Shaddy ceased speaking, for at that moment a strange, thrilling sound
came from the depths of the forest, not more, apparently, than a hundred
yards away.

Its effect was electrical.

The half-bred natives who formed Shaddy's crew of boatmen had watched
the encounters with the two serpents in the most unconcerned way, while
the weird chorus of sounds from the depths of the forest, with yells,
howls, and cries of dangerous beasts, was so much a matter of course
that they did not turn their heads even at the nearest roar, trusting,
as they did, implicitly in the security afforded them by the fire. But
now, as this strange sound rang out, silencing the chorus of cries, they
leaped up as one man, and made for the boat, hauling on the rope and
scrambling in as fast as possible.

Rob's first impulse was to follow suit, especially as Giovanni took a
few hurried steps, and tripping over a little bush, fell headlong. But
seeing that Shaddy stood fast, and that Brazier cocked his piece, he
stopped where he was, though his heart throbbed heavily, and his breath
came as if there were some strange oppression at his chest.

"What's that?" whispered Brazier, as the thrilling sound died away,
leaving the impression behind that some huge creature must be
approaching in a threatening manner, for a curious rustling followed the
cry.

"Well, sir," said Shaddy, taking off his cap, and giving his head a rub
as if to brighten his brain, "that's what I want to know."

"You don't know?"

"No, sir," said the man, coolly; "I know pretty well every noise as is
to be heard out here but that one, and it downright puzzles me. First
time I heard it I was sitting by my fire cooking my dinner--a fat, young
turkey I'd shot--and I ups and runs as hard as ever I could, and did not
stop till I could go no further. Ah! I rec'lect it now, how hungry and
faint I was, for I dursen't go back, and I dessay whatever the beast was
who made that row ate my turkey. Nex' time I heard it I didn't run. I
was cooking ducks then, and I says to myself, `I'll take the ducks,' and
I did, and walked off as fast as I could to my boat."

"And you did not see it?"

"No, sir. P'r'aps we shall this time; I hope so, for I want to know.
Third time never fails, so if you don't mind we'll all be ready with our
guns and wait for him. May be something interesting to a nat'ral
hist'ry gent like you, and we may get his head and skin for you to take
home to the Bri'sh M