she was--ud be +afther doin' such dhirty work as slaughter a whole island full of +venomous sarpents? Not a bit av that same. It's true they were +desthroyed; but not by her own swate hands. She sinds a man to do the +work for her. She sint Sant Pathrick." + +"O, I's heerd ye 'peak ob dat man, many's de time, Massa Tum. 'Twur him +dat kill de serpents, wur it?" + +"Trath was it." + +"But how'd he do it? It muss hab take um a berry long time to destroy +um all." + +"There ye are intirely asthray, nager. It only occupied him wan day, +an' not all the day nayther, for he had done the work a thrifle ov a +hour or so afther dinner-time." + +"Gollys! how'd he do all dat?" + +"Will! ye see, he invited all the snakes to a grand banquit. He had +such a charmin' way wid him that they wun an' all agreed to come. The +place was on the top of a high mountain,--called the Hill of Howth,--far +hoigher than any in the Andays we saw when crossin' thare. The faste he +had provided for them was a colliction of toads, includin' every wun ov +thim that inhabited the island. The toads he had invited too; an' the +stupid craythers, not suspictin' anythin', come willingly to the place. + +"Now yez must undherstand, nager, that the snakes are moighty fond of +toads, and frogs too; but Saint Pathrick had no ill-will against the +frogs, an' they wur exchused from comin'. As it was, the toads wur axed +at an earlier hour than the snakes, an' got first to the top of the +hill; an' while they were waitin' there to see what was to be done, the +sarpints came glidin' up, and bein' tould that their dinner was spread +before them, they fell to, an' swallowed up every toad upon the hill, +which was every wun there was in all Oireland." + +The narrator made a long pause, either to draw breath after such a +declamation, or to give time for his companion to indulge his +astonishment. + +"Gora!" exclaimed the latter, impatient for further explanation. "How +'bout de snakes demselves? Surely dey didn't swallow one anodder?" + +"Trath! an' that's jest what they did do,--every mother's son of thim." + +"But dat 'ere doan' 'tan' to reezun, unless dey hab a fight one wif de +odder? Splain yourself, Massa Tum." + +"Will, yez have guessed it exactly widout my sayin' a word. They _did_ +have a foight, that went all roun' through the whole crowd, like a +shindy in Donnybrook fair. Yez would loike to hear how it begun. Will, +I'll tell ye. There was two kinds av the riptile. Wan they called +`Ribbon snakes,' an' the tother `Orange snakes,' by razon av their +colour, both in politics and religion. They had a king over both that +lived moighty foine at their expinse. But he couldn't manage to keep +thim continted with payin' him taxes, unless by sittin' the wan agaynst +the tother. An' this he did to the full av his satisfacshin. Now the +bad blood that was betwane thim showed itself at that great gatherin' +worse than iver it had done afore. Thare wasn't toads enough to give +them all a full male; and by way of dissart they thought they'd turn to +an' ate wun another. Av course that was just what Sant Pathrick wanted; +for he wasn't plazed at their having two sorts of religion. So the ould +praste hugged thim on in the quarrel, till it come to blows, an' inded +in both kinds killin' an' atin' wun another till there was nothing lift +av ayther exceptin' the tails." + +"Golly! what becomed of de tails?" + +"O, thim? The people jumped down from the scaffolds and gathered thim +up into a hape, and thin made a great bonfire av thim, and aftherwardt +spred the ashes over the groun'; and that's what makes ould Oireland the +greenest gim av the oshin." + +"But, Massa Tum, you hab say dat one ob de snakes 'scape from the genr'l +congregation?" + +"Trath did I say it. Wun did escape, an' 's livin' to make mischief in +ould Oireland to this very day." + +"Which one was he?" + +"Their king." + +"De king. How you call um, Massa Tipprary?" + +"The Divvel." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY. + +LIGHTS AHEAD. + +The expression of incredulity had now floated from the countenance of +the Irishman to that of the African, who in turn suspected himself +imposed upon. The leer in Tom's eye plainly declared that he considered +himself "quits" with his companion; and the two remained for some +moments without further exchange of speech. When the conversation was +resumed, it related to a theme altogether different. It was no longer +on the subject of snakes, but stars. + +The pilot perceived that the one hitherto guiding him was going out of +sight,--not by sinking below the horizon, but because the sky was +becoming overcast by thick clouds. In ten minutes more there was not a +star visible; and, so far as direction went, the helm might as well have +been abandoned. Tom, however, stuck to his paddle, for the purpose of +steadying the craft; and the breeze, as before, carried them on in a +direct course. In about an hour after, this gave token of forsaking +them; and, at a still later period, the log lay becalmed upon the bosom +of the lagoa. + +What, next? Should they awake the others and communicate the unpleasant +intelligence? Tom was of opinion that they should, while the negro +thought it would be of no use. "Better let dem lie 'till," argued he, +"and hab a good night ress. Can do no good wake um up. De ole craff +muss lay to all de same, till dar come anodder whif ob de wind!" + +While they were disputing the points, or rather after they had done +disputing, and each held his tongue, a sound reached their ears that at +once attracted the attention of both. It was rather a chorus of sounds, +not uttered at intervals, but continued all the time they were +listening. It bore some resemblance to a distant waterfall; but now and +then, mingling with the hoarser roaring of the torrent, were voices as +of birds, beasts, and reptiles. None of them were very distinct. They +appeared to come from some point at a great distance off. Still, they +were loud enough to be distinguished, as sounds that could not proceed +out of the now tranquil bosom of the lagoa. + +Perhaps they might sooner have attracted the notice of the two men, but +for the sighing of the breeze against the sail, and the rippling of the +water as it rushed along the sides of the ceiba. When these sounds had +ceased, the conversation that ensued produced the same effect; and it +was only after the dispute came to a close that the disputants were made +aware that something besides their own voices was disturbing the +tranquillity of the night. + +"What is it, I wondher?" was the remark of Tipperary Tom. "Can yez +tell, Mozey?" + +"It hab berry much de soun' ob a big forress!" + +"The sound av a forest? What div yez mane by that?" + +"Wha' shud I mean, but de voices ob de animal dat lib in de forress. De +birds an' de beast, an' de tree frogs, an' dem 'ere crickets dat chirps +'mong de trees. Dat's what dis nigger mean." + +"I b'lieve ye're right, nager. It's just that same. It can't be the +wather, for that's did calm; an' it can't purceed from the sky, for it +don't come in that direction. In trath it's from the forest, as ye +say." + +"In dat case, den, we muss be near de odder side ob de lagoa, as de +Indyun call um,--jess wha we want to go." + +"Sowl, thin, that's good news! Will we wake up the masther an' till him +av it? What do yez think?" + +"Dis nigga tink better not. Let um all sleep till de broke ob day. Dat +can't be far off by dis time. I hab an idee dat I see de furs light ob +mornin' jess showin' out yonner, at de bottom ob de sky. Gora! what's +yon? Dar, dar! 'trait afore de head. By golly! dar's a fire out +yonner, or someting dat hab de shine ob one. Doan ye see it, Massa +Tum?" + +"Trath, yis; I do see somethin' shinin'. It a'n't them fire-flies, div +yez think?" + +"No! 'ta'n't de fire-fly. Dem ere flits about. Yon ting am steady, an' +keeps in de same place." + +"There's a raal fire yandher, or else it's the willy-wisp. See! be me +troth thare's two av thim. Div yez see two?" + +"Dar _am_ two." + +"That can't be the willy-wisp. He's niver seen in couples,--at laste, +niver in the bogs av Oireland. What can it be?" + +"What can which be?" asked Trevannion, who, at this moment awaking, +heard the question put by Tom to the negro. + +"Och, look yandher! Don't yez see a fire?" + +"Certainly; I see something very like one,--or rather two of them." + +"Yis, yis; there's two. Mozey and meself have just discovered thim." + +"And what does Mozey think they are?" + +"Trath, he's perplixed the same as meself. We can't make hid or tail av +thim. If there had been but wan, I'd a sayed it was a willy-wisp." + +"Will-o'-the-wisp! No, it can scarce be that,--the two being together. +Ah! I hear sounds." + +"Yes, masther, we've heerd thim long ago." + +"Why didn't you awake us? We must have drifted nearly across the lagoa. +Those sounds, I should say, come out of the forest, and that, whatever +it is, must be among the trees. Munday! Munday!" + +"Hola!" answered the Indian, as he started up from his squatting +attitude: "what is it, patron? Anything gone wrong?" + +"No: on the contrary, we appear to have got very near to the other side +of the lagoa." + +"Yes, yes!" interrupted the Indian as soon as the forest noises fell +upon his ear; "that humming you hear must come thence. _Pa terra_! +lights among the trees!" + +"Yes, we have just discovered them. What can they be?" + +"Fires," answered the Indian. + +"You think it is not fire-flies?" + +"No; the _loengos_ do not show that way. They are real fires. There +must be people there." + +"Then there is land, and we have at last reached _terra firma_." + +"The Lord be praised for that," reverently exclaimed the Irishman. "Our +throubles will soon be over." + +"May be not, may be not," answered the Mundurucu, in a voice that +betrayed both doubt and apprehension. + +"Why not, Munday?" asked Trevannion. "If it be fires we see, surely +they are on the shore; and kindled by men. There should be some +settlement where we can obtain assistance?" + +"Ah, patron! nothing of all that need follow from their being fires; +only that there must be men. The fires need only be on the shore, and +as for the men who made them, instead of showing hospitality, just as +like they make take a fancy to eat us." + +"Eat us! you mean that they may be cannibals?" + +"Just so, patron. Likely as not. It's good luck," pursued the tapuyo, +looking around, "the wind went down, else we might have been carried too +close. I must swim towards yon lights, and see what they are, before we +go any nearer. Will you go with me, young master?" + +"O, certainly!" replied Richard, to whom the question was addressed. + +"Well, then," continued the tapuyo, speaking to the others, "you must +not make any loud noise while we are gone. We are not so very distant +from those fires,--a mile or thereabout; and the water carries the sound +a long ways. If it be enemies, and they should hear us, there would be +no chance of escaping from them. Come, young master, there's not a +minute to spare. It must be very near morning. If we discover danger, +we shall have but little time to got out of its way in the darkness; and +that would be our only hope. Come! follow me!" + +As the Indian ceased speaking, he slipped gently down into the water, +and swam off to the two lights whose gleam appeared every moment more +conspicuous. + +"Don't be afraid, Rosetta," said Richard, as he parted from his cousin. +"I warrant it'll turn out to be some plantation on the bank, with a +house with lights shining through the windows, and white people inside, +where we'll all be kindly received, and get a new craft to carry us down +to Para. Good by for the present! We'll soon be back again with good +news." + +So saying, he leaped into the water and swam off in the wake of the +tapuyo. