he head and neck were of a
greenish-brown colour, covered with soft feathers. The breast and
thighs were of silvery white, and the back was black, with the exception
of the upper part, which was brown, with yellow spots. It was, we
found, the anhima of the Brazils, known also as the horned kamichi, or,
more learnedly, _Palamedea_. It is sometimes called the horned
screamer, from its loud and wild cry. We laughingly told Houlston that,
as he had missed it, he should have the honour of carrying it; which he
very good-naturedly did, though it was a considerable load to bear
through the forest.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

CONCLUSION.

Next morning Mr Mallet gave us the satisfactory intelligence that
Arthur was sufficiently well to bear moving. We therefore at once
proceeded on our voyage. Each day after that he improved; and at length
we came in sight of the island where we had left our family. We had
some, difficulty in finding our way up the narrow channel which led to
their camp. As we approached the spot, we saw a good-sized vessel on
the stocks, surrounded by a number of persons. One of them, discovering
us as we turned the point, shouted to his companions, when, suddenly
leaving their work, they advanced towards us with guns in their hands in
a threatening attitude. We shouted out to them, when they, perceiving
that we were friends, came forward to meet us. Our father was among the
first we saw. After he had received us affectionately, and warmly
greeted Houlston and Tony, we told him that Mr Mallet had come with us.
No sooner did my father see him, than, taking his hand, he exclaimed,
"What, my old friend and school-fellow! I little expected to find you
out here! Where have you come from?"

"From the wilderness, where I have spent long years of banishment, and
from whence my young son succeeded in thus too far dragging me forth. I
could not make him lead the life I have so long lived, and I cannot bear
the thought of parting from him."

"And what could make you wish to think of doing anything of the sort?"
exclaimed my father. "You surprised all your friends by leaving
England--so my brother long since wrote me word--and no one has been
able to account for it."

"Not account for it!" exclaimed Mr Mallet. "Surely my friends would
not have wished me to remain, dishonoured or disgraced, or doomed to a
felon's death?"

He looked round as he spoke, and seeing that I was nearer than he had
supposed