CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
OUR RETURN.
Where we had been cast we could not tell. Daylight was increasing. Theclouds had cleared off. We should soon, we hoped, be able to see ourway through the forest, and ascertain our position. We all remainedsilent for some time, True lying down by my side, and placing his headupon my arm. While thus half between sleeping and waking, I heard arustling sound, and opening my eyes, half expecting to see a snakewriggling through the grass, they fell on a beautiful little lizardmaking its way down to the water. At that moment a pile of dry leaves,near which it was passing, was violently agitated, and from beneath themsprung a hairy monster, with long legs and a huge pair of forceps, andseized the lizard by the back of its neck, holding it at the same timewith its front feet, while the others were firmly planted in the groundto stop its progress. In vain the lizard struggled to free itself. Themonster spider held it fast, digging its forceps deeper and deeper intoits neck. I was inclined to go to the rescue of the little saurian, butcuriosity prevented me, as I wished to see the result of the attack,while I knew that it had already, in all probability, received itsdeath-wound. The struggles of the lizard grew feebler and feebler. Itslong tail, which it had kept whisking about, sank to the ground, and thespider began its meal off the yet quivering flesh. I touched Arthur,and pointed out what was taking place. "The horrid monster," heexclaimed. "I must punish it for killing that pretty little lizard."Before I could prevent him, he had jumped up and dealt the spider a blowon the head.
On examining it I found that it was a great crab-spider, one of theformidable _arachnida_, which are said to eat young birds and othersmall vertebrates, though they generally, like other spiders, live uponinsects. This spider--the _mygagle avicularia_--will attackhumming-birds, and, indeed, other small specimens of the featheredtribe. When unable to procure its usual food of ants, it lies concealedunder leaves as this one had done, and darts out on any passing preywhich it believes it can manage; or if not, it climbs trees and seizesthe smaller birds when at roost, or takes the younger ones out of theirnests. It does not spin a web, but either burrows in the ground, orseeks a cavity in a rock, or in any hollow suited to its taste.
I had never seen any creature of the spider tribe so monstrous orformidable. Under other circumstances I should have liked to havecarried the creature with us to show to my companions. As soon asArthur had killed it, Duppo jumped up and cut off the two forceps, whichwere as hard and strong as those of a crab; and I have since seen suchset in metal and used as toothpicks, under the belief that they containsome hidden virtue for curing the toothache.
The rest had almost completely cured Arthur's sprained ankle, and onexamining his shoulder, I found that the arrow had inflicted but aslight wound, it having merely grazed the upper part after passingthrough his clothes. This, of course accounted for the littleinconvenience he had felt. Still, I believe, even had the wound beendeeper, the poison would not have affected him. I was indeed verythankful to see him so much himself again.
We were now aroused, and, getting on our feet, looked about as to settlein which direction we should proceed. We soon found that we were at thewestern end of an island, and as the distant features of the landscapecame into view, we felt sure that it was the very one, near the entranceof the igarape, where we had first landed. We had supposed that we hadfloated much further down the river.
"The first thing we have to do is to build a raft, and to get back toour friends," I said to Arthur. "We shall have little difficulty, Ihope, in doing that. We must lose no time, and we shall be able toreach them before night."
This discovery raised our spirits. We had first, however, to look outfor a bed of rushes to form the chief part of the intended construction.The experience we had gained gave us confidence. We explained to Duppowhat we proposed doing, and set forward along the northern shore of theisland. We were more likely to find on that side, in its little baysand inlets, the materials we required. The axe which Duppo had savedwas of great importance. We had made our way for a quarter of a milealong the beach, when the increasing density of the underwood threatenedto impede our further progress. Still we had not found what werequired. "I think I see the entrance of an inlet, and we shallprobably find reeds growing on its banks," said Arthur. "We can still,I think, push our way across these fern-like leaves."
We pressed forward, though so enormous were the leaves of which hespoke, that a single one was sufficient to hide him from my sight as hemade his way among them. Duppo and True followed close behind me, butTrue could only get on by making a succession of leaps, and sometimesDuppo had to stop and help him through the forked branches, by which heran a risk every instant of being caught as in a trap.