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE. + +AN AERIAL VILLAGE. + +The swimmers had not made many hundred yards when they saw beyond doubt +that the forest was not far off. It was even nearer than they had at +first imagined, the darkness having deceived them; and perhaps the log +may have drifted nearer while they were under the impression that they +lay becalmed. + +At all events, they were now scarcely a quarter of a mile from the +forest, which they knew stretched along the horizon as far as they could +have seen had it been daylight. They could only just distinguish a dark +belt or line rising above the surface of the water before them; but that +this extended right and left to a far distance could be told from the +sounds that came from it. There was the hum of tree-crickets and +cicadas, the _gluck_ of toads and frogs, the screams of aquatic birds, +the hooting of owls, and the strange plaintive calls of the +goat-suckers, of which several species inhabit the Gapo forests; the +whip-poor-will and the "willy-come-go" all the night long giving +utterance to their monotonous melody. Harsher still were the cries +proceeding from the throats of howling monkeys, with now and then the +melancholy moaning of the _ai_, as it moved slowly through the branches +of the _embauba_ (cecropia-tree). All these sounds, and a score of +other kinds,--some produced by insects and reptiles of unknown +species,--were blended in that great choir of nature which fills the +tropical forest with its midnight music. + +The two swimmers, however, paid no attention to this fact; their whole +thoughts being occupied by the lights, that, as they advanced, grew +every moment more conspicuous. There was no longer any doubt about +these being the blaze of fires. It was simply a question of where the +fires were burning, and who had kindled them. + +The young Paraense supposed them to be upon the shore of the lagoa. +About this, however, his companion expressed a doubt. They did not seem +to burn steadily, their discs appearing now larger and now less. +Sometimes one would go out altogether, then blaze up afresh, while +another was as suddenly extinguished. The younger of the two swimmers +expressed astonishment at this intermittence, which his companion easily +explained. The fires, he said, were placed at some distance from the +edge of the forest, among the trees, and it was by some tree-trunk now +and then intervening that the illusion was caused. + +Silently the swimmers approached, and in due time they glided in under +the shadow of the thick foliage, and saw the fires more distinctly. To +the astonishment of Richard--for the tapuyo did not seem at all +astonished--they did not appear to be on the ground, but up in the air! +The Paraense at first supposed them to have been kindled upon the top of +some eminence; but, on scanning them more closely, he saw that this +could not be the case. Their gleaming red light fell upon water shining +beneath, over which, it was clear, they were in some way suspended. + +As their eyes became accustomed to the glare, the swimmers could make +out that the fires were upon a sort of scaffold raised several feet +above the water, and supported by the trunks of the trees. Other +similar scaffolds could be seen, on which no fires had been kindled,-- +from the fact, no doubt, that their occupants were not yet astir. + +By the blaze human figures were moving to and fro, and others were on +the platforms near by, which were more dimly illuminated; some entering, +some coming forth from "toldos," or sheds, that stood upon them. +Hammocks could be seen suspended from free to tree, some empty, and some +still holding a sleeper. + +All this was seen at a single glance, while at the same time were heard +voices, that had been hitherto drowned by the forest choir, but could +now be distinguished as the voices of men, women, and children,--such as +might be heard in some rural hamlet, whose inhabitants were about +bestirring themselves for their daily avocations. + +The tapuyo, gliding close up to the Paraense, whispered in his ear, "A +malocca!" + +"An Indian village!" Richard rejoined. "We've reached _tierra firme_, +then?" + +"Not a bit of it, young master. If the dry land had been near, those +fires wouldn't be burning among the tree-tops." + +"At all events, we are fortunate in falling in with this curious +malocca, suspended between heaven and earth. Are we not so?" + +"That depends on who they are that inhabit it. It may be that we've +chanced upon a tribe of cannibals." + +"Cannibals! Do you think there are such in the Gapo?" + +"There are savages in the Gapo who would torture before killing,--you, +more especially, whose skins are white, remember, with bitterness, what +first drove them to make their home in the midst of the water-forests,-- +the white slave-hunters. They have reason to remember it; for the cruel +chase is still kept up. If this be a malocca of Muras, the sooner we +get away, the safer. They would show you whites no mercy, and less than +mercy to me, a red man like themselves. We Mundurucus are their +deadliest enemies. Now, you lie still, and listen. Let me hear what +they are saying. I know the Mura tongue. If I can catch a word it will +be sufficient. Hush!" + +Not long had they been listening, when the Indian started, an expression +of anxiety suddenly overspreading his features, as his companion could +perceive by the faint light of the distant fires. + +"As I expected," said he, "they are Muras. We must be gone, without a +moment's loss of time. It will be as much as we can do to paddle the +log out of sight before day breaks. If we don't succeed in doing so, we +are all lost. Once seen, their canoes would be too quick for us. Back, +back to the monguba!" + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO. + +A SLOW RETREAT: IN THE ARCADE. + +Their report spread consternation among the crew. Trevannion, +incredulous of the existence of such bloodthirsty savages as Munday +represented the Muras to be, was disposed to treat it as an +exaggeration. The young Paraense, who, when in his father's house, had +met many of the up-river traders, and heard them conversing on this very +theme, was able to endorse what the Mundurucu said. It was well-known +to the traders that there were tribes of wild Indians inhabiting the +Gapo lands, who during the season of the inundation made their home +among the tree-tops,--that some of these were cannibals, and all of them +savages of a most ferocious type, with whom an encounter in their native +wilds, by any party not strong enough to resist them, might prove both +dangerous and deadly. + +There was no time to argue; and without further opposition the ex-miner +himself sprang to one of the paddles, the tapuyo taking the other. They +had no idea of going back across the lagoa. To have proceeded in that +direction would have been to court discovery. With such slow progress +as theirs, a mile would be about all they could make before daybreak; +and, out on the open water, their craft would be distinguishable at +three times that distance. The course counselled by the tapuyo was to +keep at first parallel to the line of the trees; and then enter among +these as soon as the dawn began. + +As the party retreated, not two, but ten fires were seen gleaming among +the trees, filling the forest with their bright coruscation. The tapuyo +explained that each new light denoted the uprising of a fresh family, +until the whole malocca was astir. The fires were kindled to cook the +breakfast of the Indians. Notwithstanding this domestic design, our +adventurers looked back upon them with feelings of apprehension; for +they were not without fears that, roasted over those very fires, they +might furnish the savages with the material for a cannibal repast! + +To all appearance never did the ceiba go slower,--never lie so dull upon +the water. Despite the vigorous straining of strong arms, it scarcely +seemed to move. The sail was of no service, as there was not a breath +of air, but was rather an obstruction; and, seeing this, Mozey let loose +the halyards and gently lowered it. + +They had hardly made half a mile from the point of starting, when they +saw the dawn just appearing above the tops of the trees. They were upon +the equator itself, where between dawn and daylight there is but a short +interval of time. Knowing this, the craft was turned half round, and +pulled towards a place of concealment. As they moved on to make it, +they could see the sunlight stealing over the surface of the water, and +the fires becoming paler at its approach. In ten minutes more, daylight +would be upon them! + +It was now a struggle against time,--a trial of speed between the ceiba +and the sun,--both slowly approaching a critical point in their course. +Trevannion and the tapuyo plied the paddles as men rowing for their +lives and the lives of others dear to them. They almost felt as if the +sun favoured them; for he not only seemed to suspend his rising, but to +sink back in his course. Perhaps it was only the shadow of the trees, +under which they had now entered. At all events, they were in the midst +of obscurity, propelling the dead-wood into the embouchure of an +igarape, overshadowed with drooping trees, that, like a dark cavern, +promised them a hiding-place. + +At the moment of entering, it was so dark they could not tell how far +the opening extended. In this uncertainty they suspended the stroke of +their paddles, and suffered the ceiba to come to a standstill. As yet +they had no other light than that afforded by the fire-flies that +flitted under about the trees. But these were of the large species, +known as _Cocuyos (Elater noctilucus_), one of which, when held over the +page of a printed book, enables a person to read; and as there were many +of them wandering about, their united sparkle enabled our adventurers to +make out that the creek was of very limited extent. + +Gradually, as the sun rose higher, his light fell gently glimmering +through the leaves, and showed that the arcade was a _cul de sac_, +extending only about a hundred yards into the labyrinth of branches and +parasitical plants. They had entered, so to speak, a court through +which there was no thoroughfare; and there they must remain. They could +only get out of it by taking to the tree-tops, or else by returning to +the open lagoa. But they had had enough of travelling through the +tree-tops, while to abandon the craft that had carried them so +comfortably, and that might still avail them, was not to be thought of. + +As to returning to the open water, that would be like delivering +themselves into the very jaws of the danger they were desirous to avoid; +for, once seen by the savages, there would not be the slightest chance +of escape. They were provided with canoes moored among the tree-trunks +that formed the supports of their aerial habitations. Clumsy structures +enough; but, no matter how clumsy or slow, they were swifter than the +dead-wood; and in the event of a chase the latter would be easily +overhauled and captured. Only one course offered any prospect of +safety,--to remain all day in the arcade, trusting that none of the +savages might have any business near the place. At night they could +steal out again, and by an industrious use of their paddles put a safer +distance between themselves and the dangerous denizens of the malocca. + +Having determined on this, they drew their craft into the darkest +corner, and, making it fast to a tree, prepared to pass the time in the +pleasantest possible manner. + +There was not much pleasure sitting in that silent, sombre shadow; +especially as they were in dread that its silence might be disturbed by +the wild shout of a savage. They had taken every precaution to escape +discovery. The little fire left burning upon the log had been +extinguished by Munday, immediately on seeing the two lights first +described. They would fain have rekindled it, to cook a breakfast; but +fearing that the smoke might be seen, they chose that morning to eat the +charqui raw. + +After breakfast they could do nothing but keep their seats, and await, +with such patience as they might command, the development of events. It +was not all darkness around them. As the little creek penetrated the +trees in a straight line, they commanded a view of a portion of the +lagoa. Their situation was very similar to that of a person inside a +grotto or cavern on the sea-shore, which commands a view of the ocean +stretching away from its mouth, the bright space gradually widening as +it recedes in the distance. Though themselves seated in the midst of +obscurity, they could see brightness beyond the opening of the bay,--the +sun shining with a golden gleam upon the water. + +On this their eyes were kept,--not in the hope of seeing anything there +that might give them gratification, but rather desiring that nothing +should be seen. Notwithstanding the obscurity that surrounded them, +they could not divest themselves of the idea that one passing the +entrance of the creek could see them distinctly enough; and this kept +them in constant apprehension. + +They had no need to keep watch in any other direction. Behind them, and +on each side, extended the unbroken wall of tree-tops, shaded with +llianas, worked and woven together into a network that appeared +impenetrable even to the wild animals of the forest. Who would have +looked for an enemy in human shape to come that way? + +Up to noon no incident occurred to disturb the tranquillity of the place +or in any way add to their apprehensions. Now and then a bird appeared, +winging its way over the bright band illumined by the sun, or poising +itself for a moment and then plunging downward upon some prey it had +detected in the water. All these appearances only increased their +confidence; as the presence of the birds, undisturbed at their ordinary +avocations, indicated the absence of human beings. + +The same conclusion was drawn from the behaviour of a brace of large +fish-cows, at some distance outside, directly in front of the arcade. +When first noticed, they were engaged in some sort of rude gambol, at +which they continued for a full half-hour. After that, one of them swam +off, while the other, laying itself along the water, appeared to go to +sleep. + +It was a tantalising sight to the eyes of the old tapuyo; and it was +just as much as he could do to restrain himself from swimming out and +attacking the sleeper, either with his knife or the pashuba spear. The +danger, however, would have been too great, not from a conflict with the +cow, but of being seen by the sharp-eyed savages. + +In view of this, the Mundurucu resisted the temptation, and consented, +though not without reluctance, to let the peixe-boi continue its +slumbers uninterrupted. