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diff --git a/16855-8.txt b/16855-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29a310a --- /dev/null +++ b/16855-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8030 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Land of Mystery, by Edward S. Ellis + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Land of Mystery + + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + + + +Release Date: October 10, 2005 [eBook #16855] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAND OF MYSTERY*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +THE LAND OF MYSTERY + +by + +EDWARD S. ELLIS + +Author of + +"Famous American Naval Commanders," "Jungle Fugitives," "Old Ironsides, +The Hero of Tripoli and 1812," etc. + + +New York +Hurst & Company +Publishers +Copyright +1889 by Frank Lovell Co. +1901 by Street & Smith + + + + + + + +THE LAND OF MYSTERY. + + +CHAPTER I. + +IN THE MATTO GROSSO. + +The blood-red sun was sinking beyond the distant Geral Mountains, when +a canoe, containing four white men and three natives, came to a halt a +thousand miles from the mighty Amazon, in the upper waters of the Xingu +River, near the great table-land of Matto Grosso. + +It was hard work, forcing the long shallow boat against the rapid +current of the stream, whose unknown source is somewhere among the +famous diamond regions of Brazil. It was plain sailing for three +hundred leagues from the Amazon, from whose majestic volume the little +party of explorers had turned southward more than a month before. The +broad sail, which was erected in the centre of the craft, swept it +smoothly along over the narrowing bosom of the Xingu, between luxuriant +forests and past tribes of strange-looking Indians, who stood on the +banks staring wonderingly at the extraordinary beings, the like of +which many of them had never seen before. + +Occasionally the explorers put ashore, and, using only the language of +signs, exchanged some of the beads and gaudy trinkets for the curious +articles of the savages. Endless varieties of fruit were so abundant +that it was to be had for the simple trouble of plucking; while the +timid natives stood in such awe of their visitors, that the thought of +harming them never entered their minds. + +But ominous changes were gradually noted by our friends, as they +steadily ascended the mysterious stream. At first the natives fled at +their approach, and failed to understand the signs of comity, or were +so distrustful of the strangers that they refused to meet their +advances. Fleeing into the woods or high hills, they peeped out from +their coverts, uttering strange cries and indulging in grotesque +gestures, the meaning of which could hardly be mistaken. Had there +been any misapprehension on the part of the visitors, there was none +after several scores launched their arrows at the boat, as it glided +away from the shore and up stream. The aim was wild and no one was +struck, but when Professor Ernest Grimcke, the sturdy, blue-eyed +scientist of the party, picked up one of the missiles and carefully +examined it, he made the disturbing announcement that it was tipped +with one of the deadliest of known poisons. + +The other members of this exploring party were Fred Ashman, a bright, +intelligent American, four-and-twenty years of age; Jared Long, an +attenuated, muscular New Englander in middle life, and Aaron Johnston, +a grim, reserved but powerful sailor from New Bedford, who had spent +most of his life on whaling voyages. Professor Grimcke and Ashman were +joint partners in the exploring enterprise, Long and Johnston being +their assistants. + +In addition, there were three native servants, or helpers, known as +Bippo, Pedros and Quincal. They had been engaged at Macapa, near the +mouth of the Amazon. They were rather small of size, the first-named +being the most intelligent, and in that warm, tropical climate wore no +clothing except a strip of native cloth around the loins. Ashman had +striven to teach them the use of firearms, but they could never +overcome the terror caused by the jet of fire and the thunderous +explosion when the things were discharged. They, therefore, clung to +their spears, which, having honest points, cannot be said to have been +very formidable weapons in their hands, even though each native was +able to throw them with remarkable deftness and accuracy. + +The sail that had served the explorers so well, where the Xingu was +broader and with a slower current, became useless, or at least proved +unequal to the task of overcoming the force of the stream. +Consequently they had recourse to the broad-bladed oars, with which +they drove the canoe swiftly against the resisting river, cheered by +the oft-repeated declaration of the Professor, whose spirits never +flagged, that the harder it proved going up stream, the easier must it +be in descending, and that the arrangement was much better than if the +condition of affairs were reversed. + +The most tiresome work came when they reached some place, where the +falls or rapids compelled them to land, and, lifting the boat and its +contents from the ground, carry it round the obstruction to the more +favorable current above. These portages varied in length from a few +rods to a fourth of a mile, and the further the party advanced, the +more frequent did they become. + +"We have gone far enough for to-night," said the Professor, as the prow +of the boat was turned toward the left bank; "we will go into camp and +make ready for to-morrow." + +A few minutes later, the bow of the canoe gently touched the dark sand +of the shore. Bippo, Pedros and Quincal understood their duty so well +that, without suggestion from the others, they leaped into the shallow +waters, ran a few steps, and, grasping the front of the craft, drew it +so far upon the land that the others stepped out without so much as +wetting the soles of their shoes. + +This task was no more than finished, when the natives scattered in the +forest, which came almost to the edge of the water, in quest of fuel. +This of course was so abundant that the work was slight, but since +Professor Grimcke and Fred Ashman paid them well for their services +they were left to attend to that duty unassisted. + +As the surroundings of the party were entirely new and strange, Grimcke +proposed that while the evening meal was being prepared, they should +find out, if it could be done, whether any unwelcome neighbors were +likely to disturb them before morning. After a brief consultation, it +was decided that the Professor and Jared Long should make their way up +the river, keeping close to shore, with the purpose of learning the +extent of the rapids, while Ashman and the sailor, Johnston, should +follow the clearly marked trail which led directly away from the stream +and into the forest. It was more than probable that one of the couples +would come upon something worth knowing, and it was not unlikely that +both would return with important information. + +Twilight is of short duration in the low latitudes, and the wish of the +four white men was to be back in camp at the end of an hour, by which +time night would be fairly upon them. But the moon was at its full and +would serve them better than the twilight itself. + +The German and New Englander, therefore, moved away from camp, +following the course of the Xingu, while their two friends quickly +vanished in the forest. Each carried his repeating Winchester and his +Smith & Wesson. + +Ashman felt some misgiving because of the trail leading into the woods +from a point so near the camp. It seemed likely to have been worn by +the inhabitants of some village near at hand, though it was possible +that the innumerable feet of wild animals on their way to and from the +river may have been the cause. The upper waters of the Xingu are +remarkably clear and pure, a fact which rendered the first theory most +probable. + +The explorers had landed in a dangerous region, as they were destined +to learn very soon, and the experience of the couples who took routes +at right angles to each other was of the most thrilling character. + +It has been stated that the progress of the canoe had been checked, as +was often the case before, by the rapids of the Xingu, which could be +passed only by carrying the canoe and luggage to the smoother waters +above. It was apparent that the river frequently overflowed its banks, +for immense quantities of driftwood lined both shores, while the +vegetation had been swept away to that extent that a space of a dozen +feet from the margin of the stream was comparatively free from it. +Thus both parties found the travelling easy. + +The rapids were a hundred yards wide, more or less, and, with such a +steep incline, that the foamy waves dashed hither and thither and +against each other with the utmost fury, sending the spray high in air +and sweeping forward with such impetuosity that it seemed impossible +for the strongest craft under the most skilful guidance to shoot them. +The explorers studied them with great interest as they ascended the +left bank. + +It was inevitable that in a country with such excessive vegetable +growth, every part of the Xingu should show much floating timber. The +logs which plunged through the rapids played all manner of antics. +Sometimes they leaped high out of the waters, like immense sea +monsters, the out-spreading limbs showing a startling resemblance to +the arms of a drowning person mutely appealing for help. Then a heavy +trunk would strike a rock just below the surface, and the branches, +dripping with spray, swept over in a huge semi-circle. The roar and +swirl suggested the whirlpool below the falls of Niagara, one of the +most appalling sights in all nature. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A TRIO OF ENEMIES. + +At last, when the full moon was shining, the two men stood at the head +of the rapids and surveyed their surroundings before setting out on +their return to camp. + +Both sides of the Xingu were lined by the dense forest, in which the +vegetation is so luxuriant that it must be a source of never ending +wonder to those who look upon it for the first time. The river above +made a sharp bend, shutting off the view so fully that from their +position, it was impossible to tell how far they would be able to use +the canoe without making another portage. + +"We haven't seen a person on our way here," remarked the Professor, +calmly surveying the river and shores; "and I hope Ashman will bring +back a similar report, for we all need a full night's rest." + +"How is _that_?" + +Long touched the arm of his companion, as he asked the question, and +pointed down stream in the direction of camp. + +To the amazement of the Professor, three natives were seen standing on +the very spot where they themselves had stood a brief while before, +evidently scrutinizing the white strangers with profound wonder and +curiosity. + +They were dressed similarly to Bippo, Pedros and Quincal--that is, with +only a piece of cloth around the loins--but they displayed a marked +contrast in other respects. They were taller, more athletic, with +immense bushy heads of hair, enormous rings in their ears, while the +hue of their skins was almost as dark as that of the native African. + +One carried a long-bow and a bundle of arrows strapped behind his +shoulders, while the others were armed simply with javelins or spears. + +"Those fellows mean fight," added Long. + +"No doubt of it," replied the Professor. + +"But a Winchester will reach further than their arrows and spears, even +if they are tipped with poison." + +"Possibly they may be friendly, if they can be convinced that we intend +them no harm, and you know what an advantage it will be to us if able +to trust all the natives on our return." + +Long could not share the confidence of his companion and favored a +direct advance down the bank toward the savages. If the latter +preserved their armed neutrality, all would be well enough, but at the +first sign of hostility he advocated opening fire on them. + +Perhaps he was right in the declaration that anything like timidity in +dealing with savages is the worst possible course. While the rights of +every barbarian should be respected, it is all important that he should +know that such concession is made not through fear, but because the +superior party wishes to be just and merciful. + +The natives stood as motionless as statues for several minutes, during +which the white men scrutinized them with an interest that may be +imagined. + +The first and most natural thought of our friends was that an encounter +could be avoided by entering the forest on the right and passing round +the savages, who, it was quite apparent, intended to dispute their +return; but if such was really their purpose, they would have little +trouble in heading off the whites in the dense wood, beside which, for +the weighty reasons already named, it would have been exceedingly +unwise to act as though afraid of the dusky natives. + +Despite Long's protest, the Professor decided to make a friendly +advance, being vigilantly on his guard at the same time for the first +offensive move of the savages. He carried his Winchester in one hand, +while he rested the other on his revolver. He was determined, while +hoping for comity, to be prepared for hostility or treachery. + +Long was so dissatisfied with the looks of things, that he followed his +friend a few paces, then halting with his Winchester ready for any +emergency, and certain in his own mind that a sharp fight was +inevitable. + +The approach of the white man was evidently a surprise to the savages. +The middle one, who held the long-bow and arrows, fell back several +paces, as if about to break into flight or dart among the trees so +invitingly near, but something must have been said by his companions to +check him, for he stopped abruptly, and not only came back to his first +position, but advanced a couple of paces beyond. The noise from the +rapids prevented the Professor hearing their voices, though the +unusually clear moonlight told him that some utterance had passed +between them. + +The first ominous act on the part of the natives was by this archer, +who deliberately drew an arrow from over his shoulder and fitted it +against the string of his bow. The fact that the missile was +undoubtedly coated at the end with a virus more deadly than that of the +rattlesnake or cobra was enough to render the would-be friend +uncomfortable and to increase his alertness. + +At the same time that the archer went through this significant +preliminary, his companions shifted their grasp upon their javelins in +a manner that was equally suggestive. + +While carrying these primitive weapons, the fingers closed around the +centre of gravity, that naturally being more convenient, but when about +to hurl them, the hand was shoved further toward the head. Both +natives thus shifted their right hands, though, they still held them +horizontal at their thighs, from which position they could be brought +aloft in the twinkling of an eye. + +The white man walked slowly. The left hand, which supported his rifle, +remained motionless, but removing the right from his revolver, he +continued making signs, whose friendly meaning was so obvious that it +was impossible for the natives to mistake it. + +While approaching in this guarded manner, he Studied them with the +closest scrutiny. Interesting under any circumstances, they were +vastly more so at this time. What struck him in addition to the +characteristics already named, were their frowsy eyebrows and +glittering coal-black eyes. These were unusually large and protruding. +The noses, instead of being broad and flat, like those of the native +Africans, were Roman in shape. The mouths were wide, and, when they +spoke, he observed that the teeth which were displayed were black, +showing that a fashion prevailed among this unknown tribe similar to +that in vogue among many of the natives in the East Indies. + +Now, Professor Grimcke was too experienced an explorer to walk directly +into danger, where there was no prospect of avoiding a desperate +encounter. While eager to make friends with all the people whom he +met, he did not intend to assume any unnecessary risks. The demeanor +of the natives tendered it certain they were hostile. They made no +responsive signs to those of the white man, and the latter would have +checked himself half way, but for his suspicion that they were +mystified by his conduct and were undecided as to the precise thing to +do. + +He not only heard their peculiar rumbling voices, but saw from the +movements of their lips and their glances in each other's faces, that +they were consulting as to what they should do. The white man was +already so close that he could easily be reached by the bowman, and +there was little doubt that either of the others could hurl his +poisoned javelin the intervening distance. + +The only way of defeating such a movement was for the white man to +secure "the drop" on them, but, in one sense that was impossible. +Unable to understand the words spoken, they were equally unacquainted +with the weapons of the pale face, and would, doubtless pay no heed to +the most threatening demonstration on his part. + +"Take my advice and come back," called Jared Long; "keep your face +toward them and blaze away, and I'll do my part!" + +Instead of adopting the suggestion of his friend, the Professor slowed +his pace, still making his gestures of good will. However, when fifty +steps away, he came to a dead halt. + +He had advanced three-fourths the distance, and, if the others were +willing to accept his offers, they should signify it by coming forward +and meeting him where he had stopped. + +While moving forward in this guarded manner, Grimcke was prudent enough +to edge over toward the woods, which were now so close to his right +side as to be instantly available. When he came to a stop also it was +near the trunk of a large tree, no more than a yard distant. + +"The Professor is cunning," reflected Jared Long, watching every +movement; "he'll whisk behind the tree the instant one of them makes a +move. Helloa! what's up now?" + +To the astonishment of both white men the native with the bow shifted +it at this moment to his right hand, holding the arrow in place against +the string with the same hand, while the weapon was at his side. Then +he moved a step or two, as if to meet the stranger. + +"Look out!" called the vigilant New Englander, "that chap is up to some +deviltry." + +He did not refer to him with the bow and arrow, but to one of the +others, who stealthily turned aside and vanished among the trees. +Being in the Professor's line of vision the latter observed the +suspicious movement, and it cannot be said that it added to his comfort. + +Meanwhile the archer advanced, but with such tardy step that it was +evident he was timing his pace to that of his comrade who had so +stealthily entered the wood. Convinced that his real peril lay among +those trees, Grimcke began a backward movement with such caution that +he hoped it would not be noticed by the native who was approaching with +a sluggish pace. + +The forest, like all those in South America, was so dense that great +care was necessary for one to pick his way through it. The Professor's +theory was that the savage with the spear would regulate his movements +on the theory that the white man would not stir from the place where he +had first halted. He would thus aim to secure a position from which he +could hurl his javelin at him without detection. Grimcke conceived +this was certain to take place, and, if he remained where he was, +nothing could save him from the treacherous assault. It was a matter, +therefore, of self preservation that dictated the brief retreat with +the hope of thus disconcerting the savage. + +The task which Grimcke had given himself was difficult indeed. The +ground was unfavorable for the peculiar twitching movement which he +hoped would carry him out of danger. He had gone barely a couple of +yards when the bowman evidently suspected something of the kind, for he +stopped short and stared inquiringly at the white man. + +The latter extended his right hand as if to shake that of the savage, +who stood motionless, making no sign of pleasure or displeasure. +Indeed, he remained so fixed in his position that Grimcke was convinced +he was listening for the sound of the other miscreant stealing through +the wood. He plainly saw the black eyes cast a single inquiring glance +in that direction. + +"This is getting a little too threatening," reflected the Professor, +satisfied that the three natives were as venomous as so many serpents; +"at the first move war is declared." + +His situation was so critical that he did not dare turn his head to +look behind him, but never was there a more welcome sound to him than +that made by the footsteps of the lank New Englander. + +"Keep moving hack!" called Long, "but don't try to hide what you're +doing." + +The Professor saw the sense of this advice and he followed it, lifting +his feet so high that the action was plainly seen, but doing so with a +certain dignity that was not lacking in impressiveness. His aim was to +give the act the appearance of a strategic movement, as it may be +called. It was not that he was afraid of the natives, but he was +seeking a better place from which to open hostilities against them. + +This was the impression which he sought to give the fierce savages, and +whether he succeeded, or not was certain to become apparent within the +following five minutes. He himself believed, the chances were against +the success of his plan. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +LIVELY WORK. + +Now took place an unprecedented incident. + +The air of comity, or at least neutrality, which brooded over the two +parties had given way to that of silent but intense hostility. The +prowling movement of the native with the spear as he slipped into the +wood, the sudden advance of Jared Long, whose face became like a +thunder-cloud, when every hope of a friendly termination vanished, and +the abrupt halt of the bowman, showed that all parties had thrown off +the cloak of good will and become deadly enemies. + +The third savage kept his place farther down the stream, his black eyes +fixed on the archer in front, while he doubtless was waiting for some +action on the part of his comrade who had stolen into the wood. As has +been stated, he was nigh enough to hurl his javelin, so that both the +white men were too wise to eliminate him from the curiously involved +problem that confronted them. + +The bowman having halted, stood a moment with his piercing black eyes +fixed on the nearest white man, as if seeking to read in his face the +meaning of his action or rather abrupt cessation of action. + +"Professor," called Jared, "I'll attend to the one in front of you; but +look out for the scamp among the trees." + +Grimcke was relieved to hear this, and had there been only the two +natives to confront, he would have been disturbed by no misgiving, but +there were signs that the third one down the stream was preparing to do +his part in the treacherous business. He too began advancing, but +instead of doing so with the quick, angry stride of the New Englander, +he stepped slowly and softly, as if seeking to conceal his movement. + +Grimcke would have been glad to turn the archer over to the care of +Long, but he was so frightfully close, that he did not dare do so. A +moment's delay on the part of his friend would be fatal. At the same +time, it was not to be forgotten that the most stealthy foe of all was +prowling among the trees on the right. + +The Professor's hope, as has been explained, was that his own +retrogression had disconcerted the plans of this special miscreant for +whom, however, he kept a keen watch. + +The archer still held his bow, with the arrow in place grasped by his +right hand, the long weapon resting against his hip. Provided he was +right-handed, the bow would have to be shifted to his left hand, the +arrow drawn back with the right and the missile then launched at his +foe. This, it would seem, involved enough action to give both Grimcke +and Long abundance of time in which to anticipate him. + +But there remained the possibility that the savage was left-handed, in +which event, the necessary action on his part would be much less, +though sufficiently complicated to afford the white men abundance of +time to anticipate him. + +The native _was_ left-handed, with a quickness that surpassed all +expectation, the bow was suddenly raised, the end of the arrow drawn +back and the missile driven directly at the breast of Grimcke. + +At precisely the same instant, the latter's strained ear caught the +crackling of a twig, above the din of the rapids (which was much less +there than below), and something was discerned moving among the trees +on his right. His frightened glance in that direction gave him a +glimpse of a dusky figure in the act of hurling his javelin. + +Thus it was that the spearman and archer let fly at precisely the same +instant, and Jared Long, who was so anxious to help his friend, saw +only the deft movements of the archer. Grimcke could not fire at both +in time to save himself, but he instinctively did the very best and +indeed the only thing that could be done. Without moving his feet, he +dropped to a sitting posture, instantly popping up again like a +jack-in-the-box. + +The movement took place at precisely the right instant, and both the +javelin and arrow whizzed over his head, without grazing him, but the +arrow shot by Long's temple so close that he blinked and for an instant +believed he had been hit. + +But, like the hunter when bitten by a rattlesnake, he determined to +crush his assailant and to attend to his hurt afterwards. + +The sharp crack of the Winchester, the shriek of the smitten savage and +his frenzied leap in the air, followed in such instant succession that +they seemed simultaneous. When the wretch went back on the ground he +was as dead as Julius Caesar. + +A man can fire with amazing rapidity, when using a Winchester repeater, +but some persons are like cats in their own movements. The New +Englander leveled his weapon as quickly as he could bring it to his +shoulder, but the native along the side of the Xingu had vanished as +though he never existed. + +Whether he knew anything about fire-arms or not, he was quick to +understand that some kind of weapon in the hands of the white men had +knocked the bowman out of time, and he bounded among the trees at his +side, as though he, too, was discharged from the bow. He was just +quick enough to escape the bullet that would have been after him an +instant later. + +The moment Grimcke knew that he was safe from the javelin, which sped +over his head, he straightened up, and, still maintaining his removable +posture, discharged his gun at the point whence came the well-nigh +fatal missile. + +But the shot was a blind one, for he did not see the native at the +instant of firing. Nothing could have surpassed the alertness of these +strange savages. The one with the javelin disappeared with the same +suddenness as did his brother down the bank, and, had the archer but +comprehended his danger he, too, would have escaped. + +The affray roused the wrath of both Long and Grimcke. They had offered +the hand of friendship, only to be answered with an attempt upon their +lives. One of their assailants had eluded them, and the other would +have been an assailant had the opportunity been given. + +"Let's shoot him too!" + +He alluded to the man who hurled the javelin and who, so far as they +could see, was left without any weapon with which to defend himself. +In their natural excitement over their victory, the friends forgot +themselves for the moment. Heedless of consequences, they dashed among +the trees, in pursuit of the savage who had flung his spear with +well-nigh fatal effect. + +The undergrowth was frightfully tangled, and, as the first plunge, the +Professor went forward on his hands and knees. The wonder was how Long +kept his feet; but it will be remembered that he was much more +attenuated than his companion, and seemed to have picked up a skill +elsewhere which now stood him well. + +The moon was shining and despite the dense vegetation around him, +enough rays found their way to the ground to give him a partial view +for few paces in front. He had not gone far when he caught a glimpse +of the dusky figure slipping through the undergrowth ahead, and at no +great distance. + +Strange as it may seem, the impetuosity of the American caused him to +gain upon the terrified native, who, having flung his poisoned weapon, +was without the means of defending himself. It was not in the nature +of things, however, that Long should overtake the fugitive, who was +more accustomed to making his way through such obstructions. The first +burst of pursuit caused the white man to believe he would win in the +strange race, but the next minute he saw he was losing ground. + +Determined that the wretch should not escape, he checked his pursuit +for an instant, and, bringing his Winchester to his shoulder, let fly. + +But brief as was his halt, it give the savage time to make one terrific +bound which shut him almost from sight, and rendered the hasty aim of +Long so faulty that his intended victim was not so much as scratched. + +Had the savage dashed deeper into the forest, he would have passed +beyond all peril at this moment, but he was seeking to do that which +Long did not discover until after discharging his gun. He headed +toward the river, where he was first seen. It must have been that he +was actuated by a desire to go to the help of his comrade, or more +likely he was anxious to recover his javelin, in which he placed +unbounded faith, and believed he could do it without undue risk. + +Whatever his purpose, he quickly burst from the forest, while Long, who +was pushing furiously after him, discovered from the increasing light +in front, that he was close to the Xingu again. + +Suspecting his purpose, the white man tore forward at the most reckless +speed, and, before the native could recover his weapon and dart back to +cover, he himself had dashed into the moonlight. + +"Now, we've got him!" he shouted; "there's no getting away _this_ time!" + +This exultant exclamation was uttered to a form which appeared on his +right, and who he was certain was the Professor; but to his +consternation, as he turned his head, he saw that it was the other +native, javelin in hand! + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HOW IT ENDED. + +It will be recalled that the Professor started in pursuit of the flying +native with as much ardor as his friend, but, less skilful than he, he +had taken but a step or two, when an obstruction flung him to the +ground with discouraging emphasis. + +Concluding that he had undertaken a futile task, he hastily climbed to +his feet to await the return of Long who, he was satisfied, would +attempt only a brief pursuit. + +Remembering the javelin which had whizzed so near his crown, he cast +about for a moment and picked it up from the earth where it lay but a +few feet distant. As he balanced it in his hand, he observed that it +was about six feet in length, was made entirely of wood, which was +heavy and as hard and smooth as polished ebony. + +The light of the moon was like that of the day itself. It would have +been easy to read ordinary print by it. He had no trouble, therefore, +in closely examining the novel implement of war. As he suspected, the +point was made of stone or flint, ground almost to needle-like +sharpness and securely fastened in place by a fine tendon wound around +the portion of the stick that held the harder part. This was covered +with a gummy substance extending to the end. + +This he was satisfied was among the most virulent of substances known +to toxicology. A puncture of the skin was sure to be fatal unless some +remedy, of whose existence he held no suspicion, was instantly +obtainable. + +He had set down his rifle white examining the weapon, but quickly +caught it up again, still retaining the javelin in his right band. He +had been startled by the sound of the terrific threshing among the +trees on his right. + +He supposed that his friend was coming back, but, glancing toward the +point where he expected him to appear, he was amazed to see the third +native, who whisked off before Long could draw a bead on him, step from +the wood not twenty paces away. His back was toward the Professor, +and, strangely enough, he did not observe the white man--an oversight +that never could have occurred, but for the tumult in the undergrowth +which held his attention. + +Grimcke had hardly caught sight of him, when the other native came +flying to view, so astonishing his waiting comrade that he stood a +moment irresolute after the white pursuer burst into sight. + +Brief as was this pause, it gave the Professor time for some +exceedingly fine work. He uttered a shout which caused the native to +turn his affrighted gaze behind him, just in time to observe the white +man with javelin raised and apparently in the very act of launching it +at him. + +The savage knew what a prick from that frightful thing meant, and with +a howling shriek he ducked his head as though he had caught its whizz +through the air, and shot among the trees with as much celerity as his +companion had shown in coming from them. + +Neither of the explorers wished to slay the natives, no matter how +savage, unless compelled to do so in actual self-defence. Long had +recovered from his first burst of fury, and, though the Professor could +have sunk the javelin in the naked body, he withheld it, not unwilling +that his assailant, now that he had started to flee, should escape. + +The one who had so foolishly come back to the river side was left in +the worst possible situation, for both his enemies stood between him +and the sheltering forest and he was defenceless. He was at their +mercy, and such people as those natives neither gave nor expected +quarter, when engaged in their savage warfare. + +The fellow acted like a bewildered animal. The white strangers were +standing a few paces apart, so as to form the two angles of a triangle, +while he made the third. The nearest point to the forest way midway +between Grimcke and Long, as was apparent to the savage, who was fairly +cornered. + +Had the Xingu behind him been as placid as farther above or below the +rapids, he would not have hesitated to plunge into its waters, trusting +to his skill in swimming; but, to dive into the raging current would +have been as certain destruction as for a man to undertake to swim +unaided through the whirlpool below Niagara. + +Grimcke and Long were not unwilling to torment the fellow, because of +his cowardly attempt a few minutes before, though, as has been stated, +neither intended to do him any special harm. + +The affrighted native crouched down, as though seeking to draw himself +into such a narrow compass that the terrible javelin could not reach +him. Despite the proof he had seen of the power of the civilized +weapons, he held his own in greater dread. + +Grimcke raised the spear, as if poising it aloft to hurl at the savage. +The latter uttered a howl of terror, and, with his head still low, +attempted to dart between the strangers. Naturally he shied as far +away as possible from the Professor, and thereby brought himself almost +close enough to touch Jared. + +"That's what I want," muttered the latter, hurriedly concentrating his +strength in his good right leg, and delivering the most powerful kick +at his command. + +It was well aimed and most effectively landed. The Professor was sure +he heard the "dull thud," and always insisted that the recipient was +lifted clear of the ground and propelled among the trees with an +impetus sufficient to break his neck. + +"There!" exclaimed the New Englander, looking around, "I guess I'm +through!" + +"I am sure that last fellow hopes so," said the Professor with a laugh, +"for it's safe to conclude he was never handled with such vigor before." + +The levity which both felt over their triumphant routing of their +assailants was checked by the sight of the stark, lifeless form on the +ground, only a few paces distant. + +They had the best plea in the world for shooting the fierce savage, but +the consciousness that the necessity existed and that the deed had been +done, rendered them serious and thoughtful. + +There was reason for believing the other natives would watch them from +the forest, and the one who retained his javelin was likely to seek the +chance to use it again. He certainly had strong temptation to do so, +with the prospect of little risk to himself. + +Besides, as the explorers followed the rapids, their uproar increased +to that extent that the savages could move freely without danger of any +noise being overheard. + +The most prudent thing to do seemed for the friends to walk so briskly +as to disconcert any plan their enemies might have formed. This was +quite easy, because of the open space, already mentioned, as lining +both banks of the Xingu. + +Fortunately the distance to camp was not far, and, with the hurried +pace adopted by the Professor and Long, it ought not to occupy more +than a few minutes, provided no interruption occurred. Strange +emotions tortured both, as they kept their eyes fixed on the dark wood +at their side, from which they expected the sweep of the fearful +javelin, whose touch was death. + +The keenest hearing could not detect the faint whizz, while the roar of +the rapids was in their ears, and they had to depend, therefore, on +their eyes, which promised to be of little more service. + +But the entire distance was almost passed, and the hearts of the two +were beating high with increasing hope, when Long, with a gasp of +terror, grasped the arm of the Professor with incredible force, and +jerking him backward, pointed with his extended finger to the camp in +front of them. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE NATIVE VILLAGE. + +Meanwhile, Fred Ashman and Aaron Johnston the sailor, found themselves +involved in a most stirring experience. + +After studying the path or trail which led directly from the camp into +the vast forest, stretching to an unknown distance from the Xingu, the +young man decided to follow the route which he believed had been formed +by persons instead of the wild animals of the wilderness. + +Johnston was disposed to complain, but he was deeply attached to the +manly partner in the exploring enterprise, and there was no reasonable +peril which he would not willingly face in his defence. + +The forest wore an unusually gloomy and dismal appearance, now that the +sun had set and night was closing in. + +The roar of the rapids, which at first sounded so loud, grew duller and +fainter as they penetrated the wood until it became like the moaning of +the distant ocean. The men spoke in guarded undertones and were able +to hear each other plainly, while eyes and ears were on the alert, for +the first sight or sound of danger. + +Being within the forest, they were favored with but little of the +moonlight, which proved such a help to their friends in their ascent of +the bank of the Xingu to the head of the rapids. But here and there a +few of the rays penetrated the vegetation overhead and illuminated the +trail sufficiently to prevent their wandering from it. + +Ashman was less than a rod in advance of the sailor and led until they +had traversed perhaps a fifth of a mile, during which they met no +living creature, though the noises from the wood left no doubt that +wild animals were on every hand. + +Fred began to think he had gone far enough, though his wish to obtain a +glimpse of the village, which he believed was not far off, prevented +his coming to a full stop. Johnston noticing his hesitation put in +another vigorous protest, but he was easily persuaded to venture +further under the pledge that if they discovered nothing within the +next ten minutes, they would withdraw and return to camp. + +Knowing that his companion would insist on the fulfillment of this +agreement, Fred pushed on faster than before; the sailor, however, +easily maintaining his place almost on his heels. It was only at +intervals they spoke, for there was no call to do so, and it was not +wise to allow any cause to interfere with their watchfulness for the +peril which was liable to come with the suddenness of the thunderbolt. + +By stepping carefully they were able to proceed without noise, and, at +the same time, hoped to catch the sound of any other footsteps, since +there was not supposed to be any call on the part of the natives for +the caution which they might have displayed under different +circumstances. + +The young man's heart gave a quicker throb than usual when he caught +the sound of something like a shout, and observed a faint light in the +path in front. It was apparent that the latter made an abrupt turn, +and the cause of the noise was but a brief distance beyond. + +Fred reached back his hand and touched his companion, as a warning for +the most extreme care on his part, but the admonition was not needed. +Johnston understood the situation too well. + +Sure enough, less than a couple of rods further, and the path turned +almost at right angles. Passing guardedly around this, the explorers +came upon a striking scene. + +There was an open space with an area of perhaps three or four acres; it +was as clear of trees as a stretch of western prairie. It was +triangular in shape, the boundary being so regular that there could be +no doubt it was artificially made. + +Around three sides of this space were erected huts or cabins, the +excellence and similarity or their structure suggesting that the +natives were the superior in intelligence of any that had yet been +encountered during the ascent of the Xingu. The huts were a dozen feet +square, half as high, and each had a broad open entrance in the middle +of the front. They seemed to be built of logs or heavy limbs, the +roofs being flat and composed of the branches of trees, overlaid with +leaves and earth. + +In the middle of the open square was a tall pole, like an immense +flag-staff. The light which had been noticed sometime before by the +whites was the full flood of the moon's rays, there being no other kind +of illumination, so far as they could ascertain, in the native village. + +The huge pole was without any limbs or appurtenances, but around the +space were gathered a score of figures in rapid motion, the meaning of +whose actions was a puzzle to the white spectators, until they studied +them. + +Then it was seen they were struggling together, and the conclusion was +that they were engaged in some kind of a rough sport, for all the rest +of the savages were seated in front of their huts watching the singular +spectacle. + +Naturally they ought to have come closer, and the fact that they did +not, suggested that they kept back to give the actors plenty of room +for their performances. + +Not the least impressive feature of the scene was the profound silence +which marked it. The shout that first arrested the attention of Ashman +and his companion, must have been some kind of a signal, probably +announcing the opening of the proceedings. + +It was evident that the villagers in the square were struggling hard, +for their forms were interlocked and they were divided into two lines, +which swayed back and forth as one gained or yielded ground. + +"It is a wrestling bout," whispered Ashman to his companion, and then, +reflecting that their situation was dangerous, the two stopped from the +path among the trees, where they would not be noticed by any passing +near. + +Suddenly something like a groan was heard from the body of contesting +men. Almost at the same instant, a command was shouted from the +further end of the square, where part of the spectators were gathered. +The two lines fell apart, and ran silently and swiftly to opposite +points a hundred feet distant, where they abruptly halted as if in +obedience to some signal and faced each other. + +This was stirring enough, but that which riveted the eyes of the white +men was the sight of three figures lying prone on the ground, at the +foot of the pole. + +They were as motionless as so many stones. There could be no mistaking +the significance of the sight: they were dead. + +It may have been some species of sport in which the actors were engaged +for the entertainment of the spectators, but, if so, there was an awful +earnestness about it, for the stake for which they strove was human +life. + +The two lines faced each other but a moment, when another shout rang +out, and they rushed together once more with the fury of two cyclones. + +By this time, our friends had discovered that no member of the parties +was furnished with any weapon other than those provided by nature. + +Fearful then must have been the struggle, which had already terminated +in the death of three of the contestants. + +But they were at it again with the fierceness of so many cougars +fighting in defence of their young. + +The result was terrifying. The contest had lasted but a few minutes, +and already a couple were on the earth, when one of the combatants, +with a cry of pain dashed in almost a direct line toward the spot where +our friends were hiding. + +Had he not been overtaken and dragged back, he would have been upon +them before they could get out of the way, and it is not difficult to +conjecture what would have followed. + +The miserable wretch, however, was seized on the very edge of the wood +by four others and carried writhing and resisting back to the space. +There he was flung down, and, being unable to rise, the others leaped +upon him and in a few minutes all was over. He was added to the list +that were already _hors du combat_. + +Ashman and Johnston had received a shock which drove away all interest +in the fearful spectacle. Their escape was exceedingly narrow and they +could scarcely hope for such good fortune again. + +Fred touched his friend and whispered to him. Immediately, they began +stealing from the dangerous spot. