ght not be impeded in our passage down the river; and as our
Indians observed signs of an abundance of game, we halted much earlier
than usual to hunt. Ned remained with Pedro and Nita to build the huts
and look after the horses; while Manco and I, with our three Indians,
set out for the chase. At some distance off, between us and the river,
was a lofty, rocky hill, which served as our land-mark; and by taking
the bearings of it with two other heights still farther off, I hoped to
be able easily to find my way back to the camp. Manco and I had the
rifles, the Indians their bows and arrows. While wandering among the
trees, which were here more than usually interspersed with shrubs and
creepers, I very soon got separated from my companions. This did not
alarm me, as I was certain that I could without difficulty find my way
back to the encampment. I soon fell in with a pathway, which I
recognised as one formed by the peccary or wild hog, which traverses the
forests in droves consisting of two or three hundred. I stopped and
listened, for I thought I heard a grunting sound, which showed that some
were not far off. I was not mistaken, for the noise increased in
loudness, and I satisfied myself of the direction from which it was
coming. Hiding behind a tree, I stood ready to fire, in the hopes of
killing one of the leaders, and having time to load and take a second
shot before the herd passed by. As soon as they appeared along the
path, I singled out one and let fly; but my aim was not steady, and I
only wounded the beast. At the same time I had, I suppose, exposed
myself to view; for the whole herd, led by their wounded companion, came
rushing towards me with furious grunts of rage, evidently with the
intention of destroying me. To hope to escape by flight was out of the
question, for they would soon have overtaken me. Fortunately I had
observed a tree, with branches which I could reach; and retreating to
it, I had climbed up a few feet from the ground before the furious herd
reached me. When they found themselves disappointed of their prey, they
dashed their snouts into the ground round the tree as if they would tear
it up by the roots, and thus get at me. They worked so perseveringly,
that at first I had some little apprehension that they would succeed,
and I began to consider how, if the tree fell, I should manage to escape
my assailants. On climbing higher, I saw that the boughs of the tree I
was on interla