ree, the
india-rubber-tree, and many others. Among them were numerous palms--one
towering above the rest with its roots shooting out in every direction
from eight feet above the ground, and another slender and beautiful; but
the most remarkable of all was the _sayal_--so Don Jose called it--the
monarch of the palms of these forests. It had rather a short, thick
stem, the inner fibres of its stalk being like black wool; but its
remarkable feature was its enormous leaves, which grew erect from the
stem for forty feet in length. They must be the largest leaves, John
and I agreed, in the whole vegetable kingdom. There were many bright
and scarlet flowers, and numberless beautiful orchids hanging from the
branches of the trees. Beyond the forest rose rugged cliffs, dark black
rocks with lofty ranges of mountains towering above them. I was soon
joined by my companions, and in a little time Ellen and Maria came
forth. As it was almost dark when we reached the spot, we had formed no
idea of the wonderful scenery surrounding us Domingos did not appear,
and John inquired of Don Jose what had become of him.

"He has gone to ascertain in what direction the troops have marched," he
answered. "We shall have to take our road accordingly. Besides the
high road, there is another by which I can lead you, but it is still
more steep and difficult yet, as we shall thus avoid the risk of meeting
with enemies, it may be the safest for us."

A couple of hours passed away, during which we breakfasted on some
delicious chocolate prepared by our host. Still Domingos had not
returned. The mules, however, were got ready, that we might start,
should it be necessary, immediately he appeared.

"I trust the honest man has not been taken prisoner," observed Don Jose;
"it might fare ill with him. But I am sure he would endure any cruelty
rather than betray us; and if he does not soon appear we will proceed on
our journey, and my friend here will send a man to show him the road we
have taken."

An hour passed, and as Domingos did not return, we mounted our mules and
proceeded through the forest. Had we been on foot we might have
followed some paths which the bark-collectors had cut; but many of them
would only allow of a person proceeding in a stooping posture under the
numberless creepers which were interwoven amid the branches of the
trees. We had therefore to make a considerable circuit. At length we
came to a less frequented part of