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ALONG THE FOREST PATH. + +If any further proof were needed of the delicacy and danger of the +situation of the white men, it came the next minute, when, as they were +in the act of stepping back into the trail, the sailor caught the arm +of his friend and checked him. + +No need of speaking, for Ashman had detected the peril at the same +instant. + +Two natives were stealing like phantoms along the path, from the +direction of the river and going toward the village. + +Had they been ten seconds later, the foremost would have collided with +the young explorer. + +The latter held his breath, and placed his hand on his revolver, +believing a fight was inevitable. + +So it would have been, had not the attention of the savages been +absorbed by the scene in the square, of which they caught sight a pace +or two before coming opposite the watchers. + +They strode directly onward, and swung across the open space, swerving +enough to one side to avoid the struggling lines, and moving on until +they reached the fringe of spectators beyond. There they could no +longer be identified, and probably took their places among those who +were enjoying the cruel spectacle. + +Ashman waited a brief while beside the path, fearful that other natives +might be coming; but, when the minutes passed without their appearance, +he resumed picking his way back, and quickly stood erect in the narrow +opening, which he felt had been followed too far from the Xingu. + +There was no reason to suspect that any of the natives knew of the +presence of the mysterious strangers so near them, but since they +seemed to have a remarkable disposition to be on the move, our friends +felt it would not be safe to relax their caution for a single instant. + +While they did not apprehend a direct pursuit, there was a probability +that some parties might be moving along the trail behind them, while +they had seen enough to convince them of the danger from the front. +Ashman, therefore, whispered to his companion to keep special guard +against an approach from the rear, while he would be equally alert in +guarding the front. + +The two kept so near that they could have reached each other by simply +extending the hand. + +They had no more than fairly started on their withdrawal from the spot, +when Johnston touched the arm of his friend, who instantly halted to +learn the cause. + +"I believe some of 'em are following us," said Johnston. + +Fred listened, but his straining ear could detect nothing to warrant +such an alarming conclusion, and he so stated. + +The sailor became convinced that possibly he was mistaken. There is no +law governing noises at night, and it might be that he had misjudged +the rustling of a branch or possibly the stealthy footsteps of some +wild animal. + +Not entirely convinced, however, that his companion was mistaken, Fred +once more resumed the advance, trying to perform the difficult task of +giving as much attention to the rear as the front. + +If the savages suspected the presence of others, they would be likely +to tread so lightly that their footfalls could not be heard; but +inasmuch as neither of the whites could believe they had even the most +shadowy knowledge of them, they relied more on hearing than sight. + +Suddenly Fred started and almost uttered an exclamation. In his +nervous, apprehensive state, he was sure that one of their dusky foes +had leaped from the side of the path and was crouching in front. + +He drew his pistol and waited for the assault, which he was confident +would come the next moment; but the seconds passed and all remained +profoundly still. + +With his weapon ready for instant use, he advanced a pace or two, +touching the sailor as a command for him to remain motionless; but the +chivalrous fellow would not obey, and was close behind him, when he +stooped down and placed his hand on a piece of decayed limb that had +fallen into the path. + +"What a mistake," muttered Fred, with a sigh, as he shoved it aside +with his foot, explaining its nature to the wondering Johnston. + +But it was only simple prudence to maintain unceasing vigilance, and he +did not permit the error to lessen his watchfulness. It was rather the +reverse. + +But the explorers were threading their way through a labyrinth of +peril, the like of which they had never encountered before. + +Fred had not gone a hundred yards further, when his companion once more +caught his arm, and he turned about as before to learn the cause. + +"What have you heard?" he asked, with his mouth almost against the ear +of the other. + +"There are some of 'em behind us, certain sure!" + +"How do you know there are more than one?" + +"By the sound--there!" + +The amazement of the two may be understood, when they not only detected +the sound of footfalls, but discovered that instead of being at the +rear as both thought, they were in front! + +A party of natives were approaching from the Xingu, and the keener +hearing of Johnston first discovered them. + +The whites had stopped near a spot where a few rays of moonlight fell +upon the trail, giving them a faint but needed view of the direction +from which the danger threatened. + +Neither spoke again, but with the utmost care and noiselessness, they +stepped aside from the path and crouched among the undergrowth. + +They had barely time to ensconce themselves in their new position, when +the footfalls sounded more distinctly than before, and something in the +nature of an exclamation was heard from one of the approaching savages. + +It sounded more like the grunt of a pig than anything the listeners +could call to mind, and Ashman feared it was notice of one warrior to +his companions that he had discovered something amiss. + +But if such were the fact, the natives would have stopped, while the +cat-like steps were more audible than before, though the wonder to the +watchers was that the parties continued invisible. + +The eyes of both remained fixed on the faintly illuminated space, where +they expected to catch sight of them, but the straining gaze failed to +detect the most shadowy form. + +Ashman was just beginning to suspect some strange mistake had been +made, when he suddenly saw the form of a tall savage with bushy head +and a javelin in his hand, glide like a shadow into the darkness in +front. A moment after, a second followed, then a third, fourth and +fifth, the last carrying a long-bow, and all plainly seen by the whites +at the side of the trail. + +A few minutes later, Fred once more took the advance, reflecting that +they were as likely to meet more of the natives as to have them +overtake them. + +The mystery was where they had come from in the first place. They +could not have entered the trail at the camp where Ashman and Johnston +had started on their little exploring enterprise. It looked as though +they were hiding among the trees at the time the canoe approached the +land, and may have followed the explorers soon after they started along +the path with the purpose of cutting off their retreat. If such should +prove to be the case, Fred felt that not only he and his companion were +in danger, but all the rest were liable to be attacked by these +natives, who, as has been stated, were the most athletic that had been +encountered since leaving the Amazon. + +"Fred," whispered the sailor a little later, "they've turned back and +are following us again." + +"Are you sure of it?" + +"There's no mistake about it." + +Fred was debating whether they should not turn again from the path, but +he reflected that the natives having discovered the trick played on +them, would be likely to defeat such a piece of strategy. + +Before he could decide upon the best course, Johnston whispered: + +"Run! it's the only chance we've got!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DESPERATE WORK. + +It seemed to be the only course left. Whether it was or not, it was +too late to try anything else. That the natives had discovered the +explorers was proven by several low, tremulous whistles which at that +instant sounded on the night. + +It was risky running along the dark trail, even though illuminated here +and there by the rays of the moon: but, feeling that the situation was +desperate, Ashman broke into a swift lope, with Johnston at his heels, +urging him to make haste. + +"If they come too close," thought the young man, "we can dodge among +the trees again and pick our way back to the river as best we +can--helloa! what's that?" + +Well might he ask himself the question, for the whizz of something +close to his ear left no doubt that one of their pursuers had hurled a +poisoned javelin at them. + +An instant after he heard a faint but peculiar noise which he could not +describe nor identify. Johnston at the same instant uttered a +suppressed exclamation, not intended for his ears, and he called out in +a recklessly loud voice, + +"Into the woods, quick!" + +Ashman did not hesitate, but darted to his right, halting after a +couple of steps, through fear of betraying himself. + +"Where are you?" asked Johnston, speaking more guardedly. + +His groping hand touched Ashman, who seized it and silently drew him +forward, neither speaking again. + +Even in that trying moment, the younger was impressed by the +singularity of his friend's actions, though there was no opportunity to +ask an explanation. + +The savages could be plainly heard, as they hurried past, evidently +believing they would overtake the fugitives the next minute and certain +of locating them, wherever they might be. + +Sure enough, they had not gone fifty feet, when they detected the trick +and turned about to catch the whites before they could steal any +distance from the trail. + +"We must leave," said Ashman; "we are too close to the path, and they +are sure to find us." + +Johnston made no answer, and, instead of following him, sank heavily to +the ground, with a groan. + +"Great heaven! what is the matter, Aaron?" gasped his friend. + +"I'm done for," was the feeble reply; "never mind me: +look--out--for--for--good-bye!" + +Struck almost dumb by an awful fear, Fred forgot the natives for the +time and stooped over his friend. It was as he suspected; the poor +fellow had been struck full in the back by one of the poisoned +javelins. The exclamation which he uttered at the moment of receiving +the wound was that which puzzled Ashman. The sailor had withdrawn the +weapon, and the wound bled but little. The young man, however, +identified it on the instant. + +"Aaron, rouse up!" he called, shaking his shoulder; "fight off your +drowsiness!" + +He suddenly ceased, for at that moment, he realized that his companion +was dead. Thus fearfully did the virus do its work. + +Before Ashman, could do more than rally from his shock, a muttered +exclamation at his elbow announced that the savages had located him. + +"Curse you!" he exclaimed, whipping out his revolver and letting fly in +the dark at the point where he knew several of his foes were standing, +waiting for a chance to hurl their missiles at him. + +A screech announced that the bullet had found its mark, and he followed +it with a couple more shots, which inflicted wounds, even if they +caused no mortal ones. + +The effect of this volley was to throw the natives into consternation +and panic. There is nothing go appalling as an unknown peril, and the +flashes of fire lighting up the gloom sent them flying toward their +village. + +The path was open for the young man's escape, but could he leave the +body of his friend behind? + +Alas! it was that all he could do, and unless that were done within the +next few minutes, it would be too late. + +Stooping over, he grasped the shoulders of the body and drew it further +from the path, in the hope that it would remain unnoticed. Then he +loosed the Winchester from the death grip, removed the revolver, and +stepping back into the trail, started on his sorrowful return to his +friends. + +"I wish they would follow me," he muttered; glaring into the gloom +behind him; "the man they have killed is worth more than the whole +tribe of miscreants." + +He was in a savage mood, and, despite the fearful danger from the +poisoned arrows and spears, he yearned for another chance at the +wretches who fought so unfairly. + +He held a couple of loaded and repeating Winchesters, with which he +could pour the most destructive of volleys among the savages, and he +longed for the opportunity; but the profound silence which followed the +fierce encounter was so striking that to Fred it all seemed like some +horrid vision of sleep. + +But he dare not wait. These wretches had come from the direction of +the Xingu, and he was apprehensive of trouble at the camp, where the +three native attendants had been left. His services might be needed at +that very moment. + +He did not run, but advanced with the stealth of an American Indian +stealing upon an enemy. It seemed to him his senses were strung to a +higher pitch than ever before, for he had not walked far, when he +became aware that some one was ahead of him, in the path and travelling +in the same direction. + +As yet he could catch no glimpse of the stranger, but there could be no +mistake about the stealthy tread. He was sure, too, that sooner or +later the broken rays of moonlight would give him the sight for which +he was waiting. + +"Yonder is a spot where he will betray himself," he added a moment +later, as he observed the faint light ahead. + +Instead of following on, Fred paused and laying the rifle of his dead +friend on the ground he knelt and sighted his own piece as best he +could in the darkness. Where the hunter is placed in such a situation +he instinctively _feels_ how to aim his weapon. + +He was not kept long waiting. A dark form became dimly outlined in the +faint moonlight and an instant later the infuriated Ashman fired. + +The rasping screech which followed was enough to curdle one's blood, +but the young man only uttered an exclamation of disgust. He had +driven a ball through the vitals of a South American cougar, instead of +through one of the natives, a score of whom he gladly would have wiped +out of existence had he possessed the power. + +The shot could not have been better aimed, had the sun been shining. +The furious beast dropped in the middle of the path, rolled over on his +back, clawed the air for a moment or two, and then became motionless. +Had not Ashman been on the lookout when he reached the spot, he would +have stumbled over the carcass. + +"It is only so much ammunition thrown away," he muttered, again glaring +into the gloom behind him, in the hope of catching sight or sound of +his pursuers; but they were too thoroughly panic-stricken by the +frightful experience a few minutes before to trouble the white man for +some time to come. + +The dull roar of the rapids grew plainer, and, increasing his pace, he +had but to walk a short distance when the clear moonlight, unobstructed +by cloud or vegetation, was discerned where the path debouched from the +forest. + +The feeling that something had gone amiss in the camp during his +absence was so strong with Ashman that he slowed his walk and stopped +before emerging from the wood. He paused, however, at a point where he +had a full view not only of the camp but of the river and dark shore +beyond. + +The sight which met his gaze was not calculated to soothe his nerves. +From some cause Bippo, Pedros and Quincal seemed to have been seized +with a panic, hardly less than that produced among their countrymen by +the discharge of the firearms of Ashman. They were in the act of +shoving the canoe back into the water in such haste that there could be +no doubt they intended to flee from some enemy that had driven all +thoughts of resistance out of their minds. + +"What the mischief are you doing?" shouted the young man, dashing from +cover and hurrying down the bank to intercept them before they could +get away. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE LAND OF MYSTERY. + +The peremptory tones of Fred Ashman rang out loud and clear above the +roar of the rapids and caused the servants to halt at the moment the +canoe was shoved into the water. They looked up with frightened +expressions and awaited his approach. + +"What do you mean?" he demanded as he drew near. + +Bippo, who was by far the brightest of the three, had shown a wonderful +readiness in picking up a knowledge of the English tongue. He was so +much superior in that respect to his companions, that they invariably +left to him the duty of conversing with their masters. + +"_Dey're_ ober dere," he replied, pointing to the other shore. + +"Who's over there?" + +"Perfess'r and Long man; we seed 'em, dey motion for us to hurry ober +to 'em." + +This was astounding news and Ashman was mystified. + +"How did they get over there? And why did they leave camp?" + +"Don' know; seed 'em; want us hurry." + +Without waiting to reflect upon the strange information, and recalling +that more of the natives were likely to issue from the path at any +moment, the young man stepped into the canoe, and, catching up one of +the paddles, lent his help in propelling the craft across the foamy +Xingu. + +"Where Johns'n?" asked Bippo, when the middle of the stream was +reached, and without ceasing his toil with the paddle. + +"The natives killed him with a poisoned spear; you will never see him +again." + +Bippo made no reply, but communicated the startling tidings to his +companions, who muttered their amazement. It was apparent that the +news had added to their panic, and they bent to their task with such +vigor that the boat rapidly approached the other bank. + +Fred was asking himself, that if his friends had managed to get across +the river, why it was they were not in sight. He scrutinized the dark +forest and the line of moonlit space in the expectation, of seeing them +come forth to welcome him, but not a soul was in sight. + +He did not know what to make of it. There was something so uncanny +about the whole business, that a strange distrust and uneasiness took +possession of him. It could not be that the natives had deceived him +and were anxious to place the Xingu between them and the fierce savages +who had handled the whites so roughly. Bippo and his comrades had +shown a loyalty from the first which gave their employers the fullest +confidence in them. + +The canoe was almost against the bank, where something of the +bewilderment of Ashman seemed to enter the head of Bippo. He spoke to +his companions and the three ceased paddling. Ashman had done so a +moment before and was scanning the bank with a searching but vain +scrutiny. + +"You must have been mistaken," he said in a low voice; "they could not +have swam the river and they had no other way of crossing." + +"We seed 'em--motion dat way," and the native beckoned with his right +arm, just as a person would do when signaling another to approach. + +"I can't understand it," replied Ashman, with a shake of his head. + +His doubts were confirmed, when he recalled that the professor and +Jared Long had gone up the bank of the river with the purpose of +learning the extent of the rapids. It followed, therefore, that if +they had made their way to the other shore, it must have been at a +point so far above the angry waters that there was no danger of being +caught in the furious current. + +He was turning over these troublous thoughts, when Bippo, who was +facing the bank they had left, uttered an expression of dismay and +extended his arm toward the shore behind them. + +Ashman turned his head, and there in the moonlight he saw Professor +Grimcke and the New Englander standing on the land and motioning to +them to return. + +"Yes--dat de way he do--he move arm like _dat_," said Bippo; "we hurry +to go to him, den he ain't here--but _dere_." + +Ashman could not doubt that the servant believed the extraordinary +assertion he had just made, and such being the case, the startling +truth was manifest; they had seen two strangers whom they mistook for +their own friends, and these strangers had beckoned them to paddle the +canoe to the other shore where they were awaiting them. + +If such were the fact--and he did not doubt it--a new mystery +confronted him. + +Who were the white men and strangers? and why had they disappeared when +approached by the canoe and its occupants? + +Ashman ordered the servants to turn the craft about and return to the +shore they had left with all speed. While doing so, and while Grimcke +and Long were doubtless wondering what had got into the heads of the +others, the young man wrought himself into a most uncomfortable +condition of mind. + +He questioned Bippo more particularly as to the appearance and actions +of the strangers. It was clear that he, as well as the other two, +still believed the couple on the opposite bank were Grimcke and Long; +though when reminded that it was impossible that they could have +crossed and recrossed the stream in such a brief time, and without any +means except that of swimming, they only shook their heads, signifying +that, though they could not explain _that_ feature of the strange +business, they would not yield their belief. + +Ashman asked further, directing his question to each of the natives in +turn, whether they saw the parties plainly enough to make sure they +were white men. The servants were positive on this point, adding the +distracting statement that they were dressed precisely like the two +absent members of the little company, and that each carried a rifle as +they did. + +"Same ones--same ones; don't know how cross riber, but allee same do +so," repeated Bippo, with a grin. + +By this time the swiftly moving canoe was well on the way to the camp +which it had left so abruptly, and, a minute later, Ashman sprang out +and grasped the hand of each of his friends in turn. + +In a few words he explained the extraordinary incidents of the last +half hour, receiving in return the story of the experience of the +Professor and his companion. The latter were deeply touched by the +loss of Johnston. Danger tends to draw the members of a party closely +together, and, despite the peculiar disposition of the sailor, the +three felt a deep attachment for him. They would have faced any danger +in his behalf, but the time had passed for that, and they could only +mourn the loss of such a valuable comrade. + +"But what about this story that Bippo tells?" + +Before a reply could be made, the native approached, with his peculiar +grin. + +"How you cross riber?--why you come back 'gin? Why you no stay ober +dere when we hurry to go to you?" + +"Bippo, you are mistaken," replied the Professor, with all the +earnestness at his command. "We went up this side of the stream, and +have not been on the other side since dark. When we came back and saw +that you were not in the camp, we thought you had all been killed." + +The native grinned more than ever, and shook his head. + +"De Purfes'r funny man--he make laugh." And he walked back to his +companions with an unshakeable belief in the story given to Fred Ashman +when he dashed in such excitement from the wood. + +"Bippo believes what he has told us," said Long, who had studied the +fellow closely; "and it follows that he and the others _did_ see a +couple of white men." + +"I imagined," remarked Grimcke with something like regret in his tones, +"that we were the first of our race to reach this spot; but it is hard +in these days to find any place on the globe where some white person +had not been before us." + +"If there are a couple of them over there," said Ashman, scanning the +opposite bank, "they ought to be friends; and, after signaling to our +servants to cross, it is inexplainable that they should withdraw from +sight as they did." + +"We can depend on _one_ thing," added the Professor; "we haven't seen +the last of them. I would be glad to believe them friends, but their +actions are unsatisfactory. I am inclined to think that the cause of +their withdrawing was your entrance into the canoe. For some reason +they wished to have nothing to do with any of us." + +"It may be that since we are suspicious of them," said Fred, "they feel +the same toward us, and are unwilling to make our acquaintance until +after reconnoiterin' us. Helloa! what's up now?" + +This question was caused by the action of Bippo, who, trembling in +every limb, and with the appearance of a person overcome with terror, +pointed to the forest behind them. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A NATIVE HERCULES. + +The savages that had shown such pluck in the instances described, now +gave another striking proof of their courage. + +At the moment the mystified explorers were discussing the strange +appearance and actions of the white men, more than twenty of the +athletic barbarians issued as stealthily as phantoms from the trail +leading from the forest and crouched along the edge of the timber. + +Their silence added impressiveness to the singular scene and prevented +their movements being observed except by Bippo, who was so terrified +that he could only tremble and point at them. + +They were partly hidden by the shadow which put out a short distance +from the fringe of the wood, but there could be no doubt of their +hostile intentions. They assumed the form of a line, somewhat after +the manner of the combatants in the square of the native village. This +was to give free play to their arms in flinging their javelins. + +The occasion was one in which the fate of the explorers depended upon +their promptness and bravery. Anything like timidity or hesitation +meant sure destruction, and the whites knew it. + +"Into the boat!" commanded Ashman, addressing Bippo and his friends. + +The words were like an electric shock to the helpers, who instantly +clambered into the canoe and lay flat behind the luggage, where they +were safe from the poisoned missiles that would soon be flying through +the air. + +Those natives, with their crude weapons, were only incumbrances in a +crisis like the present. + +The whites exchanged but a word or two and then opened the ball. + +A savage, evidently the leader, and one who probably now saw the whites +for the first time, had the audacity to step forward a couple of paces, +and with a yell of defiance, raised his spear over his head. + +Before he could launch the missile Jared Long sent a bullet through +him, and then, shifting the muzzle of his Winchester toward the line of +dusky figures, he blazed away as fast as he could sight the weapon and +pull the trigger. + +At the same instant the Professor and Ashman opened, and the +bombardment which followed was enough to strike terror to the hearts of +a hundred men. + +It was more than the savages could stand, but, great as was their +panic, most of them hurled one or two javelins apiece at the white men +who stood fearlessly erect and combated them. They had come from their +village prepared for a fight, and each warrior was provided with +several of the poisoned missiles. + +Before the explorers had emptied the magazines of their Winchesters not +a live foe was left. The affrighted survivors, shrieking with terror, +scrambled hastily back among the trees, some of them dragging the dead +bodies, so that the spot was freed of the dusky miscreants with as much +suddenness as it had been occupied by them. + +There were plenty of shots left, and, after the disappearance of the +savages, the whites fired into the woods, where they had vanished, not +with the expectation of accomplishing anything more than adding to the +panic. + +When it was sure the wretches were gone, our friends made their +preparations for leaving the spot, for nothing was clearer than that +such was the wisest step to take. + +It will be borne in mind that all the trouble had taken place on the +left bank of the Xingu, no savages having been observed on the western +bank. The daring of the savages could not be questioned. They had +faced death repeatedly, and now, that they had the strongest of all +motives--revenge--to prompt them, they were sure to use every means +possible to bring about the ruin of the whites and their three native +companions. + +The forest, extending so close to the river, was a constant menace, for +it afforded the best kind of shelter. Indeed, had the savages been +less courageous and kept among the trees, taking a stealthy shot as the +chance offered, they would have had a much better chance of doing what +they wished and with less risk to themselves. + +The javelins flung in blind desperation went wide of their mark, with +the exception of one which whizzed over the canoe within a few inches +of Bippo's head. The fellow was peeping furtively above the luggage, +and heard the whizz of the missile passing fearfully close. He +instantly ducked with such emphasis that he almost broke his nose +against the bottom of the craft. + +Striking the water beyond, the spear sank as abruptly as if it were a +cannon ball. + +The belief of our friends was that the troublesome natives were +entirely confined to the left bank, though it was not likely they +refrained from crossing so narrow a stream as the Xingu at its upper +portion. + +If the savages had been slow to learn from their first experience with +the white men, there could be no doubt that the valuable lesson of the +last encounter would not be lost upon them. The space between the edge +of the wood and the margin of the river was so slight that it was the +easiest thing in the world for one of them to launch his javelin with +terrific force across it, and they would do so before morning, if the +chance were given them. + +If the other bank were reached, the savages would be easily detected in +the bright moonlight, if they attempted to swim across or used some of +their own boats. The only way in which they could avoid detection +would be by crossing above or below this point. + +They would hardly ascend the Xingu for this purpose, since the rapids +would oblige them to travel a long way, and the place of ferryage, +therefore, was likely to be below the campfire. + +Such were the views of the whites, as they shoved the canoe into the +stream, and stepping within, seized the paddles, which the helpers were +too frightened to use effectively, while so near the dreaded shore. + +Fred Ashman had taken but a few strokes when he handed the implement to +Bippo and ordered him to use it. Then, resuming his Winchester, he +faced the land, half suspecting they would not be allowed to reach the +other side without some demonstration on the part of their fierce +antagonists. + +Time was of the first importance, and all the paddles in the craft were +plied with the utmost possible vigor, each yard passed adding to the +hope that hostilities were over for the time. + +Probably three-fourths of the distance was accomplished, when a low +exclamation from Ashman caused all to cease paddling and gaze at the +shore which he was watching with such interest. + +The most gigantic savage yet seen had emerged from the forest trail, +but instead of advancing to the river's edge, he halted just far enough +from the wood to allow the moonlight to inclose him. He was thus in +almost as plain-sight as if it were mid-day. + +He stood in silent contemplation of the strangers that had invaded his +dominions and given his people such a dear lesson. Confident that he +could accomplish no harm, even if he wished to try it, Ashman refrained +from firing, while the company surveyed him with a feeling akin to +admiration. + +He was over six feet in height and of massive proportions. He would +have been an ugly customer in a tussle where the conditions were equal, +and Ashman could not forbear the thought that he was one of the +contestants in the frightful sport he had witnessed near the village. +If so, there was little doubt that he was hailed the champion. It may +have been that he had hastened along the forest path, burning with a +desire to assail the mysterious beings who had used his countrymen so +ill, and he was filled with chagrin and disappointment that he had +arrived too late. + +But there was no end to the fancies that might be formed concerning +him. That there was little imagination about Bippo was shown by his +timid request to his masters to shoot the savage. To Bippo the +elimination of a single enemy of such formidable mien was a +consummation devoutly to be prayed for. But the Professor reminded the +native that they only slew in self-defense. + +All at once, the herculean savage was seen to make a motion of his arm, +and before the act could be understood, the terrified Bippo called out +that he was about to throw his javelin. At the same instant he and his +two companions cowered in the bottom of the boat, where they were +abundantly protected. + +"The poor fellow is disappointed," laughed Ashman, "and he must show +his anger, even if it requires the loss of one of his----" + +Something like the flitting of a bird's wing whisked so close to the +speaker's face that he involuntarily threw back his head. At the same +instant, a heavy javelin crashed through the side of the boat, as if it +were cardboard, and splashed out of sight in the water beyond. + +The missile of the gigantic savage had passed between Ashman and the +Professor, missing both by a few inches. + +The young man, like a flash, brought his rifle to his shoulder and +sighted at the savage who was still in plain sight, as if defying the +whites to do their worst. + +But Ashman did not pull the trigger. Lowering his weapon, he said: + +"You have earned your life." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +DOUBLE-GUARDED. + +The native who had made the wonderful throw of the javelin stood a +moment longer, and then as if satisfied that he could do no more, he +turned about and disappeared. + +Fortunately, the missile had struck the upper part of the canoe, +through which it tore a jagged hole several inches wide, and a short +distance above the water. The injury could be easily repaired, and at +present required no attention. + +The paddles were again called into play, and the prow of the craft +gently touched shore. + +Having reached the right bank, the explorers had something to think of +beside the savages whom they hoped were left behind for good. Two +white men were known to be in the neighborhood, and there was warrant +for believing they were as hostile as the natives from whom our friends +had had such a narrow escape. With their superior intelligence, there +was more to be feared from them than from the brave but ignorant +savages; but, at the same time, it was to be hoped they might be +conciliated, and that, if not, they would fight without the use of the +fearful implements used by the savages, who held human life in such +light esteem. + +On the other hand, the explorers were too sensible to believe they had +seen the last of the warriors that had proven their daring and ferocity. + +It was decided to leave all the luggage in the canoe which was held so +lightly against the bank that it could be shoved into the river at an +instant's need. No fire was to be kindled, although the entire party +left the boat and advanced to the edge of the wood, beneath whose +shelter they seated themselves on the ground. + +The night which they had hoped would afford them much needed rest, +promised to be most exhausting in its requirements. + +It had been the custom of the explorers, when camping on their way to +the Matto Grosso, to have at all times a couple of their number on +guard, the night being divided into two watches. For the first five +hundred miles, after leaving the Amazon, this precaution was mainly to +provide against the wild animals, that were always prowling around +camp, and often showed a curiosity to make the acquaintance of the +sleepers, and especially of their supplies. + +The white men held an earnest consultation, while occupied in eating +their evening meal or lunch. Had they deemed it prudent to kindle a +fire, they would have prepared some fragrant coffee, of which they +carried an abundance, though plenty of the little berries were +encountered growing wild along the Xingu. + +But that much-relished refreshment was now dispensed with, and they ate +their fruit and a slight quantity of dried meat in darkness. The fish +in the river was an unfailing source of supply, but that species of +food also required fire in its preparation, and was therefore out of +the question for the time. + +Their latitude was about fifteen degrees south, the temperature being +so mild that the whites could have got along very well with as scanty +raiment as their native helpers, though, as has been intimated, they +clung to a civilized costume. They wore broad Panama hats, flannel +shirts, with no coats or vests, and strong duck trousers thrust into +their bootlegs. Thus attired, they were probably as comfortable as +they could be. + +A belt around the waist contained a supply of cartridges for their +Winchesters and revolvers, besides affording a resting place for the +knives, the indispensible Smith & Wesson being carried in the hip +pocket, after the usual fashion. + +In view of the unusual peril threatening the party, extra precautions +were taken against surprise. It was arranged that Quincal and Jared +Long should mount guard until midnight, when they would give way to +Pedros and the professor. This would leave Bippo and Ashman free from +any duty, their turn to come the following night. + +Ashman, however, insisted on taking a part which was somewhat original +in its nature. He was confident that if the savages found it +impracticable to cross the Xingu in sight of the explorers, they would +pass down stream and endeavor to do so, at a point where they could not +be observed by those in camp. + +He meant, therefore, to station himself so as to be able to detect such +a movement. With his repeating rifle at command, he was sanguine of +defeating the attempt, even though made by a score of enemies. + +But for the peculiar contour of the banks on both sides, the whites +could have done much better by simply paddling the canoe a quarter of a +mile down the river and then hiding under the overhanging vegetation; +but it has been explained that the Xingu, when its volume was swelled +by rain, had swept the shores with such violence that they were bare +for a dozen feet from the water. + +Such a movement, therefore, would have to be made in the full light of +the moon, and would, therefore, be plainly perceptible from the +opposite bank--a fact which rendered the precaution of no avail. + +All conceded the wisdom of Ashman's plan. The Professor urged him in +case he found himself growing drowsy, to return at once to camp and +allow one of his friends to take his place. The young man gave his +promise, and, bidding them good-by, he began stealing down the stream, +keeping as closely within the wall of shadow as he could, and advancing +with as much care as though he saw the fierce savages across the Xingu +watching for just such a movement. + +The peculiar nature of the ground rendered progress easy, and he paused +after going about a furlong, believing he had advanced sufficiently far +to accomplish what he wished. + +The essential work of Ashman was to cover one-half the distance between +him and the camp, the further half being under the surveillance of the +guards on duty there. Since he could also overlook the stream equally +far in the opposite direction, it will be seen that the savages would +have to make their crossing nearly a fourth of a mile below the camp to +escape observation. + +All this was on the theory that the lone sentinel was really able to +scan the space with sufficient clearness to detect anything of the +nature apprehended, and that the savages themselves had no suspicion of +any such extra care on the part of their enemies. + +The astonishing brilliancy of the moonlight will be appreciated, when +it is stated that Ashman felt not the least doubt of his ability to +meet every requirement of his self-assumed duty. + +Well aware, from previous experience, of the insidious approach of +slumber to the most vigilant sentinel, when unable to keep in motion, +he avoided sitting down, even though he never felt more wakeful. So +long as he stood erect, there was no danger of his lapsing into +unconsciousness. + +Another indispensable requirement was that he should not be tempted +into venturing from the shadow where he stood, for such an act was +liable to bring about discovery and defeat the very object that had +brought him thither. + +The moon was so nearly in the zenith that the shade from the edge of +the forest did not project halfway across the open space to which we +have alluded. It was in this partial gloom that the young man took his +station, placing himself as far back as he could without standing among +the trees themselves. + +He was in the position of one who feels that the lives of his dearest +friends are placed in his hands. To him, nothing was more evident than +that the revengeful savages would attempt to cross the stream and make +another stealthy attack upon the camp. They surely must feel enough +dread of the terrible weapons that had wrought such havoc, not to defy +them again, but would make their next demonstration in the nature of a +flank movement. + +One fact caused Ashman some surprise; he had seen nothing of any canoes +or boats, which were plentiful along the shores of the Xingu below. It +was not to be supposed that such a powerful and brave tribe as those on +the other side, would live in a country abounding in streams, without +finding need of such craft. + +But because he had not seen them, was no proof that they were not in +existence. They may have been drawn up among the trees, their precise +location known only to their owners. + +The prospect of holding his place for several hours, with his senses at +a high tension, was not an inviting one, for he did not expect the +savages to make their attempt before midnight; all such people aiming +to surprise their enemies when wrapped in profound slumber. + +But Ashman had not been at his station a half hour, when, to his +amazement, he discovered that something was going on across the river +directly opposite. + +Despite the strong moonlight, he was unable to guess for a long time +what it meant. He first heard a splash, as though a body had fallen or +been thrown into the water, and then, for several minutes, everything +was still as before. + +It was a source of annoyance to him that at this moment, when he hoped +to keep his attention fixed on matters on the other bank, he should be +disturbed by a sound among the trees directly behind him. He, turned +sharply and looked around, for the noise which had caught his attention +was a footfall beyond all question. + +But, if the youth was to be taken between two fires, he was ready. The +stranger nearest him could have no thought of his proximity, or he +would have taken more care to suppress any noise. Since he was so much +nearer than him on the other side. Ashman was forced to give his whole +attention for the moment to the former's approach. + +His suspense was brief, for while he stood with rifle ready, a large +puma, or American lion, emerged from a point a couple of rods away, +walked in his stealthy fashion to the edge of the river and began +lapping the water. + +Ashman wished nothing with him in view of more important business +elsewhere, and he, therefore, stepped softly back in the wood, before +the beast finished drinking. + +The puma quickly slaked his thirst, and then, raising his head, looked +about him with an inquiring stare as though he scented something +suspicious. He gazed toward the other shore and finally swung himself +lightly around, and trotted back to the forest. + +Just before entering, he abruptly stopped and looked toward the spot +where Ashman was concealed. He offered a tempting shot, but it hardly +need be said that the young man restrained himself, and the next minute +the beast vanished. