Three days passed away, and Arthur had almost recovered. We none of us
had liked to ask the recluse any questions about himself, and he had
given us no information as to who he was, where he had come from, or how
long he had lived in that secluded spot. He had merely told us that he
was English, and he certainly seemed from his conversation to be a man
of education. He made no inquiries about us, though he listened from
politeness, apparently, rather than from any interest he took in the
matter, to the account we gave him of our adventures. One thing was
very evident, that, though he bore with our society, he would rather be
left alone to his usual solitude.
I awoke early the following morning, and found John already on foot. He
proposed going down to the igarape to bathe, and asked me to accompany
him. Our host, we found, had already left the hut. Arthur was asleep,
so we would not disturb him. Domingos also had gone out, and we
concluded had accompanied the recluse to obtain provisions, as he had
taken with him a couple of baskets which usually hung on the wall at the
entrance of the hut. At all events, they were not there when we looked
for them. Taking our guns, we proceeded as we proposed. The rays of
the rising sun came through the few openings among the tall trees, their
light flashing on the wings of the gorgeous butterflies and still more
brilliant plumage of several humming-birds, which flitted here and there
amid the opening in the forest.
There was a sandy spot where we thought that we could venture into the
water, without the risk of being seized by an alligator or anaconda. We
were making our way towards it, when we caught sight of a small canoe,
in which a man, whom we at once recognised as the recluse, was seated.
He was paddling slowly up the igarape. We watched him for some time,
till he was lost to sight among the thick foliage which lined the banks.
We naturally concluded that he was merely taking a morning excursion,
perhaps to fish or bathe, and expected to see him again at breakfast.
While John took a bath, I stood by and beat the water with a long pole,
to frighten away any alligator which might be near, and he performed the
same office for me--a very necessary precaution, from the number of the
huge reptiles which swarm in all the rivers.
Much refreshed, we returned to the hut. We waited for the recluse some
time before beginning breakfast, which Maria had prepared; but he did
not appear, nor did Domingos. We all agreed that we ought no longer to
impose our society on our strange friend. The first thing to be done
was to build a canoe, but we had not found a tree in the neighbourhood
of the hut exactly suited to our purpose.
"We may perhaps discover one near the place at which we landed the other
day, and we may get our Indian friends to help us to build a canoe," I
observed. "Or it is possible that they may have recovered some of
theirs, and be ready to sell one of them to us."
"Then the sooner we find them out the better," observed John.
"I wonder Duppo and his sister, or some of the other Indians, have not
come here to look for us," said Arthur. "I thought Duppo, at all
events, would have shown more regard for us."
"Perhaps the recluse has taught them not to visit his hut without his
leave," I remarked. "They seem to hold him in great respect."
While I was speaking Domingos appeared at the door, with his baskets
loaded with fruit, vegetables, and birds--chiefly parrots and toucans of
gay plumage. He gave a note to John, which he had received, he said,
from the strange senor early in the morning.
"I will not conceal from you that I have departed greatly from my
accustomed habits in affording you an asylum," it ran. "If you wish it
you can remain, but I desire to be once more alone, and can find a home
elsewhere till you take your departure. I have communicated with your
Indian friends, and they will assist you in building a lodge more
suitable for you than this, in the situation you first selected. A
party of them will appear shortly to convey your goods; and they will
also construct a montaria of a size sufficient for you to continue your
voyage. I will, in the meantime, institute inquiries about your missing
friends, and, should I hear tidings of them, will send you word. I beg
that you will return me no thanks, nor expect to see me. The life of
solitude upon which your appearance has broken I desire to resume, and
it will therefore cause me annoyance should you attempt to seek me.
Accept such good wishes as a wretched outcast can venture to end."
This strange note caused us much regret. "He is so kind and gentle, in
spite of the strange way he sometimes expresses himself, that I should
grieve not to see him again, and thank him," said Arthur. "Do you not
think we could leave a note, asking him to let us come and visit him
before we go away altogether? Surely he would not refuse that."