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE. + +FOLLOWING THE FLOAT. + +Unfortunately for our adventurers, as well as for the cow-fish itself, +other eyes than those of the tapuyo had been watching the gambols of the +two cetaceans, and had paid particular attention to the one now taking +its siesta on the surface. Neither Munday nor his companions had any +suspicion of this; for, excepting the peixe-boi itself, no living +creature was in sight. Having observed it for a considerable length of +time, still reclining in its attitude of repose, they had almost ceased +to think of it; when all at once it was seen to spring clear out of the +water, and, after making two or three grotesque plunges, sink suddenly +below the surface! + +The action was too violent and unnatural to be voluntary. The peixe-boi +had evidently been assailed in its sleep by some enemy, from which it +was but too eager to retreat. + +But what could this enemy be? The tapuyo knew of nothing _under_ the +water that was likely to have made the attack. There are no sharks nor +swordfish in the Gapo, and an alligator would scarcely dare to meddle +with a creature of such enormous dimensions. Much less could an enemy +have come from the air. There is no bird in South America, not even the +great condor itself, that would think of swooping down upon a peixe-boi. + +Some of the party said that they had seen something glancing towards the +cow-fish at the moment it made the leap,--something that looked like a +flash of lightning! What could that be? There was no cloud in the sky, +no thunder. It could not have been lightning. + +"_Pa terra_!" exclaimed the tapuyo, in evident alarm. "I know what it +was. Keep quiet or we are lost!" + +"What was it?" + +"A harpoon,--look yonder, patron! Don't you see the water in motion +where the juaroua went down?" + +"Certainly I do. That's very natural. The waves are caused by the +plunging of the animal." + +"The waves! not that; look again. You see a thin ripple. There's a +cord making it. Yonder's the float! and close behind that you will see +something more. There, there he is!" + +Sure enough, there was a rippling line caused by a cord drawn rapidly +along the surface; at the end of this a small buoy of wood dragged +rapidly after, and close behind a canoe, with an Indian in it, the +Indian in a bent attitude, plying his paddle, and evidently in pursuit +of the wounded cow-fish. The log was a "float," the line drawing it +along was at its other end attached to a harpoon, and that harpoon had +its barbs buried in the body of the peixe-boi! + +Such a specimen of a human being, even for a savage, none of the +spectators--the tapuyo perhaps excepted--had ever beheld. He was as +naked as if he had never been outside the Garden of Eden; and this very +nakedness displayed a form that, but for the absence of a hairy +covering, more resembled that of a monkey than a man. A body extremely +attenuated, yet pot-bellied, too; a pair of long, thin arms, with legs +to match, the latter knotted at the knees, the former balled at the +elbows; a huge head, seemingly larger from its mop of matted hair; a +face with high cheeks and sunken eyes,--gave him an appearance more +demoniac than human. No wonder that little Rosa screamed as he came in +sight, and that dismay exhibited itself on the features of several +others of the party. + +"Hush!" whispered Munday. "Silence all! Not a word, or we shall be +seen, and then not he, but perhaps a hundred of his tribe--Hush!" + +Fortunately the scream of Rosita had been only slight; and the savage, +in eager pursuit of the peixe-boi, had not heard it, for he continued +the chase without pause. + +He had no difficulty in discovering the whereabouts of his game. The +float guided him; for, no matter where the cow went, the tether was +still attached to her, and the movement of the log along the surface +betrayed to the eye of her pursuer every change of direction. + +Two or three times, the savage, dropping his paddle, was enabled to lay +hold of the line and commence hauling in; but the great strength of the +juaroua, as yet unexhausted, proved too much for him, and he was +compelled to let go or be pulled out of his craft. + +The latter was but a frail concern, of the smallest and rudest kind,-- +consisting of a shell of bark, gathered up at both ends and tied by +sipos, so as to give it somewhat the shape of an ordinary canoe. Even +when paddling with all his strength, its owner could make no great +speed; but great speed was not required in the chase of a peixe-boi with +a barbed spear sticking through its skin and rankling between its ribs. +It only required patience, until the huge creature should become +exhausted with its struggles and enfeebled by the loss of blood. Then +might the conquest be completed without either difficulty or danger. + +For twenty minutes or more the chase continued; the float being dragged +hither and thither, until it had crossed the water in almost every +direction. Sometimes both log and canoe were in sight, sometimes only +one of them, and sometimes neither,--at such times the cow-fish having +passed far beyond the limits of clear water visible to the spectators. + +On the last of these occasions, several minutes had elapsed before the +chase came again in sight. Our adventurers were in hopes they would see +no more of either fish, float, or follower. The interest they might +otherwise have taken in such a curious spectacle was destroyed by the +thought of the danger that would result in their being discovered. + +Just as they had begun to congratulate themselves that they were to be +spared this misfortune, the float once more came before their eyes, +still being dragged along the surface, but with much less rapidity than +when last seen. The manatee was coming into the arcade, the canoe +following close after, with the hideous savage eagerly plying his +paddle, while, with outstretched neck and wild, scintillating orbs, he +peered inquiringly into the darkness before him! + +There was no chance to escape discovery. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR. + +A CANNIBAL CAPTURED. + +The fears of those standing upon the ceiba could not have been greater +than that of the savage himself, as his canoe came bumping against the +dead-wood, and he saw standing above him a crowd of human forms. A wild +cry escaping from his lips expressed his terror and astonishment. Then +a second, in louder tone, was intended to give the alarm to his kindred, +who might possibly hear it. + +With an Indian, as with the wild animals, presence of mind is rather an +instinct than an act of reason. Instead of being disconcerted by what +he saw, and losing time to recover himself, the Mura at once plunged his +paddle into the water, and commenced beating backward, assisted by the +recoil of the canoe, which, on striking the dead-wood, had rebounded +from it by the violence of the collision. + +In a moment he had sculled himself almost clear of the arcade; he was +already within a few feet of its mouth, and would soon be back upon the +open lagoa, when he would undoubtedly make for the malocca, and bring +the whole tribe of cannibals upon them. None of the party thought of +pursuing him. There was an attempt made to seize the canoe at the +moment of its closing upon the log, but the craft had recoiled so +suddenly after the collision, and been paddled so rapidly out of reach, +that it all ended in Tipperary Tom getting soused in the water, and +nearly drowned before he could be dragged out again. The attempt at +seizure might have had a different result had Munday been among those +who made it. But he was not. + +He was nowhere to be seen upon the log, nor anywhere else! What had +become of him? None of them could say. Little Rosa was the only one +who could give any explanation of his absence. She thought she had seen +him slip off at the back of the log, while the canoe was coming on in +front. She was not sure, it was so dark upon that side; and she had +been too much engaged in regarding the approach of the savage. + +Had he made off to conceal himself among the tree-tops? Had he gone to +secure his own safety, and abandoned his friends to their fate? They +could not think this. Such a cowardly act would have been contrary to +all they knew of the brave Mundurucu, whose faithfulness had so many +times been put to the severest test. No one could account for it. + +Just at that critical moment when the canoe had reached the mouth of the +arcade, a dark round thing, like a human head, rose up in the water some +six feet before it, and then another dark thing, wonderfully like a +human hand, shot up beside the head, followed by a long and sinewy arm. +The hand was seen to strike upward and clutch the canoe close by the +stem; and then the craft went down, one end under water, while the other +flew up into the air; then there was a capsize,--the savage, with a +shriek and a loud plash, falling out; and then there was a struggle,-- +now under water, now above the surface,--accompanied by strange choking +noises, as if two enormous alligators were engaged in a conflict of life +and death. + +As the astonished spectators continued to gaze upon the scene,--still +but imperfectly comprehended by them,--they saw that the combatants were +coming nearer, as if the struggle was being carried on towards the end +of the arcade, and was likely to terminate where they stood. + +And there it did end, immediately after, by the missing tapuyo making +his appearance alongside the log, and dragging beside him the man who +had made that involuntary "header" from the canoe. + +The latter no longer resisted. The knife-blade glittering between +Munday's teeth--a taste of whose quality the savage had already +experienced--hindered him from offering any further resistance; and as +they came up to the log, the two were swimming side by side peaceably, +only that the action of one was evidently involuntary, while the other +was directing it. + +It was more like the companionship of a policeman and a thief, than that +of two swimmers who chanced to be going the same way. One arm of the +Mura was clutched by the Mundurucu, as if the captive was partly +supported while being dragged along. + +"Reach out there, patron, and pull him up!" cried Munday, as he +conducted his captive alongside the log. "I don't want to kill the +animal, though that might be the safest way in the end." + +"No, no, don't do that!" returned Trevannion, who now, along with all +the others, had arrived at a full comprehension of the affair. "We can +keep him secure enough; and, if his shouts have not been heard, we need +not fear having him along with us." As the patron spoke, he reached +down, and, laying hold of the captive, drew him close to the side of the +dead-wood. Then, assisted by Munday in the water and Mozey upon the +log, the Mura was hoisted aboard. + +Once upon the dead-wood, a more abject wretch than the captive Mura +could not have been found. He trembled from head to foot,--evidently +believing that he was about to be killed, and perhaps eaten. He had +only consented to be taken in the knowledge--which Munday had in some +way conveyed to him--that resistance could but end in instant death; and +there are few, even amongst the most reckless of savages, who will not +yield to this. + +As he stood dripping upon the dead-wood, a red stream, trickling down +his wet skin from a knife-wound in the shoulder, explained how the +tapuyo had made known to him the idleness of resistance. It was a first +stab, and not dangerous; but it had given a foretaste of what was to +follow, had the struggle been kept up. After receiving this hint, the +Mura had surrendered; and the after commotion was caused by his being +towed through the water by a captor who was required to use all his +strength and energy in supporting him. + +While the canoe-man was advancing up the arcade, the Mundurucu, instead +of waiting till he came near, had dropped quietly into the water, and +swum in an outward direction, as if intending to meet the +manatee-hunter, face to face. This he actually did,--met and passed +him, but without being seen. The darkness favoured him, as did also the +commotion already caused by the wounded cow-fish, which in its passage +up the creek had left large waves upon the water. These, striking +against the trunks of the trees, created a still further disturbance, +amidst which the swimmer's dark face and long swarthy locks could not +have been easily distinguished. + +Supporting himself by a branch, he awaited the return of the savage,-- +knowing that as soon as the latter set eyes upon the others he would +instantly beat a retreat. All turned out just as the tapuyo had +anticipated; and just as he had designed did he deal with the canoe-man. + +In all this, the only thing that appeared singular was the tapuyo's +taking so much pains to go out near the entrance, instead of boldly +laying hold of the canoe as it passed him on its way inwards, or indeed +of waiting for it upon the log,--where any one of the others, had he +been a strong swimmer and armed with a knife, might have effected the +capture. + +Munday, however, had good reasons for acting as he had done. While the +canoe was approaching, who could tell that it would come close up? It +had done so, even to striking the dead-wood with its bow; but Munday +could not rely upon such a chance as that. Had the savage discovered +their presence a little sooner, he would have turned and sculled off, +before any swimmer could have come up with him. + +A similar reason was given for gliding stealthily past, and getting on +the other side. Had the Mundurucu acted otherwise, he might have been +perceived before he could seize the canoe, and so give time for the +manatee-hunter to make off. As this last would have been a terrible +contingency, rendering their discovery almost a certainty, the cunning +old man knew how important it was that no mismanagement should occur in +the carrying out of his design. + +"If that rascal's shout has been heard," said Trevannion, "there will be +but little chance of our escaping capture. From what you saw, I