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A MYSTIFIED SENTINEL. + +Jared Long, the New Englander, and Quincal, the native helper, were the +sentinels on duty in the immediate vicinity of the camp. + +The professor was wearied from a hard day's work, and, feeling that +everything possible had been done for the safety of all, stretched out +upon his blanket on the soft ground and was soon asleep. + +He expected to assume his duty as guardsman in the course of a few +hours, and needed all the rest he could get before that time. + +Bippo and Pedros were so disturbed by what they had witnessed, that, +though they lay down at the same time, it was a good while before they +closed their eyes in slumber. Their homes were near the mouth of the +Xingu, and, even at that remote point, they had heard so many fearful +accounts of the ferocious savages that infested the upper portions of +the river, that they never would have dared to help in an attempt to +explore the region but for the liberal pay promised, and their +unbounded faith in the white men and their firearms. + +The poor fellows would have given all they had, or expected to have, to +be transported down the Xingu and out of the reach of the terrible +natives who used their poisoned arrows and javelins with such effect; +but, behold! the explorers, undaunted by what had taken place, had no +thought of turning back, but were resolved to push on for an unknown +distance, and Bippo and his friends had no choice but to go with them, +for to run away would insure certain death at the hands of these people +who seemed to be all around them. + +Jared Long had so little faith in the usefulness of the servant Quincal +as sentinel, that he arranged to place the least dependence possible on +him. With no supposition that any danger was likely to come from the +woods behind them, he sent the fellow a short distance back, +instructing him to keep his ears and eyes open, since if he failed to +do so, some wild animal was likely to devour him. + +In crossing the Xingu below the falls, the rapid current had swept the +canoe downward, so that it lay against the bank at a point fully two +hundred yards below. It was here that the American stationed himself, +standing, like Fred Ashman, just far enough from the water to be +shrouded in the slight but increasing shadow made as the moon slowly +worked over and beyond the zenith. + +Looking across to the other shore, he could discern nothing upon which +to hang a suspicion; but the first thing, perhaps trifling in itself, +which attracted notice, was the unusual quantity of driftwood which +appeared to be coming through the rapids and floating past. + +As has been stated, in such a wooded country as the Matto Grasso there +was always more or less of this, and Long had taken a critical survey +of the rapids and noted the stuff which went plunging and dancing +through them. Now, however, he was sure there was an increase, and a +good deal of it consisted of large trees and logs, which must have been +brought down by some cause more than ordinary. + +Had there been anything else to occupy his attention, the fact would +have escaped him, but the sentinel who is alive to his duty, notes +little things, even when they seem to have no bearing on the great +subject which engages all his energies. + +It was a long way from the camp to the source of the Xingu, and in such +a vast country as Brazil, there might have been a violent storm raging +at that moment above and below them without the least evidence, so far +as they could see, around them. Like all countries, that portion of +empire is ravaged at times by fierce hurricanes and cyclones, which +might have uprooted scores of trees and flung them into the waters +which were now bearing them toward the Amazon and the broad Atlantic. + +The sentinel naturally gave his chief attention to the other side of +the Xingu, where so many stirring scenes had taken place that afternoon +and evening. The camp-fire, which had been left burning, had +smouldered so low that none of the embers were discernible, and only a +thin column of smoke crept slowly upward marking where it had been. +But this vapor was so clearly seen in the wonderful moonlight that it +was easy to fix the precise point where the trail entered the +wilderness. + +It was just there, as Long believed, that the savages would debouch +into sight, and renew the warfare which thus far had been only one +series of disasters to them. + +He was not mistaken, when, shortly after he had noticed the increasing +number of logs and driftwood, he fancied he detected something going on +at the very point on which his gaze was fixed. + +As was the case with Fred Ashman, it was some time before he could so +much as conjecture its nature. The glimpses were so faint and +momentary that nothing tangible resulted, though he was positive that +some of their enemies were there. + +At the moment he uttered an exclamation of impatience, he made out +three figures of the natives, who advanced far enough from the wood for +him to identify them. + +Not only that, but they walked stealthily to the edge of the river and +stood several minutes, as if looking across at the canoe. + +Long was confident that he could drop one of them at least, and he was +tempted to do so. The most effective way of keeping the savages off +was by nipping their schemes in the bud, and filling them with +additional terror of the white strangers. + +But he decided to wait a while, suspecting, as he did, that some scheme +whose nature he could not guess was under way, and that if the +projectors were undisturbed, it would soon be revealed. + +Jared Long, we say, was convinced that the natives were scrutinizing +the canoe and seeking to learn something about the occupants, whom they +had doubtless watched as they made their way from the water to the +shelter of the wood. Such was his belief, and yet he was altogether +mistaken. + +It struck him as odd that the savages acted as they did, when it would +seem that they could see just as well from the edge of the wood, where +they were not exposed to the fire of their enemies; but he reflected +that there was precious little about the conduct of the natives from +the first that could be explained on the line of common sense and +consistency. + +The trio stood in view less than five minutes, when they darted back to +cover, as if afraid of being seen by the whites, a theory altogether +untenable under the circumstances. + +The natural supposition of the sentinel was that a large number of the +savages had gathered under the bank and were making ready for some +demonstration, which would soon take place. + +It was not yet time to awaken the Professor and the natives. In fact, +the plucky New Englander half believed that with his repeating rifle he +would be able to beat off any approach from the other shore. + +At this moment, he was amazed to see one of the savages do an +extraordinary thing. + +Darting out from the wood behind him, he ran to the smouldering +camp-fire seized a brand that was covered with ashes, and circled it so +swiftly about his head that it was fanned into a roaring blaze. + +While doing this, he stood apparently with one foot in the margin of +the Xingu, and evidently with not the slightest fear of the white +strangers within gun-shot. He not only swung the brand forward several +times, but reversed and spun it in the other direction, with a velocity +that made it look like a solid ring of fire. + +Suddenly the truth flashed upon the bewildered sentinel: _the savage +was signaling to some friend or friends on the other bank_! That being +the case, it followed that the friend or friends were most +uncomfortably close to the camp of the white men. + +And still Long failed to attach any importance to the unusual quantity +of logs and driftwood that was sweeping down the Xingu in front of him. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +TO THE DEATH. + +It was at this juncture that Jared Long, peering out from the shadow of +the wood, observed a larger log than any he had yet noticed, sweeping +by within a short distance of shore. + +It was without any branches, except a few near the top, but there +seemed to be a number of big knots projecting from the upper side. He +counted seven and they were all of the same size. Furthermore, unless +he was mistaken, the huge tree, from some cause, was working closer to +land. + +_Suddenly one of the knots moved_! + +The sentinel uttered an exclamation, for the startling truth flashed +upon him with the quickness of lightning. + +Each apparent knot was the head of a native! + +With amazing coolness, the New Englander brought his Winchester to a +level, and _bang, bang, bang_, he shattered three of the knots in quick +succession. + +He would not have stopped the frightful work even then, had not the +other targets disappeared. + +Awaking to their danger, the warriors, dropped down so low in the water +that the log intervened between them and the deadly marksman. + +Still the tree with its terrible load was approaching land. The +natives were swimming toward shore and pushing it in front of them. + +Long stepped back and roused the professor, placing his mouth so close +to his ear that he was able to apprise him of what was going on, +without being heard by their enemies. + +Grimcke bounded to his feet, rifle in hand. + +"We'll take them as they come out!" he replied, instantly grasping the +situation. + +The log was drifting lower down at the same time that it neared the +land. Determined to confront the savages the instant they came forth, +the explorers hurried along the edge of the wood, so as to be on the +spot when the landing should be made. It was well they did so, for a +more astounding discovery than the first, instantly followed the +movement. + +More than one of the trees that had floated by carried its human +freight, and nearly a score of savages were crouching in the edge of +the river, so flat on their faces that not one was visible from the +spot where the sentinel was standing a moment before. + +The natives, with a cunning that was never suspected, had crossed the +Xingu above the rapids, where, as they knew, such a proceeding would +not be anticipated by the explorers. Then, stealthily making their way +to the bottom of the rapids, they first launched a number of trees and +logs until, as may be said, the white man on guard should become so +accustomed to them that they would cause no distrust. + +If he should be tempted to scrutinize the first, he would learn that +nothing was amiss and would let the rest go by unquestioned. + +As a result, the natives had floated past the canoe and under the very +nose of the sentinel without his detecting it. + +The savage who swung the torch on the other side of the river probably +meant it as a command for the daring raiders to make no further delay +in their attack. + +The group lying against the shore must have been puzzled by the sudden +bombardment from the edge of the wood. They were so disconcerted, that +instead of springing to their feet and charging upon the two defenders +of the camp, half of them turned about, and diving deep into the +stream, began furiously swimming for the other shore. + +They must have concluded that there was a hitch somewhere in the +programme, and the time for disappearing had arrived. + +The other half, however, leaped to their feet, and, brandishing their +spears and yelling at the top of their voices, ran swiftly in the +direction of the whites, who were still firing their Winchesters. + +"Get behind a tree!" shouted the professor, who had a wholesome dread +of the poisoned weapons, and who lost no time in availing himself of +the nearest shelter. + +But he did not cease to use his rifle. The cartridges in his magazine +were running low, and it was necessary to exercise care in aiming, for +a few precious seconds must be consumed in extracting an additional +supply from the belt at his waist. + +But Jared Long declined to follow the sensible advice and example of +his friend. Scorning to seek shelter, even from such terrible weapons, +he blazed away, making nearly every shot tell. + +It was not until he saw a knot of savages working round with a view of +getting behind him, that he fell back a few paces, though still +exposed. The wonder was that he had not already been pierced by more +than one of the fatal missiles. + +Suddenly he was jerked almost off his feet. The impatient professor +had seized his arm and yanked him behind the tree at his side in spite +of himself. + +The New Englander would have been a zany to expose himself again, after +being provided in this summary fashion with a shield. + +But he, too, had about emptied the magazine of his Winchester. +Although he could have brought out more cartridges from his belt in a +twinkling, he coolly leaned his rifle against the tree and whipped out +his revolver. + +"After that is emptied," he reflected, "my knife is left." + +The action of the natives suggested that it was their wish to take both +the men prisoners instead of killing them. They had done too much to +be let off with such an easy death: they were wanted for torture. + +But, in making such a contract, it may be said that the assailants +found it exceedingly difficult to deliver the goods. + +They might as well have tried to seize and hold a couple of diminutive +volcanoes, as to lay hands on the men whose supply of fire and death +seemed without limit. + +In the midst of the frightful struggle, with the shrieking figures +falling, dashing forward and retreating, as if in wild bewilderment, +Quincal rushed out of the wood with a shout brandishing his spear and +making straight for the ferocious savages. + +With a daring and strength that surprised the latter no more than it +did his white friends, he drove the head of the weapon sheer through +one of the assailants, who went over backward with a screech that +drowned all other noises. + +Quincal still grasped his weapon with both hands, and with amazing +power, extricated it, as his victim fell, and turned upon the others. + +But, by this time, he was surrounded and his fate was sealed. + +Anxious to save the brave fellow, the professor and Long emptied their +revolvers among his enemies, but were unable to scatter them until the +fellow sank to the ground, pierced deep and fatally in a dozen places +by the poisoned javelins. + +Instinctively, the two white men filled their magazines from their +belts, as quickly as they could, and by the time Quincal was no more, +they opened again on the savages. + +The latter had already lost fearfully, and this renewed assault was +more than they could stand. If, instead of trying to make the white +men prisoners, they had contented themselves with hurling their spears, +when they first sprang from the ground, nothing could have saved +Grimcke and Long. + +Now, when they launched the missiles, it was too late. The white men +were each protected by the trunk of a large tree, and standing back in +the shadow, their faces could not be seen. The only way of locating +them was by the flash of their guns. + +They sent a shower of the javelins into the wood, and then were seized +with that strange, aimless panic which sometimes comes over the bravest +men in the crisis of a conflict. The survivors made a wild break for +the river, into which they sprang as far as they could leap, diving +deep, swimming as far as possible beneath the surface, then coming up +an instant for breath and diving again. + +The blood of the Professor and the American was at fever heat. They +felt it wrong to show mercy, after what had taken place, and were in no +mood for any further weakness of that nature. + +Both ran down to the edge of the stream, and, standing almost in the +water, took deliberate aim at every black head as it rose to the +surface. They kept popping up here and there, at varying distances, +only to drop out of sight again, the instant the swimmer caught breath; +but in many instances, when they went down the second or third time, +they did not come up again. + +Professor Grimcke and Jared Long were throwing away no ammunition. + +Finally, the dark forms began rising from the river on the other shore, +where they darted into the wood, fearful of the dreadful messengers +which followed them even there. + +The repulse was decisive and there was little fear of the attack on the +camp being renewed that night. + +The shocking evidences of the disastrous repulse were on every hand, +with the body of poor Quincal lying at the feet of the assailant whom +he had slain, and with nearly a score of dusky bodies stretched in +every conceivable attitude. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A CHANGE OF CAMP. + +Professor Grimcke and Jared Long stood like a couple of warriors, +exhausted from the desperate conflict which they had been waging for +hours. + +And yet the sanguinary contest had lasted but a few minutes, while they +who had wrought all this destruction did little more than stand, aim +and fire their guns. The task of the natives was tenfold harder, as +the results were tenfold worse against them. + +Like old hunters, the first thing the explorers did was to fill the +magazines of their Winchesters with cartridges, after which their +revolvers were reloaded. Then they were ready for business again. + +At this moment, Bippo and Pedros crept from the wood, the picture of +quaking terror. They had been roused at the beginning of the tumult, +but deeming discretion the better part of valor, scrambled farther back +into the forest, where they remained almost dead with fright, until +sure the awful scene was over. + +There can be little question that Quincal was as much terrified as they +and possibly more. It was his very excess of panic, which turned his +head, and caused him to do that which would have been beyond his power +under other circumstances. + +When they saw the dead body of their comrade, Bippo and Pedros broke +into loud lamentations. There could be no doubt that they mourned the +poor fellow as much as did the explorers who had witnessed his death. + +The surroundings of the camp were so frightful that the Professor +proposed they should get beyond sight of it by drifting further down +stream, a proposal to which his companion willingly agreed. + +What should be done with the body of Quincal? This was the question +which caused the party to hesitate a minute or two after the canoe was +shoved into the water and ready to float down stream. + +The wishes of his companions were asked, and Bippo replied that the +most fitting burial, and one in accordance with the peculiar customs of +their people, was to give it burial in the Xingu. + +This was in consonance with the feelings of Grimcke and Long, and they +at once made arrangements to carry out the plan. + +The remains were tenderly carried into the boat, and a large stone +fastened by means of a piece of rope to the ankles, which were tied +together. Then the craft was paddled to the middle of the river, and +the body carefully lifted over the side. Holding it thus suspended for +a minute or two, Jared Long and the Professor lifted their hats and +closed their eyes while the New Englander uttered a brief prayer, +committing the soul to Him who gave it, commending the other body, +lying alone in the dark forest where it had fallen, to the same +merciful Father, and beseeching his protection to the living through +the perils by which they were environed. A splash followed, and all +that was mortal of the native sank out of sight to sleep until awakened +by the trump of the resurrection morn. + +The sad duty completed, the attention of the party was given to the +duties before them. + +It was a sorrowful reflection, that, since the set of sun, two of their +number had yielded up their lives, and they had barely reached the edge +of the Matto Grosso, that land of mystery into which they hoped to +penetrate far enough to learn much that was yet unknown to the +civilized world. + +If they were compelled to pay such fearful toll before they were fairly +within the strange region, what was to be the cost of exploring the +wild country itself? + +But while Bippo and Pedros were more anxious than ever to leave the +section with its dreadful memories behind them, neither dare give +expression to his thoughts, and the German and American were not made +of the stuff which yields when first exposed to the fire. + +They reasoned that if there were no such formidable difficulties to +overcome, others would have visited the country long before and +explored it so fully that nothing would be left for those who came +after them. The prize is the most valuable for which the highest price +is exacted. Neither referred to the abandonment of their work, for no +such idea entered their minds. + +It is not to be supposed that during the fearful scenes through which +the leader of the expedition and his friend passed, they forgot that +their friend Fred Ashman was only a short distance away. Indeed, one +cause for pushing the canoe into the stream and allowing it to drift +with the swift current was that they might join Fred with the +announcement of what had taken place during his absence. + +They supposed that he must have heard the rifle reports and the yells +and shrieks of the natives during the desperate conflict, for though +the rapids gave out a roar which penetrated miles, yet the sharp +discharges and cries of the combatants were of a nature to be heard +still farther. + +Had the explorers suspected what was coming, Ashman, of course, would +have staid with his friends; for his services were almost +indispensable. In fact, but for the singular attempt of the natives to +make captives of the white men, they would have been unable to +withstand the terrific onslaught, despite the vast superiority of their +weapons over those of the assailants. + +It never occurred to Grimcke or Long that their friend could have got +into trouble himself. He was removed from the scene of conflict, which +was over so quickly that he could not have reached the spot in time to +take part, had he started on the instant the first gun was fired. + +But it struck both, while drifting downward and carefully scanning the +shore, as strange that nothing had been seen of Ashman. Enough time +had now elapsed for him to traverse the intervening distance several +times, and it was to be supposed that he would have put in an +appearance without delay, provided he was free to do so. + +The two talked together in low tones, and admitted that there was +something to cause misgiving in Fred's continued absence. What could +be the explanation? + +The Professor was inclined to think their friend had gone farther down +stream than he first intended; but, even if such were the fact, he +hardly could have traveled so far that he would not have been well on +his way back to the battle ground by this time. + +The trend of the Xingu was such at this point, that the thin line of +shadow along the wood on their left, as they passed down the river, +steadily widened until it now almost reached the water itself. In a +short time it would extend over the surface and afford the canoe that +shelter which, had it come earlier in the evening, might have postponed +the desperate conflict with the savages. + +The move from above was merely to get away from the sights that met +them at every turn; and, without seeking to drift to the point where +Ashman was supposed to be waiting, the explorers turned the prow to +land, which they touched a moment later. + +It would have been more cheerful to have had a fire burning, but there +was no other call for it. The mild temperature rendered it really more +enjoyable without it, since the blaze was always sure to attract +innumerable insects, and possibly might tempt the defeated natives to +another effort to wipe out the deadly insults that had been theirs from +the beginning. + +It was not yet midnight, nor indeed anywhere near it, but the Professor +volunteered to take his turn with Bippo for the remaining hours of +darkness. But no such arrangement was necessary, since every member of +the party was rendered wakeful by the exciting incidents, while the +grief of Bippo and Pedros over the loss of their friend was sure to +drive away all slumber for a long time. + +The luggage was left in the canoe, where all the party would have +stayed, had not their positions been so cramped as to render sleeping +difficult. Their blankets were spread on the ground, where they +reclined, talking in low tones, watching, listening, and speculating as +to the cause of Fred Ashman's continued absence. + +Long was about to open his mouth to advance a new theory, when a slight +sound apprised him that either the young man they were talking about, +or some one else, was approaching. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A STRANGE ENCOUNTER. + +Fred Ashman was standing near the edge of the Xingu, as will be +remembered, when his attention was diverted for the moment by a puma, +which came out of the wood, drank from the stream, and then, after a +brief pause, returned to his shelter. + +All this while, the dull roar of the rapids was in the explorer's ears, +and he was eager to withdraw his attention from the beast and direct it +upon the opposite shore, where he was convinced something unusual was +going on. + +The minute the beast disappeared, he looked across at the point that +had so interested him. + +The question which he had asked himself some time before, was answered +by the sight of a small canoe that was stealing down the river, instead +of heading directly across to where he was standing. In this boat was +a single individual, using a paddle with the deftness of an American +Indian. + +Here was something that needed attention, and, with the aid of the +brilliant moonlight. Ashman watched the craft and its occupant as +closely as if his own fate were wrapped up in its movements--a +supposition which it was not improbable was fact itself. + +The savage moved slowly, as if sensible of the call for the utmost +care, went only a few rods down stream, when he turned out in the water +and aimed for the shore where the watcher was standing. He had gone +some distance below, and it was to be supposed that the force of the +current would carry him still farther, so that if he made a landing it +was likely to be far below. + +But he who held the paddle was a master of that species of navigation, +and Ashman was surprised to observe that he was aiming at the very spot +where he was standing carefully concealed in the shadow. If nothing +interfered, they were sure of making a closer acquaintance. + +The boat was about the middle of the river, when the white man was +struck by the immense size of the occupant. He was one of the largest +men he had ever seen, his weight sinking the canoe almost to its +gunwales. + +"He must be the savage who hurled his javelin through our boat," was +the conclusion of the astonished Fred. "What a magnificent fellow he +is!" + +The native sat so that his face was turned toward the young man, who +studied his countenance with the deepest interest. + +He had the busy head, the large protruding eyes, and the dark, naked +skin of all his people. His enormous arms swung the paddle first on +one side of the boat and then on the other. As he did so, Fred saw the +play of the splendid muscle, which was like that of Hercules himself. +Rash would be that antagonist who engaged him in a hand-to-hand +struggle. + +Nothing in the world was easier than for the explorer to extinguish the +life in that impressive specimen of physical manhood, without the least +risk to himself, and yet, although he knew him to be the most +formidable enemy of his people, he held no thought of doing him +harm--at least not at the present stage of his extraordinary business. + +It was at this decidedly interesting juncture that a new element +obtruded itself. The sounds of guns, shouts and yells, in the +direction of the rapids left no doubt that his friends there were +having a lively time with the natives. + +Ashman would have turned and made all haste thither, but for the +presence of this burly giant in front. Whatever was going on down +stream was with the full knowledge of him, and he was the one for the +white man to look after. + +Had the latter been surprised by the sounds of conflict, he would have +ceased paddling or headed his boat up stream, but he merely glanced +toward the rapids, and continued dipping his paddle and propelling his +craft, as if it was his intention to step ashore and grasp the hand of +the astonished youth awaiting his arrival. + +The passage occupied but a very few minutes. Just before the bank was +reached, he made one powerful sweep of the oar, which sent the prow far +up the shingle, and then leaped as lightly as a cat from the structure, +which bounded up as if relieved of several hundred pounds' weight. + +Turning about, the giant stooped down and took a spear as long and +heavy as the one he had hurled nearly across the Xingu, through the +boat of the explorers. + +It seemed that there was to be no end to the obtrusion of "side issues" +upon the little drama going on under Fred Ashman's eyes. It must have +been that the puma which had slaked its thirst at the Xingu's margin a +short time before, had become convinced that parties were near, +entitled to his attention. + +While endeavoring to locate him, he probably caught sight of the +approaching native and concluded that he was the individual to whom he +should turn. + +Be that as it may, the native had only time to pick up his ponderous +spear and face toward the wood, when the lion emerged from the +broadening band of shadow, and, with a low, threatening growl, advanced +upon him. + +Like the cat species to which he belonged, he crouched so low while +walking, that his shoulders protruded above his back in large humps, +and his belly almost touched the ground. His long tail flirted angrily +from side to side, his jaws were parted, disclosing his sharp, +carnivorous teeth and blood-red tongue, while his eyes emitted a +phosphorescent glow that was like fire itself. + +He was a formidable antagonist, and as Ashman observed his movements +and ugly appearance, he felt like pumping a half dozen bullets into his +lank, muscular body. + +But he experienced the natural interest of a sportsman in an impending +fight, and was curious to see how the huge native would acquit himself +in the struggle at hand. + +He was not kept long in doubt. The savage observed the puma the moment +his head emerged from the shadow into the moonlight, and he instantly +prepared himself to meet him. + +Little preparation, however, was necessary, for he carried but the +single weapon and that had only to be grasped in his right hand. + +The warrior might have leaped into his craft and escaped by paddling +out in the river, where he could drive the boat at a faster pace than +the beast could swim, but he did nothing of the kind. + +He neither advanced nor retreated, but, standing just in front of the +prow, he rested on his right leg; with the left foot thrown forward, +and the tremendous javelin balanced over his right shoulder. + +His pose was admirable, and even in that thrilling moment compelled the +admiration of the single spectator, who was strongly of the opinion +that the puma, to put it mildly, was committing an error of judgment. + +There may have been some strange, instinctive knowledge which +penetrated the brain of the beast before he reached the assailing +point, and which compelled him to stop. The individual whom he had +selected as his victim was not to be crushed at a single effort, as he +was accustomed to bring down the llamas, antelope, and other animals of +the wilderness. No; there was something in that pose, the demeanor and +the flash of the midnight eyes which forced the fierce creature to +pause, when on the very death line, as it may be termed. + +But if the native was defiant, the puma had no purpose of retreating +from before such a powerful enemy. In his blind ferocity, he would +have assailed him, could it have been impressed upon him that his own +destruction would be the inevitable result. + +The lank jaws were still parted and dripped foam, as the lion continued +his cavernous growls, while his ears lying flat on his head in the +manner peculiar to the feline species, the bristling spine and the +lashing of the tail gave the beast the appearance of a bundle of +concentrated fury, as indeed he was. + +Fred Ashman was struck almost breathless by what followed. + +He observed the curious, twitching movement of the puma's legs as they +were gathered closer under his body, and which is always a sure +evidence that the animal is about to make his decisive leap upon his +victim. The native must have read the movement aright, for the hand +over his shoulder was suddenly thrown back and instantly forward again, +as his javelin left his grasp with terrific force and the suddenness of +lightning. + +But inconceivably quick as was the action, the puma dodged the missile, +which entered the earth just behind him, and driven with such +tremendous force was buried half its length in the ground. + +Almost at the same instant the body of the lion rose in air and shot +forward as if driven from the throat of a Parrott gun. + +But if the brute was quick, so was the man, who dropped downward +without moving his feet, and allowed his assailant to pass over his +head and land directly in the canoe, where for a single second only he +was partly hidden from sight. + +Hardly had he landed, when the warrior darted forward several paces to +where his javelin projected from the ground, seized it with both hands +and wrenched it free. Whirling about, he confronted the beast once +more, as he was gathering himself for a second leap. + +The savage learned wisdom from what had just occurred, and instead of +allowing the weapon to leave his hand, held it with an immovable grip +and awaited the renewal of the attack. + +The puma seemed also to have absorbed some instruction from his +failure, and instead of leaping at once, began a stealthy advance, +coming over the side of the canoe with the gliding motion of a serpent, +and evidently wishing to get so near that his victim could not escape +again by the means he used before. + +Suddenly the native, still holding the javelin with both hands, stepped +forward a single pace. This placed him in the strongest possible +position, and, with one appalling thrust, he drove the spear for a +distance of two feet into the chest of the puma, instantly snatching it +forth again, moving back a couple of feet, and holding himself ready +for any assault from the brute. + +No need of any virus on the point of _that_ weapon, for it had cloven +the heart of the lion in twain, and he went down without a single +groan, as dead as dead could be. + +The native stepped to the river, washed the blood from the weapon and +then turned about to resume his advance toward the wood. + +As he did so, he found himself face to face with a white man, who, +stepping from the shadow, held his Winchester leveled at him in an +exceedingly suggestive fashion. + +If Fred Ashman had been astonished before, what words shall describe +his amazement when the dusky Hercules, calmly staring at him for a +moment, said in unmistakable English, "_I surrender_." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ZIFFAK. + +Fred Ashman was so startled by hearing the giant native utter his +submission in unmistakable English, that he came near dropping his +leveled Winchester to the earth in sheer amazement. + +He had not dreamed that the savage understood a word of that tongue, +but judged from his own posture, with his weapon pointed at him, that +the other knew when an enemy had "the drop" on him. Even if such were +the fact, he counted upon a desperate resistance, and was prepared to +give the fellow his quietus by a shot from his rifle. + +The savage held his ponderous javelin in his hand, but made no effort +to use it. His black eyes were fixed on the face of the handsome +American, and he could not have failed to note the expression of +bewilderment and wonder caused by the words that had just dropped from +his dusky lips. Indeed, Ashman fancied he detected something akin to a +smile lighting up the forbidding countenance. + +It may be said that the young explorer for the moment felt himself in +the position of the man who drew an elephant in a lottery--he didn't +know what to do with his prize. It had come to him so unexpectedly +that he was bewildered. + +But he was quick to rally from his dazed condition. The fact that the +giant had shown such a knowledge of the English tongue suggested the +possibility not only of obtaining important information, but of making +a friend of this personage, who must possess great influence among his +people. + +True, the events of the afternoon and evening were against anything in +the nature of comity or good will, but no harm could come from an +attempt to bring about an understanding between the people and the +explorers that had become involved in such fierce conflicts with them. + +"Drop that spear!" commanded Ashman. + +"I have surrendered," said the savage, in a low, coarse voice; "and +Ziffak does not lie." + +Nevertheless, while the words were passing his lips, he unclosed his +right hand and allowed the implement to fall to the ground. + +"Is your weapon poisoned?" asked Ashman, still mystified by the +extraordinary situation and hardly knowing what to say. + +"Your man in the wood was pierced by one of our spears; ask him." + +"Such a warrior as Ziffak does not need to tip his weapons with +poison," said Ashman, glancing significantly at the carcass of the +puma. "It is cowardly to use such means against your enemies." + +The savage shook his head and an ugly flash appeared in his eyes. + +"Do not the whites from the Great River use fire to slay the natives +before they can come nigh enough to use their spears?" + +"But they have no wish to use them against your people; we would be +their friends, and it pains us to do them harm; we would not have done +so had they not compelled us." + +Ziffak stood a moment as motionless as a statue, with his piercing +black eyes fixed with burning intensity on the white man. The latter +would have given much could he have read his thoughts, of which an +intimation came with the first words that followed. + +"Waggaman and Burkhardt told our people that if we allowed the white +folks to come into our country, they would bring others and slay all +our men, women and children." + +"Who are Waggaman and Burkhardt?" asked the explorer, uncertain whether +he was awake or dreaming. + +"They have lived with the Murhapas for years; they are white men, but +they are our friends." + +Ashman recalled the story told by Bippo and his companions earlier in +the evening. It must be that the names mentioned belonged to those two +mysterious individuals, who beckoned them across the Xingu. For some +reason of their own, they wished to keep all others of their race out +of the country. + +It was plain that Ziffak was a remarkable person and the explorer +determined to use every effort to win his good will. + +"Waggaman and Burkhardt have told you lies; we are your friends." + +"Why do you not stay at home and leave us alone?" + +"We expect to go back, after ascending the river a short distance +further; nothing would persuade us to live here, and, as I have told +you, we would not harm any person if they would leave us alone." + +Ziffak seemed on the point of saying something, but checked himself and +held his peace, meanwhile looking steadily at the man who had made him +a prisoner in such clever style. + +Ashman resolved on a rash proceeding. + +"Take up your spear again, Ziffak; go back to your people, and, if you +believe what I say, tell them my words, and ask them to give us a +chance to prove that we mean all I have uttered." + +"My people know nothing about you," was the strange response. + +"You heard but a few minutes ago the sounds of guns and the shouts from +the direction of the rapids, which show they were fighting." + +"Those people are not mine," said the native; "but they are my friends, +and I fight for them." + +"From what you said, you are a Murhapa?" + +Ziffak nodded his head in the affirmative. + +"Where do they live?" + +He extended his hand and pointed up the river. + +"One day's ride above the rapids and you reach the villages of the +Murhapas. There live Waggaman and Burkhardt; they came many years ago. +I am a chieftain, and they rule with me." + +"It was from them you learned to speak my tongue?" + +Ziffak again nodded his head, adding: + +"Many of my people speak it as well as I." + +"Tell me, Ziffak, why, if your home is so far above the rapids, you are +here among these people, whose name I do not know?" + +"They are Aryks; they have much less people than the Murhapas, and are +our slaves. Some days ago word was brought to us that a party of white +men were making their way up the Xingu. Waggaman and Burkhardt and I +set out to learn for ourselves and to stop them. They went down the +other side of the river and I came down to the Aryk village. I roused +them to kill you before you could pass above the rapids, but we were +able to slay only one of them." + +"And it was a sad mistake that you did that; for he was a good man, who +wished you no evil. Where are Waggaman and Burkhardt?" + +The native shook his head. He had picked up his spear, but made no +movement toward taking his departure. Ashman hoped he would not, for +everything said not only convinced him of the first importance of +gaining the fellow's confidence, but encouraged him in the belief that +he was fast doing so. He resolved to leave no stone unturned looking +to that end. + +"Why did not your two white friends help you in the fight, to keep us +from going further up the Xingu?" + +"_Maybe they did_," replied Ziffak, with a significant glance up +stream, which left no doubt that he referred to the conflict that had +taken place there while the couple were talking on the margin of the +river. + +"I don't believe it," Ashman hastened to say, hopeful that such was the +case; for, with two white men and their firearms, the peril of his +friends must have been greatly increased. + +"Why do you seek to enter our country?" asked the dusky giant, after a +brief pause. + +"We want to learn about your people; but I pledge you we wish not to +harm a hair of their heads." + +It was not to be expected that a savage who has heard nothing else for +years except that any penetration of his territory by white men meant +destruction, could give up that belief simply on the pledge of one of +the race accused. + +But it was equally clear that this particular savage was favorably +disposed toward Ashman. It may have been that his good will was won by +the neat manner in which he had got the best of Ziffak, the most +terrible warrior ever produced by that people. A brave man respects +another brave man. + +"Why did Waggaman and Burkhardt visit your villages and make their home +with you for so many years?" + +"I do not know," replied Ziffak, with another shake of his head; "but +they have proven they are friends. They do not want to go back to +their people, who are all bad." + +The thought occurred to Ashman, though he did not express it, that the +strange white men were criminals. They may have escaped from the +diamond mines, which were at no great distance, and naturally preferred +the free, wild life of the interior to the labor and tyranny which the +miserable wretches condemned to service in those regions undergo. + +"Ziffak," said the explorer, lowering his weapon, "will you walk back +to the camp of my people? You have my promise that no harm shall be +offered you by any one." + +The herculean native nodded his head, and the strange couple started up +the bank in the direction of the camp, which was now as silent as +though not a hostile shot had been fired, or a savage blow been struck. