r tree at a little
distance, he ran towards it, when, giving such a spring as I scarcely
believed him capable of, he caught hold of a branch and hoisted himself
up.

"Quick, quick, Barry!" he cried out, stooping down and giving me his
hand.

Turning one glance over my shoulder, there I saw a herd of apparently
harmless little pigs tearing through the forest, as if possessed by some
uncontrollable impulse. I had barely time to get my feet off the
ground, with the doctor's help, when a dozen or more, aiming at my legs,
dashed their snouts against the trunk of the tree; and others, turning
round, began leaping up at me, uttering all the time the most fearful
grunts and squeaks, indicative of savage rage. As they did so they
opened their jaws, exhibiting the sharp, terrible little tusks of which
the doctor had spoken. The herd now divided; some, having espied or
smelled out the padre, surrounded the tree in which he had taken refuge,
while others endeavoured to reach us. Having my lance, which had
assisted me in getting on to the branch, I darted it down and transfixed
one of the fierce little monsters; but this produced not the slightest
effect on the rest, even though the doctor fired and killed another.
The padre, meantime, was blazing away, at each shot bringing down one of
the peccaries besieging him; but the rest continued as furious as before
the fall of their companions. There were a hundred or more, but as they
kept rushing about it was difficult to count them. It was also clear
that, unless we could manage to kill every one of them, it would be
unsafe for us to descend from our perches. The question was, whether
our powder and shot would last out the siege. That I might husband
mine, I made good use of my lance, and was thankful that I had brought
it.

"How are you getting on, senor padre?" shouted the doctor.

"I have killed a dozen; and I should be glad if I could get a few slices
off one of them roasted, and handed up to me, for the exercise and
excitement have increased my hunger wonderfully," answered the padre;
and he again fired, and sent a peccary rolling over on its back.

It appeared, after all, that though he had killed so many, the furious
herd was as numerous as ever. The matter was growing serious; our
boatmen would not know what had become of us, and might possibly take it
into their heads that we had been attacked and killed by Indians,
jaguars, or snakes, and might return to Angostu