suppose +there are hundreds of these hideous creatures. And we, without weapons, +without the means either of attack or defence, what could we do? There +would be nothing for it but to surrender ourselves as prisoners." + +The Mundurucu was not able to offer a word of encouragement. To have +attempted defence against a whole tribe of savages, armed, no doubt, +with spears and poisoned arrows, would have been to rush madly on death. + +"It is fortunate," continued the ex-miner, "that you have not killed +him." + +"Why, patron?" demanded the tapuyo, apparently in some surprise. + +"It would have made them revengeful; and if we have the ill-luck to be +taken, they would have been the more certain to destroy us." + +"No, no," answered the Indian,--"not a bit more certain to do that. If, +as you say, we have the bad luck to become their captives, we shall be +killed all the same. Their old revenge will be strong enough for that; +and if not their revenge, they have an appetite that will insure our +destruction. You understand, patron?" + +This conversation was carried on in a low tone, and only between +Trevannion and the tapuyo. + +"O Heaven!" groaned the ex-miner, turning his eyes upon his children. +"It would be a fearful fate for--for all of us." + +"The more reason for doing all we can to avoid falling into their +hands." + +"But what can we do? Nothing! If they discover our hiding-place before +nightfall, then we shall surely be taken." + +"Admit that, master; but if they do not--" + +"If they do not, you think there would be some hope of our getting away +from them?" + +"A good hope,--a good hope." + +"On the raft?" + +"Better than that, patron." + +"You have some plan?" + +"I've been thinking of one; but it's no use to speak of it, so long as +we are in doubt this way. If we are left unmolested until night, then, +patron, it will be time to declare it. Could you but promise me that +this screecher hasn't been heard, I think I could promise you that by +midnight we should not only be beyond the reach of his bloodthirsty +fellows, but in a fair way of getting out of our troubles altogether. +Ha! yonder's something must be looked to; I forgot that." + +"What?" + +"The _igarite_. How near it was to betraying us! Its course must be +stopped this instant." And he once more slipped down into the water and +swam away. + +The canoe, out of which the Mura had been so unceremoniously spilled, +and which was now bottom upwards, was drifting outward. It was already +within a few feet of the entrance, and in another minute would have been +caught by the breeze stirring beyond the branches of the trees. Once +outside, it would soon have made way into the open lagoa, and would have +formed a conspicuous mark for the eyes of the malocca. + +Munday swam silently, but with all his strength, towards it. It must be +reached before it could drift outside; and for some time there was +apprehension in the minds of the spectators that this might not be done. +The only one of them that would have been gratified by a failure was +the captive Mura. But the wretch showed no sign of his desire, knowing +that there would be danger in his doing so. He was held fast in the +strong arms of the negro; while Tipperary Tom stood near, ready to run +him through with the spear in case of his making any attempt to escape. + +Their apprehensions soon came to an end. The tapuyo overtook it before +it had cleared the screening of tree-tops; and, laying hold of a piece +of cord which was attached to its stem, took it in tow. In less than +five minutes after, it might have been seen right side up, lying like a +tender alongside the grand monguba. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE. + +A DAY SPENT IN SHADOW. + +All day long did our adventurers abide in silence, keeping close in +their shadowy retreat. Now and then only the Mundurucu swam to the +entrance of the arcade; and, screened by the trees, took a survey of the +open water outside. He saw only a canoe, larger than that he had +captured, with three men in it, out upon the lagoa, about two hundred +yards from the edge, and opposite the malocca, which could not itself be +seen, as it was some distance back among the trees; but, from the +bearings he had taken on the night previous, the tapuyo knew where it +lay. + +He watched the canoe so long as it remained in sight. The gestures of +the savages who were in it showed that they were occupied in fishing, +though what sort of fish they might be taking in the flooded lake Munday +could not guess. They stayed about an hour; and then, paddling their +craft back among the trees, were seen no more. + +This gratified the tapuyo and those to whom he made his report. It was +evidence that the harpooner had come out alone, and that, while striking +the cow-fish, he had not been observed by any of his people. Had that +incident been witnessed, every canoe in possession of the tribe would +have instantly repaired to the spot. + +Since the killing of a juaroua is an event of rare occurrence in the +season of the _vasante_, when it does transpire it causes the same +joyful excitement in a malocca of Amazonian Indians as the capture of a +great walrus would in a winter village of Esquimaux. It was, therefore, +quite clear to our adventurers, that no suspicion had been aroused as to +the cause of the harpooner's absence from the malocca, and so they were +enabled to endure their imprisonment with calmer confidence, and higher +hopes of finally effecting their escape. + +How long would this state of things continue? How long might the Mura +be away before his absence should excite suspicion and lead to a search? + +"As to such a thing as this," said Munday, pointing contemptuously to +the shivering captive, "he'll no more be missed than would a coaita +monkey that had strayed from its troop. If he's got a wife, which I +don't suppose he has, she'll be only too glad to get rid of him. As for +any one of them coming after him through affection, as you call it, +there you're all out, patron. Among Muras there's no such feeling as +that. If they'd seen him strike the juaroua it might have been +different. Then their stomachs would have brought them after him, like +a flock of hungry vultures. But they haven't seen him; and unless +chance guides some one this way we needn't be in any fear for to-day. +As for the morrow, if they'll only stay clear till then, I think I can +keep my promise, and we shall not only be beyond reach of Muras, but out +of this wretched lagoa altogether." + +"But you spoke of a plan, good Munday; you have not yet told us what it +is." + +"Wait, master," he rejoined; "wait till midnight, till the lights go out +in the Mura village, and perhaps a little longer. Then you shall know +my plan by seeing it carried into execution." + +"But does it not require some preparations? If so, why not make them +while it is daylight? It is now near night; and you may not have time." + +"Just so, patron; but night is just the preparation I want,--that and +this knife." + +Here Munday exhibited his shining blade, which caused the Mura captive +to tremble all over, thinking that his time was come. During all the +day he had not seen them eat. They had no chance to kindle a fire for +cooking purposes, apprehensive that the smoke, seen above the tree-tops, +might betray them to the enemy. Some of them, with stronger stomachs +than the rest, had gnawed a little of the _charqui_ raw. Most had eaten +nothing, preferring to wait till they should have an opportunity of +cooking it, which the Mundurucu had promised them they should have +before morning of the next day. Their abstinence was altogether +misunderstood by the Mura. The wretch thought they were nursing their +hunger to feed upon his flesh. + +Could he have seen himself as he was in their eyes, he might have +doubted the possibility of getting up such an appetite. They had taken +due precautions to prevent his making his escape. Tied hand and foot by +the toughest sipos that could be procured, he was also further secured +by being fastened to the monguba. A strong lliana, twisted into a rope, +and with a turn round one of the buttress projections of the roots, held +him, though this was superfluous, since any attempt to slide off into +the water must have terminated by his going to the bottom, with neither +hands nor feet free. + +They were determined, however, on making things doubly sure, as they +knew that his escape would be the signal for their destruction. Should +he succeed in getting free, he would not need his canoe; he could get +back to his village without that, for, as Munday assured them, he could +travel through the trees with the agility of an ape, or through the +water with the power of a fish; and so could all his people, trained to +the highest skill both in climbing and swimming, from the very nature of +their existence. + +There was one point upon which Trevannion had had doubts. That was, +whether they were really in such danger from the proximity of this +people as Munday would have them believe. But the aspect of this +savage, who could now be contemplated closely, and with perfect +coolness, was fast solving these doubts; for no one could have looked in +his face and noted the hideous expression there depicted without a +feeling of fear, not to say horror. If his tribe were all like him,-- +and the tapuyo declared that many of them were still uglier,--they must +have formed a community which no sane man would have entered except upon +compulsion. + +No wonder, then, that our adventurers took particular pains to keep +their captive along with them, since a sure result of his escape would +be that they would furnish a feast for the Mura village. Had he been +left to himself, Munday would have taken still surer precautions against +his getting off; and it was only in obedience to the sternest commands +of Trevannion that he was withheld from acting up to the old adage, +"Dead men tell no tales." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX. + +THE CRY OF THE JAGUAR. + +The night came on without any untoward incident; but no sooner was the +sun fairly below the horizon than they became aware of a circumstance +that caused them serious annoyance, if not absolute alarm. They saw the +full round moon rising, and every indication of the most brilliant +moonlight. The Mundurucu, more than any of them, was chagrined at this, +because of the importance of having a dark night for carrying out his +scheme, whatever it was. In fact, he had declared that a dark night was +indispensable, or, at all events, one very different from that which the +twilight promised them. + +The original intention had been, as soon as night set in, to get the +dead-wood once more into the open water, and then, if the wind should be +in their favour, to bend the sail and glide off in any direction that +would take them away from the malocca. If there should be no wind, they +could use the paddles and creep round the edge of the lagoa, going as +far as might be before another sun should expose them to view. It was +doubtful whether they could row the dead-wood, before daybreak, beyond +eyeshot of the savages; but if not, they could again seek concealment +among the tree-tops, and wait for night to continue their retreat. + +This intention was likely to be defeated by the clear shining of a +tropical moon. As she rose higher in the heavens, the lagoa became all +white effulgence; and as there was not the slightest ripple upon the +water, any dark object passing along its surface would have been seen +almost as distinctly as by day. Even the little canoe could not have +been carried outside the edge of the trees without the danger of being +seen from afar. + +That the entrance to the arcade and the tree-line outside could be seen +from the malocca was a thing already determined, for the tapuyo had +tested it during the day. Through the foliage in front of the village +he could see here and there some portions of the scaffoldings, with the +_toldos_ erected upon them, while its position was also determined by +the smoke rising from the different fires. + +As soon as night had come on, he and the young Paraense had made a +reconnoissance, and from the same place saw the reflection of the fires +upon the water below, and the gleaming fires themselves. Of course they +who sat or stood around them could see them, should they attempt to go +out with the monguba. This scheme, then, could only be resorted to +should the moon be obscured, or "put out," as Munday said, by clouds or +fog. + +Munday admitted that his plan _might_ be put in practice, without the +interposition of either; but in this case it would be ten times more +perilous, and liable to failure. In any case he did not intend to act +until midnight. After that, any time would do before the hour of +earliest daybreak. Confiding in the craft of the old tapuyo, Trevannion +questioned him no further, but along with the rest waited as patiently +as possible for the event. + +The water-forest was once more ringing with its nocturnal chorus. +Tree-toads and frogs were sending forth their metallic monotones; +_cicadae_ and lizards were uttering their sharp _skirling_ notes, while +birds of many kinds, night-hawks in the air, _strigidae_ among the +trees, and water-fowl out upon the bosom of the lagoon, were all +responding to one another. From afar came lugubrious vociferations from +the throats of a troop of howling monkeys that had made their roost +among the branches of some tall, overtopping tree; and once--what was +something strange--was heard a cry different from all the