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE LAND OF THE MURHAPAS. + +It looked as if Fred Ashman had gained a double victory over the giant +Ziffak, and his second triumph was infinitely greater than his first. + +His heart thrilled at the thought that this formidable antagonist had +been so suddenly transformed into a friend; and yet he could not +entirely free himself from a certain misgiving, as the two walked side +by side along the Xingu. Recalling the dexterity of the native--all +the more wonderful because of his bulk--he reflected, that it was the +easiest thing in the world for him to turn like a flash and pierce him +with his poisoned javelin before the slightest defence could be made. + +It was this thought which led him stealthily to place his hand on the +butt of the revolver at his hip, prepared to whip it out and fire as +quickly as he knew how. At the same time he edged away from him, so as +to maintain considerable space between their bodies. + +Ziffak suddenly changed his javelin from his right to his left hand, +the movement sending a shock of fear through the American, who the next +moment blushed from shame, for it was manifest that the shrewd savage +suspected the timidity of his new friend, and shifted the frightful +weapon to the side furthest from him to relieve any misgiving on his +part. + +The conversation continued as they walked, the native showing a +surprising willingness to answer all questions. + +Ashman gathered from what was told him that the Murhapas were a tribe +numbering fully a thousand men, women and children; that they occupied +a village or town on the right bank of the Xingu about twenty miles +above the rapids, where the incidents already recorded occurred, and +that they were far superior in intelligence, physical development and +prowess to any other tribes in the Matto Grosso. + +It was about five years before that the two white men, Waggaman and +Burkhardt, suddenly made their appearance at the towns. The fact that +they did not come up the Xingu, but from the forest to the south, +strengthened Ashman's suspicion that they were criminals who had +managed to escape from the Brazilian diamond mines, though it was a +mystery how they had secured the two rifles which they brought with +them. They had no revolvers, and their guns were not of the repeating +pattern. When their ammunition gave out, one of them made a journey of +several days' duration into the wilderness, invariably bringing back a +supply which lasted a long time. + +Such weapons were entirely unknown to the Murhapas, who had never heard +of anything of the kind. The exploits of the owners caused the natives +to look upon them with awe. They were soon established on the best of +terms with their new associates, who allowed them to do as they chose +in everything. + +It is not to be supposed that Ashman gathered all the information given +in this chapter, during his brief walk with Ziffak. Indeed, that which +has already been stated was obtained only in part during the memorable +interview; but it may be as well to add other facts which afterwards +came to the knowledge of him and the explorers, since it is necessary +to know them in order to understand the strange series of incidents and +adventures in which they became speedily involved. + +The Murhapa tribe was ruled by King Haffgo, whose complexion was almost +as fair as that of a European. He had fifty wives, but only one child, +whose mother was dead. This child was a daughter, Ariel, of surpassing +beauty and loveliness, the pride of her grim father and adored by all +his subjects. From Waggaman and Burkhardt she had acquired a knowledge +of the English tongue, which Ziffak declared was superior to his own. +Both of these men had sought in turn to win her as his wife, and the +king was not unwilling, because of the awe in which he held them; but +Ariel would not agree to mate herself with either, though she once +intimated that when she became older she might listen favorably to the +suit of Waggaman, whose appearance and manner were less repulsive than +those of his comrade. + +The first duty the guests took upon themselves was to impress King +Haffgo and his subjects that all white men except themselves were their +deadliest enemies, and, if any of them were allowed to visit the +village, they would assuredly bring others who would cause the utter +destruction of the inhabitants. + +Three years before, a party of six white explorers ascended the Xingu, +and suddenly presented themselves to the Murhapas, without previous +announcement or knowledge. Despite their professions of friendship, +and a most valiant defence, they were set upon and slain the same hour +they appeared among the fierce people. + +Ariel, the daughter of the king, was but a child, at that time, just +entering her teens. She did not know of the cruel massacre until it +was over, when she surprised all by expressing her sorrow and declaring +that a great wrong had been done the strangers. From that time +forward, those who studied her closely saw that she had formed a strong +distrust, if not dislike, of Waggaman and Burkhardt, though, seeing the +high favor in which they were held in court, she sought to veil her +true feelings. + +Ziffak was a younger brother of the king, and bore the title of +head-chieftain. He was next in authority and power, and, because of +his immense size and prowess, led all expeditions against their +enemies, none of whom was held in fear. Occasionally, he headed a +hundred warriors, who made excursions through the neighboring +wilderness and in pure wantoness spread destruction and death on every +hand. + +The Aryks, after receiving several such terrible visits, sued for terms +and willingly agreed to consider themselves slaves of the Murhapas. +Their location was favorable to detect the advance of any of the +dreaded white men up the Xingu, and they agreed in consideration of +being left alone, to check any such approach, a fact which will explain +the fierceness and determination with which they contested the ascent +of the river by our friends. + +If they allowed the whites to pass above the rapids, they knew that the +mighty Ziffak would sweep down upon them and visit frightful punishment +upon their heads. + +Instead of bringing a body of his own warriors, Ziffak, as has been +intimated in another place, came alone down one side of the Xingu, with +Waggaman and Burkhardt on the other, the calculation being to rouse +enough Aryks to destroy the invaders, as they were regarded. Enough +has been told to show how thoroughly the head-chieftain acquitted +himself of this duty. + +Several of the powerful reasons for the jealousy of Waggaman and +Burkhardt of their race, was apparent in the fact that there was an +astonishing abundance of diamonds and gold among the Murhapas. +Although none was seen on Ziffak, it was only because he was on the +war-path. He had enough at home to furnish a prince's ransom, while +the possessions of the beautiful princess Ariel were worth a kingdom. + +These were obtained from some place among the mountains to the westward +of the town. In the same mysterious region was a peak, whose interior +was a mass of fire that had burned from a date too remote to be known +even in the legends of the wild people. There was a lake also, whose +waters were so clear that a boat floating over them seemed suspended in +mid air. + +This wonderful section was claimed by King Haffgo, who would permit +none but his subjects and the two white men to visit it. A party of +Aryks; presuming upon the friendly relations just established with +their masters, ventured to make their way to the enchanted place +without permission or knowledge of the Murhapas. + +Before they could get away, they were discovered by some of the +lookouts, and every one slain with dreadful torture. The lesson was +not lost upon their surviving friends, who never again ventured to +repeat the experiment. + +The Murhapas were the first to use the spears with the deadly points. +They not only taught the Aryks how to prepare the poison from the venom +of several species of serpents and noxious vegetables, but imparted to +them the remedy,--a decoction of such marvellous power, that a single +swallow would instantly neutralize the effect of any wound received +from the dreaded missiles. + +Among the tribes named, there was no knowledge of the use of iron +though the ore is abundant in that region. The only objects composed +of the metal were the firearms of the white men, and the natives could +not comprehend how they were fashioned from the substance which +underwent such a change from its native state. + +Every implement used by this people is made from stone, which however +seems almost the equal of iron and steel. Spear points, axes and +cutting tools are shaped with remarkably keen edges, with which trees +are readily felled, and cut into any form desired. + +Shells are used in the formation of knives, while the teeth of certain +fish, taken from the Xingu, enables them to construct still more +delicate implements for cutting and carving. + +Indian corn, cotton and tobacco are raised from a soil whose fertility +cannot be surpassed, though strangely enough the tribes have no +knowledge of the banana, sugar cane and rice, which belong so +essentially to the torrid zones. Dogs and fowls are entirely unknown, +and there is no conception of a God, though all have a firm belief that +they will live again after death. A myth has existed among them from +time immemorial of the creation of the world, which, according to their +views, consists of the regions around the headwaters of the Xingu and +Tapajos. + +Ziffak was a favorite of the beauteous Ariel, and it is not improbable +that, knowing as he did, her lamentation over the cruel death of the +white men, who appeared at her home three years before, he was more +willing than would otherwise have been the case to stay his hand, after +doing such yeoman service against the new-comers. + +Where these tribes came from is a question yet unsolved by +anthropologists, though the theory has many supporters that most of the +isolated peoples are allied to the original stock of the once mighty +Caribs, who journeyed from the south to the sea. + +Conscious of their own might, and knowing the prodigious mineral wealth +at their command, the Murhapas are naturally jealous of their +neighbors, and fight fiercely to resist anything that bears a +resemblance to an encroachment upon their rights. + +It will be understood that Waggaman and Burkhardt met with little +difficulty in rousing their enmity particularly against the Caucasian +race, since the members of that, of all others, were the ones most to +be dreaded. + +The foregoing, much of which is in the way of anticipation, we have +deemed best to incorporate in this place. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE NEW ALLY. + +The amazement which so nearly overwhelmed Fred Ashman during the few +minutes succeeding the surrender of Ziffak, was shared in all its +entirety, when the two presented themselves before the astounded +explorers in the canoe. + +In fact, Jared Long came within a hair of shooting the Hercules, before +the situation could be explained to him. Even then he refused for +awhile to believe the astonishing story, but declared that some +infernal trickery was afoot. Finally, however, he and the Professor +and Bippo and Pedros realized that the most powerful enemy had become +their ally. + +Ziffak showed a strange talkativeness after joining the company. +Seating himself on the ground where all were now veiled in shadow, he +answered the questions that were rained upon him, until most of the +information given in the preceding chapter was told to the wondering +listeners. + +The account of the dreadful reception that awaited their predecessors +three years before, would have deterred such brave men as the explorers +from pushing further, but for the fact that they had secured an +all-powerful friend at court. Believing that he could pave the way for +a friendly reception, they were eager to visit what seemed to them an +enchanted land. + +There was some uneasiness over Waggaman and Burkhardt, who, it could be +easily seen, would at the most do nothing more than disguise their +enmity under the guise of friendship, holding themselves ready for some +treachery that would bring about the death of the visitors. + +The conversation lasted a long time, and was ended by the natural +question put to Ziffak as to what should be the next step. + +From what he had already stated, it was evident they were not yet +through with the Aryks. Despite their frightful repulse, they would +hold the Murhapas in greater dread than the whites; and, well aware of +the penalty of allowing them to pass above the rapids, would never +cease their efforts to prevent such a disaster. It followed, +therefore, that something must be done to spike their guns, and Ziffak +was the only one who could do it. + +The whites were not surprised, when he offered to return to the point +down the river, where he had left his canoe, recross to the other side, +and make known to the Aryks that it was his wish that the explorers +should be molested no further. + +The announcement would be a surprise indeed to them, but there was none +who would dare question the authority of such a source. + +During the absorbingly interesting conversation, Ziffak stated that his +object in coming from the other side was to reach the camp of the +whites at the same time that an attack was made by the Aryks who so +cunningly used the floating logs and trees as a screen to hide their +approach. He preferred his course to that of accompanying them. + +It will thus be seen, that, although the act of Fred Ashman in passing +down the Xingu seemed like a mistake, yet it was the most providential +thing that could have occurred. + +Having made known his plan, the burly chieftain set about carrying it +out with characteristic promptness. Without saying good-bye, he rose +to his feet, and walking rapidly off, soon disappeared in the direction +of the spot where took place his encounter with the puma and his +meeting with Fred Ashman. + +He had not been gone long, when those left in camp caught sight of the +little boat skimming swiftly across the Xingu below them. The +preliminaries of the singular movement in their favor was going on +according to programme. + +But, with the departure of Ziffak, something like a distrust of his +friendship entered the minds of the three whites. Bippo and Pedros +were so overcome by what they had seen that they were unable to +comprehend what it all meant. They kept their places in the boat and +listened and wondered in silence. + +The Professor hoped for the best, though he admitted that there was +something inexplainable in the business. He had spent hours in +examining the strange fish of the Upper Xingu, in inspecting the +remarkable plants, which he saw for the first time, and in studying the +zoology and mineralogy of the region. He had been delighted and +puzzled, over and over again, but all of these problems combined failed +to astonish him as did the action of Ziffak and the story he told. + +Ashman was the most hopeful of all. He had been with the native more +than the rest, and was given the opportunity to study him closely. He +was confident that he read the workings of his mind aright, and that +the fellow would be their friend to the end. + +Jared Long, the New Englander, was equally positive in the other +direction. He maintained that since the leopard cannot change his +spots, no savage showing such relentless hatred of the white race as +did Ziffak, could be transformed into a friend for no other reason than +that he had been made a prisoner. + +He insisted further that, if he succeeded in helping them through to +the Murhapa village, it would be only with the purpose of securing a +more complete revenge. Such a powerful tribe as his need feel no +misgiving in allowing a small party to enter their town; for, after +that was done, they would be so completely at their mercy that there +was no possibility of any explorer ever living to tell the tale. + +He especially dwelt upon the undoubted influence possessed by Waggaman +and Burkhardt. They would never consent to yield the influence they +had held so long, nor could they be induced to share it with any of +their own countrymen. + +Grimcke and Ashman laughed at his fears, but strive as much as they +chose, they could not help being affected more or less by his +pessimistic views. + +However, the brave fellow declared that he would accompany them on the +hazardous journey, and stick by them to the end. If they could not +survive, they would fall together. + +By this time the night was far along. A careful scrutiny of the other +bank failed to reveal anything of their enemies, though all believed +there were plenty of them along the shore. + +Ashman proposed, that now, since they were entirely screened by the +projecting shadow of the wood, they should cautiously push their way up +the bank, as near as possible to the rapids, so as to lessen the +distance that was to be passed on the morrow. There could be no +objection to this, and adjusting themselves in the usual manner in the +large canoe, they began the ascent of the river. + +Naturally they would have kept close to the shore to escape, so far as +they could, the force of the current, and the main object now was to +prevent their movements being seen by the vigilant Aryks across the +stream, who might resume hostilities before Ziffak could make his +wishes known to them. + +Our friends did not forget that a large body of these warriors had +passed the Xingu above the rapids to reach the bank along which the +craft was now stealing its way; but they had received such treatment +that the survivors hurried from the vicinity. + +Still there was a probability that after rallying from their repulse, +more of them had swam across and were at that moment on the western +shore, on the watch for just such a movement as was under way. + +If this should prove the case, it could not be expected that Ziffak +could interfere in time to prevent another sanguinary conflict; but +that might come about, even if the explorers remained where they had +stopped until daylight. If the Aryks were prepared to attack them +while on the move, they could do so with equal effect while they were +not in motion. + +The increasing roar of the rapids was a great disadvantage, for it +drowned all inferior noises and compelled our friends to depend on +their eyesight alone to discover the approach of danger. + +There was an involuntary shudder on the part of all, when they came +opposite the scene of the desperate fight, and they hastened past +without exchanging a word. + +They had not much further to go when they found themselves, for the +time, at the end of their voyage. It was impossible to ascend further, +because of the rapids, which tossed the canoe about as though it were +an eggshell. + +A halt was therefore made, and, at the moment this took place, all +observed that day was breaking, the light rapidly increasing in the +direction of the Aryk village. + +"_Just what I told you_!" exclaimed Jared Long, as the simultaneous +discovery was made by all, that the forest around them was swarming +with the vengeful savages, eager for another and bloodier joust at arms. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE NICK OF TIME. + +The peril which menaced the explorers was more frightful than any that +they had been called upon to face since entering that mysterious land +known by the name of the Matto Grosso. + +The Aryks numbered more than half a hundred, all active, vigilant and +armed with their fearful poisoned javelins. They had taken position +among the trees on the western bank of the Xingu, at the base of the +rapids, at the very point where the white men intended to shoulder +their canoe and make their last portage. + +Instead of being in the open, where they were in plain sight of the +defenders, and fair targets for their unerring Winchesters, they were +stationed behind the numerous trunks or lying on the ground, where +little could be seen of them except their bushy heads and gleaming +black eyes, as they glared with inextinguishable hate at the white men +who had slain so many of their number. + +The suspicious Long was looking in the direction, with the thought that +if any ambush was attempted, that would be the very spot, when he +caught sight of a dusky figure, as it whisked from behind a narrow +trunk to another that afforded better cover. + +That hasty glance in the dim morning light revealed an alarming number +of heads glaring around the trees and from among the undergrowth like +so many wild beasts, aflame with fury and the exultation of savages who +knew that their enemies were at last forced inextricably into their +grasp. + +So assured were the Aryks in fact that they showed a disposition to toy +for a moment with their victims, as a cat does with a mouse before +craunching it in her jaws. They brandished their weapons, danced +grotesquely and uttered shrill shrieks audible above the deafening roar +of the angry Xingu as it foamed through the rapids. + +It was a fearful trap in which our friends found themselves, for it was +impossible to advance or retreat, and it was madness to hope that they +could again escape the shower of spears that were already poised in the +air and ready to be launched. + +Bippo and Pedros, with wild shrieks of terror bounded into the canoe, +and wrapping the blankets around them, cowered in abject helpless dread +of impending death. They were only an incumbrance, as they had proven +in more than one crisis before. + +But not one of the Caucasians showed the white feather. Disdaining to +seek impossible shelter, they coolly prepared to die fighting, while +exposed to the hurtling javelins, whose appalling effectiveness they +knew too well. + +But at this appalling juncture, when life hung on the passing moment, a +piercing shout rang out above the roar of the waters. + +It came from a point behind them, and, despite the imminent peril all +three looked around. + +A small canoe was darting across the Xingu toward them, so close to the +foot of the rapids, that it danced about like a cork and seemed certain +to be submerged every minute. + +In this frail craft sat the giant Ziffak, propelling it across the +furious swirl with such prodigious power that though the spume dashed +over it, the boat was driven by the sheer power of his mighty arms +under, above, and through the waters. + +It was he who uttered the resounding cry which caused the wondering +explorers to turn their heads, and stayed the uplifted arms of the +venomous Aryks. + +All saw the giant head chieftain of the Murhapas who repeated the shout +and added an exclamation that was a command, forbidding his allies to +hurl a single weapon. + +They must have deemed him mad, but if so he was ten times more to be +dreaded than if sane. Not a javelin was launched, but all stood +motionless awaiting his arrival, and doubtless believing he meant them +to pause only long enough to place himself at their head as the leader. + +They must have thought, too, that his appearance so filled the whites +with fear that their arms were paralyzed, for, though he was in direct +range, not a hand of the foreigners was raised to do him hurt. + +Coming with such tremendous speed, Ziffak occupied but a moment in +passing the remaining distance. Before the prow of his boat could +touch land, he flung the paddle aside, spurned the canoe with his foot, +caught up his huge spear, and with one bound placed himself opposite +the wondering trio of white men, while two more leaps landed him among +the Aryks. + +Grimcke, Ashman and Long had read aright the meaning of the amazing +demonstration and calmly awaited the issue. + +Pausing in the very middle of the dusky force, he addressed them in +their native tongue, with savage gestures and a fierceness of tones +which rendered every word audible amid the roaring tumult. + +Only a second or two was required for him to finish his harangue, when +he made a final command for them to fall back, emphasized by the swing +of his tremendous arms. + +No more striking proof could have been given of the sway of this mighty +warrior over his vassals, than was shown by their instant obedience to +the order, which fell upon them like the bursting of a thunderbolt from +the clear summer sky. + +They did not scatter and flee, for they had not been directed to do so, +but skurried several rods back among the trees, so as to leave the way +open for the explorers to pass around the rapids to the calmer waters +above. + +Ziffak did not remove his eyes from the natives, until he saw that his +commands were not only obeyed, but that it was understood by them that +the white men were not to be molested. + +This extraordinary person had hastened to the other shore, in +accordance with his pledge, only to learn from a couple of Aryks whom +he met that the main body of warriors had again crossed the Xingu above +the rapids, and were gathered in the wood waiting for the whites to +walk into the trap set for them. + +Had our friends remained where he left them, no danger would have been +encountered, but, as we have shown, they moved up stream and came +within a hair's-breadth of being wiped from the face of the earth +before their powerful ally could interfere. + +The breaking morning gave Ziffak his first knowledge of the mistake +they had made, and, leaping into his canoe, he drove it across the +stream with resistless speed, reaching the spot in the nick of time, +and barely doing that, since he was forced to raise his voice while yet +on the river, in order to hold the battle in suspense. + +Having satisfied himself that everything was adjusted, Ziffak now +turned around, and, without the least appearance of agitation on his +swarthy countenance, signified that the path was open for them to +continue their journey. + +Reaching into the canoe, Ashman seized Bippo by the nape of the neck +and hoisted him out on land. He did the same with Pedros, both of them +howling in the extremity of mortal terror. Tearing the blankets from +their bodies, he shouted for them to give their help in carrying the +canoe and luggage around the rapids. + +It was some minutes before they could comprehend in their blind way the +situation. Finally, when they saw that their deaths were postponed, +they lent their aid as eagerly as a couple of obedient dogs. + +The sturdy whites were equally helpful, and the boat was quickly raised +aloft and so adjusted that its well apportioned weight bore lightly +upon the shoulders of all. + +The sidelong glances which Bippo and Pedros cast at the Aryks as they +moved up the bank, brought a smile to the whites who witnessed them. +The poor fellows were ready to let go and drop down dead the moment +they felt the puncture of the whizzing javelins. + +The Professor was at the head of the strange procession bearing the +boat on their shoulders. Like his companions, he moved with a springy, +elastic step, for he had received the most striking proof possible of +the friendship of Ziffak, and he foresaw the dazzling results that were +to flow from such an alliance. + +Had this remarkable savage been disposed to play them false, no better +opportunity could have been given than that which occurred a few +minutes before. All he had to do was to arrive on the spot a minute +later: the Aryks would have left nothing for him except to view the +dead bodies of the whites and their servants. + +As for Jared Long, the doubter, he was willing to admit that he had +made a grevious error of judgment. Had he thought that Ziffak +suspected his misgivings, he would have taken the fellow's hand, and +humbly begged his pardon. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE JOURNEY'S END. + +The explorers, bearing the canoe with the luggage upon their shoulders, +ascended at a steady gait the western bank of the Xingu. The cleared +space which they had noticed on both sides of the river, caused by the +furious overflow, continued, so that the progress was comparatively +easy. + +The din of the rapids was so loud that they could not have heard each +other, except by shouting at the top of their voices, for which there +was no call, since even Bippo and Pedros were now able to read the full +meaning of the extraordinary incidents of the night. + +Ashman looked around and ascertained that Ziffak was not bearing them +company. None of the savages were in sight, though all would have been +as eager as tigers to rend the white men to shreds had such permission +been given. + +The absence of the great leader caused no uneasiness on the part of any +one of our friends. Strange indeed, would it have been had they felt +any distrust of him after his late interference. + +The sun appeared while the party were still pushing forward. The sky +was as clear as on the preceding day, and, though the temperature was +quite warm, it was not unpleasantly so. Several causes contributed to +the delightful coolness which renders the Matto Grosso one of the most +attractive regions on the globe. The abundance of water, the endless +stretch of forest, with few llanos of any extent, and, above all, the +elevation of the plateau produce a moderation of temperature not met +with in the lowlands, less than twenty degrees further south. + +But the explorers were weary and in need of rest. It will be recalled +that they found precious little opportunity for sleep during the +preceding night, which marked the close of an unusually hard day's +labor. They would have rested could they have done so, and now that +the chance seemed to present itself, they wisely decided to wait a few +hours before beginning the last stretch of water which lay between them +and the villages of the Murhapas. + +The halt was made at the top of the rapids, where the boat was +carefully replaced in the river, the fracture made by Ziffak's javelin +repaired, and everything adjusted for the resumption of their voyage. +Then, with only the Professor on guard, the others lay down on their +blankets and almost immediately sank into a deep, refreshing slumber. + +Professor Grimcke, finding the care of the camp on his hands, took a +careful survey of his surroundings, which were quite similar to those +that had enclosed him many times before. + +On both sides, stretched the almost endless Brazilian forest, within +which a traveller might wander for weeks and months without coming upon +any openings. In front was the Xingu, smooth, swift, and winding +through the wilderness in such form that he could see only a short +distance up stream. Looking in the opposite direction, the agitation +of the water was noticeable before breaking into rapids, similar, +though in a less degree, to the rapids above Niagara Falls. The volume +still preserved its remarkable purity and clearness, which enabled him +to trace the shelving bottom a long way from where he stood. + +Grimcke was somewhat of a philosopher, and always eager to make the +best use of the time at his command. There was nothing more to be +feared from the Aryks, and his situation, therefore, of guardian of his +sleeping friends might be considered a sinecure. + +His fishing line was soon arranged, and with some of the dried meat he +had brought along serving for bait, he began piscatorial operations. + +It will strike the reader as incredible, but in Borne portions of the +Orinoco and other tropical rivers of South America, the fish are so +abundant that they have been known to impede the progress of large +vessels moving through the waters. While no such overflowing supply is +found in the Xingu, yet they were so numerous that it required but a +few minutes for the Professor to haul in more than enough to furnish +the entire party with all they could eat at a single meal. + +His next step was to start a fire, and prepare the coals for broiling. +This was a simple task, and was completed before his friends finished +their naps. + +No pleasanter awakening could have come to them than that of opening +their eyes and finding their breakfast awaiting their keen appetites. +They fell to with a will, and, though saddened by the loss of two of +their number, were filled with a strange delight at the prospect of +their visit to the enchanted land. + +The boat was launched, but there was not enough wind to make it worth +while to spread the sail, which had often proven of such assistance, +but the four pairs of arms swung the paddles with a vigor that sent the +craft swiftly against the current. The Professor disposed of himself +in the boat so that he slept while the others were at work. + +Naturally the craft was kept as close to the bank as possible, so as to +gain the benefit of the sluggish current. The trees having been swept +from the margin of the Xingu, an open space was before the explorers +throughout the entire distance. + +Despite the glowing expectations of the party, there was enough in the +prospect before them to cause serious thought. Long and Ashman +consulted continually and saw that it would not do to felicitate +themselves with the belief that all danger was at an end. + +Two facts must be well weighed. Waggaman and Burkhardt were inimical +to them. Whether they could be won over even to neutrality could not +be determined until they were seen. For the present they must be +classed as dangerous enemies. + +Was it unreasonable to suspect that their influence with the terrible +King Haffgo would prove superior to that of Ziffak? If so, what hope +was there of the escape of the explorers after once intrusting +themselves within the power of the tyrant? + +But the immediate question which faced our friends was, whether it +would do for them to reveal themselves to the Murhapas without again +seeing their native friend. They deemed it probable that he had pushed +on to the village, with the expectation of reaching it ahead of them +and thus preparing the way for their reception. + +This, however, was but a pretty theory which was as liable to be wrong +as right. At any rate, Ziffak must reach his home ahead of or +simultaneously with the whites. The latter continued using their +paddles with steady vigor, until near noon, when they knew that +considerably more than half the distance was passed. + +They now began swaying their paddles less powerfully, for the feeling +was strong upon them that they had approached as close as was prudent +to the Murhapa village. + +It was about this time, that they rounded a bend in the Xingu which +gave them sight of the river for fully half a mile before another +change in its course shut out all view. Naturally, they scanned the +stream in quest of enemies, who were now likely to be quite close. + +The first survey showed them a canoe coming down stream. It was near +the middle and was approaching at a rapid rate. + +Fred Ashman laid down his paddle and took up his binocular. + +"It is Ziffak!" he exclaimed, passing the glass to Long. + +"So it is and he is alone," was the reply of the astonished New +Englander, who added an exclamation of surprise that he should be +approaching from that direction. The only explanation was, that since +last seeing him, he had made a journey to his home and was now +returning to meet and convoy his friends to his own people. + +Such proved to be the case, as he explained on joining them. + +After the affair at the foot of the rapids, he paused long enough to +make clear to the Aryks that not one of them was to make another +offensive movement against the whites under penalty of the most fearful +punishment. He explained that these particular white men were the +friends of all natives, and that they never would have harmed an Aryk +had they not been forced to do so to save their own lives. + +The cunning Ziffak dropped a hint that the newcomers were much better +persons than the couple that had made their homes among the Murhapas +for so many years. Then, having completed his business in that line, +he struck through the forest at a high rate of speed and soon reached +his own people. + +He expected to find Waggaman and Burkhardt there, but they had not yet +arrived. He explained to his brother the king what had taken place at +the rapids of the Xingu and succeeded in gaining his promise of the +king that he would allow the white men to enter the village without the +sacrifice of their lives; but he was not willing that they should +remain more than a couple of days. Indeed he gave such assent +grudgingly and probably would have refused it altogether, but for the +earnest pleading of his beloved Ariel, who insisted that it would be a +partial recompense of the crime of three years previous. + +This was the best that Ziffak, with all his influence at court could +do, and indeed it was as much as he expected to accomplish. He +admitted that Waggaman and Burkhardt were likely to interfere, but he +did not believe they could do so to any serious extent, provided the +white men themselves were circumspect in their behavior. + +While this interesting interchange was going on, the two boats were +side by side, so gently impelled that their progress was moderate and +conversation pleasant. Thinking that the Professor had slept long +enough, and that he ought to know the news, Fred Ashman turned to wake +him; but to his surprise, the German met his look with a smile and the +remark that he had heard every word spoken. Then he rose to a sitting +posture, saluted Ziffak and proceeded to light his pipe. + +The latter pleased the whites still further by explaining that he meant +to keep them company for the rest of the distance. Despite his +encouraging statements, they felt much easier with him as their escort. + +By using their paddles with moderate vigor, they could reach their +destination by the middle of the afternoon. There was no better hour +to arrive, for the king was always in his best mood after enjoying his +siesta, which was always completed by the time the sun was half-way +down the sky. + +It was to be expected also that before that hour, Waggaman and +Burkhardt would spread the news of the expected coming of the wonderful +strangers. They would do what they could, to excite distrust and +enmity, but Ziffak was positive that since his brother had given his +promise, it would be sacredly kept, and that for two days at least +their stay at the village would be without peril to any one of the +little company. