Afloat in the Forest; Or, A Voyage among the Tree-Tops

by Mayne Reid

  The crew of the galatea were on the alert, with awe depicted on everyface. Their fear was lest the craft should be blown away from hermoorings, and carried out into the open water, which was now agitated bythe fury of the storm. Almost under the first lashing of the wind, hugewaves had sprung up, with white crests, that under the electric lightgleamed fiercely along the yellow swell of the turbid water. Theiranxiety was of short continuance; for almost on the instant of itsrising, it became reality. Unfortunately, the tree to which the crafthad been tied was one whose wood was of a soft and succulent nature,--aspecies of _melastoma_. Its branches were too brittle to bear thestrain thus unexpectedly put upon them; and almost at the first onset ofthe tornado they began to give way, snapping off one after the other inquick succession. So rapid was the process of detachment, that, beforefresh moorings could be made, the last cord had come away; and thegalatea, like a greyhound loosed from the leash, shot out from among thetree-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, shehad made several cables' length into the open water, and was stillsweeping onward over its seething surface. To turn her head towards thetrees was clearly out of the question. The attempt would have beenidle. Both wind and waves carried her in the opposite direction, to saynothing of the current, against which she had been already contending.The crew no longer thought of returning to the tree-tops, out of whichthey had been so unceremoniously swept: Their only chance of safetyappeared to be to keep the craft, as well balanced as circumstanceswould permit, and run before the wind. Even this for a time seemed buta doubtful chance. The wind blew, not in regular, uniform direction,but in short, fitful gusts, as if coming from every point of thecompass; and the waves rolled around them as high as houses. In themidst of a chopping, purging sea, the galatea tumbled and pitched, nowhead, now stern foremost, at times going onward in mad career, and withheadlong speed. The parrots and macaws upon the yard had as much astheir 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 ofthe galatea's timbers and the shouts of her crew. The Gapo threatenedto ingulf them. Every moment might be their last! And with this dreadbelief, scarce for a moment out of their minds, did our adventurers passthe remainder of that remarkable night, the galatea galloping onward,they could not tell whither. All they knew or could remember of thatnocturnal voyage was, that the vessel kept upon her course, piloted onlyby the winds and waves,--at times tossing within deep troughs ofturbulent 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 greatlake or inland sea. At a later hour, the lightning revealed the tops ofsubmerged trees, such as those they had left behind; but standing out ofthe water in clumps or coppices, that appeared like so many islands.Amidst these they were carried, sometimes so close to the trees as togive them hopes of being able to grasp their boughs. Once or twice therigging of the galatea brushed among the branches; and they used everyeffort to stay their runaway craft, and bring her to an anchorage. Butin vain. The storm was stronger than the united strength of the crew.The twigs clutched with eager hands parted in twain, and thestorm-driven vessel swept on amid the surging waters.

  Daylight arrived at length, breaking through a red aurora, soon followedby a brilliant sunrise. This somewhat cheered our despairingadventurers. But the tempest was still raging with undiminished fury,the wind as loud and the waves as high as at any period throughout thenight. Once more they were in the middle of a waste of waters, neithertrees nor land in sight. Another great lake or inland sea? It couldnot be that over which they had been already carried? No. The wind wasnow blowing more steadily; and could it not have shifted? Even if ithad, 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 havesaid, the returning day did little to restore the confidence of thegalatea's crew. The tornado still continued. Despite the sunlit sky,the storm showed no signs of abating; and the crazy craft gave tongue inevery timber of her frail frame. The sounds were ominous to the ears ofthose who listened to them. It was too evident, that, unless thereshould soon come a lull, the galatea would go to the bottom. She hadnot been constructed to stand a strain like that to which she had beenthus unexpectedly exposed, and an anchorage either to _terra firma_ orthe tree-tops would soon become necessary to her salvation. Her crew,convinced of this, were one and all upon the lookout, scanning thehorizon as closely as the crested billows would admit. The Mundurucuhad mounted to the top of the mast, where, with one of the monkeys thathad perched itself on his shoulders, he clung with the tenacity ofdespair. All at once he was heard to cry out, the monkey mocking him inmimic tone.

  "What is it, Munday? What do you see?" were the inquiries that reachedhim 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 aless confident tone. "It may be only the top of a thick forest likewhat we tried to penetrate yesterday. Whatever it is, patron, it seemsalong the whole edge of the sky. We are drifting towards it, straightas the wind can carry us."

  "Thank God!" exclaimed Trevannion, "anything is better than this. If wecan get once more among the tree-tops, we shall at least be saved fromdrowning. Thank God, children. We shall be preserved!"

