IN THE FOREST
THE sun was just rising and its slanting rays cast a golden glow over
the thick foliage when Affonzo sprang out of bed next morning, awakened
by the noisy chattering of the birds.
"Hurrah!" he exclaimed. "It is a fine day! How glad I am, for now I can
go hunting with my father and Uncle Prudente."
He hurried into his clothes and down to the breakfast-room, where
Joachim was serving strong black coffee, rolls and fruit to his father
and uncle.
"Here you are, bright and early," said the Senhor. "Do you want to go
with us? Perhaps you would better not!"
Affonzo's face fell.
"Oh, father! last night you promised!" he said, and his father
answered, "Oh, you may go. I merely thought perhaps it might tire you
too much, for we shall have a long tramp."
"We must start at once," said his uncle, "if we are to have any sport
before midday," and they started toward the forest.
The Fazenda of the Senhor Dias was situated on the edge of the
magnificent woods which line the banks of the Amazon near the City of
Para.
"No wonder that this region around Para is called the Paradise of
Brazil," said the Senhor as they entered the forest, where heavy dew
glittered on the leaves like diamonds in an emerald crown. "Every time
I enter the forest it seems to me more splendid than it did the last
time."
"What are those huge trees?" asked Affonzo.
"You ought to know those, for they are among the most famous of all
Brazilian trees. They are the Stanba or stone wood, and beside them
grows a cinnamon tree. In addition to these there is the jacaranda, pas
d' arc, the euphorbia, the large lofty cotton-wood tree, the tall white
syringa."
"I know that one," said Affonzo. "It is a rubber tree. Won't you take
me to see the rubber gathered to-day?"
"Not to-day, but to-morrow, perhaps, for your uncle wishes to make the
rounds and you may go with him."
"Thank you, that will be delightful," said Affonzo.
Their path led through the forest where long racemes of tropic moss
hung down and waved in the breeze, while fern and vines grew in a
tangle across the narrow path. Often the undergrowth was so thick,
that Joachim had to go before the party and cut it away with his
_tracado_.[1]
"You must keep silent now," said the Senhor.
"We shall frighten the game away if we talk. Ah!" As he spoke he raised
his gun to his shoulder and fired. There was a shrill cry, a flash of
red and green wings, and a large bird with an enormous bill fluttered
to the ground before them.
"A toucan!" cried Affonzo, as Joachim quickly bagged the bird. "Isn't
it queer that the bird's cry sounded just like its name, _Toucano!
Toucano!_"
"That is just the reason that the Indians named them _toucano_," said
the Senhor. "But listen, I hear monkeys."
Looking carefully about, the hunters saw two monkeys at the top of a
high tree, about which clung a monkey's ladder, an enormous vine which
wound around the tree from its roots to its very topmost branches. When
the little animals saw that they were perceived, they tried to conceal
themselves behind the huge leaves of the tree, and the Senhor's shot
showed no result beyond an increased chattering.
"It seems a shame to kill such cunning little creatures," said Affonzo,
but his father said,
"We hunt for food, not for mere sport, my son. Monkeys make an
excellent dinner, and you will be glad enough to eat after we have
tramped all morning through the heat."
"Master will not hit the monkeys," said Joachim. "I will get them," and
he quickly stripped off all his clothing, except his cotton trousers,
and began to climb the monkey ladder.
It was not easy to climb with his gun in one hand but he was careful
and as nimble as a cat, and he soon neared the top of the tree. He
perched in a crotch of the tree, which branched out thickly at the top,
and hiding behind some leaves he waited until he could get a glimpse of
the monkeys. At last he spied one of them at the end of a branch and
firing quickly, the monkey fell to the ground, fifty feet below.
Joachim climbed down after it and the party soon went its way through
the forest. Now the Senhor shot, and then his brother, and the boy
himself was allowed to fire at an ocelot which crept through the
bushes, and great was his delight when he shot it.
As the noon hour approached, the sun rose high in the heavens, and the
heat grew so intense that the Senhor said,
"We will go no farther. Let us rest and eat until it grows cooler.
Joachim, lead us to a shady spot where we may camp."
"Yes, Senhor," said the black, and soon he brought them to a ruined
building of stone, covered with vines and hidden among the trees. Here
upon the stone floor of the ruin, he kindled a fire and cooked the
monkey, the flesh of which was simply delicious, and Affonzo ate until
he was so sleepy that he could not keep his eyes open.
"What was this building?" he asked his father. "I did not know anyone
had ever lived here."
"No one knows what it was," replied his father. "It has been here
for years and the Indians say it was built many, many years ago by a
Black Gown, as they called the early missionaries. It may have been
the beginning of a mission house, but in any case it makes a very nice
cool place in which to take our siesta now. So sleep, my son, and wake
refreshed."
Affonzo closed his eyes and was soon in dreamland. He slept long but
had strange dreams of some one's putting a heavy stone upon his chest
and pressing it down. At last he awoke with the pressure still on him.
He lay quite still, drowsily wondering what was the matter with him and
before he stirred, Joachim's voice said in a hoarse whisper,
"Don't move, little master, don't even open your eyes!"
Affonzo had been trained to habits of strictest obedience, and he lay
perfectly still without moving a muscle, although wondering very much
what was the matter. He heard Joachim dart quickly to his side. There
was the sound of a blow, and a loud exclamation from his father, and
Joachim said,
"Jump up, there is no danger now!"
As Affonzo sprang to his feet, the weight rolled off his chest, and
he saw the body of a large snake pinned to the earth by the blade of
Joachim's trocado. It was a _jararaca_, a Brazilian snake about six
feet long, of a yellowish colour. Sleeping in the cool of the old stone
ruin it had been disturbed by the intruders, and had crawled across
Affonzo's body to reach the door.
"My boy, you have Joachim to thank for saving your life," said his
father warmly, as he put his arm around his boy and drew him to his
side. "The _jararaca_ is very poisonous, and had your awakening
disturbed him, he might have driven his fangs into you."
"Good old Joachim," said Affonzo, as he threw his arms around the
black's neck. Negro servants in Brazil who have been in a family for
years are always much beloved, and Affonzo was devoted to the old
negro. Joachim didn't say much, but smiled at the boy as he took the
dead body of the snake outside, and prepared to take off its beautiful
skin.
FOOTNOTE:
[Footnote 1: A sharp blade like the Cuban machete.]