"I think I see the mouth of the inlet close ahead," said Arthur. "If wepush on a few yards more we shall reach it. Get the axe from Duppo andhand it to me; I must cut away some sipos and bushes, and then we shallget there."
I did as he requested. I had broken down the vast leaves whichintervened between us, when I saw him beginning to use his axe. He hadmade but a few strokes when a loud savage roar, which came from a shortdistance off, echoed through the wood. His axe remained uplifted, anddirectly afterwards a sharp cry reached our ears. "That is a woman'svoice," I exclaimed. "Where can it come from?" Duppo, as I spoke,sprang forward, and endeavoured to scramble through the underwood, asdid True.
"Cut, Arthur, cut," I exclaimed. "Unless we clear away those sipos weshall be unable to get there."
Arthur needed no second bidding, and so actively did he wield his axe,that in a few seconds we were able to push onwards. Again the savageroar sounded close to us, but the cry was not repeated. "Oh, I amafraid the brute has killed the poor creature, for surely that must havebeen a human being who cried out," exclaimed Arthur.
We dashed on, when, reaching the water, we saw, scarcely twenty yardsoff, on the opposite bank, a canoe, in which were two persons. One laywith his head over the gunwale; the other, whom I at once recognised asour friend Illora, was standing up, no longer the somewhat retiring,quiet-looking matron, but more like a warrior Amazonian--her hairstreaming in the wind, her countenance stern, her eyes glaring, and witha sharp spear upraised in her hands, pointed towards a savage jaguar,which, with its paws on the gunwale, seemed about to spring into thecanoe. It was too evident that her husband had been seized, and to allappearance killed. What hope could she have of resisting the savagecreature with so slight a weapon. That very instant I dreaded it wouldspring on her. Poor Duppo shrieked out with terror; but though hismother's ears must have caught the sound, she did not withdraw herglance from the jaguar. She well knew that to do so would be fatal.Duppo made signs to me to fire, but I feared that in so doing I mightmiss the jaguar and wound one of his parents. Yet not a moment was tobe lost. My rifle, fortunately, was loaded with ball. I examined thepriming, and prayed that my arm might be nerved to take good aim. Againthe brute uttered a savage growl, and seemed on the point of springingforward, when I fired. It rose in the air and fell back among thefoliage, while Illora thrust her spear at it with all her force. Nottill then did she seem to be aware of our presence. Then waving to us,she seized the paddle and brought the canoe over to where we werestanding. Duppo leaped in and lifted up his father. The blood hadforsaken his dark countenance; his eyes were closed, his head wasfearfully torn--the greater part of the hair having been carried away.Illora knelt down by his side, resting his head upon her arm. Arthurand I felt his pulse. It still beat. We made signs to his wife that hewas alive, for she had evidently thought him dead. I fortunately had alarge handkerchief in my pocket, and dipping it in water, bound up hishead. He appeared to revive slightly. Illora then made signs to usthat she wished to go down the river. We did not even stop to look whathad become of the jaguar, convinced that he was killed. No time was tobe lost. Having placed Maono on some leaves in the stern of the canoe,she seized one of the paddles and urged it out into the main stream.Duppo took another paddl
e. Fortunately there were two spare ones at thebottom of the canoe. Arthur and I seized them. Illora paddled away,knowing well that the life of her husband depended on her exertions.However callous may be the feelings of Indians generally, both she andDuppo showed that they possessed the same which might have animated thebreasts of white people. Every now and then I saw her casting looks ofanxiety down on her husband's face. He remained unconscious, but stillI had hopes that if attended to at once he might recover.
"I am thankful a jaguar did not spring out on us as we were passingthrough that thick underwood," observed Arthur. "How utterly unable weshould have been to defend ourselves."
"Yes, indeed; and still more so that we did not take up our abodethere," I remarked. "Probably the island is infested with jaguars, andwe should have run a great chance of being picked off by them."
"I doubt if more than one or two would find support there," he remarked."How that one, indeed, came there is surprising."
"Possibly he was carried there on a floating island," I answered. "Idoubt whether intentionally he would have crossed from the mainland; forthough jaguars can swim, I suppose, like other animals, they do notwillingly take to the water." This, I suspect, was the case.