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AT THE MURHAPA VILLAGE. + +The sun was half-way down the sky when the canoe containing the +explorers, and accompanied by the smaller craft impelled by Ziffak, +rounded a bend of the upper Xingu and came in sight of the village of +the Murhapas. + +The herculean native gave an extra sweep of his paddle which sent his +boat slightly in advance of the other, and, striking the shore, he +sprang out and turned about to wait for them to disembark. + +The scene was an impressive one, which every member of the company was +sure to remember the rest of his life. + +The huts in which these strange people made their homes were similar in +structure to those of the Aryks, but instead of being built around the +three sides of a rectangle, composed one row, numbering more than a +hundred, and facing the river. They stood a hundred yards from the +water, and being at the top of the sloping bank were above the reach of +the most violent freshet that ever came down from the mountain-fed +sources of the mighty Xingu. + +The ground in front of this novel town was cleared of all trees and +undergrowth, but for most of the space was covered with bright green +grass; the whole having the appearance of a well-kept lawn that had +been artificially sodded or strewn with seed, which flourished with the +luxuriance of every species of vegetation in that tropic country. + +Not only in front, but on the sides and to the rear, for an extent of +more than a hundred acres, the earth had been cleared with equal +thoroughness and was growing abundant crops of cotton, tobacco, and +edibles peculiar to the region. + +The houses were separated by a space of several rods, so that the town +itself extended a long way along the water. The dwellings, like those +of the Aryks, consisted of a single story, with the door in the middle +of the front, a window-like opening on each side of the same, roofed +over with poles, covered with earth, leaves and grass, that were +impervious to wind and storm. + +It seemed to the astonished whites that the entire population had +gathered along the shore to receive them. Several strange sights +impressed them. The men were large, sinewy, bushy-haired and athletic. +Some sported bows and arrows, but the majority by far carried the +spears which the explorers held in such dread. There was no native, so +far as they could see, who was the equal in size and strength of +Ziffak, but they were so much the superiors of any natives encountered +since leaving the Amazon, that it was easy to understand how they were +the lords and masters of all the tribes with which they came in +conflict. + +We have spoken of the Murhapa houses as being but a single story in +height. There was a single exception. In the middle of the town was a +broader and larger structure than the others. It was two stories high +and so much more marked in every respect that it was easy to decide +that it was the residence or palace of Haffgo, the king of these people. + +Another singular feature was noticed by our friends as they stepped +from their canoe. Among the natives, who were mostly as dark of skin +as Africans, was a sprinkling so different that the inference was that +they belonged to some other race, or that nature was accustomed to play +some strange freak in this almost unknown part of the world. + +The king and his daughter Ariel had complexions as fair as the natives +of Georgia and Persia, and yet Ziffak, a full brother of Haffgo, was as +ebon-tinted as the darkest warrior of the tribe. Since the features of +all were similar in a general way the cause was one that could not be +explained. + +It was a moment when the new-comers fully appreciated the value of a +friend at court. They felt that had each possessed a dozen repeating +Winchesters they would have been of no avail after leaving their canoe +and entering the village. They had now placed their lives in the hands +of Ziffak, and, should he choose to desert them, they were doomed; it +was too late to retreat. + +Many of the warriors scowled at the white men and their two helpers as +though they would have been glad to impale them with their spears, but +no demonstration was made. Evidently Ziffak possessed unlimited power +and was backed by the pledge of the king. + +Professor Grimcke was the first to step ashore, Ashman and Long +following immediately. The three whites formed abreast, while Bippo +and Pedros covered [Transcriber's note: cowered?] so close that it was +hard for them to keep from stepping on their heels. Ziffak placed +himself at the head, as the escort, and moved up the sloping bank with +the dignity of a conqueror. + +The women, showed more taste in their dress, for all wore loose-fitting +gowns of native cloth, gaudily colored, though the children were +attired similarly to the men, with little more than a breech cloth +about the loins. Even the boys of a most tender age were each armed +with a javelin, none of them, however, having the points of the weapons +poisoned as did their fathers and elders when on the war-path. + +Another striking characteristic of these people was the abundance of +gold and diamond ornaments. Not a woman was visible from whose ears +were not suspended heavy rings of the precious metal, while the +majority had diamonds fastened in the gold, all of several carats' +weight, and some so large and brilliant that they would have sold for +immense sums in a civilized country. + +The older females had not only rings hanging from their ears, but still +more valuable ornaments depended from their noses. It would have +enriched an army to loot the Murhapa village. + +Each of the whites carried his Winchester, and Bippo and Pedros did not +forget their almost harmless spears; but the rifle of Johnston was left +behind with the valuable property. + +At the moment of starting, Ziffak called to two warriors and said +something in a commanding voice. They instantly hastened to the edge +of the water and placed themselves in front of the large canoe. Their +action left no doubt they were obeying an order to guard the treasures +during the absence of the owners. + +Reaching the top of the bank, the party were in what might be called +the main or only street of the town. The grass had been worn smooth by +the feet of the villagers, among whom was not a dog, cat, horse, and, +indeed, any four-footed animal. + +The visitors had landed near the lower end of the village, so that it +was necessary to walk some way before reaching the house of the king, +which was their destination. + +As they started, the whole population began falling in behind them. +The terrified Bippo and Pedros shrank still closer to those in front, +trembling and affrighted, for the experience to which they were +subjected was enough to upset them morally, mentally and physically. + +Ziffak turned his head with such a threatening scowl that the foremost +instantly fell back, dreading his vengeance, but when he faced the +other way, they began crowding forward again. + +There must have been that in the appearance and action of Bippo and +Pedros which excited the latent mirth of the Murhapas, for say what we +may, the trait exists in a greater or less degree in all human beings. +One of them reached forward with his javelin and gave Bippo a sharp +prick. With a howl, he leaped several feet in air and yelled that he +was killed. + +There was an instant expansion of dark faces into grins, showing an +endless array of black stained, teeth, for the spear point was not +poisoned, and the incident caused a laugh on the part of his white +friends when they came to know the whole truth. + +But the author of the practical joke had reckoned without his host. +The cry had hardly escaped the victim, when Ziffak bounded to the rear +like a cyclone. The fellow who was a full grown warrior was still +grinning with delight, when he found himself in the terrific grasp of +the head chieftain. It was then his turn to utter a shriek of +affright, which availed him nothing. + +Ziffak first smote him to the earth by a single tremendous blow. Then, +before he could rise to his feet, he grasped his ankles, one with +either hand, and swung him round his head, as a child whirls a sling, +before throwing the stone. + +To the awed spectators he seemed a black ring of fire, so dizzyingly +swift were the gyrations, from the midst of which came a buzzing moan +of terror. + +Only for a second or two was he subjected to this torture. Suddenly +Ziffak ran toward the Xingu and then let go of the ankles. The black, +limp object went spinning far out in the air, as if driven from some +enormous catapult. + +Across the remaining space he went, falling several feet from shore and +disappearing beneath the surface. But such fellows are extinguished +with difficulty, and the cold water quickly revived him. + +By and by he came up, blew the moisture from his mouth, swam to shore, +climbed timidly out, and, sneaking up the bank again, humbly took his +place at the rear of the procession. + +But Ziffak, having disposed of the joker, paid no further attention to +him, caring naught whether he swam or was drowned. The lesson was one +that he would not forget, and produced a salutary effect upon the rest +of the multitude. They instantly fell back so far that Bippo, finding +he had not been seriously hurt, saw that he was safe from further +disturbance. + +It was only a few minutes later that Ziffak halted, his friends +immediately doing the same. + +The cause was apparent: they had reached the dwelling place of Haffgo +king of the Murhapas. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +HAFFGO, KING OF THE MURHAPAS. + +It was a memorable interview which the explorers held with Haffgo, king +of the mighty Murhapas. + +Since Bippo and Pedros were servants, they were not admitted to an +audience with the potentate. Ziffak conducted the others into the hut +adjoining the palace. This was his own building, where his aged mother +had charge. She understood matters from her son, and the frightened +fellows were made to feel that they were safe for a time from the +annoyances and persecutions of the multitude. + +The apartment was an oblong one, being at the front, and was +characteristically furnished. Instead of the smooth bare ground which +formed the floors of the other buildings, the palace was entirely +covered with the skins of wild animals, gaudily stained. The whole +looked like a gorgeous, oriental carpet, which was as soft as down to +the tread. + +There were no chairs or benches for auditors, for no one presumed to +sit in the presence of majesty. The walls were hung with the same +species of ornamented furs, set off here and there by spears, bows and +arrows, arranged in fantastic fashion. + +At the further end of the apartment, was a platform several feet high, +with a broad seat, covered with still more brilliant peltries, a +footstool, and on each side a vase of magnificent flowers. These vases +were of native manufacture, beautifully ornamented, while the flowers +were of a radiant loveliness, such as are seen nowhere outside of +tropical countries. Their delicious fragrance filled the apartment and +affected the strangers the moment the blanket was pulled aside by +Ziffak and they stepped within the royal reception room. + +On each side was a broad open window, without glass, which admitted +enough sunlight to flood the place with illumination. + +At the right of the dais or throne, the curtains were draped so as to +serve as a door for the king or any member of the royal household to +enter or withdraw. + +On this barbaric throne sat the extraordinary personage known as King +Haffgo, ruler of the warlike Murhapas. + +To say the least, his appearance was stunning, if not bewildering. + +In the first place, it maybe doubted whether the intrinsic value of his +crown was not the equal of any that can be found to-day in the +monarchical countries of Europe, Asia or Africa. Its foundation seemed +to be a network of golden wire, in which were set scores upon scores of +diamonds, weighing from five to ten carats apiece, with a central sun +the equal of the great Pitt diamond. The coruscations from these +brilliants were overwhelming. As the king moved his head while +speaking, every hue of the rainbow flashed and scintillated, the rays +at times seeming to dart entirely across the room. + +In addition, the neck of Haffgo was encircled by a double string of the +same dazzling jewels, of hardly less magnitude; while the wrist of the +right hand, which rested on a large javelin, was clasped by a golden +bracelet of what appeared to be living fire. + +The king was dressed in a species of thin cloth, gathered by a girdle +at the waist. The crimson tint of this garment was relieved by figures +of the sun, moon and stars, of dragons, birds, beasts and reptiles in +gold. One of his feet was visible, disclosing a species of sandal such +as is seen among the natives of the East Indies. + +Had King Haffgo been encountered anywhere else, he would have been set +down as a European with an unusually fair complexion. It bore no +liking to that of the African or native Murhapa. His skin had none of +that chalky, transparent appearance shown by the Albinos, but was +almost pinkish and ruddy. + +His bushy hair was not white, but of a decided brown, his eyes hazel, +his nose Roman, with a strong chin and a keen expression, such as was +natural to a man who had reigned an absolute autocrat all his life. + +He was about fifty years of age, but his face was wrinkled like a man +of threescore and more. + +King Haffgo was seated on his throne when his visitors were ushered +into his presence, as though he expected and was waiting for them. + +The white men were unacquainted with the etiquette prevailing in this +barbaric court, but there are certain ceremonies which are received as +expressive of courtesy and obeisance the world over. + +Ziffak gave no instructions; but, placing himself at the side of +Professor Grimcke on the left, he surveyed his friends with much +curiosity, as if waiting to see how they would conduct themselves. + +Grimcke, Long and Ashman removed their hats and bowed slowly, bending +their heads almost to their knees. Then, as they straightened up +again, the Professor, who took upon himself the duty of spokesman, said: + +"We greet the great King Haffgo, and beg that he will accept the homage +of his brothers from their homes near the great water." + +"Why do my brothers come from their homes to hunt out the king of the +Murhapas, when he has not asked them to come?" + +These words were uttered almost exactly as given. The accent was thick +and somewhat broken, but they showed an astonishing command of the +English tongue, and proved that Waggaman and Burkhardt had found some +exceedingly apt pupils among this people. + +It is not necessary to give the interview in detail. There was a +certain stateliness about the manner of the king which was remarkably +becoming. His guests had prepared themselves, when starting out on +their exploring enterprise, to make friends, by providing a large +supply of gaudy trinkets, such as is always pleasing to the average +savage; but, when they saw the wonderful crown and diamond ornaments of +this autocrat, they were ashamed to let the baubles in their possession +be seen. + +They consisted mainly of children's toys; and, since they were entirely +different from anything in the country, Professor Grimcke finally made +bold to offer them, with another low obeisance, to his majesty. The +latter may have been delighted, but, if so, he did not allow it to +appear in his face or manner. + +Fred Ashman handed him two brightly-polished knives, fashioned somewhat +after the familiar Bowie pattern, and, despite his reserve, it was easy +to see that they pleased him more than anything else. + +Jared Long's present was a handsomely-carved meerschaum pipe. The king +was an inveterate smoker, and, even if he didn't do anything more than +nod his head when it was placed in his hand, he ought to have been very +grateful. + +Despite the pains which our friends took to win the good will of King +Haffgo, it was apparent to all three that their visit was not welcome. +Waggaman and Burkhardt may not have whispered anything in his ear about +them, but the ruler was thoroughly filled with a distrust of all white +men, the only exceptions being the ones that were the cause of this +distrust. + +Being a man of unquestioned native sagacity, it needed nothing more +from his first guests than their accounts of what the other race was +doing in the cities and towns along the sea coasts. Any people who +builded canoes large enough to cross the awful waste of waters in quest +of diamonds and gold, were sure to seize the chance to force their way +up the Xingu where much more boundless wealth awaited them. + +The famous diamond mines of Brazil were not very far from this portion +of the Matto Grosso, and the pains which the emperors of Brazil had +taken to draw a part of their riches from the earth was all the proof +Haffgo could ask of the rapacity of the nations which called themselves +civilized. + +Now, while this remarkable ruler could not always make certain that no +white men should enter his dominions, there remained a very good chance +of preventing such intruders from getting away again, carrying the +glowing accounts of what they had discovered. So long as he could +maintain this condition of affairs, so long was he safe; for if he +"absorbed" every foreigner ascending the Xingu, the supply could never +exceed the demand. + +The King conversed with not only the Professor, but with Long and +Ashman in turn. They were as deferential as they knew how to be, but +all the same, their sagacity told them he bore them no good will, and +would have been much better pleased had the Aryks wiped them out before +they ascended the rapids. + +At the conclusion of the interview, which lasted about half an hour, +the King Haffgo informed them they were at liberty to remain two days +in the village, during which they were not to pass outside its +boundaries. At the expiration of the period named, they would be +allowed to descend the Xingu to their homes, under their pledge to tell +no person what they had seen and learned about the Murhapas. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ARIEL THE BEAUTIFUL. + +It will be understood that during the interview described, the three +white men stood near the front entrance to the royal apartment with +their faces turned toward King Haffgo. + +In this position each made good use of his eyes and Fred Ashman's, from +some cause or other, continually wandered to the draped curtains at the +right of the ruler, between which he must pass when entering or leaving +that part of his residence. + +It was while his gaze was used on these curtains that he saw them +gently agitated in a way which left no doubt that some person on the +other side was the cause. + +By and by he discerned part of a dainty hand, and the next minute +became aware that a pair of the most beautifully lustrous eyes on which +he had ever gazed was peering into the apartment. + +"_It is Ariel_," was his instant thought, "and she as listening to the +words that we are speaking." + +The thought had hardly found shape, when one eye, a part of a lovely +face and the top of the head were discerned, as the owner, giving rein +to her curiosity, ventured upon a little further view of the visitors. + +Then, as if conscious of her breach of etiquette, she withdrew, like a +flash, from view altogether. + +But he knew it was only for a brief interval, and sure enough, the eyes +speedily appeared at another portion of the curtains, where the +beauteous princess must have believed she was not observed, for she +looked steadily at the faces of the visitors, with a depth of interest +that it was vain for her to attempt to conceal. + +The heart of Fred Ashman gave a flutter, when he realized that the +midnight orbs were fastened upon _him_, and, evidently studying his +countenance with more interest than those of his companions. + +Feeling a peculiar boldness, because of the strange situation in which +he was placed, he deliberately smiled at the unknown one. + +She could not have vanished more suddenly had she been snatched away by +the hand of some ogre. + +A pang shot through Fred's heart, as he felt that he had driven away +the enchantress by his own forwardness. He reproached himself bitterly +for having overreached himself. + +But while he was lamenting, he once more discovered the eyes, rivalling +the diamonds in the crown of her royal father, slyly viewing him from +the other side of the curtain. This time the fair one took care that +no part of her countenance was visible, and the young man was equally +guarded for the time, not to betray his sweet knowledge of the other's +scrutiny. + +It was at this juncture, that King Haffgo addressed some pointed +questions to Ashman who was forced to withdraw his gaze from the +marvellously attractive sight, and fasten it upon the rugged and +wrinkled countenance of the king of the Murhapas. + +But those eyes were in his field of vision, and, even while speaking to +the potentate, his glance continually wandered to the orbs which +attracted him as the lodestone draws the magnet. + +But alas! the American forgot a fact of the first importance: the eyes +of the father were as observant as those of his only child. He saw the +furtive glances at the curtains, and a slight rustling at his right +hand told him that his beloved Ariel, with the curiosity of her sex, +was playing the eavesdropper. + +The indulgent father would have cared nothing for this, had he not +discovered the extraordinary interest which one of his three callers +manifested in his child. In that moment, the distrust which he felt of +the strange race was turned to violent hatred toward one of its +members, because of his unpardonable insolence in daring to return the +gaze with a smile. + +The king suddenly leaned the javelin in his hand against the chair in +which he was sitting, and partly rose from his seat as if about to +descend from the throne. Instead of doing so, he leaned slightly to +one side, and, with a quick movement, seized one of the curtains and +snatched it aside. + +The act, which was like the flitting of a bird's wing, caused Ariel, +his daughter, to stand forth fully revealed! + +If the white men had been dazzled by the amazing collection of diamonds +on the brow of the king, it may be said that they were now blinded for +the moment by the vision of loveliness which burst upon them, like the +unexpected emergence of the sun from behind a dark cloud. + +Before the princess could rally from her bewilderment, her father +sharply commanded her to advance. She knew that that affectionate +parent could be stern and cruel as well as loving and affectionate, and +with her eyes bent modestly on the floor she stepped forward and stood +beside him. + +Her hair, instead of being auburn like her parent's, was as black as +the raven's wing. It hung in luxuriant wavy masses below her waist, +being gathered by a white clasp of burnished silver at the back of the +neck, without which it would have enveloped all the upper part of her +body in its fleecy veil. + +Her gown of spotless white, composed of native cloth, as fine as satin, +was without any ornament. It was encircled at the waist by a golden +girdle, falling in folds which concealed the rest of the figure, +leaving only one Cinderella-like foot to twinkle from the front, like a +jewel of rare beauty. + +But no eye could fail to see that the slight girlish figure was of +ravishing perfection. The waist was slender, the partly revealed arms +were as delicate as lilies, the tiny hands with their tapering fingers +were like those of a fairy, while the countenance was one of the +fairest that ever sun shone on. + +The contour was such as Rubens delighted to place on canvas, and that +Michael Angelo loved to carve from the snowy marble. The Grecian nose, +the small mouth, the white teeth, unstained like those of her +countrymen and countrywomen, the wealth of hair, the lustrous, soulful +eyes, the sea-shell-like tint of the cheeks, all these fell upon the +startled vision of the explorers with such overpowering suddenness that +for the moment they believed they were dreaming, or that some trick of +magic revealed to them a picture which had no reality. + +"Look upon the white men!" commanded the king speaking in English, and +with a sternness which left disobedience out of the question; "look, I +say, for never will come the opportunity to see them again." + +It was then that Ariel raised her eyes, and turned them toward the +trio, gazing at no one in particular--for she knew her parent was +closely studying her--but seeming to fix them upon some one miles +behind them. + +Grimcke, Long and Ashman again bowed their heads almost to the ground, +and, feeling that the interview was over, began withdrawing. + +Like the vassals leaving the presence of their sovereign, they did so +walking backward, with their faces toward the throne, and making a low +obeisance with each step. + +The king looked steadily at them, without inclining his head or making +the slightest acknowledgment of the salutation. Had not Fred Ashman +been mad with the intoxication of his new, overwhelming passion, he +would have observed that which was noticed by Grimcke and Long: the +King was watching him. + +The young American hardly raised his gaze from the floor, until in his +retreat, he found himself at the entrance, by which all three had come +in to the apartment. His companions had made their final obeisance and +disappeared, while he was left with Ziffak standing near the middle of +the apartment, his pose such that he could glance at his royal relative +or at him without shifting his body. + +It now became Fred's duty to assume the perpendicular, in order to +effect a graceful withdrawal. + +As he came upright once more, he looked straight into the countenance +of the scowling king. Then--he could not help it---his eyes flashed in +the face of the blushing Ariel, who was gazing fixedly at him, and he +smiled and saluted her. + +It was a daring thing to do, with the eyes of the king and the head +chieftain upon him. He never understood how it was that it was done. +The salutation might have been forgiven, but that smile was an offense +like smiting King Haffgo's countenance with the back of the open hand. + +But wonder of wonders! the ruby lips of the radiant beauty parted for +an instant in the faintest possible smile which lit up her countenance +like a burst of sunshine. Ashman noticed not the diamond bracelet and +necklace, which flashed in all their prismatic beauty, but knew only +that she had returned the smile of recognition. For that boon he would +have risked life a thousand times over. + +Both Ziffak and the king were looking at the white man at the moment; +but, as if suspicion had entered the brain of the infuriated monarch, +he quickly shifted his head and glared at his daughter. + +The movement was like the dart of a serpent, but that shadowy smile on +the face of Ariel had passed, as the lightning flash cleaves the +midnight, leaving the darkness deeper than before. + +The king saw it not, and well for his child that so it was; for, much +as he cherished her, he would have smitten her to the earth had he +dreamed that she ventured on such a response to the impudence of the +white man, whose very life was his own only through the sufferance of +King Haffgo. + +Not until Fred Ashman found himself in the air on the outside of the +place did he realize what he had done. He feared that he had committed +a fatal indiscretion, but when he asked, himself whether he would +recall it if he could, his heart said "No." + +The afternoon was drawing to a close, and there was a sensible coolness +in the air. The natives who had remained standing round the front of +the palace, when the explorers first went inside, had grown tired of +waiting and, scattered in different directions. The Murhapa village +wore its usual appearance, so in contrast with what met the eyes of our +friends when they first saw it. + +The Professor and the New Englander were waiting near the door for +Ashman to join them. As he came out, the former shook his head, with a +laugh, as an intimation that the young man in the ardor of his interest +had made a mistake. + +Fred admitted that possibly he had forgotten himself, but added that it +was now too late to recall what had been done, and he was not sure that +he would do so, if the opportunity were given. + +"At any rate," said he, "we are promised safe treatment for a couple of +days, provided we don't stray off or misbehave ourselves. Our visit +can't amount to anything after all, since we must start for home +whenever King Haffgo gives his command." + +"A good deal may take place in two days," said the Professor +significantly. + +"And a good deal _after_ five days," was the more significant remark of +Jared Long. + +It was evident from these declarations that Grimcke and Long had in +mind the same thought; which came to Ashman himself, when the ruler of +the Murhapas made known to his guests that they must take their +departure within such a brief period. + +While no one of the three would have dared to signify dissent, yet they +were not the men to come so many hundred miles, forcing their way +through endless dangers to turn about and retrace their steps at the +command of a savage who looked upon himself as king, simply because he +was able to lord it over a horde of barbarians. + +It was no place to discuss their plans, in front of the "palace," +especially as the natives were beginning to gather around them again, +and among them it was certain was more than one who understood the +English tongue "as she is spoke." + +They were waiting for the coming of Ziffak, who was still within. He +was their chaperon, and without his guidance, they did not dare to move +from the spot. + +"Hark!" suddenly exclaimed the Professor, raising his hand as a signal +for the whispering to cease. + +The sound of voices was heard inside. They recognized the tones of +Ziffak, to which they had become accustomed since the previous night. +Those of King Haffgo were also distinguishable, and there could be no +doubt to whom the low silvery accents heard only occasionally belonged. + +The alarming feature of it all was, that the king was in an +unmistakably angry mood. He not only talked fast but he talked loud, +sure evidence of his excited feelings. It sounded as if Ziffak was +striving to placate him, but his royal brother grew more savage each +moment. + +The words of all were uttered in the Murhapa tongue, so that the +listeners could form no idea of their meaning. Had they been able to +do so, it is safe to say that they would have been in anything but a +comfortable frame of mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE SHADOW OF DANGER. + +A few minutes later, Ziffak came through the door of the king's +residence and greeted the explorers. + +His dusky countenance showed unmistakable traces of emotion, but like a +true warrior, he knew how to govern his feelings. When he spoke, there +was no agitation perceptible in his voice. + +He motioned to his friends to enter the adjoining hut, where Bippo and +Pedros had been left. The Professor showing a natural timidity, he +stepped forward and led the way. + +Immediately, the party found themselves within a structure, which while +no larger than the others, still, in view of the royal prerogatives of +the occupant perhaps, possessed more conveniences. The lower +apartment, or rather floor, was separated into three divisions, the +front being that in which the cooking was done, while serving also for +a sitting and general reception room. + +The mother of Ziffak and King Haffgo was a tall, muscular widow of +threescore and ten, much wrinkled, but strong and active on her feet. +Her countenance was darker if possible than that of the head chieftain, +making it the more wonderful that Haffgo should be the reverse in that +respect of both. + +The royal mother paid little heed to her visitors, probably believing +they were able to take care of themselves without help from her. +Indeed, shortly after the white men entered, she took her departure, +and was not seen again until dark, when she came in to help provide +them with their evening meal. + +Bippo and Pedros finding themselves safe at last were doing what they +could to make up for the sleepless nights and hard labor they had +undergone on their way thither. They were stretched upon some skins in +one corner, sleeping heavily and refreshingly. + +Ziffak sat on the floor with the whites. It was apparent from his +manner that he was on the point of making a communication of +importance, but he seemed to change his mind suddenly, and, for a time, +spoke upon matters of such trivial account that his listeners were +surprised. + +The next astonishing thing which he did was to declare that the stories +he gave to Ashman the night before, when made a prisoner by him were +fables. There was no enchanted lake in the neighborhood, and his +account of the burning mountain was a myth, as were his yarns about the +diamonds obtained from the same mountain. + +The Professor nodded his head, laughed and said he was glad to be told +that; for, while he wished to believe their good friend, when he was in +earnest, he found it hard to swallow those marvellous narratives which +exceeded anything that had ever come to their ears. + +Long and Ashman also expressed great relief at the naïve confession of +the head chieftain. All the same, however, not one of them was +deceived by the fellow's subterfuge. + +They knew that the stories which Ziffak related on the shore of the +Xingu were true. Seized at that time by a burst of confidence, he had +unburdened himself to the young man for whom he formed such deep +admiration. + +Since that time, and especially since his angry interview with his +royal brother, he appreciated the grievous mistake he made and was now +anxious to recall it. He, therefore, declared the accounts to be of +the Munchausen order. His listeners read his purpose and it suited +them to let him think they accepted every word of his remarkable +recantation. + +He impressed upon them that the king was angry because of their coming +to his village. Indeed Ziffak was afraid that he would recall his +permission to allow them to stay the two days, and might compel them to +leave that night. + +This was startling news, and, when Ziffak was pressed, he admitted that +during his absence on the Xingu to meet them, Waggaman and Burkhardt +had returned and secured an audience with His Majesty. This explained +the new phase of matters and was anything but welcome information, but +there was no help for it. + +The Professor asked Ziffak whether he could not bring the two white men +to his home, in order that an interview might be had. If that could be +done, Grimcke was hopeful that a better understanding could be +established, but the head chieftain replied that he had not seen either +of the white men since he returned, nor did he know where to find them. +They occupied a building on the opposite side of the king's home, but +he was told they were not there. No doubt they were purposely keeping +out of the way of the new-comers. + +Suddenly Ashman asked their friend whether there was any objection to +his taking a stroll around the village and whether he was likely to be +molested. Ziffak promptly replied that there could be no earthly +objection to anything of that nature, and springing to his feet, gun in +hand, he bade his friends good-bye, saying he expected to be back with +them at the end of an hour or so. + +It cannot be said that Ashman had any special errand in view, when he +formed this resolution, which was explainable upon the well known laws +governing the human mind. + +He was tired of idleness. The prospect of sitting for hours in the +darkening apartment, talking with Ziffak, who, instead of being willing +to give information, was doing his most to withhold it, was not +inviting, but beyond this, he was restless because he was haunted by +those marvellous eyes, peeping from behind the curtain in the king's +room, and that smile of recognition when the gaze of the two met, +thrilled him with a new and strange emotion. + +It was this feeling which drove him forth. He wanted to escape the +prying scrutiny of his friends, who, he fancied, suspected his secret. +He wanted to walk in the open air and think and revel in the bliss of +his new delight. + +It was growing dark, when he stepped outside of the building. There +was no light visible in any direction, though there would be plenty of +it later on. The natives appeared to be moving aimlessly about, and +one or two near at hand scrutinized him curiously, but they neither +spoke nor made any movement to annoy him. They had not yet forgotten +the lesson given by Ziffak some hours before. + +To escape attention, he walked toward the river, passing down the long +sloping bank, until he reached the open, cleared space which has been +referred to as caused by the overflow of the water. Here the walking +was easy, and, turning his face up stream, he walked slowly as a man +does who is in deep thought. + +A man who is revelling in the first dream of love is not the one to pay +close attention to his surroundings. He is so apt to be rapt in his +own sweet meditations, that he fails in the most ordinary observation. + +Reaching the bottom of the slope, Ashman glanced behind and on his +right. He caught glimpses of several figures moving about like +shadows, but so far as he could judge, none of them was interested in +him. Dismissing them from his mind, he moved on. + +He had walked less than one-third of the length of the village front, +when the form of a man slipped softly down the incline, following in +his footsteps and moving as silently as a Murhapa warrior tracking his +foe through the forest. + +He was dressed similarly to the American, having the same style of +Panama hat, shirt and boots, and he carried a rifle in his hand. Being +of the same race, he ought to have been a friend, but when the bright +moonlight fell upon his face, it showed the countenance of a demon. + +He was Burkhardt, an escaped convict, who had lived for five years +among the Murhapas, and he was seeking the life of Fred Ashman, who, in +his enchanting visions of love, never dreamed of the awful shadow +stealing upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +YOUNG LOVE'S DREAM. + +What in all the world so sweet as young love's dream? It is the old, +old story, and yet it is as new and fresh and blissful to the soul as +it will be to the end of time, or until these natures of ours are +changed by the same Hand that framed them. + +What more bewitching romance could cast its halo about the divine +passion than that which enshrined the affection of Fred Ashman for the +wonderful Ariel, the only child of the grim Haffgo, king of the +Murhapas? + +He had met and chatted and exchanged glances with the beauties of his +own clime, and yet his heart remained unscathed. He reverenced the sex +to which his adored mother and sister belonged, and yet never had he +felt the thrill that stirred his nature to the profoundest depths, when +his eyes met those of the barbarian princess and the two smiled without +either uttering a word. + +"What care I for the gold and the diamonds and the precious stones of +the Matto Grosso?" the ardent lover asked himself; "is not she the +Koh-i-noor of them all?--the one gem whose preciousness is worth more +than all the world?" + +He was willing that the Professor and Jared Long should risk their +lives in searching for the enchanted lake, and the burning mountain +where such priceless wealth existed. Thousands of their kind had done +it before, and countless thousands would follow in their footsteps +through the generations to come. + +But as for _him_, a new mission had broken upon his consciousness; he +had a sacred duty to perform. Somewhere, in this broad world, a human +soul is always waiting for its mate. Perchance it never comes, and the +weary one may be joined to that which heaven never intended it to be +joined, or it repines and goes to the grave unloved. + +Fred Ashman was as sure as if he heard a voice from the stars, telling +him that Ariel, the daughter of Haffgo, was his other self. He could +never rest, he could not really live until it should be his lot to +carry her from this lonely wilderness to his own home thousands of +miles away. + +To the young lover, aglow and happy in his new passion, all things are +possible. It is he who can appreciate even the days of chivalry, when +the valiant knight went forth, with lance and buckler to win his lady +against all comers, counting it his highest happiness to face the +perils of flood and field if perchance he could but win her smile. + +And yet, amid all the roseate dreams which fairly lifted Fred Ashman +from the gross earth, he could not entirely lose sight of his peculiar +situation and the formidable difficulties which environed his path. He +would not admit they were insurmountable, but they were hard to climb. + +To come down to facts, he felt that the first, and, indeed, the +indispensable step was to secure a meeting with the princess that had +taken such complete possession of his heart. + +Guarded as she was by her father, who was sure to resent with instant +death any such presumption on his part, he might well shrink from the +appalling attempt; but love has many ways of picking the locks that may +be fastened to keep hearts apart. + +"Ziffak!" + +That was the name which came to his tongue again and again, with the +question whether his friendship could not be enlisted on the side of +the youth, who had come so strangely to the Murhapa village. He was a +shrewd fellow who must suspect the truth of those stolen glances. He +had shown a sudden and strong affection for the explorers, and +especially for Ashman to whom he surrendered. Was what friendship +strong enough to lead him to a step that would insure a rupture with +his royal brother and probably bring about war in his little kingdom? + +"I wonder what revelation he was on the point of making when he sat +down with us in his mother's home," Ashman muttered, as he slowly +walked along the bank of the Upper Xingu, unmindful of the creeping +shadow behind him. + +That it bore upon that interview and related to the angry quarrel he +did not doubt, but he could only conjecture its nature which was not +encouraging when he recalled that Ziffak had told him and his friends, +without protest on his part, that they were likely to be compelled to +leave the village that night. + +Ashman ceased in his walk, for he saw, in spite of his absorbing +reverie, that he had passed above the uppermost house of the village. +The condition under which he was allowed to stay in peace, even for a +brief time, was that he should not wander beyond the limits of the town. + +It was useless to excite resentment without reason, and he was about to +turn and retrace his steps, when a slight rustling of the undergrowth, +which marked the boundary of the forest on the south caused him to turn +his head, stop, and hold his rifle ready for danger. + +His old habit of caution came back the instant peril seemed to threaten. + +While he debated whether to advance and force the stranger to reveal +himself, the outlines of a form were distinguished and a slight figure +stepped forth in the moonlight. + +Ashman's heart seemed to stop beating and life itself hang in suspense, +when he recognized the very being that had taken such full possession +of his thoughts. + +Ay, Ariel, daughter of King Haffgo, stood before him. + +For a moment, neither spoke or moved. It was not strange perhaps that +she was the first to recover the power of utterance. + +Advancing timidly, she said in a tremulous voice and with an accent +just broken enough to make it all the sweeter: + +"You are in danger and I could not help coming to tell you." + +"Heaven bless you!" he exclaimed, taking a step toward her, but still +observing a respectful distance. "You have braved danger yourself to +give me the warning." + +"I left my home and waited for a chance to speak to you; I dared not go +to the door of Ziffak's house for I would have been seen. Then, while +I was wondering what to do, I saw you come forth and walk toward the +river. I thought you would go to the end of the village, so I hurried +on and hid among the bushes until I could speak to you without any one +seeing me." + +Ashman's head was in a swirl. He was trembling in every limb, while +she seemed to be devoid of any agitation whatever. + +"Your father King Haffgo was angry this afternoon, because I looked at +you; but," added the lover, "I could not have helped doing it, if I +knew my life would have paid for the act. Ziffak told me about you, so +you see I did not feel that you were a stranger, even though I then saw +you for the first time and never heard the music of your voice until +now." + +"The king is angry," said she, withdrawing a little as the happy fellow +took another step; "he says you shall be killed, but Ziffak persuaded +him to say your life should be spared if you went away to-night." + +Ashman felt another delicious thrill as he reflected that if such were +the understanding, there would seem to be no cause for the lovely Ariel +to come thus far out of her way to repeat what Ziffak was sure to +explain before the departure of the explorers. + +Ah, it must have been because of her interest in him that she had +sought this perilous stolen interview. + +"Well, then," said he mournfully, "I must depart and never see you +again. Death would be preferable to _that_!" + +"But you may come back some time," said she in such a tremulous, +hesitating voice, that he impulsively sprang forward and caught her +dainty hand before she could escape him. + +"O don't!" she plead like a timid bird, striving to withdraw the +imprisoned fingers which he still held fast. + +"Nay, but you must, if I am never to see you again," he exclaimed +vehemently; "O, Ariel, I had hoped that I might stay here until I could +see and talk with you and tell you that I can never, never leave you; +that if I go, you must go with me; I will take you to my home which is +many many long miles away, but I will be your slave; I will love you; I +will make you happy; you shall never sigh for the land and the people +you leave behind you----" + +There is no saying when the impetuous lover would have stopped his +wooing in this cyclone-like fashion hut for an alarming interruption. +He had been smitten profoundly, and the urgency of the case impelled +him to an ardor which could not have found expression under any other +conditions; but, all the time the frightened maiden was striving to +free her imprisoned hand, and the lover felt he ought to release it but +could not. + +Suddenly she ceased her efforts and looked beyond him with a gasp and +such a startled expression, that he knew some unusual cause had +produced it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ZIFFAK'S BLOW. + +Ziffak, head chieftain of the Murhapas, was a shrewder and more +far-seeing man than even his white friends suspected. + +He had been the first to observe the significant glances of Fred Ashman +at the hanging curtains, as he was the first to detect the presence of +his beloved niece behind them. + +Although King Haffgo saw not the smile which flitted over the face of +his daughter, when her eyes met those of the young American, yet Ziffak +observed it, and he could not have translated it wrongly had he wished +to do so. + +An intimation has been given of the nature of the quarrel between +Ziffak and his royal brother. The latter was so infuriated that he +declared that every one of the white men should die. Ziffak reminded +him of his pledge that they should be safe for two days, a pledge that +he had repeated in their presence. + +But in his hot anger, Ziffak said, he would break that pledge. One of +the explorers had dared to look upon the face of Ariel and smile. Had +he detected her returning it, he would have driven his javelin through +her body as she stood beside him. + +Ziffak gave no hint of what he had observed. + +The head chieftain was not afraid to brave his brother to his face; but +he wisely forbore carrying the quarrel beyond the point of +reconciliation. He told his brother that he was so beside himself that +he forgot he was a Murhapa who never broke his word. But if the king +insisted, he would see that the white men took their departure before +the rising of the morrow's sun. + +King Haffgo consented that if that was done, he would permit them to go +in peace. It was Ziffak's hope that his