rest, and on +hearing which all the rest suddenly sank into silence. + +That was the cry of the jaguar tiger, the tyrant of the South American +forest. Munday recognised it on the instant, and so did the others; for +they had heard it often before, while descending the Solimoes. It would +have been nothing strange to have heard it on the banks of the mighty +river, or any of its tributaries. But in the Gapo, it was not only +strange, but significant, that scream of the jaguar. "Surely," said +Trevannion on hearing it, "surely we must be in the neighbourhood of +land." + +"How, patron?" replied the Mundurucu, to whom the remark was +particularly addressed. "Because we hear the voice of the _jauarite_? +Sometimes the great tiger gets overtaken by the inundation, and then, +like ourselves, has to take to the tree-tops. But, unlike us, he can +swim whenever he pleases, and his instinct soon guides him to the land. +Besides, there are places in the Gapo where the land is above water, +tracts of high ground that during the _vasante_ become islands. In +these the _jauarite_ delights to dwell. No fear of his starving there, +since he has his victims enclosed, as it were, in a prison, and he can +all the more conveniently lay his claws upon them. The cry of that +_jauarite_ is no sure sign of dry land. The beast may be twenty miles +from _terra firma_." + +While they were thus conversing, the cry of the jaguar once more +resounded among the tree-tops, and again was succeeded by silence on the +part of the other inhabitants of the forest. + +There was one exception, however; one kind of creatures not terrified +into stillness by the voice of the great cat, whose own voices now heard +in the interval of silence, attracted the attention of the listeners. +They were the Muras. Sent forth from the malocca, their shouts came +pealing across the water, and entered the shadowy aisle where our +adventurers sat in concealment, with tones well calculated to cause +fear; for nothing in the Gapo gave forth a harsher or more lugubrious +chant. + +Munday, however, who had a thorough knowledge of the habits of his +national enemies, interpreted their tones in a different sense, and drew +good augury from them. He said that, instead of grief, they betokened +joy. Some bit of good luck had befallen them, such as the capture of a +cow-fish, or a half-score of monkeys. The sounds signified feasting and +frolic. There was nothing to denote that the sullen savage by their +side was missed from among them. Certainly he was not mourned in the +malocca. + +The interpretation of the tapuyo fell pleasantly upon the ears of his +auditors, and for a while they felt hopeful. But the gloom soon came +back, at sight of that brilliant moon,--a sight that otherwise should +have cheered them,--as she flooded the forest with her silvery light, +till her rich rays, scintillating through the leafy llianas, fell like +sparks upon the sombre surface of the water arcade. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN. + +THE MOON PUT OUT. + +Midnight came, and still the moon shone too clear and bright. + +Munday began to show uneasiness and anxiety. Several times had he taken +that short swim, like an otter from its earth or a beaver from its +dome-shaped dwelling, each time returning to his companions upon the +log, but with no sign of his having been gratified by the excursion. +About the sixth trip since night had set in, he came swimming back to +the dead-wood with a more pleased expression upon his countenance. + +"You've seen something that gratifies you?" said Trevannion, +interrogatively; "or heard it, perhaps?" + +"Seen it," was the laconic reply. + +"What?" + +"A cloud." + +"A cloud! Well?" + +"Not much of a cloud, patron; no bigger than the spread skin of the +cow-fish there; but it's in the east, and therefore in the direction of +Gran Para. That means much." + +"What difference can it make in what direction it is?" + +"Every difference! If from Gran Para 'tis up the great river. Up the +great river means rain,--perhaps thunder, lightning, a storm. A storm +is just what we want." + +"O, now I see what you mean. Well?" + +"I must go back to the mouth of the _igarape_, and take another look at +the sky. Have patience, patron, and pray for me to return with good +news." So saying, the tapuyo once again slipped down into the water, +and swam towards the entrance of the arcade. + +For a full half-hour was he absent; but long before his return the news +he was to bring back had been told by signs that anticipated him. The +moonbeams, hitherto seen striking here and there through the thinner +screen of the foliage, had been growing dimmer and dimmer, until they +were no longer discernible, and uniform darkness prevailed under the +shadow of the trees. So dark had it become, that, when the swimmer +returned to the ceiba, they were only warned of his approach by the +slight plashing of his arms, and the next moment he was with them. + +"The time has come," said he, "for carrying out my scheme. I've not +been mistaken in what I saw. The cloud, a little bit ago not bigger +than the skin of the juaroua, will soon cover the whole sky. The rags +upon its edge are already blinding the moon; and by the time we can get +under the scaffolds of the malocca it will be dark enough for our +purpose." + +"What! the scaffolds of the malocca! You intend going there?" + +"That is the intention, patron." + +"Alone?" + +"No. I want one with me,--the young master." + +"But there is great danger, is there not?" suggested Trevannion, "in +going--" + +"In going there is," interrupted the tapuyo; "but more in not going. If +we succeed, we shall be all safe, and there's an end of it. If we +don't, we have to die, and that's the other end of it, whatever we may +do." + +"But why not try our first plan? It's now dark enough outside. Why +can't we get off upon the raft?" + +"Dark enough, as you say, patron. But you forget that it is now near +morning. We couldn't paddle this log more than a mile before the sun +would be shining upon us, and then--" + +"Dear uncle," interposed the young Paraense, "don't interfere with his +plans. No doubt he knows what is best to be done. If I am to risk my +life, it is nothing more than we're all doing now. Let Munday have his +way. No fear but we shall return safe. Do, dear uncle! let him have +his way." + +As Munday had already informed them, no preparation was needed,--only +his knife and a dark night. Both were now upon him, the knife in his +waist-strap, and the dark night over his head. One other thing was +necessary to the accomplishment of his purpose,--the captured canoe, +which was already prepared, laying handy alongside the log. + +With a parting salute to all,--silent on the part of the tapuyo, but +spoken by the young Paraense, a hope of speedy return, an assurance of +it whispered in the ear of Rosita,--the canoe was shoved off, and soon +glided out into the open lagoa. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT. + +AN HOUR OF SUSPENSE. + +Scarce had the canoe with its living freight faded out of sight, when +Trevannion repented his rashness in permitting his nephew to risk his +life in a scheme so ill understood as the tapuyo's. + +He had no suspicion of the Indian's good faith. It was not that that +caused him regret; only a certain compunction for having so easily +consented to expose to a dread danger the life of his brother's son,--a +life intrusted to his care, and for which he should be held answerable +by that brother, should it be his fortune ever to see him again. + +But it was of no use to indulge in these regrets. They were now idle. +The act which had caused them was beyond recall. The canoe must go on +to its destination. What was that? Trevannion could not even +conjecture. He only knew that Munday had started for the malocca; but +his purpose in going there was as much a mystery as though he had +pretended to have gone on a voyage to the moon. + +Trevannion even felt angry with the tapuyo, now that he was out of +reach, for having concealed the plan of his enterprise and the extent of +the danger to be encountered. But there was now no alternative but to +await the return of the tapuyo, or the time that would tell he was never +more to return. + +It had been fixed by the Indian himself, in a speech whispered into the +ear of Trevannion as he pushed off the canoe. It was this: "A word, +patron! If we're not back before daylight, stay where you are till +to-morrow night. Then, if it be dark, do as we proposed for to-night. +Steal out and away. But don't fear of our failing. I only say that for +the worst. The Mundurucu has no fear. _Pa terra_! in an hour's time we +shall be back, bringing with us what we're in need of,--something that +will carry us clear of our enemies and of the Gapo." + +So the party remained seated on the log. Each had his own conjecture +about Munday's plan, though all acknowledged it to be a puzzle. + +The surmise of Tipperary Tom was sufficiently original. "I wondher +now," said he, "if the owld chap manes to set fire to their town! +Troth, it's loike enough that's what he's gone afther. Masther Dick +sayed it was ericted upon scaffolds wid bames of wood an' huts upon them +that looked loike the laves of threes or dry grass. Shure them would +blaze up loike tindher, an' create a moighty conflagrayshin." + +The opinion of Tom's auditors did not altogether coincide with his. To +set the malocca on fire, even if such a thing were possible, could do no +good. The inhabitants would be in no danger from conflagration. They +would only have to leap into the flood to save themselves from the fire; +and, as they could all swim like water-rats, they would soon recover a +footing among the trees. Besides, they had their great rafts and +canoes, that would enable them to go wherever they wished. They could +soon erect other scaffolds, and construct other huts upon them. +Moreover, as Munday and Richard had informed them, the scaffolds of the +malocca were placed a score of yards apart. The flames of one would not +communicate with the other through the green foliage of that humid +forest. To fire the whole village with any chance of success, it would +be necessary to have an incendiary under each scaffold, all applying the +torch together. It could not be for that purpose the tapuyo had gone +forth. + +While engaged in the debate, they got so engrossed by it as to become +neglectful of a duty enjoined upon them by the tapuyo, to keep a strict +watch over the captive. It was Tipperary Tom and the Mozambique, who +had been charged with this guardianship. Both, however, confident that +it was impossible for the savage to untie himself, had only glanced now +and then to see that he was there, his bronze-coloured body being +scarcely visible in the obscurity. + +As it grew darker, it was at length impossible for them to distinguish +the captive from the brown surface of the ceiba, except by stooping down +over him, and this both neglected to do. Little dreamt they of the sort +of creature they were dealing with, who could have claimed rivalry with +the most accomplished professors of the famous rope-tricks. + +As soon as he saw that the eyes of his sentinels were no longer upon +him, he wriggled himself out of the sipos with as much ease as if he had +been an eel, and, sliding gently from the log, swam off. + +It was a full half-hour after his departure before either of the +sentinels thought of giving any attention to the state of their +prisoner. When they did so, it was to find him gone, and the coils of +tree-rope lying loosely upon the log. With simultaneous exclamations of +alarm, they turned towards Trevannion, and then all looked in the +direction of the lagoa, thinking they might see a swimmer going out. +Instead of that they saw, through the dim light, what appeared to be a +fleet of canoes, with men in them violently wielding their paddles, and +directing their crafts right into the arcade! + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE. + +SCUTTLING THE CANOES. + +The Mundurucu and his young companion, having paddled their craft out of +the little creek, turned its head towards the Mura village. Though the +fires were no longer blazing so brightly as at an earlier hour of the +night, there was still a red glow seen here and there, that told the +position of the scaffolds, and served as a beacon to direct their +course. But they needed no such pilotage. The border of the forest was +their guide, and along this they went, taking care to keep close in +under its shadow. It was dark enough out upon the open water to prevent +their being observed; but the Mundurucu was accustomed to act with +extreme circumspection, and more than ever since the mistake we recorded +some time before. + +As the malocca was but a short distance from the forest border, the +tree-line would bring them close to its water frontage. Beyond that he +could trust to the guidance of the surrounding fires. + +Less than half an hour's use of the paddle--its blade dipped gently in +the water--brought them within a hundred yards of the outskirts of the +village. Although the expedition was not to end here, it was not their +design to take the canoe any farther. I say _their_ design, for by this +time the young Paraense had been made acquainted with his companion's +purpose. The chief reason why Munday had not disclosed it to Trevannion +was, that the patron, deeming it too dangerous, might have put a veto +upon its execution. What this plan was, will be learnt by a relation of +the mode in which it was carried out. + +Tying the canoe to