"I am afraid, from the tenor of his note, it would be of no use," said
John; "but if you wish it you can do so; and it will show him, at all
events, that we are not ungrateful for his kindness."
We waited all day in expectation of the arrival of the Indians, but no
one appeared. John went out, and shot some birds and a couple of
monkeys. In our rambles, which were further than we had yet been, we
came upon a cleared space containing a plantation of bananas, maize, and
several edible roots; and, from the neat and scientific way in which the
ground was cultivated, we had little doubt it belonged to the stranger;
indeed, from the supplies he had brought us, notwithstanding his first
remark, we had suspected that he was not without the means of supporting
himself with vegetable food. Although he had allowed us to cook the
animals we killed, we had remarked that he did not touch any of the meat
himself.
Early next morning, as I was standing on the verandah, True poked his
nose forward and began to bark. I thought he had seen some animal in
the woods, and got my gun ready to fire at it, when I caught sight of a
figure emerging from the narrow path of which I have spoken, and,
greatly to my satisfaction, I recognised Duppo. As soon as he saw us he
ran forward. I went down to meet him. He took my hand, and, by his
action, and the gleam of satisfaction which passed over his impassive
countenance, showed the satisfaction he felt at again being with us. He
then made signs that others were coming, and soon afterwards a party of
eight Indians, with his father at their head, made their appearance.
Maono gravely saluted John and I, and signified that his men had come to
convey our property to another place. Duppo asked whether any of us
would like to return in the canoe. We agreed that it would be a good
plan for Arthur and Ellen to do so.
"Oh, let me go through the woods," exclaimed Ellen; "I should like to
see the country."
"But then, who is to look after Arthur? He is not fit to walk so far
yet," said John.
"Oh, then I will go and take care of him," answered Ellen.
It was finally arranged that Maono and Duppo should paddle the canoe,
and look after Ellen and Arthur. They formed a sufficiently large
freight for the little craft. The Indians now shouldered our goods,
each man taking a load twice as heavy as any one of us could have
carried, although much less than our Napo peons had conveyed down to the
river. Before starting, Arthur wrote the note he had proposed to the
recluse, and left it on the table. We could not help feeling sorry at
leaving that shady little retreat. At the same time, there was no
chance while remaining there of obtaining tidings of our family. Having
handed Ellen and Arthur into the canoe, with Nimble, and Ellen's other
pets, we watched her for some minutes as Maono paddled her along the
shore, which presented as far as we could see one wall of tall trees of
varied forms rising almost from the water. "We shall meet again soon,"
exclaimed Ellen as she waved an adieu. "Who knows what adventures we
shall have to recount to each other!" We could not tear ourselves from
the spot while the canoe remained in sight. As soon as she disappeared
we hurried after the Indians. Domingos and Maria had gone on with them.
We walked on rapidly, fully expecting, as they had loads, that we
should quickly overtake them. John was a little ahead of me, when
suddenly I saw him take a tremendous leap along the path. I was
wondering what sudden impulse had seized him, when I heard him exclaim,
"Look out, Harry I see that creature;" and there I observed stretched
across the path, a big ugly-looking serpent. I sprang back, holding
True, who would have unhesitatingly dashed at the dangerous reptile. It
was nearly six feet in length, almost as thick as a man's leg, of a deep
brown above, pale yellow streaks forming a continued series of
lozenge-shaped marks down the back, growing less and less distinct as
they descended the sides, while it had a thin neck, and a huge flat
head, covered with small scales.
As we had our guns ready, we did not fear it. It seemed disinclined to
move, and, had it not lifted up its tail, we might have supposed it
dead. We soon recognised, by the shape of the point, the fearful
rattlesnake;--fearful it would be from its venomous bite, had not the
rattle been fixed to it to give notice of its approach. We threw sticks
at it, but still it did not seem inclined to move. Again it lifted up
its horny tail, and shook its rattle. "Take care," cried John; "keep
away." The serpent had begun to glide over the ground, now looking at
one of us, now at the other, as if undecided at which it should dart. I
took John's advice, and quickly retreated. He fired, and shattered the
reptile's head. As it still moved slowly, I finished it with a blow of
my stick.