We tried to learn from Illora how her husband had been attacked. Shegave us to understand that, after looking about for us, they had put inthere for the night, and were still asleep when the savage brute hadsprung out of the thicket and seized Maono. She heard him cry out, andhad sprung to her feet and seized her lance just at the moment we hadfound them.
"We should be doubly thankful that we were cast on the island andarrived in time to rescue our friend," I observed to Arthur.
As may be supposed, however, we did not speak much, as we had to exertourselves to the utmost to impel the canoe through the water. I was,however, thankful when at last we saw the roof of our hut in thedistance. We shouted as we approached, "Ellen! Maria!" Great was ourdelight to see Ellen and Maria, with Domingos, come down to the edge ofthe water to receive us. As I jumped out, my affectionate little sisterthrew her arms round my neck and burst into tears.
"Oh, we have been so anxious about you!" she exclaimed; "but you havecome at last. And what has happened to the poor Indian? Have you beenattacked again by the Majeronas?"
I told her briefly what had occurred, and set her anxiety at rest withregard to our parents by giving her Fanny's note, and telling her how wehad found it. I need not repeat her expressions of joy andthankfulness. I then asked for John, as he understood more aboutdoctoring than any of us. He had gone away with his gun to shoot onlyjust before, and might not be back for some time. The Indians were attheir own settlement, a couple of miles off.
"What can we do with him!" I exclaimed.
"Why not take him to the recluse?" said Ellen. "He will know how totreat him."
I made Illora comprehend what Ellen proposed. She signified that thatwas what she herself wished to do.
"Then, Ellen, we must leave you again," I said. "We must do our best tosave the life of our friend."
Arthur agreed with me, and entreating Ellen to keep up her spirits tillour return, we again, greatly to Illora's satisfaction, jumped into thecanoe. "We hope to be back to-morrow morning!" I cried out, as weshoved off.
Though somewhat fatigued, we exerted ourselves as much as before, andhaving the current in our favour, made good progress. Examining thebanks as we went along, I saw how almost impossible it would have beento have effected a landing on that dreadful night of the storm, when wehad the raft in tow, for one dense mass of foliage fringed the wholeextent, with the exception of a short distance, where I recognised thesand-bank on which Arthur had been nearly killed by the anaconda. Maonoevery now and then uttered a low groan when his wife bathed his headwith water--the best remedy, I thought, she could apply.
The voyage was longer than I had expected, for nearly two hours hadpassed before we reached the mouth of the igarape, near which the hut ofthe recluse stood. Having secured the canoe, Illora lifted up herhusband by the shoulders, while we put the paddles under his body, andhis son carried his feet. We then hastened on towards the hut. As wecame in sight of it, Duppo shouted out to announce our approach to therecluse. No one appeared. The door, I saw, was closed, but the ladderwas down. We stopped as we got up to it, when Duppo, springing up thesteps, knocked at the door. My heart misgave me. The recluse might beill. Then I thought of the ladder being down, and concluded that he wasabsent from home. Again Duppo knocked, and obtaining no reply, openedthe door and cautiously looked in. No one was within. What were we todo? Were we to wait for the return of the owner, or go back to oursettlement? I advised that Maono should be carried within, and proposedwaiting till he appeared. We lifted him up and placed him under theshade of the verandah. Meantime Duppo collected a number of driedleaves, with which to form a bed, as he was not in a fit state to beplaced in a hammock. I then advised Illora to send Duppo for water,while Arthur and I went out and searched for the recluse, in the hopethat he might be in the neighbourhood. We first went to his plantation,thinking that he might be there, but could nowhere find him. Itappeared, indeed, as if it had not been lately visited, as it was in afar more disordered state than when we had before seen it. We wereafraid of going into the forest, lest we should lose our way; wetherefore turned back and proceeded up the igarape, which would serve asa guide to us. It grew wilder and wilder as we went on. At length wereached a spot which we could not possibly pass. The trunks of themighty trees grew close to the water, their roots striking down into it,while thousands of sipos and air-plants hung in tangled masses overhead,and huge ferns with vast leaves formed a dense fringe along the banks.Near us the trunk of an aged tree, bending over the water, covered withparasitic plants, had been seized by the sipos from the opposite side,and hung, as it were, caught in their embrace, forming a complete bridgeacross the igarape. I have already described these wonderfulair-plants. They here appeared in greater numbers and more varied formthan any we had yet seen. Flights of macaws and parroquets flew hereand there through the openings, or climbed up and down, cawing andchattering in various tones. Although I should have liked to haveobtained some, I saw that, should I kill any, they would have fallenwhere it would be impossible to get at them, for even True could nothave made his way through the wood; and I was afraid that if they fellinto the water, he might be snapped up by an alligator who might belurking near.