a tree in such a way that they could easily detach it +again, the two slipped over the gunwale, and laid themselves silently +along the water. Each was provided with a swimming-belt; for the task +they had undertaken might require them to remain a good while afloat; +and, moreover, it would be necessary for them now and then to remain +still, without making any noise by striking the water to sustain +themselves, while, furthermore, they would need at times to have both +arms free for a different purpose. Thus accoutred, and Munday armed +with his knife, they swam under the scaffolds. + +They were careful not to cause the slightest commotion,--careful, too, +to keep out of the narrow belts of light that fell slantingly from the +fires above. These were becoming fewer, and fast fading, as the fires, +one after another, went out. It appeared certain that the whole village +was asleep. No human form was seen, no voice heard; no sign of human +beings, save the scaffolding that had been constructed by them, and the +half-score of boats in the water underneath, moored to the trunks of the +supporting trees. + +It was to these vessels that the Mundurucu was directing himself and his +coadjutor. Though his eyes were everywhere, his mind was fixed upon +them. There were, in all, about half a score of them, six being +_igarites_, or canoes rudely constructed of tree-bark, similar in shape +and fashion to that they had just parted from, but three of them of +larger size, each capable of containing about eight men. The others +were large rafts or punts of rude fabrication, each big enough to +support a toldo hut, with a whole family, and a number of friends to +boot. + +Only to the canoes did the tapuyo direct his attention. On swimming +past the punts he did not even stay to regard them. To all the +igarites, however, except one,--and it the largest,--he paid a visit; +stopping a considerable time alongside each, but lying so low in the +water that only his head could have been seen above the surface, and +scarcely that through the treble shadow of the night, the scaffolds, and +the tree-tops. It was only visible to his companion, whose face was all +the while within three feet of his own, and whose hands were employed in +assisting him in his subtle task. What was this task, so silent and +mysterious? + +In each of the five canoes to which the swimmers had paid their silent +visit, and just after their departure from it, could have been heard a +gurgling sound, as of water gushing up through a hole in the bottom. It +was heard, but only by him who had made the hole and the companion who +had held the craft in its place while the knife-blade was accomplishing +its purpose. To its sharp point the soft tree-bark had yielded, and in +ten minutes' time the five canoes, one after another, were scuttled, +and, if left to themselves, in a fair way of going to the bottom. + +But they were not left to themselves. They would have been, but for the +negligence of Tom and the sable Mozambique. Just as the scuttlers had +concluded their part of the task, and were about to climb into the sixth +canoe, that had been left seaworthy, a dark form that might have been +taken for some demon of the flood was seen to rise out of the water, and +stand dripping upon one of the rafts. It stood only for a second or +two,--just long enough to draw breath,--and then, laying hold of a +knotted lliana that formed a sort of stair, it climbed to the +scaffolding above. + +Dim as was the light, the Mundurucu recognised the dripping climber as +the captive he had left on the log. "_Santos dios_!" he muttered, in a +hoarse whisper, "'tis the Mura. They've let him escape, and now we're +discovered. Quick, young master. Into the igarite. All right; there +are two paddles: you take one, I the other. There's not a moment to be +lost. In ten minutes more we should have been safe; but now--see! they +are filling fast. Good! If he gives us but ten minutes before raising +the alarm--Ha! there it is. Off! off!" + +While the tapuyo was speaking, still in a muttered undertone, a wild +yell was heard upon the scaffolding above. It was a signal sent forth +by the returned captive to warn his slumbering nation, not that their +navy was being scattered in its very dock by an unknown enemy, for he +had neither seen the scuttler nor suspected what had been going on, but +simply to tell his tribe of the adventure that had befallen himself, and +conduct them in all haste to the spot where he had parted from his +detested but careless captors. He had seen the two of them go off in +the igarite, impudently appropriating his own vessel before his face. +Where could they have gone, but to make a nocturnal investigation of the +malocca? + +It was for this reason he had himself approached it so stealthily, not +raising any note of alarm until he felt safe upon the scaffolding of his +own habitation. Then did he send forth that horrid haloo-loo. + +Scarce had its echoes ceased to reverberate through the village, when it +was answered by a hundred voices, all shouting in a similar strain, all +giving a response to the tribe's cry of alarm. Men could be heard +springing from their hammocks, and dropping down upon the platforms, the +timbers of which creaked under quick, resonant footsteps. In the dim +light some were seen hastily snatching up their bows, and preparing to +descend to their canoes, little suspecting that they would find them +scuttled and already half swamped. + +As Munday had said, there was not a moment to be lost; and, acting up to +his words, he did not permit one to be lost. In the large igarite +propelled by the two paddles, he and his assistant stole off among the +trees, and were soon out upon the lagoa, pulling, as fast as their +strength and skill would permit them, in the direction of the creek. + + + +CHAPTER NINETY. + +THE LOG LEFT BEHIND. + +The escape of their captive had caused the keenest apprehensions to the +people upon the raft, which were scarce intensified at the sight of the +canoe entering the arcade. + +By the simplest reasoning they had leaped to the quick conclusion that +the latter was but the sequence of the former. The Mura had swum back +to his malocca. They knew he could easily do it. He had _learned_ his +kindred, and it was they who now manned the igarite that was making +approach. It was only the first of a whole fleet. No doubt there was a +score of others coming on behind, each containing its complement of +cannibals. The manatee-hunter had got back to his village in time to +tell of the two who had gone there in his own canoe. These, unaware of +his escape, had, in all probability, been surprised and taken prisoners. +Shouts had been heard from the village just before the man was missed. +It was this, in fact, that had caused them to think of their prisoner. +On finding that he had given them the slip, they interpreted the shouts +in two ways. They were either salutations of welcome to the returned +captive, or cries of triumph over the death or capture of the tapuyo and +his companion. + +More like the latter. So thought they upon the log; and the thought was +strengthened by the appearance of the big canoe at the entrance of the +arcade. Its crew were Mura savages, guided to their place of +concealment by him who had stolen away. + +These conjectures, varied though they were, passed through their minds +with the rapidity of thought itself; for scarce ten seconds had elapsed +from the time of their sighting the canoe until it was close up to the +ceiba. + +Then to their great joy, they saw they had been reasoning wrongly. The +two forms had been magnified into ten, partly through the deception of +the dim light, and partly because they had been springing from side to +side while paddling the canoe and steering it into the creek. + +As they drew near, the others could see that they were in a state of the +wildest excitement, working with all their strength, and gazing +anxiously behind them. + +"Quick, uncle," cried Richard, as the igarite struck against the +dead-wood. "Quick! all of you get aboard here." + +"_Pa terra_!" added the tapuyo. "Do as he tells you. By letting your +prisoner get off you've spoiled my plans. There's no time to talk now. +Into the igarite! If the others are still afloat--then--then--Haste, +patron! Everybody into the igarite!" + +As the Indian gave these directions, he himself sprang on to the log; +and tearing down the skin sail, he flung it into the canoe. After it he +pitched several pieces of the charqui, and then descended himself. + +By this time all the others had taken their seats in the canoe, Richard +having caught little Rosa in his arms as she sprang down. + +There was not a moment of delay. The two paddles belonging to the +igarite were grasped, one by Munday himself, the other by the negro, who +was next best rower, while the two bladed with the bones of the cow-fish +were in the hands of Trevannion and his nephew. + +There were thus four available oars to the craft, that promised a fair +degree of speed. + +With a last look at the log that had carried them safely, though +slowly,--a look that, under other circumstances, might have been given +with regret,--they parted from it, and in a score of seconds they had +cleared the craft from the branches of the trees, and were out upon the +bosom of the lagoa. + +"In what direction?" inquired Trevannion, as for a moment their strokes +were suspended. + +"Stay a minute, patron," replied the tapuyo, as he stood up in the +igarite and gazed over the water in the direction of the Mura village. +"Before starting, it's as well to know whether they are able to follow +us. If not, it's no use killing ourselves by hard work." + +"You think there's a chance they may not come after us?" + +"A chance,--yes. It would have been a certainty if you had not let that +ape loose. We should now be as safe from pursuit as if a hundred +leagues lay between us and them. As it is, I have my fears; there was +not time for them to go down,--not all of them. The small ones may, but +the big igarite,--it would be still afloat; they could bale out and +caulk up again. After all, it won't carry the whole tribe, and there's +something in that,--there's something in that." + +While the tapuyo thus talked he was standing with his head craned out +beyond the edge of the igarite, scanning the water in the direction of +the village. His final words were but the involuntary utterance of what +was passing in his mind, and not addressed to his companions. Richard +alone knew the meaning, for as yet the others had received no +explanation of what had passed under the scaffolds. There was no time +to give a detailed account of that. It would be soon enough when the +igarite was fairly on its way, and they became assured of their safety. + +No one pressed for an explanation. All, even Trevannion himself, felt +humiliated by the thought that they had neglected their duty, and the +knowledge that but for that very neglect the danger that threatened them +would have been now at an end. + +The dawn was already beginning to appear along the eastern horizon, and +although it was far from daylight, there was no longer the deep darkness +that but a short while before shrouded the water. Out on the lagoa, at +any point within the circumference of a mile, a large object, such as a +canoe, could have been seen. There was none in sight. + +This looked well. Perfect stillness reigned around the Mura village. +There was no human voice to be heard, where but the moment before there +had been shouting and loud talking, both men and women taking part in +what appeared a confused conversation. The fires, too, were out, or at +all events no longer visible from the lagoa. + +Munday remarked that the silence augured ill. "I fear they are too busy +to be making a noise," said he. "Their keeping quiet argues that they +have the means, as well as the intention, to come after us. If they had +not, you would hear their howls of disappointment. Yes: we may be sure +of it. They're emptying such of their canoes as may still be above +water." + +"Emptying their canoes! what mean you by that?" + +Munday then explained the nature of his late expedition, now that its +failure could no longer be charged upon himself. A few words sufficed +to make the whole thing understood, the others admiring the bold +ingenuity of the plan as strongly as they regretted having given cause +for its being frustrated. + +Though no pursuers had as yet appeared, that was no reason why they +should stay an instant longer by the entrance to the arcade; so, once +more handling the paddles, they put the great igarite to its best speed. + + + +CHAPTER NINETY ONE. + +THE ENEMY IN SIGHT. + +There was no debating the question as to the course they should take. +This was opposite to the direction in which lay the malocca. In other +words, they struck out for the open water, almost in the same track by +which they had come from the other bide while navigating the tree-trunk. + +Trevannion had suggested keeping "in shore" and under the shadow of the +tree-tops. + +"No use," said the tapuyo; "in ten minutes more there will be light over +the water. We'll be seen all the same, and by following the line of the +forest we should give our pursuers the advantage; they, by keeping +straight across, would easily overtake us. The trees go round in a +circle, don't you see?" + +"True," replied Trevannion; "I did not think of that. It is to be hoped +we shall not have pursuers." + +"If we have they will soon come up with us, for they have more paddles, +and are better skilled in the use