As it would have been inconvenient to drag after us, we cut off the
tail, that we might examine it at leisure. We found that the rattle was
placed with the broad part perpendicular to the body. The last joint
was fastened to the last vertebra of the tail by means of a thick
muscle, as well as by the membranes which united it to the skin. The
remaining joints were so many extraneous bodies, as it were, unconnected
with the tail, except by the curious way in which they were fitted into
each other. It is said that these bony rings or rattles increase in
number with the age of the animal, and on each casting of the skin it
acquires an additional one. The tip of every uppermost bone runs within
two of the bones below it. By this means they not only move together,
but also multiply the sound, as each bone hit against two others at the
same time.
They are said only to bite when provoked or when they kill their prey.
For this purpose they are provided with two kinds of teeth,--the
smaller, which are placed in each jaw, and serve to catch and retain
their food: and the fangs, or poisonous teeth, which are placed without
the upper jaw. They live chiefly upon birds and small animals. It is
said that when the piercing eye of the rattlesnake is fixed on an animal
or bird they are so terrified and astonished that they are unable to
escape. Birds, as if entranced, unwillingly keeping their eyes fixed on
those of the reptile, have been seen to drop into its mouth. Smaller
animals fall from the trees and actually run into the jaws open to
receive them. Fatal as is the bite of the rattlesnake to most
creatures, the peccary attacks and eats the reptile without the
slightest hesitation; as, indeed, do ordinary hogs,--and even when
bitten they do not suffer in the slightest degree.
This encounter with the rattlesnake having delayed us for a little time,
we hurried on as rapidly as we could to overtake our companions. We had
gone some distance, and still had not come up with them. I began to be
afraid that we had turned aside from the right path. In some places
even our eyes had distinguished the marks of those who had gone before
us. We had now lost sight of them altogether, and as the wood was
tolerably open, and the axes had not been used, we could only judge by
the direction of the sun how to proceed.
We went on for some time, still believing ourselves in the right
direction; but at last, when we expected to find the marks of the axes
which we had before made, we could discover none. We searched about--
now on one side, now on the other. The forest, though dense, was yet
sufficiently open to enable us to make our way in a tolerably direct
line. Now and then we had to turn aside to avoid the thick mass of
creepers or the fallen trunk of some huge tree. We shouted frequently,
hoping that Domingos and the Indians might hear us. Then John suggested
that they, finding it an easy matter to follow the right track, did not
suppose we could lose it. At last we grew tired of shouting, and agreed
that we should probably fall in with the proper track by inclining
somewhat to the right; and I had so much faith also in True's sagacity
that I had hopes he would find it. However, I gave him more credit than
he deserved. He was always happy in the woods, like a knight-errant in
search of adventures, plenty of which he was indeed likely to meet with.
Still in the belief that we were not far wrong in our course, we walked
briskly forward. We had gone some distance, when True made towards the
decayed trunk of a huge tree, and began barking violently. While we
were still at a considerable distance, a large hairy creature rose up
before us. True stood his ground bravely, rushing now on one side, now
on the other, of the animal. It had an enormous bushy tail, curled up
something like that of a squirrel, but with a great deal more hair, and
looked fully eight feet in length. As we drew nearer we saw that it had
also an extraordinary long snout. It seemed in no degree afraid of
True, and he evidently considered it a formidable antagonist. Presently
it lifted itself up on its hind legs, when True sprang back just in time
to avoid a gripe of its claws. Still the creature, undaunted by our
appearance, made at him, when, seeing that he was really in danger, John
and I rushed forward. We then discovered the creature to be a huge
ant-eater, which, though it had no teeth, was armed with formidable
claws, with which it would inevitably have killed my brave dog had it
caught him. A shot in the head from John's rifle laid it dead.
