"Turn round!" he exclaimed. "Fly! fly! I fear we may soon be pursued.
We are all on board. I wish we had followed your advice."
Back we paddled, as fast as we could urge our canoe through the water.
Meantime the whole plantation appeared in a blaze--not only the
buildings, but the fields and groves of fruit-trees seemed to have been
set on fire. We made for the mouth of the igarape, where we found our
father's canoe waiting for us. Away we all went together. The cries
and shouts of the Indians, as they searched about for the proprietor,
reached our ears. We had too much reason to believe that we should be
followed. There was sufficient light to enable us to keep in the centre
of the water-path. We anxiously looked astern, expecting every moment
to see the canoes of our enemies in our wake. In some places the
igarape was so narrow, and the trees so completely joined overhead, that
we could with difficulty discover our way, and were compelled to paddle
at less speed to avoid running among the bushes at its borders. And
now, from every side, those sounds which I have so often mentioned burst
forth from the forest; yet, though so frequently before heard, their
effect was wonderfully depressing. Sometimes, indeed, they sounded so
exactly like the cries of natives, that we felt sure we were pursued,
and expected every moment to discover our enemies close astern of us.
We continued our night voyage, paddling as fast as we could venture to
move through the darkness. Now and then the light penetrated into the
centre of the igarape, and allowed us to move faster. Ever and anon
flights of magnificent fireflies flitted across the igarape, revealing
the foliage on either side, amid which sometimes it seemed as if
gigantic figures were stalking about, to seize us as we passed. They
were, however, only the stems of decayed trees, or distorted branches
bending over the waters.
Thus we went on, hour after hour, not venturing to stop even to rest the
weary arms of the paddlers; for we had received too clear a warning of
what would be our fate should we fall into the power of the hitherto
submissive, but now savage and vindictive natives. It was no slight
cause probably which had induced them to revolt. The cruelty and
tyranny, the exactions and treachery of the white man had at length
raised their phlegmatic natures, and they were about to exact a bitter
revenge for long years of oppression and wrong. As in many similar
instances, the innocent were doomed to suffer with the guilty; and as
far as we had been able to judge, our friend Senhor Pimento had treated
those around him with all kindness and consideration.
At length a pale light appeared ahead; and emerging from the dark shades
of the igarape, we entered the wide expanse of the Amazon, across which
at that instant the moon, rising above the line of forest, cast the
silvery light of her bright beams. My sisters, and even the Brazilian
girls, uttered exclamations of admiration. We made our way across the
lake-like expanse, which was now just rippled with a light breeze; and
after an hour's progress, found ourselves approaching a lofty wall of
forest. Coasting along it, we entered a narrow channel similar to the
one we had quitted. Here and there the moonbeams, penetrating amid the
branches, enabled us to find our way till we reached an open spot on the
shores of a small lake.
"Here," said our father, "is the place I have selected for our retreat;
and as the Indians will believe that we have continued down the stream,
there is little probability, I think, of their coming here to search for
us. If they do, we may escape through the opposite side, and take one
of several channels which will again conduct us into the main stream."
There was sufficient light to enable us to erect rude huts for the
accommodation of the ladies of the party. As there was no fear of the
glare of the fires shining through the forest, and thus betraying our
position, we could venture to light a sufficient number for the
protection of the camp against wild beasts.
The next morning found us quietly settled in our new location. My
father and mother did their best to comfort Senhor Pimento and his
family for the loss of their property.
"Think how much worse it would have been," said my father, "had you, and
your wife, and daughters, and son been deprived of your lives! We
should be thankful for the blessings we receive."
"See, it is true--it is true," answered our Portuguese friend. "But--"
"Oh, utter not any `buts,'" observed my father. "`But' is an ungrateful
word. It should be discharged from human language."
Ellen had saved all her pets, even her humming-bird; and she and Fanny,
with the assistance of their Brazilian friends, had plenty of occupation
in arranging accommodation for them.
