thicket, and flung themselves with a splashing into
the water.

"`No--tapir no--capivara,' cried the chief; but his voice was drowned by
the reports of guns and the twanging of bowstrings. Half a dozen of the
capivaras were observed to fall on the sandy margin, while the rest
plunged forward, and, diving beyond the reach of pursuit, were seen no
more.

"This was a splendid beginning of the day's sport; for half a dozen at a
single volley was no mean game, even among Indians.

"But the nobler beast, the tapir, occupied all our thoughts; and leaving
the capivaras to be gathered in by the women, the hunters got back to
their posts in a few seconds.

"There was no doubt that a tapir would be roused. The island had all
the appearance of being the haunt of one or more of these creatures,
besides the tracks were evidence of their recent presence upon the spot.
The beating, therefore, proceeded as lively as ever, and the hunters
and dogs now penetrated to the centre of the thicket.

"Again the quick angry yelping of the latter fell upon the ear; and
again the thick cover rustled and shook.

"`This time the tapir,' said the chief to me in an undertone, adding the
next moment in a louder voice, `Look yonder!'

"I looked in the direction pointed out. I could perceive something in
motion among the leaves--a dark brown body, smooth and rounded, the body
of a tapir!

"I caught only a glimpse of it, as it sprang forward into the opening.
It was coming at full gallop, with its head carried between its knees.
The dogs were close after, and it looked not before it, but dashed out
and ran towards us as though blind.

"It made for the water, just a few feet from the bow of our canoe. The
chief and I fired at the same time. I thought my bullet took effect,
and so thought the chief did his; but the tapir, seeming not to heed the
shots, plunged into the stream, and went under.

"The next moment the whole string of dyed dogs came sweeping out of the
thicket, and leaped forward to where the game had disappeared.

"There was blood upon the water. The tapir is hit, then, thought I; and
was about to point out the blood to the chief, when on turning I saw the
latter poising himself knife in hand, near the stern of the canoe. He
was about to spring out of it. His eye was fixed on some object under
the water.

"I looked in the same direction. The waters of the Xingu are as clear
as crystal: against the sandy bottom, I could t