We were on the point of turning away, when Arthur exclaimed, "I seesomething moving high up the igarape, among those huge leaves." Iscrambled down to where he was standing, and presently, amid the dimlight, a human figure came into view. At first it seemed as if he wasstanding on the water, but as he slowly approached we saw that a raft ofsome sort was beneath his feet. He was hauling himself along by thebranches, which hung low down, or the tall reeds or leaves fringing thebanks.
"I do believe it is the recluse," whispered Arthur to me. "What canhave happened to him?" We waited till he came nearer. He looked evenwilder and more careworn than usual. He had no covering on his headexcept his long hair, while he had thrown off his coat, which lay on theraft. Slowly and not without difficulty he worked his way on. He didnot perceive us till he was close to where we stood.
"Can we help you, sir?" I said. "We came to look for you."
"What induced you to do that?" he asked. "I thought no human beingwould care for me."
"But we do, sir," said Arthur, almost involuntarily. "You can be ofservice to one of your friends, a poor Indian, who has been severelyhurt."
"Ah! there is something to live for then!" he exclaimed, looking up atus. "But I must have your assistance too. I have injured my leg; andhad I not been able to reach the igarape and construct this raft, I musthave perished in the forest. I have with difficulty come thus far, andshould have had to crawl to my hut, as I purposed doing, had you notappeared to assist me. My canoe I had left a league or two furtheraway, and could not reach it."
"Oh, we will gladly help you, sir," exclaimed Arthur; "and if you willlet us, we will tow the raft down nearer to the hut."
"It is strange that you should have come; and I accept your offer,"answered the recluse.
We soon cut some long sipos, and fastening them together we secured oneend to the raft. The recluse sat down, evidently much exhausted by hisprevious exertions; and while we towed the raft along, he kept it offthe bank with a long pole. When we got down opposite the hut, weassisted him to land. He could not move, however, without greatdifficulty.
"Let me go and call Mora and Duppo, that we may carry you in the litteron which I was brought to your hut," said Arthur. "No, no; I can geton, with your assistance, without that," answered the recluse, placinghis arms on our shoulders. He groaned several times, showing the painhe suffered; but still he persevered, and at length we reached the hut.We had great difficulty in getting him up the ladder. When he sawMaono, he seemed to forget all about himself.
"My hurt can wait," he observed. "We must attend to this poor fellow."Having examined the Indian's head, he produced a salve, which he spreadon a cloth, and again bound it up. "A European would have died withsuch a wound," he observed; "but with his temperate blood, he will, Ihope, escape fever."
Having attended to his guest, he allowed Arthur and I to assist him inbinding up his leg, and in preparing a couch for him in his own room,instead of the hammock in which he usually slept. He explained toIllora how she was to treat her husband, and gave her a cooling draughtwhich he was to take at intervals during the night. Having slung hishammock in the outside room, Arthur and I lay down, one at each end;while the Indian woman sat up to keep watch, and Duppo coiled himselfaway on one of the chests.
At daybreak, Arthur, hearing the recluse move, got up and asked him ifhe could be of any service.
"Yes, my good lad," answered our host; "you can help me to bind thislimb of mine afresh. Bring me yonder jar of ointment!" I heard whatwas said, though I could not see what was going forward. "Thank you, mylad," said the recluse. "No woman's hand could have done it better.Now go and see how the Indian has passed the night."
Arthur came out, and having looked at Maono, reported that he was stillsleeping quietly.