It was covered with long hair, the prevailing colour being that of dark
grey, with a broad band of black running from the neck downwards on each
side of the body. It lives entirely on ants; and on opening its mouth
we found that it could not provide itself with other food, as it was
entirely destitute of teeth. Its claws, which were long, sharp,
pointed, and trenchant, were its only implements of defence. Its hinder
claws were short and weak; but the front ones were powerful, and so
formed that anything at which it seizes can never hope to escape. The
object of its powerful crooked claws is to enable it to open the
ant-hills, on the inhabitants of which it feeds. It then draws its
long, flexible tongue, covered with a glutinous saliva, over the swarms
of insects who hurry forth to defend their dwelling.
The scientific name of this great ant-eater is _Myrmecophaga jubata_.
There are, however, several smaller ant-eaters, which are arborial--that
is, have their habitations in trees. Some are only ten inches long.
One species is clothed with a greyish-yellow silky hair; another is of a
dingy brown colour. They are somewhat similar in their habits to the
sloth; and as they are seen clinging with their claws to the trees, or
moving sluggishly along, they are easily mistaken for that animal, to
which, indeed, they are allied. Some are nocturnal, others are seen
moving about in the daytime.
True seemed to be aware of the narrow escape he had had from the
formidable talons of the ant-eater, for after this encounter he kept
close behind my heels. I hoped that he had received a useful lesson,
and would attack no animal unless at my command, or he might do so some
day when no friend was at hand to come to his rescue.
We had been walking on after this occurrence for some time in silence,
when True pricked up his ears and began to steal forward. I could,
however, see nothing. The undergrowth and masses of sipos were here of
considerable denseness. Still, as he advanced, we followed him.
Presently the forest became a little more open, when we caught sight of
a creature with a long tail and a tawny hide with dark marks. "It is a
jaguar," I whispered to John. "It is watching some animal. In a moment
we shall see it make its spring." It was so intent on some object
before it, that it did not discover our approach. On it went with the
stealthy pace of a cat about to pounce on an unwary bird or mouse. It
did not make the slightest noise, carefully avoiding every branch in its
way. True, after his late adventure with the ant-eater, was less
disposed than usual to seek an encounter, and I was therefore able to
keep him from dashing forward as he otherwise would have done.
"The creature is about to pounce on some deer he sees feeding in the
thicket," whispered John; "or perhaps he espies a tapir, and hopes to
bring it to the ground."
Unconscious of our approach, the savage animal crept on and on, now
putting one foot slowly forward, now the other. Now it stopped, then
advanced more quickly. At length it stopped for a moment, and then made
one rapid bound forward. A cry reached our ears. "That is a human
voice!" exclaimed John; "some unfortunate native caught sleeping." He
fired as he spoke, for we could still see the back of the animal through
the thick underwood. The jaguar bounded up as it received the wound,
and the next moment the tall figure of the recluse appeared, bleeding at
the shoulder, but otherwise apparently uninjured.
"What, my young friends," he exclaimed, "brought you here? You have
saved my life, at all events."
"We chanced to lose our way, and are thankful we came up in time to save
you from that savage brute."
"Chance!" exclaimed the recluse. "It is the very point I was
considering at the moment;" and he showed us a book in his hand. "Your
arrival proves to me that there is no such thing as chance. I was
reading at the moment, lost in thought, or I should not have been so
easily surprised."
John then told him how we had waited to see Ellen and our young friend
off; and then, in attempting to follow our companions, had lost our way.
"We should have got thus far sooner had we not been delayed by an attack
which a great ant-eater made on our dog."
"If you have lost your way, you will wish to find it," said the recluse.