of them; if they come after us at all, +they will be sure to overtake us." + +"Then we shall be captured,--perhaps destroyed." This was spoken in a +whisper in the ear of the tapuyo. + +"It don't follow,--one or the other. If it did, I shouldn't have much +hope in handling this bit of a stick. We may be pursued, overtaken, and +still get off in the end. They may not like close quarters any more +than we. That, you see, depends on how many of their vessels are gone +to the bottom, and how many are still afloat. If more than half that +were scuttled have sunk, we may dread their arrows more than their oars. +If more than half are above water, we shall be in more danger from +their speed." + +Notwithstanding the enigmatical character of the tapuyo's speeches, +Trevannion, as well as the others, was able to understand them. He +simply meant that, if the enemy were left without a sufficient number of +canoes to pursue them in large force, they would not think of boarding, +but would keep at a distance, using their arrows in the attack. + +It was by no means a pleasant prospect; still, it was pleasanter than +the thought of coming to close quarters with a crowd of cannibal +savages, and being either hacked to pieces with their knives, clubbed to +death with their _macanas_, or dragged overboard and drowned in the +lagoa. + +"In five minutes more," continued the tapuyo, "we shall know the best or +the worst. By that time it will be light enough to see in under the +trees yonder. By that time, if they have a single igarite above water, +she'll be baled out. By that time they should be after us. If we don't +see them in five minutes, we need never look for them again." + +A minute--another--a third elapsed, and still no appearance of pursuers +or pursuit. Slower still seemed the fourth, though it too passed, and +no movement on the water. Every heart beat with hope that the time +would transpire without any change. But, alas! it was not to be so. +The black line was broken by the bow of a canoe, and in an instant after +the craft itself was seen gliding out from under the shadow of the +trees. The tapuyo's prediction was fulfilled. + +"The big igarite!" he exclaimed. "Just what I had fears of; I doubted +its going down in time. Eight in it! Well, that's nothing, if the +others have sunk." + +"But stay a moment," returned Richard; "see yonder! Another coming out, +farther down to the right!" + +"That's the cockle-shell we took from the harpooner. There are two in +it, which is all it will hold. Only ten, as yet. Good! if that's their +whole strength, we needn't fear their coming to close quarters. Good!" + +"I can make out no more," said the young Paraense, who had suspended +paddling to get a better view of the pursuers. "I think there are no +more." + +"Just my thoughts," rejoined the tapuyo. "I had that idea all along. I +was sure the small craft had gone down. You remember we heard a +splashing before we got well off,--it was caused by the sinking of the +igarites. Our hope is that only the big one has kept afloat. As yet I +see no others." + +"Nor I," added Richard. "No, there are but the two." + +"Thank Heaven for that!" exclaimed Trevannion. "There will be but ten +against us. Though we are not equal in numbers, surely we should be a +match for such puny savages as these. O that we only had arms!" + +As he said this, the ex-miner looked into the bottom of the canoe to see +what there was available in the way of weapons. There was the pashuba +spear, which Munday had pitched in along with the strips of charqui; and +there was another weapon equally effective in hands skilled in its use. +It was a sort of barbed javelin or harpoon, the one with which the +manatee-hunter had struck the juaroua. During the day, while doing +nothing else, Munday had amused himself by completing the conquest of +the peixe-boi, which he found, by the line and float, had got entangled +among the tree-tops. Its carcass had been left where it was killed, for +it was the weapon only which he coveted. In addition to these, there +were the paddles,--those manufactured from the shoulder-blades of the +cow-fish,--looking like weapons that it would be awkward to have come in +contact with one's skull in a hostile encounter. Last, and not least to +be depended upon, there was the tapuyo's own knife, in the use of which +he had already given proofs of his skill. In a hand-to-hand contest +with ten savages, armed as these might be, there was not so much to be +dreaded. + +But Munday assured them that there would be no danger of a close fight. +There were no more canoes in sight. Twenty minutes had now elapsed +since the two had shot out from the trees, and if there had been others +they would long since have declared themselves. Arrows or javelins were +the only weapons they would have to dread; and with these they would +most certainly be assailed. + +"They'll be sure to overtake us," said he; "there are six of them at the +paddles, and it's easy to see that they're already gaining ground. +That's no reason why we should wait till they come up. When the fight +takes place, the farther we're away from their village the better for +us; as who knows but they may fish up some of their swamped canoes, and +come at us with a reserve force. To the paddles, then, and pull for our +lives!" + + + +CHAPTER NINETY TWO. + +THE CHASE. + +On swept the igarite containing the crew of our adventurers; on came its +kindred craft, manned by savage men, with the little canoe close +following, like a tender in the wake of a huge man-of-war. They were +not long in doubt as to what would be the upshot of the chase. It had +not continued half an hour before it became clear, to pursuers as well +as pursued, that the distance between the two large igarites was +gradually growing less. Gradually, but not rapidly; for although there +were six paddles plying along the sides of the pursuers and only four on +the pursued, the rate of speed was not so very unequal. + +The eight full-grown savages--no doubt the picked men of their tribe-- +were more than a fair complement for their craft, that lay with gunwales +low down in the water. In size she was somewhat less than that which +carried our adventurers; and this, along with the heavier freight, was +against her. For all this, she was gaining ground sufficiently fast to +make the lessening of the distance perceptible. + +The pursued kept perfect silence, for they had no spirit to be noisy. +They could not help feeling apprehensive. They knew that the moment the +enemy got within arrow's reach of them they would be in danger of death. +Well might such a thought account for their silence. + +Not so with their savage pursuers. These could be in no danger unless +by their own choice. They had the advantage, and could carry on war +with perfect security to themselves. It would not be necessary for them +to risk an encounter empty-handed so long as their arrows lasted; and +they could have no fear of entering into the fight. Daring where there +was no danger, and noisy where there was no occasion, they pressed on in +the pursuit, their wild yells sent pealing across the water to strike +terror into the hearts of the enemy. + +Our adventurers felt no craven fear, not a thought of surrender, not an +idea of submitting to be taken captives. By the most solemn +asseverations the tapuyo had assured them that it would be of no use, +and they need expect no mercy from the Muras. He had said so from the +first; but now, after having taken one of their number captive and +treated him with contempt, after scuttling their fleet of igarites, +their natural instinct of cruelty would be intensified by a thirst for +revenge, and no quarter need be looked for by any one who might fall +into their hands. + +Remembering the hideous creature who had escaped, seeing him again in +his canoe as the pursuers came within distinguishing distance, seeing +nine of his comrades quite as hideous as himself, and some of them in +appearance far more formidable, the statement of the tapuyo did not fail +to have an effect. + +The crew of the chased igarite gave up all thought of surrender, each +declaring his determination to fight to the death. Such was their mood +when the savages arrived within bowshot. + +The first act of hostility was a flight of arrows, which fell short of +the mark. Seeing that the distance was too great for them to do any +havoc, the six who had been propelling the igarite dropped their bows, +and once more took to the paddles. + +The other two, however, with the spare man in the little canoe, were +free to carry on their arrowy assault; and all three continued to twang +their bows, sending shaft after shaft towards the chased igarite. Only +one of the three appeared to have much skill in his aim or strength in +his arm. The arrows of the other two either fell short or wide of the +object aimed at, while his came plump into the igarite. + +He had already sent three,--the first passing through the broad-spread +ear of the negro,--no mean mark; the second scratching up the skin upon +Tom's cheek; while the third, fired aloft into the air, dropped down +upon the skin of the peixe-boi that sheltered little Rosa in the bottom +of the boat, penetrating the thick, tough hide, and almost impaling the +pretty creature underneath it. + +This dangerous marksman was identified. He was the hero of the +harpoon,--the captive who had given them the slip; and certain it is +that he took more pains with his aim, and put more strength into his +pull, than any of his competitors. + +His fourth arrow was looked for with fearful apprehension. It came +whistling across the water. It passed through the arm of his greatest +enemy,--the man he most desired it to pierce,--the Mundurucu. + +The tapuyo started up from his stooping attitude, at the same time +dropping his paddle, not upon the water, but into the igarite. The +arrow was only through the flesh. It did nothing to disable him, and he +had surrendered the oar with an exclamation of anger more than pain. +The shaft was still sticking in his left arm. With the right he pulled +it out, drawing the feather through the wound, and then flung it away. + +In another instant he had taken up the harpoon, with the long cord still +attached to it, and which he had already secured to the stern of the +igarite. In still another he was seen standing near the stern, +balancing the weapon for a throw. One more instant and the barbed +javelin was heard passing with a crash through the ribs of the savage +archer! "Pull on! pull on!" cried he; and the three paddlers responded +to the cry, while the pursuing savages, astounded by what they had seen, +involuntarily suspended their stroke, and the harpooner, impaled upon +the barbed weapon, was jerked into the water and towed off after the +igarite, like one of his own floats in the wake of a cow-fish. + +A wild cry was sent forth from the canoe of the savages. Nor was it +unanswered from the igarite containing the crew of civilised men. The +negro could not restrain his exultation; while Tom, who had nothing else +to do, sprang to his feet, tossed his arms into the air, and gave tongue +to the true Donnybrook Challenge. + +For a time the pursuers did nothing. Their paddles were in hands that +appeared suddenly paralysed. Astonishment held them stiff as statues. + +Stirred at length by the instinct of revenge, they were about to pull +on. Some had plunged their oar-blades into the water, when once more +the stroke was suspended. + +They perceived that they were near enough to the retreating foe. +Nearer, and their lives would be in danger. The dead body of their +comrade had been hauled up to the stern of the great igarite. The +harpoon had been recovered, and was once more in the hands of him who +had hurled it with such fatal effect. + +Dropping their bladed sticks, they again betook them to their bows. A +shower of arrows came around the igarite, but none fell with fatal +effect. The body of their best archer had gone to the bottom of the +Gapo. Another flight fell short, and the savage bowmen saw the +necessity of returning to their paddles. + +Failing to do so, they would soon be distanced in the chase. This time +they rowed nearer, disregarding the dangerous range of that ponderous +projectile to which their comrade had succumbed. Rage and revenge now +rendered them reckless; and once more they seized upon their weapons. + +They were now less than twenty yards from the igarite. They were +already adjusting the arrows to their bow-strings. A flight of nine +going all together could not fail to bring down one or more of the +enemy. + +For the first time our adventurers were filled with fear. The bravest +could not have been otherwise. They had no defence,--nothing to shield +them from the threatening shower. All might be pierced by the barbed +shafts, already pointing towards the igarite. Each believed that in +another moment there might be an arrow through his heart. + +It was a moment of terrible suspense, but our adventurers saw the +savages suddenly drop their bows, some after sending a careless shot, +with a vacillating, pusillanimous aim, and others without shooting at +all. They saw them all looking down into the bottom of their boat, as +if there, and not elsewhere, was to be seen their most dangerous enemy. + +The hole cut by the knife had opened. The caulking, careless from the +haste in which it had been done, had come away. The canoe containing +the pursuers was swamped, in less than a score of seconds after the leak +had been discovered. Now there was but one large canoe upon the lagoa, +and