"He must not be disturbed then," was the answer. "When he wakes I willattend to him. Now, go and see what food you can obtain. Myplantations will afford you some; or if not, your brother will be ableto shoot some birds. He will find troops of toucans and parrots not faroff. Some farinha will be sufficient for me."
"Harry will, I am sure, do his best to kill some game," said Arthur;"but you called him my brother. Though he is a dear friend, we are notrelated. He has father, and mother, and sisters; and the gentleman yousaw is his brother; but I have no relations--none to care for me exceptthese kind friends."
"I know not if you are to be pitied then," said the recluse. "If youhave none to care for you, you are free to take your own way."
"Oh, but I do care for the kind friends who brought me out here,"exclaimed Arthur. "And I feel that I care for you; and I ought to doso, as you took care of me and nursed me when I was ill." The reclusewas silent, and Arthur came into the larger apartment.
The recluse was sufficiently recovered during the day to be placed inhis more airy hammock in the outer room. His eyes, I observed, wereconstantly following Arthur. "It is strange," I heard him whispering tohimself. "There is a resemblance, and yet, it is so unlikely."
Maono was going on favourably; and the recluse was able to crawl fromhis hammock to attend to him as often as was necessary. I was veryanxious to get back to Ellen and John; especially to assist in finishingthe canoe, that we might at soon as possible recommence our voyage downthe river. I proposed, therefore, that Arthur and I should set off atonce, as I thought we could find our way through the forest withoutdifficulty. The recluse seemed far from pleased at my proposal.
"I would not deprive you of the society of your friend," he said, "buthe will be of great assistance to me if he can remain; and you can callfor him when you come down the river. Instead of him, take the boyDuppo with you. He may be of more use in guiding you through theforest. The Indian woman will probably wish to remain with herhusband."
I found that Arthur was ready to stay with the recluse. "Poor man," hesaid, "I may, I think, be of some service in soothing his mind, as wellas assisting him as he wishes. I do not like to leave you, Harry; butif you do not object, I will remain. I wish, however, that you would goin the canoe."
"She is too heavy, I fear, to paddle against the stream," I answered;"and if I have Duppo as a guide, I would rather return through theforest."
I explained this to the Indians, who at once consented that Duppo shouldreturn with me; while Illora remained to nurse her husband. As therewas time to reach our location before dark, I begged to set off at once.Duppo and I stored our wallets with fresh farinha; and I hoped to killa toucan, or a brace of parrots, on our way, which would afford ussufficient food. As no time was to be lost, we set off at once. Dupposhowed some affection when parting from his mother. She was certainlyless demonstrative, however, than a European would have been. He wasevidently very proud of being allowed to attend on me.
He led the way with unerring instinct through the forest; and I feltthat there was no danger of losing the path, as John and I had done whentravelling in the same direction. I kept my eyes about me as weproceeded, hoping to shoot some game, as we had but a limited supply offood. I got a shot at a toucan, which was climbing with bill and clawsup a tree above our heads. It hung on to the branch for an instant, andI was afraid I should lose it. Its claws and beak, however, soon letgo, and down it came, its beautiful plumage shining in the sun as itfell. I could scarcely bring myself to kill it; but I had to confessthat necessity has no laws, and should as willingly at that moment haveshot the most gaily-coloured macaw or parroquet. It would, however,afford Duppo and I, and True, but a scanty meal; I therefore kept my gunready for another shot.
Going on a little further, directly in front of us a beautiful deerstarted up from behind a thicket. True darted forward, and flew at thecreature, which turned round and round to defend itself. I thus had theopportunity of having a good aim, and wounded the deer in the neck.Duppo started off in pursuit. He had brought his father's blow-pipeinstead of his own, which he had lost. It was too heavy, however, forhim to manage. I thought we should have lost the deer; but kneelingdown, he raised it on a hanging sipo, and let fly an arrow, which struckthe animal. He had time to send another shaft before the deer got outof sight. Then calling to me, he urged me to pursue it. Away we wentthrough the forest, True at the heels of the deer, and I following Duppoas closely as I could. Still, notwithstanding its wounded condition,there seemed every probability of its escaping. Duppo thoughtotherwise, and continued the pursuit; though I could not perceive eitherthe animal or its track. He was right, however; for in ten minutes weagain caught sight of it, moving slowly. Just as we reached it, it sankto the ground. It was the first deer we had killed; though I had seenseveral scampering in the distance through the more open parts of theforest, and I believe they are numerous along the banks of the Amazonand its tributaries. We packed up as much of the flesh as we couldcarry, and hung the remainder on the branch of a tree.