brother, after his anger had +time to cool, would modify his last declaration still further and allow +them to stay their two days, that led him to qualify his remark about +the necessity of their withdrawing that night. + +The same cunning which stood the head chieftain so well during this +stormy interview remained with him to the end. While he and his +brother were wrangling, Ariel stood mute and with bowed head. She +durst not speak, but withdrew only a minute or two before her parent. + +Ziffak was still warmly attached to Ashman, and was willing to risk his +life in his behalf. Knowing that Waggaman and Burkhardt had had much +to do with stirring the resentment of the king, he was angry enough to +slay both of them. + +When the most peculiar situation is considered, however, it is hardly +safe to believe the head chieftain was ready to go to the length of +helping to bring about a meeting between the lovers. + +He understood his niece well enough to know that despite the fury of +her parent, she would brave a good deal to exchange words with the +handsome stranger that had made such an impression on his heart. + +So long as this young man remained in Ziffak's house, so long was it +impossible for such meeting to take place; but, when Ashman sprang up +and announced his intention of taking a stroll, Ziffak believed that it +was with the intention of trying to see Ariel. That is to say, he +suspected what really came to pass, though it was not in the mind of +the youth. + +Ashman had not been gone long, when Ziffak made an excuse to withdraw, +saying he meant to find out, if he could, where Waggaman and Burkhardt +were hiding. He counselled the Professor and the New Englander to stay +where they were until his return, which he promised should not be long +deferred. + +Neither Grimcke nor Long dreamt of the object of their dusky friend in +leaving, and as the mother of the Murhapa reappeared about that time +and started a fire, with a view of preparing their evening meal, they +concluded that the best thing for them was to follow the advice of the +brave fellow. + +The instant Ziffak was on the outside of his own house, he became as +alert as a cat scenting a mouse. He held his ponderous javelin with +its poisoned tip in his right hand, and he looked keenly about in the +gathering gloom. + +A warrior stopped in front of him and made a respectful inquiry about +the white men. Ziffak uttered such an angry reply and raised his +weapon so menacingly that the native skurried away in terror of his +life. + +All at once the keen black eyes caught sight of a small, petite figure +as it vanished in the darkness. He smiled, for he recognized Ariel on +her way to the upper end of the village. He knew on the instant what +_that_ meant. + +Then the penetrating gaze outlined the figure of a man, sneaking like a +wild animal, down the river bank. He was seen only faintly, but he was +equally sure of _his_ identity. It was Burkhardt, one of the hated +white men that had poisoned the mind of his brother and caused him to +forget he was a Murhapa, whose word should be sacred. + +An exultant gleam came into the dusky face, as he stole forward in the +same direction that the convict took. The action of the miscreant +showed that he was following some prey, and who was it as likely to be +as the white man that was abroad and was held in such detestation by +the scoundrel? + +Burkhardt, in one respect, acted precisely as did his intended victim. +The latter was so absorbed in his own delicious thoughts, that, after +that hurried glance around him, he did not once again look to the rear. +So Burkhardt, never once dreaming that he was under surveillance, kept +his gloating eyes fixed on the shadowy figure in front, without looking +to see that while the man was hunting the tiger another tiger was not +hunting him. + +Being a slight distance to the rear of the convict, Ziffak could not +see the form in front of him with equal distinctness, but the faint +glimpse which he caught was all he needed. + +Thus the strange procession passed up the western bank of the calmly +flowing Xingu. Fred Ashman moving slowly and lost in reverie, +Burkhardt prowling like a wild beast behind him, with Ziffak clinging +to the heels of the wretch as if he were his very shadow. + +The moon, which gave but faint light at the beginning, increased in +power as the minutes passed. Ziffak fell back, so that if Burkhardt +should look around, he would not recognize though he might see him. + +But the ruffian did not turn his head: he was too intent on the fearful +task before him. + +Suddenly he stopped. Instantly Ziffak crouched down into the smallest +possible space and clutched his javelin. The increasing moonlight +showed that he had passed beyond the upper end of the village and was +watching the lovers on the fringe of the forest beyond. + +A movement on the part of Burkhardt, as if he were making preparation +to fire his rifle, caused Ziffak to move swiftly and silently forward +until he was within twenty paces. Then he paused, for he was close +enough. + +The change of position on the part of the pursuer enabled him to catch +the outlines of the lovers, so absorbed in each other's presence that +they forgot to keep within the sheltering shadow of the trees. + +Burkhardt could ask for no better opportunity than that which was now +before him. He knew the inextinguishable hatred of King Haffgo for +this white man, and no greater favor could be done the ruler than to +slay him. + +Sinking on one knee, he carefully brought his gun to a level. The +gleam of the moonlight on the barrel insured unerring aim. + +But a moment before it was perfected, Ashman stepped forward and seized +the hand of his adored one. This caused such a change of the relative +situation of the two that the weapon could not be fired without +endangering the life of the maiden. + +That would never do, and waiting a moment in the hope that another +charge would take place, Burkhardt began stealthily moving to the right +to secure the advantage. A few steps up the slope were all that was +required, when he again knelt on one knee and pointed his rifle at the +unsuspicious American. + +It was but an instant before that Ariel caught sight of the crouching +figure and was transfixed with terror. The moonlight enabled her to +identify the person, who was aiming his gun either at her or her +companion. + +Before she could speak, and at the moment Ashman turned his head, a +giant figure was seen to rise as if out of the very earth, directly +behind the miscreant. He held his prodigious javelin poised over his +bead. He was seen to make a sudden onward movement and then the weapon +vanished. + +Speeding toward the couple with such amazing velocity it was invisible; +but, ere the crouching convict could press the trigger of his rifle, he +was seen to sprawl forward, his gun flying from his grasp. The +terrible javelin had gone entirely through his body as though it were +tissue paper, and pinned him like an impaled insect to the earth! + +"The scoundrel!" exclaimed Ashman, who was just too late to anticipate +their friend. + +"It is Ziffak who has saved us!" gasped Ariel, shrinking against the +side of her lover. + +The herculean chieftain towered aloft in more imposing proportions than +ever as he strode toward the startled couple. Whether he was advancing +to regain his weapon, or whether he meant to join them could not be +known; for, before he reached the body of the assassin, he abruptly +stopped and looked in the direction of the village. + +He had caught an ominous sound: it was that made by the discharge of +firearms! + +"Great heaven!" exclaimed Ashman; "they have attacked my friends in +Ziffak's house; I must go to their help; dearest Ariel, what will +become of you?" added the distracted lover. + +"Leave me alone," she replied, becoming calm again; "I can return home." + +"Well, then, good-bye! It may be for the last time," he impulsively +added, catching her, his one arm clasped about her yielding form and +drawing her to him. Then, while she only faintly resisted, he kissed +her passionately, as a lover kisses the queen of his heart when he +believes he is bidding her farewell forever. + +Suddenly, Ashman felt both of the willowy arms about his own neck, and +she returned his caresses with a fervor equal to his own. + +"Heaven bless and keep you!" he murmured; "I now have everything to +live for! I shall fight hard, for it is not the life of my friends or +my own that it is at stake! It is _you_! It is YOU!" + +The startled Ziffak had paused but an instant, when he read aright the +meaning of the sounds of guns from the village. The explorers had been +attacked by the Murhapas. King Haffgo must have given the order. He +had violated his pledge for the first time in his life. Great was his +provocation! + +The bosom of the giant heaved with indignation. He stood glaring like +a lion at the keepers who are torturing his mate to death, while he is +barred within the cage and cannot rush to her help. + +Then, wheeling about, he broke into a run straight for his home, whence +came the shots that left no doubt that Professor Grimcke, Jared Long, +and perchance their servants were fighting for their lives. + +The chieftain had not far to go, and half the distance was passed, when +he paused as suddenly as he had started. A new and startling decision +had formed itself in his mind. + +Again he wheeled and dashed toward the spot where he had left the +lovers a minute before. + +They saw him coming, and Ashman released his beloved and started to +join the chieftain, who he suspected had come for him. + +"Back!" he commanded, waving his immense arms; "neither of you must go +to the village!" + +"But what shall we do?" asked Ariel, pausing in front of the excited +giant. + +"Flee at once! Delay not a moment! If you do not, Haffgo will slay +both of you! They are searching for Ariel! They suspect she is with +you! They will soon know it and death awaits each!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE FLIGHT. + +Never had Ziffak shown such fearful excitement. He swung his arms, and +in his wild agitation uttered some of his words in Murhapa, but his +meaning was caught by Ashman, who was infected by his overwhelming +emotion. He was distraught for the moment, and stood undecided what to +do. + +It was the lovely Ariel who showed the most self-command. + +"Whither shall we go, Ziffak?" she asked in English. + +"To the enchanted lake; to the burning mountain! You know the way! +Nothing else will save you, and you are lost if you wait another +minute!" + +And laying hands on the young man, he whirled him about and gave him a +shove which nearly threw him off his feet. Then he reached to catch +her, but she eluded him and slipped like a bird to the side of her +lover. + +"We will go!" said she; "leave us alone!" + +Ashman turned his head and seizing the hand of his companion, said, + +"You are my guide now! Lead on, and I will follow you to the death!" + +She made no answer, but moved rapidly through the wood until they came +to the open space along the river. Here, since there were no +obstructions, they increased their pace almost to a run. He sought to +maintain his place beside her, but she moved so fast, with little +apparent effort that it was hard to do so. + +He had his Winchester and revolver, and he glanced behind to learn +whether they were followed. Ziffak had vanished, and no one was in +sight. It was well that such was the fact; for he would not have +hesitated to shoot down any that might appear. + +The extraordinary flight continued for a furlong, and then Ariel paused +on the edge of the Xingu. Her lover saw the reason: a small canoe lay +against the shore. + +"Is this to be used?" he asked, glancing in her pale face. + +She nodded her head, and, lifting her skirts, stepped daintily within, +and sat down near the stern. He shoved the boat clear, sprang in and +sat down near the middle, as he seized the broad thin paddle. + +Although considerably above the rapids, which had been the cause of all +his difficulty, Ashman noticed that the current was not so swift as +that encountered at many places leagues below; and, since the width was +no greater, it followed that that portion of the Upper Xingu was of +unusual depth. + +In the strange excitement of the occasion, the lovers spoke few words. +They had said much, and, when the opportunity should again come, they +would say a great deal more; but they were fleeing for their lives, and +any distraction of their whole interest and effort was likely to be +fatal. + +Ariel realized this as fully as did Ashman. She continually glanced in +every direction, especially toward the village which was fast receding +behind them. Fred swung the paddle powerfully, but with as little +noise as possible. + +In such crises of a man's life he thinks rapidly. While the young +man's heart was aglow with the ecstacy of a promised fulfillment of his +love--a more glorious fulfillment than he had dared to dream of--he saw +that a desperate struggle was not only certain but close at hand. + +Very soon the flight of Ariel must be discovered, and her infuriated +father would stop at nothing to punish the elopers. He could command +hundreds of the most valiant warriors of the Matto Grosso, and any one, +except such a lover as Fred Ashman, would have shrunk from the +prodigious task before him. + +When the flight of the canoe had continued for several minutes, and he +could breathe a little more freely, he asked of his companion, whether +she was familiar with the region they expected to visit. + +The reply was singular. King Haffgo was accustomed to make regular +excursions to the wonderful place, and he rarely did so without Ariel +as his companion. He had guards stationed night and day to watch for +the approach of strangers, for there was wealth enough to awaken the +avarice even of the Emperor of Brazil himself. + +Leaving his warriors at the entrance to the lake, with instructions to +prevent any one following him, Haffgo would paddle the frail craft out +upon the lake, with his daughter as his only companion. + +They explored much of the strange locality, visiting places unknown, so +far as they were aware, to every one else. + +Ashman reflected that this was extremely fortunate so far as Ariel was +concerned, for it gave her the very knowledge that was so necessary in +their flight; but, unfortunately, their bitterest and most unrelenting +enemy possessed the same knowledge. + +Now the Xingu broadened, and the flow became still more moderate. +Ashman held his paddle suspended and looked around. + +"Are we entering the lake?" + +"Not yet," she replied with a shake of her lovely head. + +The oar was dipped again, and the light boat shot forward like a water +fowl over the smooth surface. + +He had noticed that the boat was similar to that used by Ziffak, being +composed of a species of bark, the seams of which were skilfully joined +with tendons, and the outside covered with a gum which rendered it +close enough to exclude even air itself. + +What seemed to be a creek a hundred feet wide, suddenly opened on the +right, winding through an exuberant forest whose branches overhung the +water. She motioned with her hand for him to guide the boat into this, +adding that it was the entrance to the enchanted lake of which he had +heard such glowing accounts, and whose existence, he remembered, had +been denied by Ziffak, though it had been admitted by him only a brief +while before. + +The course of the canoe was changed, and Ashman involuntarily slackened +the pace, while he gazed around with increasing wonder. + +The distance was not far, when a towering rock was observed jutting out +from the bank. It was fully twenty feet high, rough, jagged and +massive and obtruded half-way across the stream. + +She whispered to him to proceed as cautiously as he could, for on the +rock was stationed one of the lookouts of King Haffgo, whose duty it +was to challenge every one on his way to the enchanted lake. Ashman +was told to keep his lips mute, in case they were hailed, as they were +likely to be, and to leave to her any explanation it might be necessary +to make. + +In the bright moonlight, the sentinel was sure to notice the presence +of a white man in the boat, but would be likely to believe he was +either Waggaman or Burkhardt, while he would not dare to question the +daughter of the king, however much he might be astonished at her +presence at this time. + +Ashman saw the figure of a Murhapa, but instead of being erect, he was +seated on a ledge of the rock, his body half prone and in a motionless +posture. The paddle was dipped more softly than ever as the craft came +opposite him, but he did not speak, or stir. + +"He's asleep?" whispered Ashman, looking inquiringly at her. + +She nodded her head, and he did not require to be told of the great +gain that would be secured, if they could pass without awaking him. + +With that view, he used the utmost care, causing only the faintest +ripple, as he propelled the light craft over the mirror-like surface. + +In a few seconds, the massive rock was passed, and still the sentinel +remained as motionless, as if he were a part of the solid stone, on +which he was seated. He surely was a negligent servant to lose his +consciousness thus early in the night. + +A few more strokes, and a turn in the creek left him out of sight. +_That_ danger was safely passed, and Fred Ashman drew a sigh of relief, +accepting it as a good omen of their future. + +He now dipped the paddle deeper, and, within the following five +minutes, the canoe and its occupants debouched upon the waters of the +wonderful enchanted lake. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +SHUT IN. + +The situation in which the visitors to the dominions of King Haffgo +were placed, was such as to sharpen their wits to the keenest edge. + +After the departure of Fred Ashman, Ziffak talked more plainly with the +Professor and New Englander. The head chieftain told his white friends +what they had suspected; Haffgo was enraged at Ashman's presumption +with his daughter. He was in that mood indeed, in which, but for his +promise, he would have hurled his javelin at the youth before he left +the audience chamber. + +Ziffak, however, was hopeful that the anger of his royal brother would +cool sufficiently to allow the visitors to remain there two days; but +he doubted whether, after all, they would want to stay that long under +the strained condition of things. + +When the chieftain took his departure, it was without any hint that he +wished to have an eye to the young gentleman, but Grimcke and Long +suspected it, and their conversation became of the gravest character, +for they fully realized their peril. + +They regretted the mad infatuation of their young friend with Ariel the +princess, and yet they did not blame him, for, as the New Englander +remarked, could they have believed there was any hope for them, they +would have fallen as irrestrainably in love as he. + +But they did not, and, therefore, were in a frame of mind to consider +the situation more coolly than the hot-headed lover. + +Both agreed that the stroll taken by Ashman was likely to bring about +trouble, but they were powerless to do anything. Ziffak was the only +individual who could manage matters in such an emergency. + +It will be remembered that night had fully come at the time of the +chieftain's departure. The interior of the room would have been +wrapped in gloom, had not the mother of Ziffak made her appearance and +started a fire on the hearth at the further end of the apartment. + +The white men watched her closely to see how the Murhapas were +accustomed to secure ignition. But they were disappointed. She raked +aside the ashes until some embers were disclosed beneath, which were +readily fanned into a flame. This caused the apartment to shine with a +light like that at mid-day. + +She had brought in an earthen vessel of water and began broiling +several thin slices of meat on the coals. They were quickly finished, +and she then handed to each of her guests the prepared meat on an +earthen plate. All ate heartily, using their fingers for knives and +forks, while the cool water could not have been more refreshing. + +Bippo and Pedros had been sleeping and resting so long that they +desired to get out doors. Since they were not likely to be recognized +in the night, if they used caution, Grimcke and Long told them to go, +but to take care they did not lose themselves. + +They had hardly departed when their hostess also left, passing out by +the rear way. She did not speak, but as she was disappearing, gave the +two men such a strange look that their suspicions were awakened. Both +at that moment were reflecting upon the ominous news brought them by +Ziffak. + +By a common impulse, both hastened to the rear to learn all they could +about the building in which they might be compelled to fight for their +lives. + +The result was rather pleasing. The structure was heavier and more +compact than the ordinary buildings, and, in addition to the usual +opening in front, had one at the rear, through which the woman +undoubtedly passed on her way to her royal son. + +Neither of these openings were provided with anything in the nature of +a door that could be closed. Whenever the rare occasions arose for +such a sealing of the inhabitants of a house, it was done by means of +furs suspended in front of the entrance. + +The white men noted this with quick eyes, and then went back to the +front apartment. + +"In the event of attack," said the Professor with the utmost coolness, +"you can take the rear door and I the front." + +Long nodded his head; he understood and was ready. + +They had hardly entered the front apartment, when both were struck by +the unusual chatter of voices on the outside. There must have been a +large gathering of people who were growing excited about something. + +The Professor was about to step into the opening to learn what it +meant, when Bippo burst into the apartment, the picture of fright and +terror. + +"Going to kill us!" was his alarming exclamation; "make me run--almost +kill me!" + +"Where's Pedros?" asked Long. + +"He scared--run into woods--won't come back--run all way to Am'zon!" + +"I think he'll have to stop once or twice to get breath before he +reaches there," was the characteristic comment of the Professor, who +standing near the door, listened more closely to the threatening words +and exclamations on the outside. + +It sounded singular to recognize more than one expression uttered in +English by these people, who, until a few years before were unaware +that such people were living. + +But for the proof Ziffak had given of his loyalty the whites might have +connected his absence with the ugly signs outside; but the confidence +even of Jared Long in his friendship was unshaken. + +"Bippo," said the Professor, speaking with the same quiet +self-possession he had shown in the first place, "they are going to +attack us; more than likely we shall be killed, but there is a chance +for you, because you are dressed like these people, and, so long as you +can keep in the shadow, you can pass for one of them; you can slip out +by the opening at the rear without being noticed; steal away, find +Pedros if you can, and leave." + +The eyes of the servant seemed to protrude from his head, as he grasped +the fearful meaning of these words. Then, clutching his spear in his +hand, he whisked like a shadow into the rear apartment beyond sight. + +Grimcke and Long smiled in each other's face; they could not blame the +fellow for thinking of his own safety. + +"The music will begin in a few minutes," added the Professor. "I think +you had better guard the rear; you understand, Jared, that it's no time +to throw away any powder." + +"I don't propose to waste my ammunition," muttered the New Englander, +as he stepped softly into the rear apartment. + +Only a slight reflection from the fire on the hearth found its way into +that part of the house, which had no window; but by the dim light Jared +Long saw a dusky figure come rapidly from the door toward him. He was +on the point of raising his gun, when it spoke: + +"It's me--Bippo." + +"I thought you had left. Why didn't you go?" + +"Love my white folks--can't leave 'em, stay die wid 'em." + +This sounded very fine, but the New Englander was incredulous. He +believed that their servant was more afraid to leave than to stay. He +had probably taken a look outside and decided that he was safer under +the shelter of those three Winchesters (for the weapon of poor Aaron +Johnston was still in the possession of his friends). + +Long was inclined to ask him to take charge of the extra rifle, and use +it in helping to defend themselves; but, recalling the antipathy of the +fellow against handling firearms, he decided that he would only throw +away his cartridges. + +He, therefore, cautioned him to keep out of the reach of any of the +missiles that were likely to come flying into the apartment, and urged +him, in case he saw any opening, to dart out among the people and do +his best to escape. + +Professor Grimcke firmly believed that the impending fight would be to +the death, and that the only issue would be the slaying of himself and +companion. It was the same danger they had faced many times, with the +difference that this was to be the last. + +He surveyed his surroundings, like a general making ready to receive +the assault of a foe, and die fighting in the last ditch. + +There was the door in front and the two windows, through which the +attack could be made. He could cover all three with his repeating +rifle, and, when the last struggle came, appeal to his revolver and +knife. He smiled, grimly at the reflection, that he had every ground +for believing, that the victory of the Murhapas would prove the most +costly they had ever won. Jared Long was his equal in markmanship and +coolness, and, as he coolly remarked, there would be no ammunition +wasted, by either. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +BESIEGERS AND BESIEGED. + +Suddenly a bushy bead, with a black face, horribly distorted by +passion, appeared at the window furthest from where Professor Grimcke +was standing. + +The right hand was raised and in the act of poising a javelin to hurl +at the white man; but the latter, with an incredibly quick movement, +brought his Winchester to a level and fired. + +The bronze skull was shattered as though it were a rotten apple, and +the Murhapa, with a resounding shriek, went backward in the darkness. + +A slight rustling at the other window drew the white man's attention +thither, and, without lowering his weapon, he let fly at a group who +were simply peering within, evidently believing there was no call to +use their javelins. + +Another screech told that the bullet had found its mark, and the other +faces vanished. + +Then Grimcke stepped out from the wall to gain a view of the opening +which answered for a door. A rustling there told him a crowd were +gathering, but they had taken warning just in time to avoid a third +shot. Then he slipped a couple more cartridges from his belt into the +magazine, so as to keep it full, and awaited the next step in this +extraordinary business. + +"I've about a hundred left," he reflected, "and that's enough to keep +things on a jump, if I can dodge their javelins." + +Meanwhile, Jared Long was not idle. He had but the opening at the rear +to watch, and he did the duty well. Almost at the moment that his +comrade fired his first shot, he descried the figure of a Murhapa +trying to steal into the apartment without detection; but just enough +of the moonlight that was shut from the front doors and windows, +reached the rear of the building, to disclose the outlines of the head +and shoulders, as he began stealthily creeping into the building. + +Bippo had discovered the peril at the same moment, and clutched the arm +of his master with a nervous intensity of terror. Long impatiently +shook him off, and, with the same cool quickness of Professor Grimcke, +drove a bullet through the head of the dusky miscreant, who was slain +so suddenly that he rolled convulsively backward, without any outcry. + +Almost at the same instant, a second native emitted a wild shout. He +was directly behind the first and the latter lurched against him, +causing such fright that he leaped back several feet with the +involuntary cry fully understood by all whose ears it reached. + +Long stood as rigid as a statue for several minutes, waiting for +another chance, but none presented. Then he reflected that his +position was much more favorable than Grimcke's, for not only had he +but the single opening to guard, but his apartment was so shrouded in +gloom that the sharpest-eyed warrior could not locate him from the +outside. + +The New Englander stepped to the door communicating with the front +apartment and, barely showing himself, spoke: + +"I can attend to the window on the right, Professor; leave that to me, +while you watch the door and the other one." + +"Thanks," returned his friend; "I think there is a little too much +light in this part of the house." + +Moving quickly to the hearth he heaped the ashes with his foot upon the +blazing embers, until they were so smothered that only a few tiny +twists of flame struggled through the covering. This left the place in +such darkness that a sense of security instantly came to him. + +"Good!" called the New Englander, who could no longer be discerned; +"that makes matters more nearly equal!" + +Although, as we have said, the moonlight was substantially shut off +from the front of the heavy structure, yet the moon itself, being full, +so illumined the surroundings that it was quite easy to distinguish the +head and figure of any one of their enemies the instant he presented +himself at one of the openings. + +What both the defenders feared was, that the savages would make a +sudden rush and force themselves within the cabin in spite of the +disastrous reception they were sure to be given. Such an essay was +certain to result in the overthrow of the whites, but the Murhapas must +have realized the cost it would be to them. Brave as they were, they +hesitated to incur the consequences until other means had failed. + +Professor Ernest Grimcke now did a most daring thing. The fierce +welcome he had given the attacking Murhapas resulted in their temporary +demoralization. Knowing they would speedily recover, he decided to +take advantage of the panic by an attempt to intensify it. + +Striding to the door he paused on the very threshold and peered out +upon the large space in his field of vision. + +Fully a hundred savages were in sight. Apparently they had been +crowding around the entrance when the shots from within caused a hasty +scattering. They had halted a dozen yards or so away, where they were +talking excitedly, still frightened and enraged, and with no thought of +relinquishing the fight. + +They had withdrawn so far from the front of the building that they were +in the strong moonlight, and consequently in full view of the white +man, who saw others of the natives hurrying from the right and left. +Among them were women and children and the confusion and excitement +were fearful. + +Standing thus, Grimcke again raised his repeater and deliberately +opened fire on the crowd. It seemed cruel, but it was an act of +self-defence, for those people were clamoring for the lives of the two +men within, and would not be satisfied until they were at their mercy. + +It was a strange scene that followed. The interior of the building +being dark, while the moonlight failed to touch the front, the figure +of the white man was invisible to the dusky wretches howling on the +outside. + +All at once, from the black opening of the building, came the crash of +the repeating Winchester. Spouts of fire shot out into the gloom in +terrific succession, as if fiery serpents were darting their heads in +different directions; for the marksman aimed, quickly to the right, to +the left and to the front, never pausing until he had discharged half a +score of shots. + +The panic for a minute or two was indescribable. Men, women and +children shrieked and scattered for the nearest available shelter. +Behind the buildings and down the river bank they dashed, stumbled and +rolled, until, but for the tragic nature of the scene, the white man +would have smiled. + +But he had done enough, and he stepped back within the room to +replenish the magazine of his rifle. + +Jared Long had been drawn into the room by the furious fusillade, and +now put the startling question whether advantage could not be taken of +the panic to make a sudden dash for the woods. It would never do to +make for the boat still resting against the shore, for it would be +filled with poisoned javelins before they could shove out into the +Xingu. + +"I believe we can," replied the Professor; "it will take them some +minutes to get over their panic and that will be enough for us." + +"Let us leave by the rear," said Long, "for I don't think that is so +well guarded." + +The two turned to attempt the dash for freedom, when a cry from Bippo +struck them. + +"Stay here," exclaimed the New Englander, fearing that a diversion was +on foot; "and I'll attend to him!" + +He was back in the apartment in an instant. The light on the hearth +having been extinguished, the gloom in this portion of the building was +impenetrable, but a fearful struggle of some kind was going on. Some +animal or person had got within and grappled Bippo who was fighting +like a tiger. + +Had the New Englander been able to distinguish the combatants, he would +have ended the contest in a twinkling, but though the two rolled +against his feet, he dared not fire through fear of hurting his friend. + +"Are you under or on top?" he asked, bending downward at the moment he +knew from the peculiar sounds the foes had become stationary. + +"_He on top_," was the doleful response. + +Long extended his right hand to learn precisely how matters stood, or +rather lay, when it came in contact with the arm of a Murhapa in the +act of raising it aloft to bury his knife in the body of the helpless +Bippo, who was at the mercy of the savage, holding him inextricably in +his grasp. + +The American secured a firm hold of the forearm, and with a powerful +wrench, not only jerked the miscreant free, but flung him from one side +of the room clean to the door, where he was visible in the faint light +beyond. + +Evidently concluding that his mission in that place was over, he nimbly +came to his feet and shot like a rocket through the opening. + +The New Englander was in no mood for sentimentality, and, he levelled +his weapon with the intention to kill; but quick as he was, he was just +a fraction of a minute too late, and, much to his chagrin, the dusky +wretch got away unharmed. + +Long darted into the front room, ready for the proposal he had made +just before. + +The Professor was peering out, seemingly debating whether it was not +advisable to re-open his bombardment. + +"It beats creation," he remarked, as his friend appeared at his elbow, +"how quickly those fellows rally; their heads are popping up in every +direction, and it won't do to try to steal out this way." + +"But I suggested the rear," reminded Long. + +"Let's see how matters look there." + +The survey from the other opening was disappointing. Although all the +Murhapas had been affected in a greater or less degree by the panic, +yet it was more incomplete at the rear, because the confusing volley +had not come from that direction. + +There seemed to be fully as many warriors on this side, which, with the +exception of the river, was quite similar in appearance to the other. +The shadowy figures were observed moving noiselessly in a dozen +different directions, their heads bent down and their bodies crouching, +as if in expectation of a shot, but, at the same time, they were not to +be frightened off by any fusilade from within. + +"We're just too late," remarked the Professor, quick to take in every +point of the situation; "we might have done it a minute ago, but they +are watching too closely now." + +"Let's open again," suggested the New Englander. + +"Better wait awhile; they can be stampeded easier then than now," was +the reply of the Professor. + +During this lull, when it may be said the defenders were becoming +accustomed to the siege, they had time to give a few minutes' thought +to their absent friends, Fred Ashman and Ziffak, regarding whom it was +natural to feel great curiosity. + +They believed themselves warranted in hoping for the best, so far as +Ashman was concerned. He had probably strolled some distance, and must +have been warned by the firing of the Professor's Winchester from the +front, of the serious danger in which his friends were involved. If +all had gone well with the youth up to that time, he ought to be wise +enough to get away without an instant's delay. What was feared was, +that in his anxiety to help his comrades, he would run into a peril +from which he could not extricate himself. + +The real hope for the youth was centered on Ziffak. Believing he had +gone forth to look after Ashman, they were confident he would speedily +get upon his track. If so, he would not permit him to return to the +village. + +From what the reader has been told, it will be seen that the defenders +were not far off in their conjectures. + +But, when they came to speculate upon the part that the head chieftain +was likely to take, affecting Grimcke and Long, they were all at sea. +It would ever be a source of wonder that he had been transformed from a +relentless enemy into the strongest of friends, but they fully realized +that such friendship must have its bounds. + +Ziffak might not shrink from using very plain speech when talking face +to face with his brother, but it was hardly to be supposed that he +would raise his arm against his authority. At the time Ziffak made +known the probability that the explorers might be compelled to take +their departure that evening, he gave no intimation of any purpose of +helping them to resist such an order. + +Accustomed as he was to lead the warlike Murhapas in battle, he might +well hesitate to ask them to turn their weapons against the king, and +if he should presume on such treason, all the probabilities were that +such weapons would be turned against the head chieftain himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +ACROSS THE LAKE. + +A few minutes after passing the bend in the stream, which hid the rock +and the sleeping sentinel from sight, Fred Ashman observed that the +smooth current broadened into a lake, forming the extraordinary sheet +of water of which he had heard such strange accounts. + +He held the paddle suspended, and looked around. + +The surface was as calm as the face of a mirror, and in the strong +moonlight, as he looked down he could see that it was of crystalline +clearness--so much so, indeed, that a boat or any floating object +looked as if suspended in mid-air. + +It expanded right and left and in front, until he could barely discern +the dim outlines of trees and rocks that shut it in. It was probably +two or three square miles in extent, and to the westward the shore +appeared to be composed of enormous boulders and masses of rocks. + +Directly ahead, was a crag more massive than the rest, towering a +hundred feet above the lake, with a breadth fully one half as great. +It resembled some gigantic sentinel, keeping ward and watch over the +strange region unknown to few if any white man. + +Ashman turned to his companion with the question, what course he should +take, and, without speaking, she pointed to the rock which she saw had +attracted his attention. + +Very slight effort was required to propel the delicate craft, which +seemed to become sentient, and to move forward in obedience to the +wishes of its occupants. He barely dipped the blade into the water, +when it skimmed forward like a swallow. After a number of strokes he +ceased and fixed his eyes on the landmark by which he was proceeding. + +A singular emotion held him speechless for the time. The vast mass of +stone appeared to be slowly rising from the bosom of the lake, and, +instead of remaining motionless, was advancing to meet the tiny canoe +and its awed occupants. One moment, it was like some vast ogre, +stealing silently about to crush them beneath the clear waters, and +then it became a friendly giant, reaching out its hand to lead them +forward. + +But for the distant sounds of firing at the Murhapa village, Fred +Ashman would have felt that it was all a vision of sleep, from which he +must soon awake to the realities of life. + +But that horrible, grinding discord continually creeping into their +ears told too plainly the dreadful scenes at comparatively a short +distance. Even in his exalted mental state, Ashman began to ask +himself what was to be the end of the strange venture upon which he had +started. A disquieting misgiving arose, that perhaps he had not done +the wisest thing in leaving his imperilled friends. + +But he reflected that he had only obeyed the orders of Ziffak, who +indeed would not have permitted his wishes to be disregarded, for who +should know the wisest course so well as he? Besides, his own reason +told him that if the Professor and his companion were attacked in the +cabin, it was impossible for him to raise a finger in their behalf. + +And so he dismissed that phase of the marvellous business from his mind +and faced the present situation. + +He had fled with Ariel from her father, King Haffgo. Instead of +turning to the northward down the Xingu, they had gone further up the +stream and directly away from the right course out of the perilous +country. + +But while, in one sense, this might be looked upon as the height of +recklessness, he saw it was unavoidable. Had they turned down the +Xingu, there would have been no escaping their foes, while the +enchanted lake and its surroundings must afford secure shelter for a +time. + +But for how long? + +That was the question which obtruded itself, even while filled with the +delightful thrill of his new love, and when _en rapport_ with his +marvellous surroundings. + +The intimate knowledge which Ariel possessed of the region would guide +them to some spot where they could reasonably hope to be safe from +pursuit, unless such pursuit was led by her enraged parent. + +Ashman was still scrutinizing the great mass of rock, steadily assuming +more definite shape in the moonlight as the intervening distance +decreased, when he was surprised that he had not noticed the +mountainous elevation behind it. The immense rock seemed but the +beginning of others rising beyond to the height of a thousand feet, +while they broadened to the right and left until they stretched over an +extent of several miles. + +It seemed to him that these constituted a spur of the Geral range, +which extend in a northwesterly direction between the Guapore River +(forming a part of the eastern boundary of Bolivia) and the headwaters +of the Tapajos and Xingu. If so, their extent was continuous for a +hundred miles. + +Ashman had ceased paddling, though, under the faint momentum remaining, +the canoe continued slowly moving over the lake and gradually drawing +near the rock. He did not break the silence, but asked himself what +could be the reason of Ariel's direction for him to paddle toward the +rock. He supposed there was some place of concealment which she had in +mind, though he discerned nothing of that nature. + +"We cannot stay there forever," was the practical thought in the mind +of the lover, who felt the next moment as though he would be happy to +dwell forever anywhere with her. + +"After we have staid here until pursuit is given up--_if it ever will +be_--then we must leave the country. I will take her to my home in +North America, where I shall love and cherish her and become the envied +of all men." + +"We are approaching the rock," he said, addressing her; "what next, +dearest Ariel." + +"Paddle right on," was the astonishing reply. + +He looked at her with a questioning smile. Could she be in earnest? + +"Right on," she repeated, reading his thoughts aright. + +"Very well; the slave obeys his mistress," he