My father was anxious to have a larger vessel built, fit to navigate the
lower part of the river, over whose sea-like expanse strong winds
occasionally blow, which our smaller canoes were but ill-calculated to
encounter. The first thing, however, to be done, was to erect huts, in
which the party might live till the vessel could be got ready, or till
they received information that the voyage could be accomplished without
risk of being attacked by the rebels.
"I have been thinking, Harry," said Arthur, "that if Houlston and Nyass
should come down, and make for Senhor Pimento's farm, would there not be
a great risk of their falling into the hands of the rebels, and being
killed?"
"Indeed there would," I answered. "I did not think of that. I wish we
could send and stop them."
"Would it not be better to go ourselves?" asked Arthur.
"Indeed it would," I exclaimed. "We will see what my father says to
it."
I told John, who agreed with me; and we at once determined to proceed up
the stream with our Tucuna Indians. We promised them that on finding
our friends they should have our canoe in which to perform their
homeward voyage. They seemed perfectly satisfied, and we congratulated
ourselves on the arrangement we had made. As there might not be room to
return in their canoe, John, Arthur, and I determined to go alone. We
would not even take Duppo, as he could do little, compared with the
other Indians, in working our vessel. Fanny and Ellen were very unhappy
at the thoughts of our going. We begged them to look after Duppo, and
to give him his lessons in English till we should return.
We started early in the morning, paddling vigorously up the stream,
which we found a very different thing to going down with it. At first
we kept along the shore, opposite Senhor Pimento's sitio, and then
crossed over, that we might have a better chance of seeing our friends,
should they be coming down. For some time, when the wind was fair, we
rigged a sail, and were thus able to run up with ease against the
current. At night we always chose a spot where we could command a view
of the river, which had so much fallen by this time that we hoped our
friends would keep in it instead of branching off among the channels at
the side.
For several days we continued our voyage, till we began to fear that
some accident might have happened, or that, not hearing of us, they
might have pushed onwards, with the intention of sailing up the Napo.
Sometimes we slept under the awning in the montaria; sometimes we built
huts, according to our usual custom, on the shore.
One morning, just as we were embarking, John shot a fine paca, which we
took on board, and agreed we would roast during our noon-day meal, when
our Indians generally lay down to sleep. At the hour we intended, we
found a bank, which afforded us a tempting resting-place. Arthur and I
agreed to act as cooks; while John, who had been up before daybreak with
his gun in the forest, said he would rest till dinner was ready. The
chief Indian, Tono, meantime took his blow-pipe and bow, saying he would
go into the forest and shoot some more game for supper, our stock having
become somewhat scanty; while his companions lay down to sleep in the
canoe. John lay down on the grass, away from the fire, though near
enough for the smoke to keep the flies at a distance. We had the paca
scientifically trussed and spitted, and placed over the fire on two
forked sticks. Sometime! Arthur, sometimes I turned the spit. It was
my turn to attend to it, and Arthur was sitting near me, when I felt the
ground shake, as if some large object had pitched down on it at my side;
and what was my horror, on turning my head, to see Arthur, in the claws
of an enormous puma, being dragged over the ground. We had imprudently
left our guns in the montaria. At the same time John awoke, and quickly
sprang into the canoe. I felt for my knife--the only weapon I
possessed--when I found that I had left it on the other side of the
fire, where John had been lying. As I turned my head for an instant,
intending to seize it, I saw another puma stealthily approaching.
Arthur did not cry out, but lay with his face on the ground, the better
to avoid the stroke of the puma's paw. Horror kept me from moving. The
savage beast was dragging Arthur away. Despair seized me. His death
seemed inevitable. All passed in a moment. Then I saw John standing up
in the montaria, with his rifle pointed at the puma's head. My tongue
clove to my mouth. I could not shout out to awake the Indians. The
second puma was drawing near. I might be its victim. Just then John's
rifle echoed through the forest: the puma which had seized Arthur sprang
up in the air, and then down it fell, its claws only a few inches from
Arthur's body. I now rushed up to him, and dragged him out of the way
of its dying struggles, calling to John to look after the other puma.