We were walking on with our loads, when a loud crashing sound echoedthrough the forest. I had never seen Duppo show any sign of fearbefore, but he now came close up to me, trembling all over. "What isthe matter?" I asked. All was again silent for some minutes. Thencame from the far distance the melancholy howl, which had often kept usawake at night--the cries, I felt sure, of howling monkeys. They againceased; and a loud clang sounded through the forest, such as I had readof in that wonderful romance, "The Castle of Otranto." Duppo grew moreand more alarmed; and now caught hold of my jacket, as if I couldprotect him. I was puzzled to account for the sound; but still I sawnothing very alarming in it. When, however, a loud piercing cry rentthe
air, coming, I could not tell from whence, I confess that I feltsomewhat uncomfortable. Poor Duppo trembled all over, and clung to myarm, exclaiming, "_Curupira_! _curupira_!" True pricked up his ears,and barked in return. "Do not be afraid, Duppo," I said, trying toencourage him. "It may have been only the shriek of a monkey, caught bya jaguar or puma." He, however, seemed in no way disposed to besatisfied by any explanations which I could suggest of the noises we hadheard.
As we proceeded, he tried to explain to me that he was sure that thatpart of the forest was haunted by a spirit, which made the noises. Itwas like a huge monkey, covered with long shaggy hair. He committed, hesaid, all sorts of mischief. He had a wife and family, whom he taughtto do as much harm as himself; and that, if they caught us, they wouldcertainly play us some trick. I tried to laugh away his fears, but notwith much success.
At last he gained a little more confidence, and walked on ahead to showthe way. No other sound was heard. He looked back anxiously to seethat I was close to him.
Among the fruits I observed numbers of a curious bean-like description.Several species had pods fully a yard long hanging to delicate stalks,and, of course, very slender. Others were four inches wide, and short.While I was looking down to pick up some of the curious beans I havementioned, I saw the big head of a creature projecting from a hole. Fora moment I thought it was a large serpent, but presently out hopped ahuge toad in pursuit of some little animal which had incautiouslyventured near its den. Presently it gave sound to a most extraordinaryloud snoring kind of bellow, when True dashed forward and caught it. Irescued the creature before his teeth had crushed it. On recovering itsliberty, it croaked away as lustily as before. On measuring it, I foundit fully seven inches long, and as many broad. It had a considerableenlargement of the bone over the eyes, while the glands behind the headwere of great size. I knew it thus to be the agua toad--_Bufa agua_. Ihad no doubt that he and his brothers produced some of the hideousnoises we had heard at night. I have since read that these toads willkill rats, and that a number of them were carried to Jamaica for thepurpose of keeping down the swarms of rats which devastated theplantations of that island. I found, indeed, the bones of severalrodent animals near its den. It was somewhat remarkable, but a fewminutes afterwards I saw another toad lying quietly on the ground. Ikept True back, not wishing to let him hurt the creature. I saw somesmall animals moving on its back, and stooping down, what was mysurprise to see a number of little toads scrambling out of holesapparently in its skin. First out came one, and slipping down the fatsides of the big toad, hopped along on the ground. Another little headdirectly afterwards burst its way through the skin, and imitated theexample of its small brother. Several others followed. Even Duppo, inspite of his late fright, could not help bursting out laughing. Thecolour of the big toad was a brownish-olive and white below; but thehead was most extraordinary, as it had a snout almost pointed, thenostrils forming a kind of leathery tube. The creature was, I at onceguessed, the Surinam toad--_Pipa Americana_--which I knew was found, notonly in Surinam, but in other parts of this region. It is, though oneof the ugliest of its race, one of the most interesting. The male toad,as soon as the eggs are laid, takes them in its paws, and places them onthe back of the female. Here, by means of a glutinous secretion, theyadhere, and are imbedded, as it were, in a number of cells formed forthem in the skin. Ultimately a membrane grows over the cells and closesthem up. The eggs are here hatched, and the young remain in them tilltheir limbs have grown and they can manage to take care of themselves.The skin of the back is very thick, and allows room for the formation ofthe cells, each of which is sufficiently large to contain a small-sizedbean placed in it edgeways. As soon as the brood have left the cells,they are again closed, giving a very wrinkled appearance to the back.Duppo made signs to me that the creature was good to eat; but I mustsay, I should have been very hard pressed for food before I should havebeen tempted to try it. I succeeded in dragging True away, andprevented him interfering with the family arrangements of the wonderful_batrachian_.
