Popular Adventure Tales

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER XXXVII.

  AN UNEXPECTED GUEST.

  Guapo sat by the fire patiently awaiting the "doing" of the marimonda.The rest had eaten their supper, and were seated some distance apart.They were looking out upon the broad river, and watching the movementsof the various birds. They could see tall scarlet flamingoes on thefarther shore, and smaller birds of the ibis kind. They could see the"tiger crane," so called from its colour and spots resembling themarkings of the jaguar. Among some tall canes on the banks the"ciganos," or gipsy birds, fluttered about with their great crest,looking like so many pheasants, but far inferior to these creatures intheir flesh. In fact, the flesh of the "cigano" is so bitter anddisagreeable that even _Indians will not eat it_.

  Sitting upon a naked branch that projected over the water they noticedthe solitary sky-blue king-fisher. Over the water swept the great harpyeagle--also a fisher like his white-headed cousin of the North; and nowand then flocks of muscovy ducks made the air resound with their strongbroad wings. They saw also the "boat-bill," or "crab-eater," a curiouswading bird of the heron kind, with a large bill shaped like two boatslaid with their concave sides against each other. This, like theking-fisher, sat solitarily upon a projecting stump, now and thendashing into the shallow water, and scooping up the small fishes, frogs,and crustacea with its huge mandibles.

  Another curious bird was observed, which had something of the appearanceof the water-hen--to which kind it is also assimilated in its habits. Itwas the "faithful jacana" or "chuza," as it is called in some places.There are several species of "jacana" in South America, and also somespecies in the tropical countries of the East. That known as the"faithful jacana" has a body about the size of a common fowl; but itslegs and neck are longer, so that when standing it is a foot and a halfin height. The body is of a brownish colour; and there is a crest oftwelve black feathers on the nape of the neck, three inches in length.At the bend of the wings there are horny spurs, half an inch long, withwhich the bird can defend itself when attacked. It is, however, apacific bird, and only uses them in defence.

  The most singular character of the jacana is its long toes and claws.There are four upon each foot: three in front, and one directedbackwards, and when standing these cover a base nearly as large as thebody of the bird; and, indeed, upon ordinary ground they interfere withthe freedom of its walking. But these spreading feet were not designedfor ordinary ground. They were given it to enable it to pass lightlyover the leaves of water-lilies, and other yielding surfaces, throughwhich a narrow-footed bird would at once sink. Of course, as naturedesigned them for this purpose, they answer admirably, and the jacanaskims along the surface of lily-covered ponds or streams withoutsinking. From the leaves it picks up such insects and larvae as lodgethere, and which form its principal food.

  The jacana utters a singular cry when alarmed. It remains silent duringthe whole day, and also at night, unless disturbed by the approach ofsome danger, when it utters its "alarm cry." So quick is its ear, thatit can detect the least noise or rustling caused by any one approaching.For this reason some tribes of Indians have tamed the jacana, and use itas a sentinel or "watch-dog," to apprise them of the approach of theirenemies during the darkness of the night. Another use is also made of itby the Spanish-Americans. It is tamed and allowed to go about along withthe domestic poultry. When these are attacked by hawks or other birds ofprey, the jacana defends them with its sharp wing-spurs, and generallysucceeds in beating off the enemy. It never deserts the flock, butaccompanies it in all its movements, and will defend its charge withgreat fury and courage.

  Besides the water-birds which were noticed by our travellers, many kindswere seen by them upon the shore and fluttering among the trees. Therewere parrots in flocks, and macaws in pairs--for these birds usually goin twos--there were trogons, and great billed toucans, and their kindredthe aracaris; and there, too, were "umbrella-chatterers," of which thereis a species quite white; and upon a fruit-covered tree, not far off,they saw a flock of the snow-white "bell-birds" (_Casmarhynchos_).These are about as large as blackbirds, with broad bills, from the baseof which grows a fleshy tubercle that hangs down to the length of nearlythree inches, like that of the turkey-cock. The name of "bell-birds" isgiven to them on account of the clear, bell-like ring of their note,which they utter about the middle of the day, when most other creaturesof the tropical world are in silence or asleep.