"I will put you right, and as we go along, we can speak on the point I
mentioned. You have some distance to go, for you should know that you
have come almost at right angles to the route you intended to take. No
matter; I know this forest, and can lead you by a direct course to the
point you wish to gain. But I must ask you before we move forward to
bind up my shoulder. Here, take this handkerchief. You need not be
afraid of hurting me."
Saying this, he resumed his seat on the log, and John, under his
directions, secured the handkerchief over the lacerated limb. He bore
the process with perfect composure, deep as were the wounds formed by
the jaguar's claws.
"What has occurred has convinced me that chance does not exist," he
said, resuming his remarks as we walked along. "You delayed some time,
you tell me, in watching your friends embark; then, losing your way, you
were detained by the ant-eater, and thus arrived at the very moment to
save my life. There was no chance in that. Had you been sooner you
would have passed me by, for I sat so occupied in reading, and ensconced
among the roots of the trees, that I should not have heard you. Had you
delayed longer, the fierce jaguar would have seized me, and my life
would have been sacrificed. No, I say again, there is no such thing as
chance. He who rules the world ordered each event which has occurred,
and directed your steps hither. It is a happy and comforting creed to
know that One more powerful than ourselves takes care of us. Till the
moment the jaguar's sharp claw touched my shoulder, I had doubted this.
The author whose book I hold doubts it also, and I was arguing the point
with him. Your arrival decided the question."
While he was speaking I missed True, and now heard him bark violently.
I ran back, and found the jaguar we thought had been killed rising to
its feet. It was snarling fiercely at the brave dog, and in another
moment would have sprung upon him. True stood prepared for the
encounter, watching the creature's glaring eyes. I saw the danger of my
faithful friend and fired at the head of the savage animal. My shot was
more effectual than John's. It fell back dead. John and the recluse
came hurrying up.
"We should never leave a treacherous foe behind us," observed the
latter. "However, he is harmless now. Come on. You have a long walk
before you; though, for myself, I can find a lodging in the forest,
suited to my taste, whenever I please."
The recluse, as in our former walk, led the way. For a considerable
distance he went on without again speaking. There was much that was
strange about him, yet his mind seemed perfectly clear, and I could not
help hoping that we might be the means of persuading him to return to
civilised society. He walked forward so rapidly that we sometimes had
difficulty in keeping up with him; and I remarked, more than I had done
before, his strange appearance, as he flourished his sharp axe, now
striking on one side, now on the other, at the sipos and vines which
interfered with his progress. He was dressed merely in a coarse cotton
shirt and light trousers secured round the waist by a sash, while a
broad-brimmed straw hat sheltered his head. His complexion was burned
almost red; his features were thin, and his eyes sunken; but no tinge of
grey could be perceived in his hair, which hung wild and streaming over
his shoulders.
True, after going on for some time patiently, began to hunt about on
either side according to his custom. Presently he gave forth one of his
loud cheery barks, and off he bounded after a creature which had come
out of the hollow of a tree. Calling to John, I made chase, getting my
gun ready to fire. The ground just there was bare, and I caught sight
of an animal the size of a small pig, but its whole back and head were
covered with scales. In spite of its awkward appearance, it made good
play over the ground, and even True, with all his activity, could
scarcely keep up with it. It turned its head here and there, looking
apparently for a hole in which to seek shelter. He, however, made
desperate efforts to overtake it. The base of a large tree impeded its
progress, when, just as he was about to spring on it, it suddenly coiled
itself up into a round ball. True kept springing round and round it,
wishing to get hold of the creature, but evidently finding no vulnerable
part. I ran forward and seized it, when, just as I got hold of the
ball, I received so severe a dig in my legs from a pair of powerful
claws which it suddenly projected, that I was glad to throw it down
again.
"You have got hold of an armadillo," said the recluse, who with John at
that moment arrived. "If you want a dinner, or wish to make an
acceptable present to your Indian friends, you may kill and carry it
with you; but if not, let the creature go. For my part, I delight to
allow the beasts of the forest to roam at large, and enjoy the existence
which their Maker has given them. The productions of the ground afford
me sufficient food to support life, and more I do not require. Yet I
acknowledge that unless animals were allowed to prey on each other, the
species would soon become so numerous that the teeming earth itself
could no longer support them: therefore man, as he has the power, so, I
own, he has the right to supply himself with food which suits his taste.