one small one,--the latter surrounded by eight dark human heads, +each spurting and blowing, as if a small school of porpoises was at play +upon the spot. + +Our adventurers had nothing further to fear from pursuit by the savages, +who would have enough to do to save their own lives; for the swim that +was before them, ere they could recover footing upon the scaffolds of +the malocca, would tax their powers to the utmost extent. + +How the castaways meant to dispose of themselves was known to the crew +of the igarite before the latter had been paddled out of sight. One or +two of them were observed clinging to the little canoe, and at length +getting into it. These, weak swimmers, no doubt, were left in +possession of the craft, while the others, knowing that it could not +carry them all, were seen to turn round and swim off towards the +malocca, like rats escaping from a scuttled ship. + +In twenty minutes' time, both they and the fishing-canoe were out of +sight, and the great igarite that carried Trevannion and his fortunes +was alone upon the lagoa. + + + +CHAPTER NINETY THREE. + +CONCLUSION. + +A volume might be filled with the various incidents and adventures that +befell the ex-miner and his people before they arrived at Gran Para,-- +for at Gran Para, did they at length arrive. But as these bore a +certain resemblance to those already detailed, the reader is spared the +relation of them. A word only as to how they got out of the Gapo. + +Provided with the Indian igarite, which, though a rude kind of craft, +was a great improvement upon the dead-wood,--provided also with four +tolerable paddles, and the skin of the cow-fish for a sail,--they felt +secure of being able to navigate the flooded forest in any direction +where open water might be found. + +Their first thought was to get out of the lagoa. So long as they +remained within the boundaries of that piece of open water, so long +would their solicitude be keen and continuous. The savages might again +come in search of them. Prompted by their cannibal instincts, or by +revenge for the loss of one of their tribe, they would be almost certain +to do so. The total destruction of their fleet might cause delay. But +then there might be another malocca belonging to a kindred tribe,-- +another fleet of igarites not far off; and this might be made available. + +With these probabilities in view, our adventurers gave their whole +attention to getting clear of the lagoa. Was it land-locked, or rather +"tree-locked,"--hemmed in on all sides by the flooded forest? This was +a question that no one could answer, though it was the one that was of +first and greatest importance. + +After the termination of the chase, however, or as soon as they believed +themselves out of sight, not only of their foiled foemen, but their +friends at the malocca, they changed their course, steering the igarite +almost at right angles to the line of pursuit. + +By guidance of the hand of God, they steered in the right direction. As +soon as they came within sight of the trees, they perceived a wide +water-way opening out of the lagoa, and running with a clear line to the +horizon beyond. Through this they directed the igarite, and, favoured +by a breeze blowing right upon their stern, they rigged up their rude +sail. With this to assist their paddling, they made good speed, and had +soon left the lagoa many miles behind them. + +They saw no more of the Muras. But though safe, as they supposed +themselves, from pursuit, and no longer uneasy about the ape-like +Indians, they were still very far from being delivered. They were yet +in the Gapo,--that wilderness of water-forests,--yet exposed to its +thousands of dangers. + +They found themselves in a labyrinth of what appeared to be lakes, with +land around them, and islands scattered over their surface, +communicating with each other by canals or straits, all bordered with a +heavy forest. But they knew there was no land,--nothing but tree-tops +laced together with llianas, and supporting heavy masses of parasitical +plants. + +For days they wandered through its wild solitudes, here crossing a +stretch of open water, there exploring some wide canal or narrow +_igarape_, perhaps to find it terminating in a _cul-de-sac_, or +_bolson_, as the Spaniards term it, hemmed in on all sides by an +impenetrable thicket of tree-tops, when there was no alternative but to +paddle back again. Sometimes these false thoroughfares would lure them +on for miles, and several hours--on one occasion a whole day--would be +spent in fruitless navigation. + +It was a true wilderness through which they were wandering, but +fortunately for them it had a character different from that of a desert. +So far from this, it more resembled a grand garden, or orchard, laid +for a time under inundation. + +Many kinds of fruits were met with,--strange kinds that had never been +seen by them before; and upon some of these they subsisted. The +Mundurucu alone knew them,--could tell which were to be eaten and which +avoided. Birds, too, came in their way, all eaten by the Indians, as +also various species of arboreal quadrupeds and quadrumana. The killing +and capturing of these, with the gathering of nuts and fruits to supply +their simple larder, afforded them frequent opportunities of amusement, +that did much to beguile the tediousness of their trackless straying. +Otherwise it would have been insupportable; otherwise they would have +starved. + +None of them afterwards was ever able to tell how long this Gypsy life +continued,--how long they were afloat in the forest. Engrossed with the +thought of getting out of it, they took no note of time, nor made +registry of the number of suns that rose and set upon their tortuous +wanderings. There were days in which they saw not the sun, hidden from +their sight by the umbrageous canopy of gigantic trees, amidst the +trunks of which, and under their deep shadows, they rowed the igarite. + +But if not known how long they roamed through this wilderness, much less +can it be told how long they might have remained within its mazes, but +for a heaven-sent vision that one morning broke upon their eyes as their +canoe shot out into a stretch of open water. + +They saw a ship,--a ship sailing through the forest! + +True, it was not a grand ship of the ocean,--a seventy-four, a frigate, +or a trader of a thousand tons; nevertheless it was a ship, in the +general acceptation of the term, with hull, masts, spars, sails, and +rigging. It was a two-masted schooner, a trader of the Solimoes. + +The old tapuyo knew it at a glance, and hailed it with a cheer. He knew +the character of the craft. In such he had spent some of the best years +of his life, himself one of the crew. Its presence was proof that they +were once more upon their way, as the schooner was upon hers. + +"Going down," said the tapuyo, "going down to Gran Para. I can tell by +the way she is laden. Look yonder. _Sarsaparilla, Vanilla, Cascarilla, +Maulega de Tortugos, Sapucoy_, and _Tonka_ beans,--all will be found +under that toldo of palm-leaves. Galliota ahoy! ahoy!" + +The schooner was within short hailing distance. + +"Lay to, and take passengers aboard! We want to go to Para. Our craft +isn't suited for such a long voyage." + +The galliota answered the hail, and in ten minutes after the crew of the +igarite was transferred to her decks. The canoe was abandoned, while +the schooner continued on to the city of Gran Para. She was not in the +Solimoes itself, but one of its parallel branches, though, in two days +after having taken the castaways aboard, she sailed out into the main +stream, and thence glided merrily downward. + +Those aboard of her were not the less gay,--the crew on discovering that +among the passengers that they had picked up were the son and brother of +their patron; and the passengers, that the craft that was carrying them +to Gran Para, as well as her cargo, was the property of Trevannion. The +young Paraense found himself on board one of his father's traders, while +the ex-miner was completing his Amazonian voyage in a "bottom" belonging +to his brother. + +The tender attention which they received from the _capatoz_ of the +galliota restored their health and spirits, both sadly shattered in the +Gapo; and instead of the robber's garb and savage mien with which they +emerged from that sombre abode, fit only for the abiding-place of +beasts, birds, and reptiles, they soon recovered the cheerful looks and +decent habiliments that befitted them for a return to civilisation. + +A few words will tell the rest of this story. + +The brothers, once more united,--each the owner of a son and daughter,-- +returned to their native land. Both widowers, they agreed to share the +same roof,--that under which they had been born. The legal usurper +could no longer keep them out of it. He was dead. + +He had left behind him an only son, not a gentleman like himself, but a +spendthrift. It ended in the ill-gotten patrimony coming once more into +the market and under the hammer, the two Trevannions arriving just in +time to arrest its descent upon the desk, and turn the "going, going" +into "gone" in their own favour. + +Though the estate became afterwards divided into two equal portions,--as +nearly equal as the valuer could allot them,--and under separate owners, +still was there no change in the name of the property; still was it the +Trevannion estate. The owner of each moiety was a Trevannion, and the +wife of each owner was a Trevannion, without ever having changed her +name. There is no puzzle in this. The young Paraense had a sister,-- +spoken of, but much neglected, in this eventful narrative, where not +even her name has been made known. Only has it been stated that she was +one of "several sweet children." + +Be it now known that she grew up to be a beautiful woman, fair-haired, +like her mother, and that her name was Florence. Much as her brother +Richard, also fair-haired, came to love her dark semi-Spanish cousin +Rosita, so did her other dark semi-Spanish cousin, Ralph, come to love +her; and as both she and Rosita reciprocated these cousinly loves, it +ended in a mutual bestowing of sisters, or a sort of cross-hands and +change-partners game of cousins,--whichever way you like to have it. + +At all events, the Trevannion estates remained, and still remain, in the +keeping of Trevannions. + +Were you to take a trip to the "Land's End," and visit them,--supposing +yourself to be endorsed with an introduction from me,--you would find in +the house of young Ralph, firstly, his father, old Ralph, gracefully +enacting the _role_ of grandfather; secondly, the fair Florence, +surrounded by several olive-shoots of the Trevannion stock; and, +lastly,--nay, it is most likely you will meet him first, for he will +take your hat from you in the hall,--an individual with a crop of +carroty hair, fast changing to the colour of turnips. You will know him +as Tipperary Tom. "Truth will yez." + +Cross half a dozen fields, climb over a stile, under the shadow of +gigantic trees,--oaks and elms; pass along a plank foot-bridge spanning +a crystal stream full of carp and trout; go through a wicket-gate into a +splendid park, and then follow a gravelled walk that leads up to the +walls of a mansion. You can only do this coming from the other house, +for the path thus indicated is not a right of way. + +Enter the dwelling to which it has guided you. Inside you will +encounter, first, a well-dressed darkey, who bids you welcome with all +the airs of an M.C. This respectable Ethiopian, venerable in look-- +partly on account of his age, partly from the blanching of his black +hair--is an old acquaintance, by name Mozey. + +He summons his master to your side. You cannot mistake that handsome +gentleman, though he is years older than when you last saw him. The +same open countenance, the same well-knit, vigorous frame, which, even +as a boy, were the characteristics of the young Paraense. + +No more can you have forgotten that elegant lady who stands by his side, +and who, following the fashion of her Spanish-American race, frankly and +without affectation comes forth to greet you. No longer the little +Rosa, the _protegee_ of Richard, but now his wife, with other little +Rosas and Richards, promising soon to be as big as herself, and as +handsome as her husband. + +The tableau is almost complete as a still older Richard appears in the +background, regarding with a satisfied air his children and +grandchildren, while saluting their guest with a graceful gesture of +welcome. + +Almost complete, but not quite. A figure is absent from the canvas, +hitherto prominent in the picture. Why is it not still seen in the +foreground? Has death claimed the tapuyo for his own? + +Not a bit of it. Still vigorous, still life-like as ever, he may be +seen any day upon the Amazon, upon the deck of a galliota, no longer in +the humble capacity of a tapuyo, but acting as _capatoz_,--as patron. + +His old patron had not been ungrateful; and the gift of a schooner was +the reward bestowed upon the guide who had so gallantly conducted our +adventurers through the dangers of the Gapo, and shared their perils +while they were "afloat in the forest." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Afloat in the Forest, by Mayne Reid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AFLOAT IN THE FOREST *** + +***** This file should be named 35213.txt or 35213.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/2/1/35213/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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