ne it the next morning.

Scarcely had we placed our heads on the fir-tops which formed our
couches, when hideous sounds burst forth from the forest. The screeching
of night-birds, the barking of coyotas, the dismal howling of the
llovas, the cry of the panther, and other sounds, well-nigh drove sleep
from our eyelids, and showed us that this region must be thickly
inhabited by the wild beasts of the forest, although no human beings
might be found within it. Having plenty of powder and shot, however, we
were not alarmed on that account. Still, it was necessary to keep up a
blazing fire, and to watch vigilantly, lest any unwelcome visitor might
intrude upon us, and still more unpleasantly disturb our night's rest.

CHAPTER X.

ADVANCE TOWARDS A BEAUTIFUL LAKE--HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS MET
WITH--BOILING MUD POTS--CURIOUS BASINS FORMED BY WATER IN THE
SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN--LOVELY FRETWORK ROUND THEIR RIMS--NEARLY
SINK INTO A BOILING MUD POOL--THE LAKE REACHED--ABUNDANCE OF
GAME AND FISH--BUILD A RAFT--BEGIN VOYAGE ACROSS LAKE--VIOLENT
STORM--IN GREAT DANGER--DRIVEN ACROSS THE LAKE--WE CLING TO
TREES WHILE THE RAFT IS DASHED TO PIECES--MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH
THE FOREST--I MISS MY COMPANIONS, AND LOSE MY GUN AND KNAPSACK
OVER A PRECIPICE--REACH FOOT OF MOUNTAIN--I CAMP WITHOUT SUPPER
OR FIRE.

In spite of the fearful noises produced by the savage inhabitants of
that region, and certain low, ominous rumbling sounds which came up from
the direction of the waterspout, when we did go to sleep we slept
soundly enough. At length the sergeant, who had taken the last watch,
roused up Manley and me, and we started to our feet--my first impulse
being to look out for the jet of water which I supposed I had seen on
the previous evening, but which was now nowhere visible.

"If we have got into an enchanted land, as the Indians suppose it is,
the fairies or spirits have not thought fit, during the night, to
trouble us," said Manley, laughing. "Our business now is to try and make
our way across this valley--so, forward!"

After breakfast, we strapped on our packs and recommenced our march, our
object being to reach the shore of the lake as soon as possible. If
there were any native inhabitants in this region, they would probably be
found there; and we would either get them to put us across the lake in
their canoes, or else we would skirt along it until we could again take
a westerly