the accounts I had heard of the dangerous character
of peccaries flashed across my mind, and at the same instant I saw a
number of the animals coming out of their holes. Prudence urged me to
beat a quick retreat. I was making my way through the forest, and had
already got to some distance from where I had first seen the creatures,
when a large herd, which had apparently collected from all quarters,
came scampering after me. I at once began to clamber up into a tree,
where you found me. On they came at a great rate; and, as I told you, I
narrowly escaped being caught by one of the savage little brutes. I
must have spent a couple of hours or more besieged by them before you
came up."

As we neared the camp we uttered as cheerful a shout as we could raise
to give notice of our approach, and Domingos soon appeared, followed by
Ellen and Maria. Ellen ran forward, and throwing her arms round John's
neck, burst into tears. It showed us how anxious she had been on his
account, although she had done her best, as she always did, to restrain
her own feelings and keep up our spirits.

We were all of us glad, after our exertions, to get into our hammocks
and rest. We found on waking that Domingos and Maria had exerted
themselves to prepare a plentiful repast. While eating it we discussed
our future plans.

"We must either recover our canoe or build another, that is certain,"
said John, "before we can continue our voyage. However, if we could be
sure that this is a secure and healthy place for you to remain in, I
should like to arrange with some of these Indians to make an excursion
along the shores in search of our parents. Perhaps they are all this
time encamped or at some village, on this or the opposite bank, not far
off. It would, I think, be unwise to go further down without staying to
ascertain this. What is your opinion, Harry?"

I agreed with him, but said that I would rather run the risk of the
adventure, and let him remain at the camp. "Or perhaps Arthur might
like to come with me," I added. "Two people might succeed better than
one; and we could even manage a canoe by ourselves independently of the
natives."

"Oh yes," said Arthur, "do let me go with Harry. We can take Duppo to
assist us. He seems so intelligent that we should easily make him
understand what we want."

"Then I propose that early to-morrow morning we set off to the village
to search further for our canoe, or to purchase one, as John