had brought his father's blow-pipe
instead of his own, which he had lost. It was too heavy, however, for
him to manage. I thought we should have lost the deer; but kneeling
down, he raised it on a hanging sipo, and let fly an arrow, which struck
the animal. He had time to send another shaft before the deer got out
of sight. Then calling to me, he urged me to pursue it. Away we went
through the forest, True at the heels of the deer, and I following Duppo
as closely as I could. Still, notwithstanding its wounded condition,
there seemed every probability of its escaping. Duppo thought
otherwise, and continued the pursuit; though I could not perceive either
the animal or its track. He was right, however; for in ten minutes we
again caught sight of it, moving slowly. Just as we reached it, it sank
to the ground. It was the first deer we had killed; though I had seen
several scampering in the distance through the more open parts of the
forest, and I believe they are numerous along the banks of the Amazon
and its tributaries. We packed up as much of the flesh as we could
carry, and hung the remainder on the branch of a tree.

We were walking on with our loads, when a loud crashing sound echoed
through the forest. I had never seen Duppo show any sign of fear
before, but he now came close up to me, trembling all over. "What is
the matter?" I asked. All was again silent for some minutes. Then
came from the far distance the melancholy howl, which had often kept us
awake at night--the cries, I felt sure, of howling monkeys. They again
ceased; and a loud clang sounded through the forest, such as I had read
of in that wonderful romance, "The Castle of Otranto." Duppo grew more
and more alarmed; and now caught hold of my jacket, as if I could
protect him. I was puzzled to account for the sound; but still I saw
nothing very alarming in it. When, however, a loud piercing cry rent
the air, coming, I could not tell from whence, I confess that I felt
somewhat uncomfortable. Poor Duppo trembled all over, and clung to my
arm, exclaiming, "_Curupira_! _curupira_!" True pricked up his ears,
and barked in return. "Do not be afraid, Duppo," I said, trying to
encourage him. "It may have been only the shriek of a monkey, caught by
a jaguar or puma." He, however, seemed in no way disposed to be
satisfied by any explanations which I could suggest of the noises we had
heard.

As we proceeded, he tried to explain to me that h