f, at once flew at one of the hogs which was struggling at
a little distance, and quickly put it out of its pain. We shook hands
with John; and, congratulating him on his escape, introduced Duppo to
him, and told him how we had become acquainted.

"Here," he said, "look at these creatures, and you will see that I had
good reason to be afraid of them."

On examining their long and apparently harmless snouts, we found that
they were armed with short tusks, scarcely seen beyond the lips; but
being acutely pointed and double-edged, and as sharp as lancets, they
are capable of inflicting the most terrible wounds. Peccaries are the
most formidable enemies, when met with in numbers, to be found in the
forests of the Amazon. The creatures were not more than three feet
long, and a whole one was but an easy load to carry. The bodies were
short and compact, and thickly covered with strong, dark-coloured
bristles. Round the neck was a whitish band, while the under part of
the body was nearly naked. Instead of a tail, there was merely a fleshy
protuberance.

"What a horrible odour!" exclaimed Arthur, as we were examining one of
them.

We found that it proceeded from a glandular orifice at the lower part of
the back. Duppo immediately took this out with his knife, and then
began scientifically to cut up the animal. Following his example, we
prepared others to carry with us, and thus each made up a load of about
thirty pounds.

The learned name of the animal is _Dicotyles tajacu_. It eats anything
that comes in its way,--fruits, roots, reptiles, or eggs; and it is of
great service in killing snakes. It will attack the rattlesnake without
fear, and easily kills it. The meat appeared perfectly destitute of
fat, but we hoped to find it none the worse on that account.

John, as may be supposed, was very hungry, and thankful for some of the
food we brought with us. After he had breakfasted we commenced our
return to the camp, loaded with the peccary meat. Duppo carried a
portion in addition to the scarlet-faced monkey. The little creature
sat on his shoulder, looking far from at ease in its novel position.

"Oh, we will tame you before long, and make you perfectly contented and
happy," said Arthur, going behind Duppo and addressing the monkey.
"What will you like to be called, old fellow? You must have a name, you
know. I have thought of one just suited to your red nose--Toby; Toby
Fill-pot, eh!--only we will call y