The Forest Exiles: The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

  THE GUARDIAN BROTHER.

  The current of the river flowed at the rate of about four miles an hour,and at this speed they travelled. They had nothing to do but guide theraft in the middle part of the stream. This was effected by means of alarge stern-oar fixed upon a pivot, and which served the purpose of arudder. One was required to look after this oar, and Don Pablo andGuapo took turns at it. It was not a very troublesome task, exceptwhere some bend had to be got round, or some eddy was to be cleared,when both had to work at it together. At other times the balza floatedstraight on, without requiring the least effort on the part of the crew;and then they would all sit down and chat pleasantly, and view thechanging scenery of the forest-covered shores. Sometimes tall palmslined the banks, and sometimes great forest trees netted together bythick parasites that crept from one to the other, and twined around thetrunks like monster serpents. Sometimes the shores were one unbrokenthicket of underwood, where it would have been almost impossible to makea landing had they wished it. At other places there were sand-bars, andeven little islets with scarce any vegetation upon them; and they alsopassed many other islets and large islands thickly wooded. The countrygenerally appeared to be flat, though at one or two places they sawhills that ran in to the banks of the river.

  Of course the change of scenery, and the many fresh vistas continuallyopening before them, rendered their voyage both cheerful andinteresting. The many beautiful birds too, and new kinds of trees andanimals which they saw, were a constant source of varied enjoyment, andfurnished them with themes of conversation.

  During the first day they made a journey of full forty miles. Havingbrought their balza close to the shore, and secured it to a tree, theyencamped for the night. There was no opening of any extent, but forsome distance the ground was clear of underwood, and the trunks of greatold trees rose like columns losing themselves amidst the thick foliageoverhead. A dark forest only could be seen, and, as night drew on, thehorrid cries of the alouattes, or howling monkeys, mingling with thevoices of other nocturnal animals, filled the woods. They had no fearof monkeys, but now and then they thought they could distinguish the cryof the jaguar, and of him they had fear enough. Indeed the jaguarpossesses the power of imitating the cry of the other animals of theforest, and often uses it to draw them within reach of him.

  In addition to the fire upon which they had cooked their supper, as soonas night had fairly set in, they kindled others, forming a sort ofsemicircle, the chord of which was the bank of the river itself. Withinthis semicircle the hammocks were stretched from tree to tree; and, asall were fatigued with the day's exertions, they climbed into them at anearly hour, and were soon asleep. One alone sat up to keep watch. Asthey thought they had heard the jaguar, this was deemed best; for theyknew that fire will not always frighten off that fierce animal. As theneighbourhood looked suspicious, and also as it was their firstencampment, they, like all travellers at setting out, of course weremore timid and cautious.

  To Leon was assigned the first watch; for Leon was a courageous boy, andit was not the first time he had taken his turn in this way. He was tosit up for about two hours, and then wake Guapo, who would keep themidnight-watch; after which Don Pablo's turn would come, and that wouldterminate in the morning at daybreak. Leon was instructed to rouse theothers in case any danger might threaten the camp.

  Leon from choice had seated himself by the head of the hammock in whichslept the little Leona; in order, no doubt, to be nearer her, as she wasthe most helpless of the party, and therefore required more immediateprotection. He had both the pistols by him--ready to his hand andloaded--and in case of danger he knew very well how to use them.

  He had been seated for about half-an-hour, now casting his eyes up tothe red and wrinkled trunks of the trees, and then gazing into the darkvistas of the surrounding forest, or at other times looking out upon theglistening surface of the river. Many a strange sound fell upon hisear. Sometimes the whole forest appeared to be alive with voices--thevoices of beasts and birds, reptiles, and insects--for the tree-frogsand ciendas were as noisy as the larger creatures. At other times aperfect stillness reigned, so that he could distinctly hear the tiny humof the mosquito; and then, all at once, would fall upon his ear themelancholy wailing of the night-hawk--the "_alma perdida_," or "lostsoul"--for such is the poetical and fanciful name given by the SpanishAmericans to this nocturnal bird.

  While thus engaged Leon began to feel very drowsy. The heavy day'swork, in which he had borne part, had fatigued him as well as theothers; and, in spite of the odd voices that from time to time fell uponhis ear, he could have lain down upon the bare ground and slept withouta feeling of fear. Snakes or scorpions, or biting lizards or spiders,would not have kept him from going to sleep at that moment. It isastonishing how the desire of sleep makes one indifferent to all thesethings, which at other times we so much dread. Leon did not fear them abit, but kept himself awake from a feeling of pride and honour. Hereflected that it would never do to be unfaithful to the important trustconfided to him. No that would never do. He rubbed his eyes, and roseup, and approached the bank, and dipped his hands in the water, and cameback to his former place, and sat down again. Spite of all his efforts,however, he felt very heavy. Oh! when would the two hours pass that hemight rouse Guapo?

  "Car-r-ambo! I nev-er was so s-s-sleepy. _Vamos_! Leon! you mustn'tgive in!"

  And striking himself a lively slap on the chest, he straightened hisback, and sat upright for a while.

  He was just beginning to get bowed about the shoulders again, and to noda little, when he was startled by a short sharp exclamation uttered bythe little Leona. He looked up to her hammock. He could perceive ithad moved slightly, but it was at rest again, and its occupant wasevidently asleep.

  "Poor little sis! she is dreaming," he muttered half aloud. "Perhapssome horrid dream of jaguars or serpents. I have half a mind to awakeher. But, no, she sleeps too soundly; I might disturb them all;" andwith these reflections Leon remained upon his seat.

  Once more his head was beginning to bob, when the voice of Leona againstartled him, and he looked up as before. The hammock moved slightly,but there was no appearance of anything wrong. From where he sat hecould not see well into it, but he outlines of the child's body wereeasily discernible through the elastic netting; and at the farther endhe could just perceive one of her little feet, where it had escaped fromthe covering, and rested partly over the edge.

  As he continued to gaze upon the delicate member, thinking whether hehad not better cover it against the mosquitoes, all at once his eye wasattracted by something red--a crooked red line that traversed from thetoe downward along the side of the foot. It was red and glittering--itwas _a stream of blood_!

  His first feeling was one of horror. His next was a resolve to springto his feet and rouse the camp, but this impulse was checked by one ofgreater prudence. Whatever enemy had done it, thought he, must still beabout the hammock; to make a noise would, perhaps, only irritate it, andcause it to inflict some still more terrible wound. He would remainquiet, until he had got his eyes upon the creature, when he could springupon it, or fire his pistol before it could do further harm.

  With these ideas, quickly conceived, he rose silently to his feet, andstanding, or rather crouching forward, bent his eyes over the hammock.