ry dangerous to be trifled with--often leading to the necessity of
amputating the part attacked by these diminutive insects. Pouchskin,
sneering at the insignificance of the enemy, had neglected taking proper
precautions--notwithstanding that the Indian canoe-men had warned him of
the danger. The consequence was a swelling of the parts and an
inflammation, that lamed the old grenadier as completely as if his leg
had been carried off by a bomb-shell; and he was now reclining along the
top of the toldo, unable to stand upon his feet.

For this reason, being in no condition to join his young masters on
their pedestrian excursions, he was necessarily left behind. It was,
perhaps, just as well for him: since it was the means of keeping him
clear of a scrape into which both of the young hunters chanced to fall
very soon after; and which, perhaps, had Pouchskin been with them, might
have ended worse than it did: since it could not have ended much better.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

A SKURRY OVER A SAND-BAR.

Journeying along the bank, as we have described, Alexis and Ivan had
gone some two or three miles up the river. They were beginning to get
tired of their walk: as the sand was rather soft, and sank under their
feet at every step. Just then they descried, a little ahead of them, a
long bar, or "spit" of the bank, running out nearly to the middle of the
river. They made up their minds to go on until they should reach this
bar. At its end appeared a proper place for the periagua to come to,
and take them aboard.

The craft was still working up stream, and had got nearly opposite them,
so that they could hail it. They did so--desiring the _popero_, or
steersman, to put in at the extremity of the sand-bar. This matter
having been arranged, they continued on up the bank, going at their
leisure.

On arriving at that part of the bank where the sand-spit projected into
the river, they were about stepping out upon it, when the quick ear of
Ivan caught the sound of some animals moving among the underwood. All
was game that came to Ivan's gun; and as he had seen nothing worth
wasting a charge upon, during their long walk, he was very desirous to
have a shot at something before returning to the periagua.

What he heard was a rustling of leaves. It did not appear to proceed
from any particular spot, but rather from all parts of the forest. Now
and then the sound was varied by a sort of half-squeaking, half-grunting
noi