s, which it rapidly gnaws through, and does not object to
animal food.

While I carried our prizes down in triumph to Domingos, that he might
prepare a portion of them for breakfast, John continued his search
through the woods. I was on the point of joining him, when I heard him
cry, "Look out!" and at the same instant another animal burst through
the wood with True at his heels. I fired, and killed it. This also was
a rodent; and John said that it was a paca, which lives always in the
neighbourhood of water, to which it takes readily when chased. It has
its habitation in burrows, which it forms a short distance only beneath
the surface. The opening it conceals with dried leaves and small
branches. Once in the water, it swims and dives so well that it
generally escapes from the hunter. It was of a thick and somewhat
clumsy form, about two feet in length and one in height. The hinder
limbs were longer than the front ones, and considerably bent. The claws
were thick and strong, fitted for digging. It had rigid whiskers, and
the ears were nearly naked.

Presently I heard John cry out.

"Harry, I believe that I have been bitten by a snake on which I trod,"
he said, in his usual calm way. "I killed the creature, and I think it
is poisonous; so go and call Domingos, for he will perhaps know what to
do. But get him away if you can, so as not to frighten Ellen."

I ran off as fast as my legs could carry me, and was thankful to find
that Ellen and Maria were sitting under the awning in the canoe, while
Domingos was cooking at the fire, assisted by Arthur. In a breathless
voice, my heart sinking with alarm, I told him what had happened.

"There is a bottle of agua ardente, and there is another thing we will
try," he said, and rushed to the canoe.

I was afraid that he would tell Ellen; but he stepped on board with an
unconcerned manner, as if he wanted something for a culinary purpose,
and returned with two of the paddles, and a bottle and cup.

We found John seated on the bank, taking off his boot and sock.

"Here, Senor John, drink this," he said, giving him the cup full of
liquid. "Senor Arthur will hold the bottle for you, while Senor Harry
and I are making a grave for your leg. We must bury it. Don't despair,
my dear master. The remedy is a wonderful one."

We were digging away, while he spoke, with the paddles, and in a few
moments John's leg was buried deep in the earth, which was pressed down
ov