  The Indian descended from the mast, close followed by the monkey, whoseserio-comic countenance seemed to say that he too was satisfied by theobservation just made. Still careering madly onward before the tempest,the boat soon brought the tree-tops within view, and, after a briefdebate, 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 ofjoy our adventurers perceived that their craft was drifting toward thatdark line. They were powerless to control her course. Her rudder hadbeen unshipped during the night, and they could trust only to thetempest still raging to carry them to the confines of the forest. Infull hope that this would be the result, they took no measures either topromote or frustrate the steering of the storm.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN.

  THE GALATEA TREED.

  Tossed by the tempest, the galatea preserved her course towards thetree-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 ofthe forest, that it was no longer doubtful about her drifting among thetrees. In this there was a prospect of temporary safety at the least,and our adventurers had begun to congratulate themselves on theproximity of the event. Just then, a gigantic tree--it must have beengigantic to stand so high over its fellows, though it could scarce befifty feet above the surface of the water--presented itself to theireyes. It stood solitary and alone, about a quarter of a mile from theedge of the forest, and as much nearer to the craft, still strugglingthrough the wind-lashed water. Like that in the top of which they hadfirst gone aground, it was a sapucaya,--as testified by the hugepericarps conspicuously suspended from its branches. High as may havebeen the inundation, its stem rose still higher, by at least ten feet;but half-way between the water's surface and the branches, the colossaltrunk forked in twain,--each of the twin scions appearing a trunk ofitself. Through the fork was the water washing at each heave of theagitated Gapo,--the waves with foaming crests mounting far up towardsthe top of the tree, as if aspiring to pluck the ripe fruit dependingfrom its branches.

  Towards this tree the galatea was now going as straight as if she hadbeen steered by the finger of Destiny itself. There was no other powerto control
her,--at least none that was human. The wind, or destiny,--one of the two,--must determine her fate. The waves perhaps hadsomething to do with it; since the next that followed lifted the galateaupon its curling crest, and lodged her in the sapucaya in such a fashionthat her keel, just amidships, rested within the forking of the twinstems.

  "Thank God!" exclaimed her owner, "we are safe now. Moored between twostanchions like these, neither the winds of heaven nor the waves of thegreat ocean itself could prevail against us. Make fast there! Makefast to the limbs of the tree! Tie her on both sides. These are notwigs to be snapped asunder. Hurrah! we are anchored at last!"

  The gigantic stems of the sapucaya, rising on both sides above thebeam-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 carriedfarther; therefore was she secure against wind and wave. The tornadomight continue, but no longer to be a terror to the crew. These, partlyrelieved from their fears, hastened to obey the master's commands.Ropes were grasped, and, with hands still trembling, were looped aroundthe stems of the sapucaya. All at once action was suspended by a loudcrash, which was followed by a cry that issued simultaneously from thelips of all the crew; who, before its echoes could die away among thebranches 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 subsidenceof the wave that had heaved her into this peculiar position. For a fewseconds the two sections of the partly dissevered craft hung balancedbetween the air and the water, the fore-deck with its stores balancingthe quarter with its _toldo_. But long before the beam was kicked, theoccupants of both had forsaken them, and were to be seen, some of themclinging to the branches of the sapucaya, some struggling beneathagainst the storm and the current of the Gapo. By noble devotion on thepart of those who could swim, the whole crew were placed beyond thereach of the waves upon the branches of the sapucaya, where, from theirelevated position, they beheld the craft that had so long safely carriedthem parting in two and sinking out of sight.

  CHAPTER TWELVE.

  A DANGEROUS DUCKING.

  Before the dismembered vessel quite disappeared under the storm-lashedwaves, every individual of her crew had found a foothold upon thebranches of the sapucaya. The tree, while causing the wreck of theirvessel, 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 indifferent parts of the tree, scattered all over it, just as they hadbeen able to lay hold of the limbs and lift themselves above the reachof the swelling waves. Scarce two of them were in the same attitude.One stood erect upon a branch with arms around an upright stem; anothersat astride; a third lay along a limb, with one leg dangling downwards.The young Paraense had taken post upon a stout _lliana_, that threadedthrough the branches of the trees, and, with one arm around this and theother encircling the waist of his cousin, Rosita, he kept both the girland himself in a position of perfect security. Young Ralph foundfooting on a large limb, while his father stood upon a still larger oneimmediately below. The pets, both birds and beasts, had distributedthemselves in their affright, and were seen perched on all parts of thetree.