replied, giving the +paddle another dip in the water. + +Gazing ahead, he instantly discovered the cause of her reply. A tunnel +opened into the rock, seemingly near the centre. It was perhaps ten +feet in height and with a width slightly greater. Could it be she +meant he should enter that black forbidding passage? He asked the +question and she replied that such was her wish. + +He could not decline to take her whither she desired to go. Gently +swaying the blade, he sent the boat within the dark opening, which +appeared to distend its jaws to swallow the canoe and them from the +world to which they had bidden good-bye. + +Ashman was beginning to ask himself how he was to continue the advance +in the darkness, which must become impenetrable as they passed beyond +the limit of the moonlight, when he perceived the water into which he +dipped the paddle. + +Not only that, but it grew more distinct as he progressed, until once +more the form of his beloved came out to view, as she sat near him in +the canoe. + +Wondering what it all meant, he gazed ahead. The surface of the water +grew plainer, as his eye ranged along the tunnel, until, only a short +distance away, the view was clearer than on the lake itself, beneath +the full moon. + +What was the explanation of this wonderful sea of illumination into +which he was guiding the canoe? + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +A GUESS. + +Standing in the door of the building, his figure so wrapped in gloom +that it was invisible to the fierce Murhapas, Professor Grimcke +cautiously peered out upon the multitude that were clamorously seeking +the death of himself and comrade. + +The horde seemed to be everywhere. They were glaring over the river +bank, behind which they could find secure shelter by merely dropping +their heads; they were crouching at the corners of the adjacent houses, +the king's residence affording screen to fully a score. Not yet fully +recovered from their panic, they appeared to be awaiting the leadership +of some strong man who held the fire-arms of the explorers in less +dread than they. + +A form rose upright along the Xingu, at the upper portion of the line +of savages. In the full moonlight he was as clearly revealed as if at +mid-day. + +It was with strange feelings that Professor Grimcke saw that this +individual belonged to the same race as himself. He was one of the two +white men that had lived for years among the Murhapas and who had +instigated the furious assault upon them. + +"You have earned your fate," muttered the German, bringing his unerring +Winchester once more to his shoulder, and sighting as best he could at +the unconscious miscreant, who appeared to be conversing with some one +sitting on the ground at his side. + +The finger of Grimcke was pressing the trigger when, yielding to an +unaccountable impulse, he lowered the weapon. He was impatient with +himself that his heart should fail him at the critical moment, but +perhaps it was well it was so. + +"You and I ought to be friends," he reflected, "and it is not my fault +that we are not, however, I cannot shoot you down like a dog, though +you deserve it." + +The emotion which checked him so unexpectedly, also prevented his +renewing fire upon the Murhapas, who were really less guilty than he. + +He had decided to await the next demonstration before discharging his +gun again. + +Jared Long was as vigilant and alert as his friend. It may be doubted +whether he would have spared Waggaman, had he been given the +opportunity to draw bead on him. He realized too vividly that the two +defenders never would have been in this fearful situation but for the +machinations of those two men. + +It seemed to him that Bippo was curiously quiet. He had not spoken, +nor, so far as he could judge, moved since his own return from his +brief conference with the Professor. + +He pronounced his name in a low voice, but there was no reply. A call +in a louder tone also failed of response. + +"I wonder whether he was killed?" was the thought which led Long to +leave his station at the door, and to set out on a tour of +investigation around the room, using his hands and feet to aid him. + +He expected every minute to come in contact with the lifeless figure of +his helper, whom he supposed to have been pierced by the poisoned +weapon of the Murhapa; but when he had passed around the apartment and +across it several times, until assured that not a foot of square space +had been neglected he awoke to the fact that Bippo was not there. + +It was hardly probable that he had entered the front apartment, but he +made inquiry of the Professor. The latter replied that he had heard +nothing of him; but, since he had a few minutes that could be spared +without danger for that purpose, he went through a search similar to +that of his friend. + +"He is not here," called the Professor, in a guarded undertone. + +The surprising conclusion followed that the fellow after all had +effected his escape from the building, though how it was done puzzled +the two whom he left behind. + +Bippo had got away by yielding to one of those sudden inspirations +which sometimes come to a person. Hearing the explorers speaking about +a stealthy withdrawal by the rear, he decided to anticipate them. +Without pausing to debate the matter or ask for permission, he slipped +out the rear door and moved rapidly off in a crouching posture. + +He must have been seen by numbers of the Murhapas, but was mistaken for +one of their own number. + +The error cannot be regarded as remarkable, when it is recalled that +Bippo bore a strong resemblance to the savages around them. He was +dressed the same and carried a spear similar to the missiles used by +them. Though he lacked their bushy heads and stature, these were not +marked enough to attract notice at a time when the Murhapas knew that +several of their number had been defeated in their efforts to enter the +structure from the rear. + +With his wits sharpened by his danger, Bippo displayed admirable +discretion. Showing no undue haste or flurry, he avoided too close +acquaintance with the savages, who were so absorbed in the work of +securing the destruction of the white men that they paid less attention +to such an incident than they would at any other time. + +So it was that he edged farther and farther away, until he found +himself so close to the woods that he whisked among the trees without +any one questioning or trying to check him. He was free at last, and, +as if Dame Fortune had decided to take him in charge, he had hardly +reached the margin of the Xingu, at a point considerably below the +village, when he almost stumbled over Pedros, who was waiting and +wondering what he ought to do next. + +Both the Professor and his friend were glad that Bippo had managed to +get away. They liked the fellow, and, even if they must be sacrificed, +it was a relief to know that the poor native, who had had such a woful +experience since leaving the Amazon, now had a fighting chance of +escaping from the dreadful region. + +Besides, as has been shown, the presence of the fellow was more of an +incumbrance than a help. But for the delay caused by Long's rush to +his help, the whites would have made a dash for liberty themselves, +though the question of their escape was problematical to the last +degree. + +Precious little ground could the explorers see for extricating +themselves from their peril. The Murhapas numbered a hundred, all were +brave, and the weapons in their hands were dreaded tenfold more than +firearms. It seemed miraculous that Grimcke and Long had not been +pierced long before. Why did not the Murhapas set fire to the +building, after the manner of the North American Indians? + +This was the question which both the defenders had asked themselves +several times, but in the case of each the answer was obvious. + +The house, it will be recalled, adjoined that of King Haffgo, and, +although there was no wind blowing, the burning of the less important +structure was sure to endanger the other. As a last resort, the white +men might be driven out in that way, but not yet. + +If the besiegers could persuade themselves to make a united rush, they +would be sure to prevail; but, as has been explained, the cost of such +an essay was sure to be frightful, and led the Murhapas to defer that, +also, until assured less risky means would not prevail. + +It seemed to our friends that there were scores of schemes which ought +to be successful, and, such being the case, it will be understood why +they believed their last fight was on, and why they were disposed to +show no mercy to their assailants. + +The Professor was surprised, knowing, as he did, the part taken against +them by Waggaman and Burkhardt, that no reports of firearms had yet +been heard among the assailants. It would seem as if something of the +kind was required in order that those miscreants should retain their +prestige among the people. + +Now, all these thoughts and many more passed through the minds of the +defenders in a tenth of the time it has taken us to put them on paper. +It was yet early in the evening, and the crisis in the siege must come +before long. + +Jared Long peeped out of the rear entrance. A study of what he saw +showed little change in the situation. He was convinced that the next +demonstration would be from the front. He, therefore, did not hesitate +to leave his post and slip into the next room for a few hasty words +with the Professor. + +"There's no use of staying in here," he said, "for we are sure to be +overwhelmed within the next hour." + +"I fully agree with you." + +"And I can see but one desperate hope." + +"What is that?" + +"To follow Bippo." + +"I agree with you again; let us make such a demonstration from the +front that we shall be able to draw most of them there; then one of us +will make a rush." + +"Why not both." + +"We shall fail; one must keep up the firing while they think both are +at it, and then the other can make the attempt." + +"Very well; let me open here." + +"No; we will both do it; you know that this station is mine and as soon +as there appears to be a chance, you can make the start." + +Now, both of the men believed in their hearts that if the desperate +scheme could work, that the utmost it could do would be to save one: +there could be no earthly chance for the other. + +It was characteristic of the chivalrous friendship of each that he had +fully determined that that forlorn opportunity should be given to the +other. + +But they understood their mutual natures too well to waste any words in +argument, for neither would yield. + +"Very well, Professor; we'll draw lots." + +"I will agree to that." + +It was so dark in the room that they could not see each other, nor did +either window afford light enough for their purpose. + +Grimcke glanced out the door. No immediate movement seemed impending, +and they moved to the fire-place. The Professor kicked some of the +ashes aside and a tiny blaze arose, throwing a dull illumination over a +few feet of the room. + +The Professor drew an American coin from his pocket,--one that he had +kept ever since entering South America. + +"Now," said he, placing both hands behind his back, "tell me which +contains it." + +"The right," said the New Englander. + +"You have lost," coolly replied the Professor, bringing the two hands +quickly to the front and opening the palms. + +Sure enough the coin was in the left, but the sly fellow did not +confess that he had deftly changed it after his companion made his +guess. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +A DESPERATE SCHEME. + +Not another word was said. The question had been submitted to the +arbitrament of chance and the New Englander had lost, and that, too +without any suspicion on his part of the little trick played upon him. + +Before resorting to the last opportunity, Long slipped through the back +room and ascertained the outlook there. He was surprised at the +result. Hardly a native was visible. It looked indeed as if they were +working their way round to the front, and that some scheme of attack +had been agreed upon by the leaders from that point. + +The Professor's survey confirmed the theory of his friend. The +Murhapas were more plentiful than ever. They appeared to be +marshalling along the bank of the Xingu, where there were so many that +it was impossible to count the heads and shoulders rising above the +slope. + +Waggaman was not in sight, though there could be no doubt that he was +the inspiring spirit in the movement. All the indications were that a +rush had been agreed upon. Should it be permitted to come off +unopposed in its incipiency, it would be all up with the men who had +defended themselves so bravely thus far. + +"I will begin at the head of the row," said the Professor, "and you at +the foot; make every shot tell." + +"All right; begin!" + +The fusillade was opened the same instant. Both men fired rapidly, +and, though they could not pause to make their aim as sure as they +wished, and though it is not to be supposed that every shot was +effective, yet the execution was dreadful. + +Arms were seen flung spasmodically upwards, figures leaped clear off +the ground and then fell back out of sight, shrieks and shouts filled +the air, and still the crack of the Winchesters continued without +intermission. + +One gratifying feature of the fearful scene was that the warriors began +flocking around to the front, though they kept well back, as if to +avoid the murderous discharge. These new arrivals not only afforded +additional targets to the riflemen, despite their furious efforts to +screen themselves, but proved that the scheme of the defenders was +working as they desired: the natives were swarming from the rear to the +front. + +"Off with you; don't wait!" commanded the Professor. + +"Good-bye!" was all that Jared Long said, as he darted from the side of +his gallant friend and vanished. + +Professor Grimcke took a few seconds to refill his magazine, when up +went his Winchester again and the furious discharges seemed to be more +rapid than before. + +It would naturally be supposed that if the assailants saw that both of +the white men had concentrated their fusillade at the front, they would +make a dash to the rear. That, it may be said, would be the second +step in the programme. It was calculated that the sudden volleys of +the rifles would draw all the natives thither, and then, after learning +what had taken place, a large part of them would rush back again. + +The New Englander had been gone only a few minutes, when the Professor +saw evidences that the second step was about to be taken. The savages +were beginning to move back to the rear, though at a greater distance +then from the building than before. + +All at once Grimcke ceased firing. While looking sharply out of the +door, he mechanically refilled the magazine of his rifle from his stock +of cartridges which was running low. + +"Now or never!" he said to himself, and then, turning, he ran swiftly +through the two rooms to the rear door, through which he bounded +without a moment's hesitation. + +He expected his flight would be announced by a series of shouts and a +storm of poisoned javelins. He held his breath, and, as the seconds +passed, began wondering whether there was a possibility after all of +successfully following the footsteps of his friend. + +He was encouraged by the sounds of the deafening tumult from the front +of the house. The Murhapas had swarmed into the front-room, proving +that they had decided upon making the very rush of which the defenders +stood in such dread. + +This, although only a momentary diversion, was immeasurably in favor of +the daring attempt of the flying fugitive. + +Lest the reader may pronounce the escape of these two white men +incredible, we hasten to explain that which, if left unexplained, would +warrant such disbelief on the part of our friends. + +The individual who gave the wild scheme an ending that otherwise it +never could have had, was Ziffak, the head chieftain of the Murhapas. +He proved to be the all-potent factor in the terrible problem. + +From what has been related about these strange inhabitants of the Matto +Grosso, it need not be said that they were too cunning, if left to +themselves, to allow a door to stand open for their intended victims to +escape, after penning them in such a trap. + +Ziffak was the shrewdest member of the Murhapa tribe and much more +fitted to be its ruler than King Haffgo. After bidding good-bye to the +lovers, he hastened back to the middle of the village, where he arrived +after the first disastrous repulse given his people by Professor +Grimcke. + +It took the fellow but a few moments to grasp the situation. He told +no one of the death of Burkhardt, but busied himself in learning +precisely how matters stood. Had he dared to do so, he would have +ordered a cessation of the attack, but the latter was made by the +direct orders of King Haffgo, and Ziffak was not the chieftain to butt +his head against a stone wall, by an open defiance of his royal +brother's authority. + +The assault was under the direction of Waggaman himself. The king from +his own door, where he could not be reached by any bullet of the +defenders, was watching the futile assault with an impatience and anger +that could hardly be restrained. His soul became like a volcano, as he +saw his brave warriors fall back, with many of them biting the dust. +Had not the traditions of his country forbade such a proceeding, he +would have placed himself at the head of the natives and led the +decisive charge. + +Seeing how it was at the front, Ziffak cautiously made his way to the +rear. There were few warriors there, and he instinctively felt that if +his white friends were to get off at all, it must be through the rear +opening. + +While intently debating with himself what he could do to help them, he +stealthily slipped down to where the large boat was lying under the +bank. No one was near it, for the attention of all was concentrated on +the fight under way. Unobserved, he shoved the craft out into the +stream and saw it drift with the current. + +Returning to the rear of the besieged building again, he formed the +plan of getting the warriors to the front and then dashing back and +helping them out. This was a wild scheme, and involved great personal +risk to himself, for he was sure to be punished for rendering aid whose +discovery was inevitable. + +At the very moment he was about to make the attempt, Grimcke and Long +gave him unexpected help by opening their united fire from the front +upon the warriors marshalling for the decisive charge. + +This afforded him just the pretext he wanted, to order the Murhapas to +hasten to the other side of the building to assist in what was in +contemplation there, though, even with such a movement under way, it +will be seen that the right place for a portion of the savages was at +the rear, in order to head off the very thing that was attempted. + +Thus it was, that, while the two explorers were congratulating +themselves on the success of their clever scheme, they never suspected +that its success was due to their giant friend, who kept himself so +well in the background that neither of them caught sight of him. + +Having got his men away, Ziffak slipped back with the purpose of +carrying out the rest of the plan he had formed; but before he could +reach the rear entrance, he caught sight of Professor Grimcke running +like a deer toward the woods. + +Ziffak was puzzled, not knowing that his friend had preceded him, and +he dashed into the building to hurry him out. As he came in at one +door, Waggaman and the Murhapas swarmed in at the other, and +pandemonium was let loose. + +The certainty of another murderous fire from the rifles of the +defenders caused some lagging at the threshold, but those in the rear +forced those at the front forward, and the next moment the mob was +inside. + +Still there was no sound of firearms, though, the savages were crowding +into both apartments. Some one kicked the ashes from the embers, and +the blaze which followed made known the astounding fact that both of +the white men had fled. + +Ziffak seemed to be in a towering rage because such a blunder had been +made, and called upon the fleetest runners to follow him. + +Out of the door he went as if shot from the throat of a columbiad, with +a procession of sinewy-limbed warriors at his heels. All ran as fast +as they could, though none were his equal in fleetness. + +It need hardly be said that Ziffak took mighty good care that he did +not pursue the course of Professor Grimcke, and presumably that of his +companion who preceded him. Instead of aiming for the woods, he +diverged toward the river, and seemed to find it necessary to shout and +yell every second or two at the top of his voice. + +His followers may have imagined he was laboring under uncontrollable +rage or deemed it necessary to keep their courage up to the highest +point by such means; but the two fugitives who had joined each other in +the woods, and were picking their way with the utmost care, held a +strong suspicion that the prodigious shouts were intended for their +special benefit. At any rate, they accepted them as such, and took +pains to continue their flight in a different course from that of the +howling Murhapas. + +It did not require Ziffak long to find out that the fugitives were +irrecoverably gone, and he came back with his report to the king. + +There he was met by astounding news. Burkhardt had been slain by a +poisoned javelin, and Ariel, the beloved daughter of the ruler, had +been seen in full flight toward the enchanted lake in the company of +the execrated white man, Ashman. Pursuit was to be organized at once, +and, though Ziffak was to take part, yet the chosen warriors were to be +led by the king in person. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE BURNING MOUNTAIN. + +The tunnel through which Ashman propelled the canoe containing himself +and Ariel, was more than a hundred yards in length. It was only for +the smallest distance that the craft was in darkness, when the water +began to reflect light and reveal its outlines. + +A few minutes later the tunnel was passed, and they debouched into an +expansion of the enchanted lake. The second division was similar to +the other and almost as large, but its appearance was tenfold more +wonderful. + +The sheet of water may be said to have been divided into two nearly +equal parts by the narrow tunnel running under the mass of rocks +described. One division was in the outer air, after the usual fashion +of lakes, while the other was wholly underground. + +The interior lake was nearly circular in shape, with an arching roof +hundreds of feet high. It was surrounded by towering crags, and +volcanic masses of stone, which gave it an appearance different from +anything on which Fred Ashman had ever looked. Nothing grander, +wilder, more picturesque or romantic can be conceived. It was a scene +which an explorer could stand for hours and contemplate in rapt +admiration. + +But the most amazing feature of this underground lake was the way in +which it was illuminated, so that every portion stood out in as bold +relief as if under the flaming sun of mid-day. + +At the western side, the shore, as was the case in nearly all other +directions, was a mass of jagged rocks, piled upon each other in the +wildest confusion. Beyond these rocks, was a vast chasm above the +level of the lake, and extending right and left for a distance of fifty +rods. This huge chasm was one mass of crimson light, whose rays +pierced every nook and cranny on every side of the lake. + +The eye gazing in that direction saw something similar to that which +greets the traveller in the far north, when viewing the play of the +aurora borealis in the horizon, or when the red sun is rising from its +ocean bed. + +This enormous opening was so surcharged with light that Ashman, after +contemplating it but a minute or two, did not need to ask its source. +Beyond the area of illumination was the burning mountain whose +blood-red glow covered the entire surface and shores of the underground +portion of the enchanted lake. The volcano had been aflame for ages, +and was likely to continue to burn for centuries to come. + +Such an eternal conflagration must have an outlet for the vast quantity +of vapor generated, and Ashman wondered that he had not noticed the +ascending smoke on his way thither. He recalled that when he and his +friend were coming up the Xingu, far below the last rapids, they +observed a dark cloud resting in the western horizon. There was no +thought at that time that it was caused by a burning mountain, but such +must have been the fact. The most singular fact was, that while on his +way across the lake to the tunnel, he had failed to notice and remark +it. + +There was a steady draft in the direction of the flaming cavern. He +had observed it while paddling through the tunnel where it was strong +enough to assist in the propulsion of the canoe. It was caused by the +ascent of the vapor through the chimney of the fiery mountain, and +averted the intolerable heat that otherwise would have been felt over +every portion of the lake. As it was, a moderate increase of +temperature was perceptible. + +Ashman was tempted to paddle the canoe to the black rocks which +separated the chasm from the lake, and he timidly moved the blade, +restrained by the fear of something in the nature of a "back draft," +which might consume them before they could escape. + +Ariel assured him that she had never encountered or heard of anything +of the kind, though she had often visited this remarkable region in the +company of her father. Thereupon Ashman sent the boat ahead faster +than before, and a minute later the bow touched the rocky wharf. + +Stepping out, he drew the bow upon the rocks, so as to hold it fast, +and, extending his hand, assisted her to shore. Then he drew the craft +still further up, and, taking her hand again in his own, began picking +their way over the jagged bowlders and stones to the edge of the +volcano. + +From the margin of the lake to the other side of the mass of rocks was +a hundred feet. This may be defined as a solid wall, shutting out the +water from the burning mountain. The rocks rose to a height of a dozen +rods or so, attaining which a spectator found himself half-way across +the dividing ridge, where, viewed from the lake, his figure looked as +if stamped in ink on the crimson background. + +It was here that the lovers paused and viewed the striking picture +spread out before their vision. + +That which they saw might properly be considered the crater of the +volcano. It was four or five acres in extent, irregular in contour, +and so filled with gases and vapors that one could not see the bottom, +while the jagged boundary on the farther side came out to view only at +intervals, when the obstructing smoke was swept aside. + +Spiral columns of black vapor twisted swiftly upward from the fiery +depths, sometimes side by side, and sometimes they would unite and +climb toward the opening above, like a couple of huge serpents +struggling together. The air quivered and pulsated in certain +portions, as if with fervid heat, and Ashman fancied once or twice that +he caught glimpses of a vast mass of molten stuff, far down in the +mountain, surging; seething and turning upon itself with terrific +violence. But the glare was so dazzling that it was like staring at +the sun, and he was compelled to withdraw his gaze. + +The opening above, through which all this vapor and gas effected its +escape into the clear atmosphere outside, was of irregular outline and +no more than twenty feet across. It was at a great height above the +spectators, and ought to have been visible many miles in every +direction. + +Now and then Ashman caught the odor of the sulphurous fumes rising from +the naming depth, and he could not help reflecting that if the +ascending vapors should swerve toward them only for a minute or two, +they would be asphyxiated before they could get away; but he could not +shrink, when his lovely companion stood so boldly by his side, unmoved +by the impressive scene. + +When he had become accustomed in a degree to the sight, the like of +which he had never viewed before, he recalled that they could not +occupy a more conspicuous position, in the event of being pursued by +their enemies to the underground lake. + +As we have explained, they were standing on the highest portion of the +rocky wall, separating the burning mountain from the subterranean +portion of the enchanted lake. In this situation, they were in sight +from every portion of the shore; any one entering by the tunnel, as +they had done, would descry them almost at once, because of the vivid +background against which their figures were thrown. + +This fact led Ashman to turn to his love and suggest that they should +leave the spot. She nodded her head in acquiescence, and, still +clasping hands, they began picking their way down among the bowlders to +the spot where they had left their canoe a short time before. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE PURSUERS. + +Haffgo, king of the Murhapas, intended to keep his promise to Ziffak, +so far as permitting the explorers to remain in his village until the +morrow, at which time he intended that the men should be allowed to go +in safety. + +But the barbarian was very similar to some of us whose resentment grows +with reflection. When he recalled the admiring glances of the handsome +young member of the company towards his beloved Ariel, his anger became +intense, fanned by the strong suspicion that the princess herself felt +some interest in the stranger. + +At this critical time, Waggaman put in an appearance. The ruffian was +shrewd enough to see his opportunity, and it took him but a few minutes +to rouse him to the exploding point. He determined that every one of +the whites should die, and he ordered the assault which has already +been described. + +As has been explained, the king kept within his home, while the attack +was under way; but since he resided adjoining the structure which was +assaulted, he was aware of every phase of the progress. + +His rage has been hinted at because of the repulse of his warriors +directly under his own eyes; but when he came to learn that the youth +against whom his resentment burned so hotly was not within the +building; that the two who had fought so bravely had escaped with their +native helpers; that his own daughter the princess was absent; that she +had been seen fleeing with the white youth in the direction of the +enchanted lake:--when all this became known to the ruler, it may be +said that his fury was such that no language could do it justice. It +is not impossible that the despot felt thus himself, for, without +pausing to give utterance to a few of his imaginings, he made instant +preparations to follow the couple to the region which he never +permitted a white man to look upon. + +A native woman had seen the princess pass up the side of the river, +followed a few minutes later by the young man. Her curiosity led her +to watch them. She saw the two meet and stand for some time in loving +converse. Then one of the white men stole behind them and was about to +fire his dreadful weapon, when Ziffak hurled his terrible javelin which +pinned him to the ground. Then the native woman hastened to the palace +to tell the news, but she could not gain the chance for some time. + +When the king turned upon his brother for an explanation of what he had +done, Ziffak was prepared. It was the intention of Burkhardt to shoot +not the white man but the princess herself, because she had refused his +love. He heard Burkhardt mutter those words to himself and it was +because of those words that Ziffak drove his javelin through his body. + +King Haffgo looked sharply at his kinsman when he made this unblushing +response, but his doubts if there were any quickly vanished, when he +recalled the impetuosity with which he had attacked the defenders in +the house and the vigor of his pursuit and his evident indignation and +chagrin at the escape of the two white men. No, Ziffak might talk +plainly with his royal brother, but when the time for action came he +was a true Murhapa, who knew only his duty to his king. + +Besides, the little flurry between the two had helped to clear away the +fogs of misunderstanding as the lightning often purifies the murky +atmosphere. The pursuit of the lovers was quickly organized, for they +now occupied the thoughts of the king to the exclusion of everything +else. Grimcke and Long could not be far off, and a vigorous hunt was +likely to discover one or both of them, but the king gave orders that +no attempt of the kind should be made. It was his intention to leave +the village for an indefinite time, and he wished every one of his +warriors to remain while he was absent. It cannot be said that he was +afraid of such an insignificant force, but there was a strong vein of +superstition in his nature, which caused a vague fear of the men that +had escaped him with such wonderful cleverness. Individuals who could +do _that_ sort of thing, were capable of doing things still more +marvellous, and to use homely language, King Haffgo was taking no +chances. + +The party in pursuit numbered just ten persona including the king, +Ziffak, Waggaman, and the very pick of the tribe. They were all +splendid fellows, fit to be the body-guard of a king, who, when he laid +aside the robes of cumbrous dress he was accustomed to wear, and +arrayed himself similarly to the warriors, proved himself no mean +leader of such a party. + +Any one looking upon the little company would have been most impressed +by the fact that there were nine dusky barbarians, half naked and as +black as Africans, under the guidance of a man as fair as any European; +and yet, as the reader knows, the most prominent warrior of the party +was the brother of that king, dusky, tall and a giant in stature. + +A tribe living in a country as well watered as the Matto Grosso, is +sure to be well provided with the means of navigation, though the +explorers, when they first reached the neighborhood of the rapids, +deemed there was an unusual absence of such craft. A canoe, longer +even than that used by our friends in ascending from the Amazon, was +carried a short distance down the bank and launched in the Xingu. Five +of the warriors seized their long paddles and swung them with the skill +of veterans. They were accustomed to that kind of work, and sent the +craft up the current with much greater speed than would have been +suspected, even by those accustomed to see such work. + +Two of the dusky occupants were furnished with bows and arrows, while +Waggaman carried his rifle. Thus every species of weapon known to the +Murhapas was in the boat. + +King Haffgo sat at the stern, his brow dark and threatening, his arms +folded and his lips set. His thoughts were too deep for utterance and +no one ventured to disturb him. Though the pale countenance was +outwardly calm, yet a volcano was raging in that breast, hot and +furious enough to burst out and consume the barbarian. + +Just in front of him, Ziffak was facing toward the prow, directing the +actions of the crew, though for a time little of that was required of +him. Waggaman was at the prow, silent, glum, scowling. He did not +speak for a long while, but, now and then, glanced at Ziffak. When he +did so, he was pretty sure to find the black eyes of the head chieftain +fixed upon him. + +The two thoroughly distrusted each other. Waggaman knew why that +javelin had been driven through the body of his associate and, though +the convict felt little sorrow for the loss of his companion, yet he +hated the chieftain with a deadly hatred, well aware as he was that the +feeling was thoroughly reciprocated by Ziffak. + +Whether King Haffgo suspected the truth cannot be known, nor is it of +importance to know. All the energy of his nature was concentrated in +the emotion of fury against Fred Ashman, who had committed the +unparalleled presumption of robbing him of his daughter; and even +against that lovely maiden he was so incensed that he stood ready to +bury his spear in her snowy bosom. + +Though it may have seemed strange to Ashman that Ziffak had ordered him +to make all haste to the enchanted lake, instead of starting on a +direct flight through the woods, returning to the Xingu at a lower +point, yet the sagacious chieftain had the best of reasons for his +course, as will soon appear. + +Had Ashman fled through the forest, the fact would have been discovered +at daybreak, if not before, and such a vigorous pursuit would have been +pressed as to render escape out of the question. There was a +possibility of outwitting Haffgo by the flight to the lake, though it +was remote enough to cause the giant warrior to shudder when he +reflected upon it. + +That which caused Ziffak regret was, that he had not paused long enough +before parting from the couple, to arrange a better understanding with +them. As it was, he was mostly in the dark concerning their movements, +and greatly handicapped by the necessity of appearing to be the devoted +ally of his royal brother. + +Under the powerful propulsion of the five paddles, the long narrow +canoe sped swiftly up the Xingu, and, sooner than even Ziffak +anticipated, it turned into the narrow stream leading to the enchanted +lake. Along this it sped like a swallow until the huge rock with its +sentinel came in sight. + +It was here that King Haffgo, for the first time, showed some interest +in his surroundings. He scanned the massive rock closely and +manifestly was surprised that the guard did not rise to his feet and +challenge them. + +Observing that the figure remained motionless, he commanded the craft +to approach the rock. This was silently done, the boat halting with +the prow touching the mass of black stone. + +Still the sentinel moved not, all unaware of his peril. One keen +glance showed he was committing the unpardonable sin of sleeping at his +post. + +Rising quickly to his feet, the king stood upright for an instant, and +then, with a furious exclamation, drove the javelin which he snatched +from the hands of one of the warriors through the breast of the +unfaithful servant, who uttered but a single groan as he perished by +the hands of his master and sovereign. + +Then Haffgo commanded one of his men to take his place. The fellow +instantly sprang from the boat and took his station on the rock, as the +successor of him who had died so ignominiously. Little fear of his +falling asleep on his post. + +A minute later the boat shot out upon the moonlit surface of the +enchanted lake. There the occupants used their eyes for all they were +worth, the craft making a partial circuit of the sheet of water. There +was a possibility that the fugitives were there, though it was slight. +Many places afforded a landing, where they might have found temporary +shelter, but nothing was seen of the boat, and Haffgo ordered the +oarsmen to pass through the tunnel leading to the underground lake. + +This was speedily effected, and the large boat debouched into the +wonderful body of water, so brilliantly illuminated by the glare from +the burning mountain on the western side. + +Instinctively every eye was cast in that direction, but nothing +rewarded the scrutiny. Then the vision swept along the shores, every +portion of which, as will be remembered, was in plain view. + +Almost at the same moment; Ziffak uttered an excited exclamation, and +pointed to the northern shore. As the gaze of every one was directed +thither, they caught sight of the craft for which they were so eagerly +hunting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +WATCHING AND WAITING. + +When Professor Ernest Grimcke realized that his desperate flight from +the besieged building had been attended with complete success, and that +he was standing among the dense shadows of the forest, with no enemy +near, he devoutly uncovered his head, and, looking upward, uttered his +fervent thanks to heaven for its amazing mercy. + +"If ever a man was snatched from the jaws of death," he said, "I am +that man." + +"And I am another," added Jared Long, who approached in the gloom. "It +seems to me like a veritable miracle." + +The New Englander explained that, after his furious dash for shelter +from the building, he did not believe his chances were any better than +those of the man he left behind him. He started, with the intention of +making his way by a circuitous course to the river, but had not gone +far when he was struck by the baseness of his desertion of his friend. +He, therefore, turned about with the resolve to try to do something for +him, but had no more than caught sight of the structure again when he +descried the Professor coming like a whirlwind for the trees. + +Long moved to the point at which he saw he was aiming, and held his +Winchester ready to open on any pursuers that might try to follow him. +He would have picked off a dozen or so, for he was cool and collected, +and fully determined to stand by his friend to the death. + +Fortunately, however, for all parties concerned, none of the Murhapas +pursued the Professor, though, as has been told, a number under the +leadership of Ziffak dashed off in another direction, without +endangering the fugitives in the least. + +It was a marvellous deliverance, indeed, for our friends, and they +understood the part the giant head chieftain had taken in extricating +them from the peril. Their hearts glowed with gratitude to the savage, +whose friendship for them they could not understand, but who had proven +it in such a striking manner. + +But it could not be said that they were yet free from danger; and there +was much to do before they could breathe freely. + +It needed but a brief consultation to agree that after what had taken +place, it was the height of madness to attempt to push on to the +enchanted lake and burning mountain. King Haffgo was so roused that +there was not the slightest chance of escape. The only earthly +probability of accomplishing anything in that direction, was by +bringing a force strong enough to sweep the warlike Murhapas from their +path. + +Thankful would the little party of explorers be if they were permitted +to get out of the Matto Grosso with their lives. + +They waited in the margin of the wood until the return of Ziffak and +his baffled company. It was easy to understand the clever trick played +by the chieftain upon his followers, and Grimcke and Long were +convinced that no further attempt, at least for a time, would be made +to capture them. + +But being free to attend to their own safety, their thoughts naturally +turned to the missing members of the company, especially to Ashman, who +unquestionably was involved in the most imminent peril. + +It was clear that his two friends could do nothing in his behalf. They +did not know where to look for him, and such an attempt was sure to be +followed by disastrous consequences to themselves. + +It was a singular conclusion to which Grimcke and Long arrived and yet +perhaps it was natural. They believed that Ashman had escaped before +they did themselves, and that he was probably waiting at some point +down the Xingu for them. They decided to pass in the same direction +and strive to open communication with him. + +How little did they suspect that though he was for the time out of the +power of his enemies, yet the Princess Ariel was his companion, and +that instead of seeking to flee from the dangerous country, he had +actually penetrated farther into it. + +After carefully reconnoitering their surroundings, therefore, the +Professor and Long approached the Xingu at a point a third of a mile +below the Murhapa village. Everything seemed to be quiet and +motionless around them, with the exception of the river, yet they were +given precious little time for wonderment or speculation. + +The first amazing sight on which their eyes rested was their own large +canoe drifting down stream. They stood a moment, not knowing what to +make of it, but speedily reached the right conclusion: Ziffak had set +it free for their special benefit. + +It was floating sideways near the middle of the Xingu, and showed there +was no one on board. + +It was too invaluable to be allowed to get away from them, or to run +the risk of a passage through the rapids below. Long decided to swim +out to it, but, before he could enter the water, the Professor showed +him that some one had anticipated them. A short distance up the bank, +a native was in the act of entering the Xingu, while his companion +stood on the bank, evidently about to follow him. + +The clear moonlight enabled the explorers to identify them as Bippo and +Pedros, the former being the one already in the water. + +"Let them go," whispered the Professor, "they may as well do it for us." + +Pedros was but a few strokes behind his friend, and the two were seen +to clamber over the side of the craft at the moment it came opposite +where the delighted white men were standing. + +At this juncture, the Professor called to them in a guarded voice. +Their expressions of amazement were ludicrous, and it was only after +they had stared for several minutes and the call was repeated that they +comprehended that their friends were near. + +Then the two showed their extravagant delight by leaping up and down +like a couple of children, and uttering cries that, to say the least, +were imprudent. + +The Professor sternly ordered them to hold their peace and paddle the +boat to shore. They set to work with a will and brought the craft to +land, only a short distance below, where the white men had reached the +river. Instantly, they stepped on board, and with the exception of the +single absent member, our friends stood in the same situation as a +short time before. + +It was Jared Long that in his flight from the beleaguered building took +the extra Winchester with him, so that the little party could not have +been better armed. Luckily, too, there was an abundant supply of +ammunition on board, so that the old feeling of confidence came back to +the party when they once more felt they were masters of the boat and +all it contained. + +Their desire now was to increase the distance between themselves and +the Murhapa village, from which all had had such a narrow escape. When +Bippo timidly asked his masters whether they meant to return or attempt +to go any farther up the Xingu, they were assured that no such thought +was in the mind of either of the explorers. They would only be +thankful if they could get back to the Amazon without ever meeting +another Murhapa. + +This was enough for the natives, who were willing to jump overboard and +tow the boat faster than it was already going. That, however, was +unnecessary, and they were told that they had only to obey orders as +cheerfully as they had done from the beginning and that undoubtedly +everything would come out well. + +It was past midnight, when the roaring just below, which was increasing +every minute, warned them they were approaching the dangerous rapids. +Possibly the craft might have passed safely through but it would have +been imprudent to make the attempt for which no necessity existed. + +Accordingly, the boat was once more run ashore and drawn against the +bank, with the view of raising it upon their shoulders to be +transported to the calmer waters below. + +The four men were in the very act of lifting the craft, when to their +terror, fully a score of Aryks suddenly emerged from the wood and +surrounded them. All were armed with the frightful javelins, a prick +from one of which was enough to cause almost instant death. + +The whites could not have been caught at greater disadvantage, and +Bippo and Pedros were so overcome that they were unable to move. Long +was on the point of opening a fusillade, when Professor Grimcke was +struck by the fact that no one of the Aryks offered to harm them. They +chattered like a lot of magpies, and gathering round them made a +movement as if to take possession of their boat. + +The New Englander would have showed fight, had not his companion said +in a low tone: + +"They are friendly! They mean to do us no harm!" + +Such was the astounding truth, and it was easily explained. Ziffak on +his way up the Xingu with his new friends had warned the Aryks that +they must do the whites no harm: they were on their way at that time to +the Murhapa village as friends, and the head chieftain told his allies +that any further hostility would be visited with the punishment of +death. + +The Aryks were not likely to forget such a notice. They had seen the +boat approaching; and, being totally unsuspicious of what had occurred +during the earlier part of the evening, were anxious to manifest their +good will by carrying the canoe around the rapids. + +Jared Long could hardly credit the truth, and held himself ready for a +desperate fight; but, when the boat was lifted upon the shoulders of a +half dozen stalwart warriors who started down the shore with it, he +smiled grimly and admitted that the Professor was right. + +The load was quite burdensome, but the carriers stepped off, highly +pleased with the privilege, while the rest of their party straggled +after them, the whites and their servants bringing up the rear. + +Bippo and Pedros were not quite able to comprehend the extraordinary +condition of affairs, and kept close to the heels of their masters like +a couple of frightened dogs. + +At the base of the rapids, the Aryks set down the boat, with great +care, saluted in their rude way, and turning about, disappeared in the +forest from which they had emerged. + +"_If they only knew_," said Long when they were drifting down stream +once more. + +"But they _don't_," replied the Professor, "and yet they will learn the +truth before long." + +The boat was allowed to drift a half mile further, when, convinced they +had gone far enough, they ran into land, disembarked and carried it in +among the trees, where it was out of the sight of any one passing up or +down the Xingu. Then they prepared to await the coming of Fred Ashman, +doubtful, however, whether he ever would come. