Ellen welcomed me with tears in her
eyes. Her spirits revived when Don Jose told her he had reason to
believe that our parents were in safety. True could not restrain his
joy, but kept leaping up and licking my hands and face, and jumping
round and round me. Wherever I went he closely followed, determined not
again to lose sight of me. At supper he sat by my side watching my
face, nor would he leave me even though John and Arthur tried to tempt
him away with offers of bits of pork or parrots' legs.

All the party were eager to set out at once, but it was necessary before
we could do so to procure bearers to convey our luggage along the long
and intricate path we had to take through the forest. This our friend
undertook to do by the following day from a village at no great distance
off.

The next morning a dozen stout natives--young, active men--made their
appearance. They all had at their backs large baskets bound by withes
passing across the forehead and chest. They were but lightly clothed.
A small poncho covered their shoulders, and the usual cloth and kilt was
worn round the loins, a wisp of leaves preventing their backs being
chafed by their burdens. Each man also carried a long staff in his
hand, and a bag of roasted corn as provision for the journey. The
burdens were soon adjusted. One of them had a sort of chair at his
back, which Don Jose had ordered to carry the senora, as Ellen was
denominated. She insisted, however, that she was well able to walk, and
not without difficulty we persuaded her to take advantage of the
conveyance which had been provided.

We forthwith set out, and descending the mountain, were soon in the
midst of the thick forest. Two of the Indians, who carried lighter
burdens than the rest, went ahead with axes in their hands to clear the
way. It was extraordinary with what rapidity they cut through the
sipos, or hanging vines, which threw their serpent-like coils from tree
to tree. So quick is their growth in that moist region, that other
travellers following in a few weeks would have to perform the same
operation, our friend told us. As we advanced the forest became thicker
and thicker, the dark foliage forming a lofty vault through which no
sunlight can ever enter. The air felt cool and excessively damp,
compared to the exposed sides of the mountains. A constant mist seemed
to hang on the branches. Not a sound was to be heard; scarcely a bird
did we see in the swampy s