  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 themcould do to keep the place already gained. There was one who did noteven succeed in keeping his place, and this was Tipperary Tom. TheIrishman had selected one of the lowest limbs, that stretchedhorizontally 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 itby the swelling wave, and, clutching instinctively, had held fast. Theweight of his body, however, had bent the branch downward, and, aftermaking several fruitless efforts to ascend to the stem, he haddiscovered that the feat was too much for him. There was no choice butto hold on to the bent branch or drop back into the boiling Gapo, thatthreatened from below to ingulf him; terrified by the latteralternative, Tom exerted all his strength, and held on with mouth agapeand 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 permittedto reach this point of exhaustion. A wave similar to that which hadlanded him on the limb lifted him off again, launching him out into theopen water.

  A cry of consternation came from the tree. All knew that Tipperary Tomwas no swimmer; and with this knowledge they expected to see him sinklike 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 thesurface, and, guided by his loud cries, his situation was easilydiscovered. He could only sink a second time to rise no more. Sad werethe anticipations of his companions,--all except one, who had made uphis 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 thenswimming out in the direction of the drowning man. In less than a scoreof seconds he was in the clutch of the Indian, who grasping him with onehand, with the other struck out for the tree.

  By good fortune the swell that had swept Tipperary from his perch, orone wonderfully like it, came balancing back towards the sapucaya,bearing both Indian and Irishman upon its crest, landing them in thegreat fork where the galatea had gone to pieces, and then retiringwithout them! It seemed a piece of sheer good fortune, though no doubtit was a destiny more than half directed by the arm of the Indian, whosebroad palm appeared to propel them through the water with the power of apaddle.

  To whatever indebted, chance or the prowess of the Mundurucu, certain itis that Tipperary Tom was rescued from a watery grave in the Gapo; andon seeing him along with his preserver safe in the fork of the tree, ageneral shout of congratulation, in which even the animals took part,pealed up through the branches, loud enough to be heard above theswishing of the leaves, the whistling of the wind, and the surging ofthe angry waters, that seemed to hiss spitefully at being disappointedof 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 thewave had deposited him and his preserver, he was still within reach ofthe swelling waters; seeing this, he was not slow to follow the exampleof the Mundurucu, who, "swarming" up the stem of the tree, placedhimself 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 thanthat of the castaway crew of the galatea. Seated, standing, or astrideupon the limbs of the sapucaya, their position was painful, and far fromsecure. The tempest continued, and it was with difficulty they couldkeep their places, every gust threatening to blow them out of thetree-top. Each clung to some convenient bough; and thus only were theyenabled to maintain their balance. The branches, swept by the furiousstorm, creaked and crackled around them,--bending as if about to breakunder their feet, or in the hands that apprehensively grasped them.Sometimes a huge pericarp, big as a cannon-ball, filled with heavyfruits, was detached from the pendulous peduncles, and went _swizzing_diagonally through the air before the wind, threatening a cracked crownto any who should be struck by it. One of the castaways met with thisbit of ill-luck,--Mozey the Mozambique. It was well, however, that hewas thus distinguished, since no other skull but his could havewithstood the shock. As it was, the ball rebounded from the closewoolly fleece that covered the negro's crown, as from a cushion, causinghim no further trouble than a considerable fright. Mozey's looks andexclamations were ludicrous enough, had his companions been inclined forlaughter. But they were not; their situation was too serious, and allremained silent, fully occupied in clinging to the tree, and moodilycontemplating the scene of cheerless desolation that surrounded them.

  Till now, no one had speculated on anything beyond immediate safety.
Toescape drowning had been sufficient for their thoughts, and engrossedthem for more than an hour after the galatea had gone down. Then achange began to creep over their spirits,--brought about by oneobservable in the spirit of the storm. It was, you remember, one ofthose tropical tempests, that spring up with unexpected celerity, andfall with equal abruptness. Now the tempest began to show signs ofhaving spent itself. The tornado--a species of _cyclone_, usually oflimited extent--had passed on, carrying destruction to some other partof the great Amazonian plain. The wind lulled into short, powerlesspuffs, and the comparatively shallow waters of the Gapo soon ceased toswell. By this time noon had come, and the sun looked down from azenith 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 theminds of our adventurers perched upon the sapucaya. No longer inimmediate danger, their thoughts naturally turned to the future; andthey began to speculate upon a plan for extricating themselves fromtheir unfortunate dilemma.

  On all sides save one, as far as the eye could scan, nothing could beseen but open water,--the horizon not even broken by the branch of atree. On the excepted side trees were visible, not in clumps, orstanding solitary, but in a continuous grove, with here and there sometaller ones rising many feet above their fellows. There could be nodoubt that it was a forest. It would have gratified them to havebelieved it a thicket, for then would they have been within sight andreach of land. But they could not think so consistently with theirexperience. It resembled too exactly that to which they had tied thegalatea on the eve of the tempest, and they conjectured that what theysaw was but the "spray" of a forest submerged. For all that, the designof reaching it as soon as the waters were calm was first in their minds.