re seen it. We were
afraid of going into the forest, lest we should lose our way; we
therefore turned back and proceeded up the igarape, which would serve as
a guide to us. It grew wilder and wilder as we went on. At length we
reached a spot which we could not possibly pass. The trunks of the
mighty trees grew close to the water, their roots striking down into it,
while thousands of sipos and air-plants hung in tangled masses overhead,
and huge ferns with vast leaves formed a dense fringe along the banks.
Near us the trunk of an aged tree, bending over the water, covered with
parasitic plants, had been seized by the sipos from the opposite side,
and hung, as it were, caught in their embrace, forming a complete bridge
across the igarape. I have already described these wonderful
air-plants. They here appeared in greater numbers and more varied form
than any we had yet seen. Flights of macaws and parroquets flew here
and there through the openings, or climbed up and down, cawing and
chattering in various tones. Although I should have liked to have
obtained some, I saw that, should I kill any, they would have fallen
where it would be impossible to get at them, for even True could not
have made his way through the wood; and I was afraid that if they fell
into the water, he might be snapped up by an alligator who might be
lurking near.

We were on the point of turning away, when Arthur exclaimed, "I see
something moving high up the igarape, among those huge leaves." I
scrambled down to where he was standing, and presently, amid the dim
light, a human figure came into view. At first it seemed as if he was
standing on the water, but as he slowly approached we saw that a raft of
some sort was beneath his feet. He was hauling himself along by the
branches, which hung low down, or the tall reeds or leaves fringing the
banks.

"I do believe it is the recluse," whispered Arthur to me. "What can
have happened to him?" We waited till he came nearer. He looked even
wilder and more careworn than usual. He had no covering on his head
except his long hair, while he had thrown off his coat, which lay on the
raft. Slowly and not without difficulty he worked his way on. He did
not perceive us till he was close to where we stood.

"Can we help you, sir?" I said. "We came to look for you."

"What induced you to do that?" he asked. "I thought no human being
would care for me."

"But we do, sir," said Arthur, almost inv