easing difficulty merely as a shapeless blotch of
whiteness in the midst of the haze before vanishing altogether. Then
the wind fell, the atmosphere became so oppressively close that the mere
act of breathing became difficult, and a great silence fell upon the
scene, for the insects and birds, warned by instinct of what was
impending, sought shelter in the deepest recesses of the forest, while
the Indians, unable or unwilling to labour in the enervating heat, and
also knowing from past experience what was coming, retired to their huts
and resigned themselves to the overpowering languor which oppressed
them. Of all the inhabitants of the village, Dick and Phil were the
only two who resisted the enervating influence of the hour, for Dick was
away hunting, as usual, while Phil, having set himself a certain task to
perform, was not the sort of man who would allow himself to be deterred
from its execution by such a trifle as mere oppressiveness of weather.

But as the day wore on and the sky grew ever more lowering and the heat
and closeness more pronounced, he found his work growing increasingly
difficult and distasteful; and it was with a sigh of deep satisfaction
that at last, having finished what he had set himself to do, he wended
his way to the hut which he and Dick had been permitted to erect for
themselves, and, having laid aside the primitive tools which he had been
using, continued his way to the creek where, at the conclusion of each
day's labour, he was wont to indulge in the refreshing luxury of a
bathe. While he was still in the water he was joined by Dick, who had
also done a good day's work, having brought in two deer, which he had
duly delivered over to the cacique.

By the time that the pair had sufficiently refreshed themselves the
gloom of the departing day was deepening into the darkness of a
moonless, starless night; and as they entered their hut the first
shimmer of sheet lightning which was the precursor of the coming storm
flickered above the tree-tops of the contiguous forest.

"Phew!" exclaimed Dick, as he flung himself upon the heap of dried fern
that served him as a bed, "how unbearably hot and close it is, and how
tired I am! I doubt if I could walk another mile, if my life depended
upon it."

"I am sorry to hear that," gravely returned Phil; "for, unless I am very
greatly mistaken, I believe we shall have an opportunity to escape
to-night."

"To escape?" reiterated Dick. "How do you m