onsume.
Naro and his followers had behaved very well, but they were
uninteresting people, and had done nothing particular to win our regard.
John wrote a letter to Don Jose for Isoro to carry, and we all sent
many messages, expressing our affectionate regard. Had it not been for
Don Jose, we might have been subjected to much annoyance and trouble,
and been prevented probably from following our family. We each of us
presented Isoro also with a small remembrance. We parted from him with
sincere regret; and I believe that had it not been for his devoted love
to his master he would gladly have accompanied us. He and his
companions waited till we had embarked in our own canoe, and cast off
from the shore. A light breeze was blowing down the river. We hoisted
our mat sail, and Domingos taking the steering oar, we recommenced our
voyage down the river. The Indians then set forth on their toilsome one
up the stream, having to paddle with might and main for many days
against it.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

OUR DISAPPOINTMENT, DANGER, AND ANXIETY.

The tributary of the Amazon, down which we were proceeding, was in many
places more than half a mile wide: what must be the width of the mighty
river itself! This comparatively small stream was often tossed into
waves, and we were thankful that we had the prospect of embarking in a
larger vessel, with more experienced boatmen, for our further voyage.
On either side of the river were clay banks, above which the lofty trees
formed impenetrable walls; while here and there islands appeared, the
soil of some raised but little above the river, while in others we could
see evidences of the stream having separated them at no great distance
of time from the mainland. We continued our custom of landing at
night--indeed, whenever we had to put to shore--at one of these islands.
They all supplied us with wood to light our fires, and poles for our
huts: some were large enough to furnish game.

Thus several days passed away. We were, by our calculations,
approaching the spot at which our father had led us to expect that we
should find him. It may be supposed how eagerly we all looked out for
the expected marks. At length the curiously-coloured bluff hill he had
mentioned appeared in sight.

"There it is! there it is!" exclaimed Ellen. "I am sure it must be the
spot papa speaks of."

We surveyed it with eager eyes, and agreed that there could be no
mistake about the matter. With redoub