I speak, therefore, only as regards my own feelings."
While he was speaking he seemed to forget that he had just before been
in a hurry to proceed on our way, and stood with his arms folded, gazing
at the armadillo. The creature, finding itself unmolested, for even
True stood at a respectful distance, uncoiled itself, and I then had an
opportunity of observing its curious construction. Its whole back was
covered with a coat of scaly armour of a bony-looking substance, in
several parts. On the head was an oval plate, beneath which could be
seen a pair of small eyes, winking, as if annoyed by the sunlight. Over
the shoulders was a large buckler, and a similar one covered the
haunches; while between these solid portions could be seen a series of
shelly zones, arranged in such a manner as to accommodate this coat of
mail to the back and body. The entire tail was shielded by a series of
calcareous rings, which made it perfectly flexible. The interior
surface, as well as the lower part of the body, was covered with coarse
scattered hairs, of which some were seen to issue forth between the
joints of the armour. It had a pointed snout, long ears, short, thick
limbs, and stout claws.
"There are several species of the armadillo," observed our friend. "The
creature before us is the _Dasypus sexcinctus_. It is a burrowing
animal, and so rapidly can it dig a hole, that when chased it has often
its way made under ground before the hunter can reach it. Its food
consists of roots, fruits, and every variety of soft vegetable
substances; but it also devours carrion and flesh of all sorts, as well
as worms, lizards, ants, and birds which build their nests on the
ground. In some parts of the continent the natives cook it in its
shell, and esteem it a great delicacy."
Whilst our friend was giving us this account, the armadillo, suddenly
starting forward, ran off at a great rate into the forest, True made
chase, but I called him back, and he came willingly, apparently
convinced that he should be unable to overtake the creature, or
overpower it if he did.
We were once more proceeding on our way. The day was drawing to a
close, and yet we had not overtaken our companions. "You are scarcely
aware of the distance you were from the right road," observed the
recluse. "When once a person gets from the direct path, he knows not
whither he may wander. It may be a lesson to you. I have learned it
from bitter experience." He sighed deeply as he spoke. At length we
saw the bright glare of a fire between the trees. "You will find your
friends there," said the recluse, "and, directed by that, can now go
on."
"But surely you are going with us to the camp?" said John.
"No; I shall seek a resting-place in the forest," he answered. "I am
too much accustomed to solitude to object to be alone, even though I
have no sheltering roof over my head. Farewell! I know not whether we
shall meet again, but I would once more give you the assurance that I do
not forget that you were the means of saving my life; and yet I know not
why I should set value upon it."
In vain John and I entreated him to come on. Not another step further
would he advance; and he cut us short by turning hastily round and
stalking off into the depths of the forest, while we hurried on towards
the camp.
"Oh, there they are! there they are!" exclaimed Ellen, running forward
to meet us as we appeared. "I have been so anxious about you, and so
has Arthur! Domingos told us he was sure you would come up soon, but I
could not help dreading that some accident had happened."
We had to confess that we had lost our way, and that, had it not been
for the stranger, we should still be wandering in the forest.
"And why would he not come to the camp?" she asked. "Arthur is longing
to see him again. Duppo has been telling him of the way in which he
rescued him from the anaconda. I was at last obliged to tell him what
occurred."
Arthur now came up. "I must thank him!" he exclaimed. "I will run and
overtake him."
We had great difficulty in persuading Arthur of the hopelessness of
finding him, and that he would be more likely to lose his own way in the
forest.
The Indians had been busily employed in putting up huts for our
accommodation. Ellen and Maria, with their pets, had already possession
of theirs. We hung up our hammocks in the more open shed which had been
prepared for us.