  Of course Don Pablo as a naturalist was interested in all those birds,and observed their habits and movements with attention. There was noneof them about which he had not some strange story to tell, and in thisway he was beguiling the after-supper hour. It was too early for them togo to rest--indeed it was not quite sunset; and Guapo for one had notyet had his supper, although that meal was now very near at hand. Themarimonda was becoming charred and black, and would soon be ready formastication.

  Guapo sat by the fire, now and again raking up the cinders with a longpole which he held in his hand, while his eyes from time to time restedon the marimonda that was directly in front of him, _vis-a-vis_.

  At length the monkey appeared to him to be "done to a turn," and withhis _machete_ in one hand, and a forked stick in the other, he was justbending forward to lift it off the fire, when, to his horror, the groundwas felt to move beneath him, causing him to stagger, and almostthrowing him from his feet! Before he could recover himself, the surfaceagain heaved up, and a loud report was heard, like the explosion of someterrible engine. Then another upheaval--another report--the groundopened into a long fissure--the staging of palms, and the half-burnedcinders, and the charred monkey, were flung in all directions, and Guapohimself went sprawling upon his back!

  Was it an earthquake? So thought the others, who were now on their feetrunning about in great consternation--the females screaming loudly. So,too, thought Guapo for the moment.

  Their belief in its being an earthquake, however, was of short duration.The shocks continued; the dried mud flew about in large pieces, and theburnt wood and splinters were showered in the air. The smoke of thesecovered the spot, and prevented a clear view; but through the smoke theterrified spectators could perceive that some large body was inmotion--apparently struggling for life! In another moment it brokethrough the bending stratum of mud, causing a long rift, and there wasdisplayed before their eyes the hideous form of a gigantic crocodile!

  Though not quite so terrible as an earthquake, it was a fearful monsterto behold. It was one of the largest, being nearly twenty feet inlength, with a body thicker than that of a man. Its immense jaws were ofthemselves several feet long, and its huge tusks, plainly seen, gave ita most frightful appearance. Its mouth was thrown open, as though itgasped for air, and a loud bellowing proceeded from its throat thatsounded like a cross between the grunting of a hog and the lowing of abull.

  The air was filled with a strong musky odour, which emanated from thebody of the animal; and, what with the noise made by the crocodileitself, the screams and shouts of the party, the yelling of the variousbirds--for they, too, had taken up the cue--there was for some momentsan utter impossibility of any voice being heard above the rest. It was,indeed, a scene of confusion. Don Pablo and his companions were runningto and fro--Guapo was tumbling about where he had fallen--and the greatlizard was writhing and flapping his tail, so that pots, pans,half-burnt faggots, and even Guapo's monkey, were being knocked about inevery direction.

  Of course such a violent scene could not be of long duration. It mustend one way or the other. Guapo, who soon came to himself, now that hesaw what it was that had pitched him over, had already conceived a planfor terminating it. He ran for his axe, which fortunately lay out of therange of the crocodile's tail, and having laid his hands upon it, heapproached in a stealthy manner with the intention of striking a blow.

  He directed himself towards the root of the reptile's tail, for he knewthat that was the only place where a blow of the axe would cripple it;but, just as he was getting within reach, the crocodile suddenly shiftedhimself round, making his tail
fly like a piece of sprung whalebone.Guapo leaped hastily back--as hastily, I will make bold to say, as anyIndian of his years could have done, but not quick enough to clearhimself quite. He wanted about eight inches; but in this case incheswere as good as miles for the crocodile's purpose, for about eightinches of the tip of his tail came "smack" across Guapo's naked shins,and sent the old Indian head over heels.

  It was just an accident that Guapo's shanks were not broken like sticksof sealing-wax; and had the blow been directed with the crocodile's fullforce, such would have been the unhappy result. As it was they were only"scratched," and Guapo, leaping to his feet, ran to recover his axe, forthat weapon had flown several yards out of his hands at the blow.

  By the time he laid hold of it, however, the _saurian_, was no longer ondry ground. His newly-opened eyes--opened, perhaps, for the first timefor months--caught sight of the water close by, and crawling forward astep or two, he launched his ugly, mud-bedaubed carcass into the welcomeelement. The next moment he had dived, and was out of sight.