od; and having rested
sufficiently, we again moved on. At length Duppo came to a stand-still,
and signed to me to keep back True. I could hardly hold him, however,
he seemed so anxious to push forward. Duppo had slung his blow-pipe at
his back, and held his bow with an arrow to shoot. Then I saw him
examining the ground on every side under the boughs, many of which hung
close down to it. Presently the report of a gun reached our ears.

"That is certainly your brother John!" exclaimed Arthur.

The shot came from some distance, however. Then another, and another,
followed at intervals of a few minutes. We now hurried on more eagerly
than ever, in spite of Duppo's signs to us to be cautious. I felt
convinced that John alone could have fired those shots. Again another
shot sounded close to us; and on emerging from the thicker part of the
forest, we saw at a little distance the ground covered with a herd of
hog-like animals--though smaller than ordinary hogs--which I guessed at
once were peccaries. They were in a great state of commotion--running
about in all directions, turning their long snouts up into the air.
Going a few yards further on, there was John himself, seated high up on
the bough of a tree, to which numerous sipos hung. His gun was pointed
down towards the herd of peccaries, several of which lay dead on the
ground. Some of the others kept running about, but the greater portion
were standing looking up at him. There he sat, with his usual
composure, regularly besieged by them. The attention of the savage
creatures was so occupied with him that they did not perceive our
approach.

I was somewhat surprised at the eager signs which Duppo made to us to
climb up a tree by means of some sipos which hung close at hand. We
were hesitating to follow his advice, when he seized Arthur by the arm
and dragged him up. I thought it prudent to follow his example, as I
had formed a good opinion of his sense. I lifted up True to Arthur, who
caught him in his arms; and then I swung myself up to the branch after
him. We had just taken our seats facing John, when the peccaries
discovered us; and a number of them turning round, charged across the
ground on which we had stood. Duppo had got his bow ready, and shot one
as they passed. He killed another as, turning round, they charged back
again, and then ran about looking up at us, as they had been watching
John.

"I am very glad to see you safe!" I shouted out