We met with several other curious frogs and toads, but the creatureswhich abounded everywhere, and unfortunately surpassed all others innumbers, were the ants--_termites_. The termites, I should remark,differ from the true ants by appearing out of the egg with their limbsformed, and in the same shape they bear through life. Some we met within our walk were an inch and a quarter in length, and stout inproportion. The creatures were marching in single file, coming out froma hole formed in the roots of a small tree. I took up one to examineit, and received a sting for my pains, but the pain soon went off. Weall suffered much more from the stings of several smaller ants,especially the fire-ants, by which we had on more than one occasion beenattacked.
Although I had twice before made the trip through the forest, I stillfelt certain that we were far from the hut, when Duppo signified to methat we should soon reach it. Just then I heard a shot, and amagnificent macaw fell down a short distance ahead of us. True dashedforward, and directly afterwards I heard John's voice. I hurried on.
"Yes, we are all well," answered John to my inquiries, as he took myload of venison and slung it over his more sturdy shoulders. "The canoeis finished, and we were only waiting for your return to set out. Nopositive news about our parents; but the Indians describe having seen acanoe with white people, women among them, pass down the river severalweeks ago Ellen feels sure it was they who were seen; though, as issometimes the case with her, dear girl, she can give no other reasonthan her own feelings. I am disappointed at not seeing Arthur; but wemust put in to take him on board, and save him the journey through theforest."
Of course John wanted to know all about our adventures, and I brieflyrecounted them as we walked homewards.
"It is, indeed, a mercy that your life was saved," he observed. "Iwould almost advise you not to tell Ellen all the fearful dangers youwent through; it will make her nervous, for she even now sometimesdreads that the Majeronas will again attack us."
"They will certainly not come so far by water," I remarked; "and ourfriends will give us warning should they venture by land. Still, as thecanoe is ready, we ought not to delay in commencing our voyage."
As soon as we emerged from the thick part of the forest, we caught sightof Ellen watching for us in front of the hut. She came running forward,followed by Maria and Oria, and not only by Nimble and Toby, but a wholetroop of other creatures. John laughed. "There comes our littlesister," he said, "with her happy family. She and her young companionshave not been idle. It is wonderful how they have contrived to tame allthose creatures."
In another minute Ellen and I were in each other's arms. She lookedvery well, and glad to see me, but her eye roved about in quest ofArthur. She was satisfied, however, when I told her that he hadremained behind to attend to the recluse.
"I am not surprised at it," she said; "for I could not help fancyingthat there was some relationship between the two. Our strange friendwas evidently more interested in Arthur than in any of us. In spite ofhis cold and repelling manner, Arthur, too, took greatly to him.However, perhaps I am wrong."
"Yes; I suspect, Ellen, it is but one of your fancies. You would likeit to be the case; it would be so interesting and romantic, and so youcannot help thinking that it must be so," observed John.
Ellen was eager at once to introduce me to her pets. Nimble and Tobyknew me immediately, and climbed up my back without hesitation.
"Here," said Ellen, "is a dear little bird." It was a small heron of avery graceful shape. The plumage was variegated with bars and spots ofseveral colours, as are the wings of certain moths. She called it, andit immediately came up to her with a peculiarly dainty, careful gait.An insect was crawling along the ground. It immediately afterwardspierced it with its slender beak, and gobbled it up. It was the _ardeahelias_. John said he had seen the birds perched on the lower branchesof trees in shady spots: their note is a soft, long-drawn whistle; theybuild their nests in trees, of clay, ver
y beautifully constructed.
