in our hands, set to work to clear
the ground and build a couple of huts. We had become such proficients
in the art that this we soon accomplished. On account of the weather we
built one of them, not only with a roof, but with back and sides, in
which Ellen and her attendant could be sheltered. To our own also we
built a side on the quarter from which the wind came. Our difficulty
was to light a fire. But hunting about, we found some dried leaves in
the hollow of a tree, and there was no lack of wood, which, after
chopping off the wet outside, would burn readily.

Having made all preparations, we conducted Ellen and Maria to their hut,
and carried up our goods, which we placed within it, under shelter. We
felt somewhat anxious at our position; but we hoped that the rain would
keep any natives who might be in the neighbourhood from wandering about,
and by the following morning we should be able to proceed on our voyage.
Should we not meet with our father on our way down, we resolved to stop
at the nearest Brazilian town on the banks, and there obtain assistance
in instituting a more rigid search than we could make by ourselves. Of
one thing we were certain, that had he escaped, and got thus far, he
would stay there till our arrival. Still we did not abandon all hopes
of finding him before that.

We had taken everything out of the canoe, with the exception of the
paddles, even to the sail, which served as a carpet for Ellen's hut. We
next turned our attention to cooking further portions of the animals we
had killed in the morning. In spite of the storm raging outside, and
our anxiety, as we sat round the blazing fire, Ellen and Maria having
joined us, the smoke keeping the mosquitoes somewhat at bay, we all felt
more cheerful than might have been expected. Midnight had now come on;
and having cut up a further supply of wood to keep the fire burning, we
slung our hammocks and turned into them, trusting to True to keep watch
for us.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

ADVENTURES IN THE FOREST--WE MEET WITH NATIVES.

The hours of the night passed slowly by. I awoke several times. Few of
the usual noises of the forest were heard. The tempest seemed to have
silenced its wild inhabitants. Now and then the cry of a howling baboon
reached our ears from the depths of the forest. I had a feeling that
something dreadful was about to occur, yet I was sufficiently awake to
know that this might be mere fancy, and I did my best to