The Indians had now started to their feet, uttering loud shrieks. The
puma stopped just as I fancied it was about to spring at me, and turning
round, bounded into the forest. They then, running up to where the puma
lay, quickly despatched it with their spears; while John and I lifted up
Arthur and carried him to the side of the fire. He was insensible, but
groaned heavily. His arm and shoulder were fearfully torn, while his
head had received a blow, though comparatively a slight one, or it would
inevitably have killed him.
"O John, do you think he will recover?" I exclaimed, as we examined his
hurts.
"If we knew how to treat him, he might," answered John; "but I am a very
bad doctor, and I am afraid our Indians are not better ones."
"Then, John, we must go back to the island," I exclaimed; "it would be
impossible to continue our voyage with Arthur in this state; and though
we have been many days coming up, we may hope to get back again in two
or three."
John agreed with me, and we explained our intentions to the Indian
boatmen. They looked very dissatisfied, especially Tono, who just then
returned from his shooting excursion. I had not from the first liked
his countenance, and I saw by his gestures that he was endeavouring to
incite his companions to disregard our orders.
Though on their side they mustered four stout, athletic fellows, yet
John and I had our rifles, and we agreed, for Arthur's sake, to make
them do as we thought best. John at once reloaded his rifle; and as
soon as he had done so, he told me to hurry down to the boat and seize
mine. I got hold of it before the Indians were aware of my intention,
and quickly rejoined him. Our first care was to wash and dress Arthur's
wounds as well as we could. John covered me with his rifle, while I
went down to get the water.
"Now, Harry," he said, "as we do not know when we shall be able to dress
another paca, we had better make a good dinner off the portion which has
escaped burning during the time you were unable to turn the spit."
Having finished our meal, and secured a portion for Arthur--in the hope
he might recover sufficiently to eat it--we handed the rest to our crew.
They took it sulkily enough, and returned with it to the montaria.
"We must keep a sharp look-out on these fellows; for, depend upon it,
they intend to play us a trick," observed John.
Our chief difficulty was now how to get Arthur into the montaria; for
while we were occupied in so doing, they might suddenly attack us.
"You must guard me, Harry, while I lift him up. He is a good weight,
but still I can carry him as far as the montaria," observed John.
He did so; while I walked by his side, with my rifle ready for action.
When the Indians saw how much Arthur was hurt, they appeared to feel
compassion for him, and expressed their sorrow by signs. When we
ordered them to shove off, they obeyed at once, and willingly paddled on
down the river again.
"I really think, after all, we must have been mistaken in our opinion of
those men," said John. "I never like to think harm of our
fellow-creatures. Perhaps, after all, they did not understand us."
I was not quite so certain of this. A strong breeze came up the river,
and prevented us making as much progress as we had expected. As evening
drew on it increased greatly, and signs of a storm appeared in the sky.
We were over on the southern shore, and had passed an island near the
mainland similar to the one on which our family had lately taken refuge.
Just then the tempest burst on us. I had observed an opening in the
forest, apparently the mouth of a channel, and towards it we now
steered. It was not without difficulty, however, that we could keep the
canoe before the fast rising seas. Had we fallen into the trough, we
should instantly have been upset.
The Indians seemed well aware of our danger, and paddled steadily. I
was thankful when at length we found ourselves is calm water, though the
wind still whistled and howled through the trees, which bent their tall
boughs over our heads, as if they would come down and crush our bark.
We paddled on, therefore, for some distance, till we reached a sheltered
spot, where we agreed to land and build a hut, that Arthur might sleep
more comfortably than he could in the canoe.
When we told the Indians what we wanted, they immediately set to work,
with apparent good-will; and in a short time had erected a neat and
comfortable hut, with a bed-place of bamboos. On this, having spread
several mats brought from the canoe, we placed Arthur.
"Oh, how kind you are," he whispered.