"Now I must introduce my _curassow_ turkey," she said, calling anothervery handsome bird, almost as large as an ordinary turkey. It was of adark-violet colour, with a purplish-green gloss on the back and breast.The lower part was of the purest white, while the crest was of a brightgolden-yellow, greatly increasing the beauty of the bird. John calledit the crested curassow--the _crax alector_.
"See," she said, "I have greatly increased the number of my featheredfriends. Look at this beautiful marianna."
It was a small parrot, with a black head, a white breast, and orangeneck and thighs--a most lovely little creature. As soon as she calledit, it came down from its perch and sprang upon her wrist. When sheagain let it go, off it went, poking its head into the various articleson the verandah, examining a basket of fruits which Oria had justbrought in, and the pots of which Domingos had charge; now pecking atone thing, now another. Our Indian friend had brought her anotherparrot called an _anaca_. This was also a beautiful bird, its breastand belly banded with blue and red, while the back of the neck and headwere covered with long bright-red feathers margined with blue. Trueapproaching it, up went the crest, looking remarkably handsome. Fromthis crest it obtains the name of the hawk-head parrot. It came whencalled, but quickly retired in rather a solemn fashion to its perch.
"Do you know," said Ellen, "Oria has brought me that beautiful littleduck you described. I would rather take that home with me than all theother pets, and yet I should be sorry to lose any of them."
"I tell Ellen that her menagerie is a mere bait to jaguars or boas, orother prowling animals of the forest," observed John. "What a nicebreakfast one of them would make if it found its way into oursettlement!"
"You shall not frighten me with any such ideas," she answered; "and Ihope before we leave the country that I may add many more to mycollection. But I have not shown you my humming-bird yet," she said."I keep it in a cage in the house for fear the others should get at it;but it takes a flight by itself every day, and comes back again when itwants a sip of sirrup, or wishes to go to roost. I must show you somenests of the beautiful little birds which have built not far off. Wouldyou like to go and see them at once?"
Knowing it would please her, while Domingos and Maria were preparing ourevening meal, I accompanied her to a little distance, where, hanging tosome long, pendant leaves, she pointed out two little purse-shapednests, composed, apparently, of some cottony material bound togetherwith spider-web. A graceful little bird was sitting in each of them,with tails having long, pointed feathers. The upper part of theirbodies were of a green bronze, except the tail-coverts, which were of asomewhat rusty red; while the tails themselves were of a bronzed tint,broadly tipped with white. I knew them by the shape of their bills andtheir nests to belong to the genus _Phaethornis_.
"They are quite accustomed to me now," she said, "and will not fly awayeven when I go near them."
While we were looking, the mate of one of the birds came up and perchedclose above the nest. As we were going away I saw two others pass byus, of the same size, it seemed to me. Another settled on a flower nearat hand, when the idea seized me that I could catch it. I struck itwith my hat, and down it fell. Ellen uttered a cry of sorrow; butstooping down, what was my surprise to find, instead of a humming-bird,a moth so exactly in shape and appearance like the humming-birds, thatit was no wonder I had been deceived.
"You would not have killed a humming-bird so easily," said Ellen; "but Iam sorry for the poor moth."
The moth, however, though stunned, was not killed. On taking it to thehut I compared it with her tame pet, and was struck by the remarkablesimilarity in the shape of the head and position of the eye. Theextended proboscis represented the long beak of the bird, while at theend of the moth's body was a brush of long hairs, which, as it flewalong, being expanded, looked very much like the feathers of the bird'stail. Oria, when she saw the moth, told Ellen that it would some dayturn into a bird; and Ellen, I believe, did not succeed in persuadingher that such would certainly never happen. The resemblance, of course,is merely superficial, their internal construction being totallydifferent. I have not as yet described nearly all Ellen's new pets; butjust then, as I was very hungry, I had something else to think of.
On the Banks of the Amazon Page 16
