ur of paddling. I had my gun ready for a shot, and we kept
out our books of natural history, which I wished to search through, and
two or three others for reading. We were thankful to be once more on
our voyage, but still we could not help looking with some interest and
regret at the beautiful spot in which we had spent the last few weeks.
"All on board?" cried Domingos. "On, boys, on!" and giving a shove with
his pole, we left the bank and glided down the stream, our dark-skinned
crew keeping time with their paddles to the monotonous song which they
struck up. Although the wet season was commencing, the weather promised
to be fair for a time; and we hoped soon to have Arthur on board, and to
continue our voyage without interruption till we should at length fall
in with those dear ones of whom we were in search.

I have already described the broad river, and the wall of strangely
varied and lofty trees which border it. We kept along the left bank,
not to run the risk of missing the entrance to the igarape of the
recluse, as we called it.

"Do you think we shall persuade him to come with us?" asked Ellen. "I
should be so delighted if we could draw him out of his strange way of
life and restore him to society."

John thought there was little chance of our doing so.

"If anybody can, I think Arthur may," I observed.

"Then you agree with me in my notion?" said Ellen.

"It is possible you may be right," I answered; "but yet it would be very
strange."

The recluse formed the chief subject of our conversation during the
day's voyage. At length we approached his igarape. I almost expected
to see him and Arthur standing on the bank, but looked out in vain. To
give them notice of our approach, I fired off my rifle. We had already
made the canoe fast at our former landing-place. Ellen, John, and I
were going towards the hut when Arthur appeared. "O Arthur will he
come--will he come?" cried out Ellen.

Arthur shook his head. "I am very glad to see you," he said; "but if
you had delayed a few days longer perhaps he would have made up his
mind. However, you must come and try what you can do."

"And how is Maono?" I asked.

"He is wonderfully recovered, but is still unable to move."

"I hope he and his wife will not insist on Oria remaining with them!"
said Ellen.

"I think not," answered Arthur. "Were it not for their other children,
they would like to come themselves, I suspect, were Maono better. But