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE CAVERN OF DIAMONDS. + +Fred Ashman was greatly relieved when he had assisted Ariel down from +the high, rocky wall, and they had picked their way to the spot where +the little canoe had been left but a short time before. + +He had felt a singular misgiving from the first about the boat, fearful +that in this region of enchantment, as it seemed to him, something +would cause it to disappear, and he and his lovely companion be left in +a most exposed and dangerous situation. + +But it was found just where it had been left, and helping her in it, he +shoved it clear and then looked to her for directions as to what was to +be the next step. + +The maiden now made a singular statement. She said that some weeks +before, she had visited this place with no companion but her father. +They landed at a point which she indicated, and he ordered her to stay +on the shore until his return. He was gone so long, however, that she +undertook a little exploration on her own account, and made a discovery +which she now hoped to turn to account. + +The canoe touched at the spot she pointed out, and they stepped ashore. +She said that her parent strolled off to the left, toward a passage +which she showed, and which she had entered with him several times +before, but from which he seemed desirous to exclude her on the +occasion named. + +It was while he was absent at that time, that Ariel walked some +distance to the right. She clambered up the rocks a little way to a +clump of bushes. She was examining a species of crimson berry, growing +upon them, when she observed a passage, which she followed far enough +to find that it led into a large cavern, whose full extent she did not +attempt to learn. She withdrew, and, fearful of offending the king, +told him nothing about it when he returned and found her with the boat. + +Ariel was confident that neither her parent nor any of her people knew +of her discovery, and she now proposed to Ashman that they should enter +the strange cavern, and remain until the present danger was over. She +believed that if her friends or enemies, as they might be considered, +did not discover them soon, they would conclude that they had +voluntarily met death together, and would give up the hunt. + +Ashman was struck with the sagacity of the lady, and eagerly agreed to +her suggestion. It would never do to leave the canoe as a tell-tale, +and he gave it a shove which carried it far out on the lake. +Discovered in that situation, no one could tell what point on the shore +it had touched, and, being adrift, near the middle of the lake, it +would suggest the theory of suicide, which they were anxious to impress +upon their pursuers. + +Carefully picking their way through the mass of brush and undergrowth +which showed remarkable vigor, considering that the revivifying +sunlight never touched it, Ashman readily found the opening described +by his companion. + +It was just broad enough to allow the passage of their bodies, its +height being such that they could move by stooping slightly. Holding +his Winchester in hand, he led the way with Ariel pressing him close. + +The same fact was noticeable that struck him when paddling through the +tunnel connecting the outer and the underground lake. The light +increased as they progressed until everything was seen with a +distinctness hardly less than that shown in the water they had just +left behind them. + +Suddenly Ashman paused with an expression of amazement. He had entered +a cavern so striking in appearance that it almost took away his wreath. + +It was several acres in extent, with an arching, dome-like roof rising +fully two hundred feet above their heads. Stalactites and stalagmites +dozens of feet in length were visible hanging from the roof and +obtruding from the floor, the latter being broken by chasms and +ravines, many of which seemed to have a depth that was fathomless. + +No water was visible, but the proximity of the lake rendered it likely +that some of the abysses were filled at the bottom with the element. +It looked impossible for the lovers to advance beyond the entrance, and +yet while Ashman was standing motionless he observed that a ledge put +out on their right, along which they could make their way indefinitely, +its course being hidden by scores of intervening obstacles. + +It looked like a scene of enchantment indeed, the wonderful cavern +illumined by the flood of crimson light, which was on every hand, while +the radiating point was invisible. + +Ariel stood silent and waited for her companion to recover from his +astonishment. She had viewed all this before and had witnessed so many +similar scenes that they produced less effect upon her imagination than +upon his. + +By and by he looked around, and she smilingly nodded her head. He +began picking his way along the ledge, carefully feeling his way, for a +misstep or a treacherous support was liable to precipitate him to the +fathomless depths below with the inevitable certainty of instant death. + +It was while the young American was working forward in this guarded +manner, that he particularly noticed that the roof overhead, and all +parts of the walls were dotted with what seemed points of living fire. +While some were small, others were larger and gave out a light that was +dazzling to the point of blindness. + +He supposed they were composed of a species of quartz or mineral, but +observing one of them within reach at his side, he reached upward with +his knife and extracted it from the shale in which it was imbedded. + +Taking it in his hand he turned it over several times with increasing +curiosity. It appeared to be a rough pebble, from which he brushed +away a portion of the dirt, so as to permit it to shine with a splendor +that would have been tenfold greater in the full light of the sun. + +"Don't you know what it is?" asked Ariel with another smile at his +perplexed expression. + +"I do not; can you tell me?" + +"It is a diamond!" + +"And," he asked, with a sweep of his arm, "are all those diamonds?" + +"They are." + +"Great heavens!" gasped the astounded Ashman; "we have entered a cavern +of diamonds." + +"There can be no doubt of that," she calmly replied; "there are plenty +of them among the rocks along other portions of the lake, for that is +where the king has obtained them for years. There is gold there too. +You know now the reason why he guards the approaches of the lake so +jealously. I have seen our men digging for diamonds and they looked +just like what these seem around us." + +Ashman had paused again and his eyes roved around the magnificent +scene, whose splendors were enough to turn the head of Solomon himself. +Thousands of the points were gleaming from all portions of the roof, +walls, and even on the ledge along which they were walking. There was +enough wealth within his gaze to pay the national debt of his country +and to effect a revolution in any nation. + +"I would be a fool," he reflected, "not to gather some of these while +the chance is mine, even though I may never live to carry them away." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +PURSUERS AND PURSUED. + +It may be doubted whether the most cool-headed of men could find +himself in such a situation as that of Fred Ashman, without being +overwhelmed by the bewildering wealth surrounding him. He forgot for +the time that the lives of himself and lovely companion were at stake, +and that, despite her assurance that they were the first persons who +had ever entered the wonderful cavern of diamonds, its existence might +be known or discovered by their vengeful pursuers. + +With the aid of his hunting knife, he set himself to work picking out +the precious gems that were within his reach at all times. + +Now and then, when some one of unusual size fell into his palm he +uttered an exclamation of delight, and turned and held it up for Ariel +to admire. She smiled at his pleasure, and showed her sympathy by +assisting in the excavation of the marvellous pebbles. + +As they toiled, they advanced, sometimes a step at a time, and then for +several paces. Conscious that he could carry away only an infinitely +small portion of the riches, Ashman found himself in the unparalleled +situation of casting aside the smaller gems and taking only those that +were large and of the first water. + +Who before was compelled to fling away diamonds worth hundreds of +dollars apiece, simply because they were of too insignificant value to +be carried with him? Ariel, who was a much better expert than he, +carefully selected the choicest until she was burdened with all she +could conveniently carry. He filled his pockets and thrust others into +every receptacle at command. The partially emptied cartridge-belt was +made to do duty as a casket, and it is safe to say that no similar +contrivance was ever laden with a tithe of the riches that particular +one held. + +"Ah," reflected the young man again and again, "if only the Professor +and Long were here to help me!" + +But there came the time, all too soon, when he was forced to admit that +it was useless to attempt to carry more. He had the wealth of a prince +about his person, and yet the storehouse showed no diminution of its +boundless supply, which was enough to burden a regiment of soldiers. + +Gold, the most precious of all metals, for which men delve and starve +and toil and die, still lies hidden in immeasurable masses, in +unsuspected places, screened perhaps by a thin sheeting of earth, over +which thousands have tramped, never dreaming of the boundless riches +just beneath their feet. And rubies and diamonds strew the bottom of +the ocean or scintillate within caverns and caves, as they have shone +and gleamed through ages, still waiting for the fortunate miner or +explorer to bring them to light and the gaze of an admiring world. + +"If I ever live to get away from this spot," added Ashman, when he +ceased his wonderful garnering, "I will bring a force here; I can +afford to make it irresistible by King Haffgo, for every one of the men +can take away a fortune and leave more than enough for these +barbarians." + +"I can take no more," he said, turning his flushed face upon the +radiant countenance just behind him; "King Haffgo will never miss +these, but when I carry you to my distant home, Ariel, where I shall +cherish and love you forever, these diamonds will bring us such wealth +that we shall never know the meaning of want; every luxury that +affection can dream of, or heart can crave, shall be yours." + +"The greatest luxury my heart yearns for," said she softly, "is _your_ +love." + +"And that you have now," he replied catching her in his arms and +straining her to his heart. + +"I am sure of it," replied the happy maiden, resisting no longer the +ardent embrace of him whose affection seemed to grow with every passing +hour. + +"All that I pray heaven to grant is the opportunity to prove to you +that you are not mistaken. I do not want to leave here or ever see my +home again unless you are with me. I shall live or die with you, for +death with you is preferable to life without you, my cherished, my own +Ariel." + +The radiant countenance was illumined by a light such as only the +divine passion can impart. She did not speak, for there are some +emotions of the soul beyond the power of language. + +The hunt for the diamonds had taken the lovers to a point almost +opposite the entrance. They observed what they had not noticed during +their absorbing work,--the ledge along which they advanced, steadily +ascended until it carried them to a point half-way to the top of the +mighty dome. Standing there, they could look back on the awful chasms +spread below their feet, the crimsoned walls, sparkling and +scintillating with innumerable gems, with the craggy roof seemingly +almost within their reach. + +Looking over the wild, dazzling, unapproachable scene, the American was +considering the practical question of what was next to be done, when +Ariel at his side abruptly seized his arm with an intensity which +startled and caused him to ask, + +"What has frightened you, dearest?" + +With a gasp, she pointed to the other side of the cavern, where they +had entered this region of enchantment and wonders. + +A procession of figures was moving along the ledge, over which they had +just made their way. The intervening objects shut them partly out of +sight, but the heads and shoulders of several were always in view and +they were moving with the utmost haste possible. + +The foremost figure was a white man; the next was a dusky giant, and +the third was of fair complexion, while all the others were of the hue +of native Africans. + +There could be no mistaking the identity of the leaders: the foremost +was Waggaman, the second, Ziffak, and the third, King Haffgo. Those +who followed were the pick of the Murhapa warriors. + +It mattered not whether Ariel was right in her belief that the +existence of the cavern of diamonds was unknown to every one else, or +that some fateful good fortune had directed the party to the entrance. +It was enough that they had found it, and were now pressing forward +along the very ridge on which they had halted, and stood gazing back in +amazement and horror, unable for the moment to divine what could be +done to help themselves. + +But Ashman needed but a few seconds to decide his course. He held his +Winchester and revolver and was ready to die in the defence of the idol +of his heart. + +"Have courage," he said; "all is not yet lost." + +The ledge on which they stood was so narrow that there was no room for +two to walk beside each other. Lifting the gentle form in one arm, he +swung her over the abyss at his feet and placed her on the ledge in +front of him. + +The danger was at the rear, and that was the place for him. + +"Now advance," he added; "we may find a better spot than this for +defence." + +He feared that his pursuers might divide, and some of them start around +the other way, so as to come upon him from the opposite side. If that +were done, he would be caught between two fires; and, since one of the +party possessed a gun, the advantage would be preponderatingly against +him. + +There was subject, too, for perplexing thought in the situation. He +had no wish to shoot King Haffgo, and would not do it if any possible +way of avoiding it should present itself. He determined that he should +be spared until the last one, when he could probably be handled, +without resorting to the last extremity. + +Then, too, he felt no doubt about the presence of the giant Ziffak. He +was the friend of himself and Ariel, though for politic reasons he had +assumed the guise of an enemy. His situation was a most delicate one, +and, even in his bewilderment and anxiety, Ashman could not help +wondering how he would conduct himself in the crisis at hand. + +Inasmuch as the American was resolved to avoid injuring the dusky +Hercules, it will be observed that there were two of the company of +pursuers whom he was much more anxious to spare than he was to inflict +harm upon the rest. + +He was hopeful for a moment that he and his companion had not been +detected, but a resounding shout echoed through the cavern of +diamonds--a shout of such amazing power that he knew it had come from +the throat of Ziffak himself, who, as if to make sure his meaning was +not misunderstood, brandished his mighty javelin over his prodigious +head and shoulders, as he almost pushed his leader from the path in +front of him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +AT BAY. + +Ariel flitted so rapidly along the ledge that her lover felt obliged to +ask her to desist, as he found it difficult to keep pace with her. + +The narrow path ascended more rapidly than before, and he saw they were +steadily climbing toward the top of the roof. The shelly support to +their feet, too, became less substantial, crumbling and giving way at a +rate that threatened the most serious consequences. + +He again cautioned the maiden, who seemed to dart over the rocky ground +with the graceful ease of a bird, and without producing any more +effect, with her dainty sandals. + +Suddenly she paused. She had reached the margin or break in the ledge. +A chasm, whose black depths the eye could not fathom, yawned between +her and the support on the opposite side. + +"We will make our stand here," said he; "keep behind me--" + +He checked himself in astonishment; for, at that moment, she bounded as +lightly across as a fawn. He never would have permitted it had he +dreamed of her intention; but it was done. + +He could only follow, and, gathering his muscles, he ran rapidly the +slight distance and bounded from the support. + +It was a tremendous leap, and, for one instant, he believed he would +fail; but he cleared the chasm of breathless darkness and landed on the +edge, where, for a single second, he tottered between life and death. + +But, at the critical instant, a tiny hand was outstretched, and, +seizing one of the fluttering arms, his poise was restored, and he +stood firmly by her side. + +Even then, as he stepped forward, the ground crumbled and gave way for +fully two feet, the debris rattling down the abyss as long as the ear +could detect the sound, growing fainter and fainter as it hastened +toward the far-away bottom. + +"There is no one in that party except Ziffak who can leap it now," said +Ashman, gazing with a shudder behind him. + +By this time the pursuers were close at hand and gaining fast. + +The ledge led straight away and upward for a hundred feet, when it +terminated at a point in the dome as high as the middle portion. There +the rocks were piled in irregular masses, and, knowing they could go no +further, Ashman resolved that the last stand should be made there. + +As he hurried onward, another shout fell upon his ear. It was a +different voice, and he recognized it as Waggaman's, who was leading +the advance. + +The fugitive glanced backward, while toiling up the slope, and saw that +the white man in his eagerness was fully a rod ahead of the herculean +Ziffak, while the rest were stringing along behind him. + +He might have wondered how the chieftain contrived to lose so much +ground had he not seen him clambering to his feet. It followed that he +must have fallen in his hurry to get forward. + +"We have them!" shouted the exultant convict; "there is no escape; they +are cornered!" + +The words were yet ringing in his mouth, when he came to a stop. + +He had reached the edge of the abyss and might well pause before trying +to leap across. + +The fierce king called to him to make the jump. It had been done not +only by the man, but by the girl who preceded him; why should he +hesitate? + +Spurred by the taunt, the white man withdrew a few paces, and, like +Ashman, ran swiftly, the next instant his body rising in air, as he +made the fatal effort. + +The American stood coolly watching the result. If the miscreant +succeeded, where it looked impossible, he meant to shoot him. Thus the +prospect before the convict could not have been worse. + +It was a tremendous leap indeed, and the fellow struck the opposite +ledge with his chest, his feet dropping below. + +In his furious efforts to save himself, he let go of his weapon, which +went ringing down the chasm, and seized the ledge with both hands. + +Even then, had the ground been firm, he might have succeeded, but it +gave way like rotten ice, and, with a shriek of agony, he vanished +forever from the sight of men. + +The frightful occurrence brought the pursuers to a halt and gave the +fugitives a minute or two in which to prepare for the end. + +Ariel, by command of her lover, placed herself behind the rocks and +bowlders, where she was secure against any of the missiles, that were +sure to be soon flying through the air. Ashman also placed himself so +that all of his body was hidden, except his head and shoulders, but his +Winchester was thrust out, ready for instant use. He was resolved that +no one of the party should leap that chasm and live after reaching the +other side. + +There were two exceptions, be it remembered, to this resolution. + +Ziffak, being next to Waggaman, approached the chasm, where he also +stopped and peered into the impenetrable depth, his dusky face showing +a horrified expression at the awful fate that had befallen the foremost +of the little party. + +Ashman, who was closely watching the chieftain with a natural wonder us +to how he would conduct himself (for he did not waver in his faith that +the giant was still loyal to him), saw him suddenly raise his eyes and +gaze at the opposite ledge, which was fully two feet above that upon +which he was standing. + +Haffgo was immediately behind him, and peering under his arms at the +opening. There being no room for the two to stand beside each other, +this was the nearest position he could secure. + +Beyond him the other figures could be partly discerned, all standing +motionless until some way should present itself for their advance. + +Ashman observed the chieftain, as his eyes followed the ledge until +they rested upon him, crouching behind one of the bowlders with his +rifle leveled at the war party. + +The two looked into each other's eyes for a single instant, when +Ziffak, knowing he could not be seen by any of those behind, contracted +his brows and moved his lips. + +He did not speak, for that would have "given the whole thing away," but +his dusky mouth was contorted with such vigorous care that the words +were understood, as readily as if shouted aloud. + +They formed the single sentence, + +"_I am your friend!_" + +No need of saying that, for, as we have stated, Fred Ashman had never +doubted it. + +Haffgo now began urging his brother to make the leap, which had proven +the death of Waggaman, saying, with reason, that the strength and +activity of the head chieftain of the Murhapas were sure to carry him +over where no one else could succeed. + +The two talked in their native tongue, but their meaning was so clear +that the American needed no one to interpret the words. + +Ziffak replied that he would gladly do so, but for the treacherous +character of the other side of the ledge. He showed that considerable +had fallen away, and intimated that the fugitives had loosened it for +the purpose of entrapping all the party just as Waggaman had been +entrapped. + +Then the king took another look at the chasm. It so happened that +while he was doing this, a large slice of the ledge sloughed off and +went down the abyss, after the miserable wretch who must have been +lying at that moment a shapeless mass far down the fearful gorge. + +Haffgo could not gainsay such testimony, and, for the first time, his +face showed an expression of disappointment. It was not the look of a +baffled man, but of one forced to see a sweet pleasure deferred. + +He had only to peer up the ledge, as it led toward the roof, to realize +that the fugitives were as safely caged as if bound and secured in his +own home. + +They had penetrated as far as possible in the cavern of diamonds. If +the pursuers could not reach them, neither could they return over the +chasm by which they had attained the spot where they still defied him. + +The most athletic man living could not leap across that chasm, nor +could it be passed until it was bridged artificially, and that could +only be accomplished from below, where the pursuers were glaring +across. They might erect a structure, if, the king so willed, which +would open a way of advance; but he was in no mood to care for or think +of anything of the kind. + +Haffgo now talked earnestly for a few minutes to his head chieftain. +The latter listened respectfully, nodding his head several times in +acquiescence. Then he suddenly looked up the ledge again, steadied +himself for an instant, and hurled his javelin with terrific force at +the head of Ashman. + +It was done with such incredible deftness that the American had no time +in which to dodge the fearful missile. Had it been accurately aimed, +it would have been driven straight through his skull! + +But it missed by a hair's breadth, shooting up to the roof, where it +struck the rock with such violence that the head was shattered and the +remaining portion fell uselessly down among the rocks. + +It was a close call, but Ashman was not frightened; he knew why it +missed him. + +He now sighted along the barrel, as if he meant to shoot the chieftain, +who instantly ducked his head, and began crowding backward. It was the +first time King Haffgo had been placed in such a grave situation, and +he was panic-stricken. He turned so suddenly and began crowding to the +rear so hard, that he came within a hair of precipitating himself and +those immediately behind him from the ledge. + +But Ashman did not pull trigger. He could not do so without +endangering the lives of Ziffak and the king, and as yet the other +warriors had made no demonstration against him. + +But, seeing that the white man did not fire, Ziffak seemed to gather +courage and straightened up again. The king passed his own javelin to +him, and he glared up the ledge as if looking for another favorable +chance to launch, it with greater effect than before. + +Ashman, who was narrowly watching every movement of his enemies, now +observed that the warrior directly behind the king, carried a bow and +arrow, and he was in the act of fitting a missile to the string, with +the evident intention of trying his hand at the business in which the +head chieftain had failed only a minute before. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +THE POISONED ARROW. + +Such being the case, Ashman concluded that the time had arrived when he +should also take a hand. + +Ziffak and King Haffgo placed their backs against the face of the +rocks, along which the ledge ran, so as to open a clear course for the +archer. The latter fitted his arrow with great care and then +straightening up drew back the string and slowly levelled, the missile +at the head and breast of the American. + +"Does that fool imagine I am going to keep still and let him practice +on me?" the latter asked himself, an instant before discharging his +rifle, whose bullet went straight through the dusky miscreant and sent +him toppling off the side of the ledge as dead as dead could be. + +Not only that, but the ball wounded the warrior directly behind him, +causing him to utter a howl which rang with piercing force from side to +side of the cavern of diamonds. + +This prompt act caused something like a panic, Ziffak seemed the most +terrified of any. Facing about, he flung his arms aloft and shouted to +the rest to hurry away before the white man killed them all. + +They lost no time in obeying, and it was noticeable that King Haffgo, +being well at the rear, added his frenzied commands for his warriors to +lose no time in leaving the fatal spot. + +Ashman could have sent a succession of shots along the ridge, as the +party scrambled away, which would have toppled the dusky barbarians off +like so many ten-pins; but he had no desire to inflict needless +slaughter, and, in answer to the appeal of the shrinking Ariel, he had +promised her that, so far as he was concerned, her parent should +receive no harm. + +He therefore contented himself with watching them, until a bend in the +ledge hid them from sight, with the exception of their heads, and they, +too, soon disappeared; because the frightened warriors, glancing back, +and seeing their peril, crouched low to escape the bullets which they +seemed to expect would come whistling about their crowns. + +As long as the natives kept at such a distance, they could do no harm +to the defenders; for they were too far off to make use of their +javelins, and the single archer left was not likely to attempt to bring +his weapon into play. + +Naturally, Ashman and Ariel, finding they were left to themselves for a +time, fell to speculating upon what was likely to be the next move of +their enemies. He believed they would make an attempt to bridge the +chasm separating them, a task which, as will be seen, was comparatively +easy of accomplishment. + +But should such a structure be laid, it must be so strait that only one +could pass at a time, and the American could pick them off as often as +they presented themselves. There were now no firearms at the command +of the Murhapas, unless some one recovered the weapon of Burkhardt, and +even then, Ashman would feel little fear of harm from the savages. + +Ariel thought her parent and his little company would simply keep guard +at the entrance of the cavern, in order to intercept them, if they +discovered some way of re-crossing the chasm and attempted to leave. + +But both were wrong. + +The young man was resolved that no march should be stolen upon him. It +was impossible for the Murhapas to pass far enough around to leave the +place, without being seen, provided he kept unremitting watch, which he +felt competent to do for a number of hours to come. + +If the siege was prolonged, he could take turns with Ariel, whose +bright eyes were quicker of perception than his. + +In the cavern of diamonds, there was no means of telling when it was +day or night on the earth outside. Lit by the eternal fires of the +volcano, it was always day; but he carried a watch, which told him that +the night was far advanced, and that the bright sun would soon shine +upon mountain, forest, and river again, though his heart sank at the +faint prospect of it ever being his privilege to greet the orb again. + +The incidents of the next hour mystified both Ashman and Ariel. + +The first movement which attracted their notice, was Ziffak, who, +rising to the upright posture, so that his immense shoulders were in +plain sight, was seen picking his way along the ledge, until he reached +the opening on the other side. Through this he passed and was seen no +more. + +It was useless to speculate as to the meaning of this proceeding, which +could not be explained until made clear by occurrences themselves. It +was safe to assume, however, that it was ostensibly in the interests of +King Haffgo, and therefore against those of the fugitive lovers. + +Probably a half-hour after the disappearance of the chieftain, two of +the party were seen stealing along the ledge in the direction of the +entrance to the cavern. These, however, were of such slight stature, +when compared with Ziffak, and they made such efforts to conceal their +movements, that it was hard to follow or identify them. Ashman thought +that Haffgo was one of the number, but he could not make certain, and, +since Ariel did not catch as favoring a glimpse as he, she could give +no help in solving the question. + +The best solution of the singular acts was that while the Murhapas +seemed to try to hide themselves from the lovers, they still took pains +to allow enough to be disclosed to reveal the movements, which they +wished the couple to observe. + +And here again, both Ashman and Ariel were in error. + +Strange that a possibility which had once been thought of by the two +did not occur again to them. + +King Haffgo, despite his confidence in Ziffak, began to feel some +distrust of him. His refusal to attempt the leap of the chasm, and his +former friendship for the explorers, might have been reasonably +explained, but his failure to drive his javelin through the white man, +who was so near and who never stirred from his position, could not be +an accident. He knew the marvellous skill of the head chieftain, who +could have had but one cause for missing Ashman: that was an +intentional deviation of his weapon, which, slight though it was, +proved as effective as if hurled in the opposite direction. + +And yet, shrewd as was Ziffak; he really believed he had deceived his +royal brother. No suspicion of the distrust in the mind of the king +came to the chieftain, when he was directed to return to the village +and bring ten more warriors with him. + +But this errand secured the absence of Ziffak for a couple of hours at +least, and that was the sole purpose of Haffgo in sending him out of +the cavern of diamonds. + +When the chieftain was gone, the archer was directed to ascertain how +far he could steal around the cavern, by taking the opposite course. +Haffgo followed, directing the others to stay where they were until +further orders were given them. + +The archer set out at once, ahead of the king, both doing their best to +avoid detection. + +Fortune favored them in an unexpected manner. The ledge was found +easier of travel than they expected, and, by using great care, they +worked their way to a point less than two hundred feet from where the +fugitives were standing on guard. They had traversed the whole +distance, too, without detection. + +When King Haffgo peered carefully over the shoulders of the crouching +bowman, he saw the couple standing with their backs toward him, as they +faced the chasm which had been found impassable for the Murhapas. + +The slumbering anger in the parent's breast was kindled to a white +heat, when he observed the white man holding the hand of his daughter, +and he saw him lean over and touch his lips to hers. He whispered to +the warrior to lose no time. + +The latter quickly examined his arrows, and picked out the one which +not only seemed the best, but was most plentifully provided with the +deadly poison. This was speedily fitted to the string, and he +deliberately took aim, his nerves like steel, for the king had +whispered to him that he must not fail. + +At the instant the string twanged, something caused Ariel to look +behind them. + +She uttered a faint scream as she caught sight of the two crouching +figures. She descried a flitting shadow which she knew was the +approaching missile on its deadly mission. + +Knowing that it was aimed at her lover, she threw both her arms around +his neck and interposed her body to protect him while he stood +bewildered, not comprehending what it all meant. + +Her figure was too slight to serve the purpose of a shield. The +poisoned arrow whizzed straight at the breast of Ashman, who had turned +about, but instead of entering his body, the point, surcharged with +venom, was imbedded in the snowy arm of Ariel herself! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +CONCLUSION. + +The horrified Fred Ashman saw that the poisoned arrow, aimed at his own +heart had buried itself in the fair arm of Ariel, as she clasped him +about the neck anxious to shield him from harm at the expense of her +own life. + +She had saved him, but at what a fearful cost! The agonized lover +realized it all, as he tenderly placed her on the rock beside which +they were standing. Then, like the man who, knowing he has been +fatally struck by the rattlesnake or cobra, turns to stamp the life out +of the reptile, before looking after his own wound, he faced about and +brought his rifle to his shoulder. The dusky miscreant cowered low, +but he could not save himself, for the bullet which left the +Winchester, entering at the skull, ranged through the length of his +body, and he rolled off the ledge like a rotten log and went down the +yawning abyss that afforded a fit sepulture for such as he. + +King Haffgo was standing erect, as if defying the white man to fire at +him. He had seen the result of the shot and he did not regret it. + +"Die the death you deserve!" he called out in English; "for you are not +the daughter of Haffgo!" + +Then he turned about and moved along the ledge, while Ashman stood for +an instant, with weapon levelled, feeling that the awful occurrence had +absolved him from the pledge made a short time before. + +He was aiming, when a faint voice at his side said: + +"No, hurt him not; _I shall get well_!" + +Letting the rifle fall from his grasp, he wheeled around as if he had +been shot himself. + +What did he see? + +The brave Ariel had drawn the arrow from her arm, and was sitting +erect. In her right hand, was a small earthen bottle such as was in +common use among the Murhapas. + +"Great heaven! what does this mean?" demanded her lover, uncertain +whether he was awake or dreaming. + +She smiled faintly, and said: + +"I feel a little faint, but the danger is past." + +"But,--but,"--he added, "the arrow was poisoned!" + +"Yes, but the poison has a remedy; it is in _that_," she added, holding +up the bottle; "my parent always carried it; I brought it with me when +I left home." + +The overjoyed lover could not repress a shout of joy,--a shout which +penetrated every portion of the cavern of diamonds, but whose meaning, +fortunately for the couple, was not understood by the ears on which it +fell. + +He knelt beside her, so that the bowlders shut both from the view of +any prowlers who might seek to reach them. He kissed the happy face +again and again; he called her the sweetest names that ever mortal +uttered, and he assured her that they should both live and be happy +forever. + +In his overflowing bliss, he could not realize that they were still +walled in on every hand. All that he could know and feel, was, that +she was spared from a dreadful death,--that she had interposed her own +precious body to protect him from harm. + +Enwrapped in his arms, she was obliged to confess that the bringing of +the potent remedy was an inspiration, when she stole out of her +father's house, for she never dreamed of the use to which it would be +put. + +She had forgotten all about it, until the sharp twinge in her arm +apprised her that she was struck by the fearful missile. Then, as she +was about to swoon, she recalled that she carried the remedy in her +bosom. + +Drawing it quickly forth, while her lover's face was turned away, she +drank the whole contents, which were sufficient to save the lives of +three or four persons. Not a drop, however, was left; and she remarked +in her own peculiar manner, that they must be careful not to be struck +by any more such missiles, since the remedy was gone, and it would be +hard to secure more. + +With a full realization of the remarkable deliverance of his beloved, +Ashman was roused to a stronger resolution than before of making a +desperate effort to extricate themselves from their perilous situation, +which looked indeed as if without hope. + +Rising to his feet, but screening his body as he could, he carefully +peered around the cavern of diamonds. He cautioned Ariel to keep out +of sight, for, if it should become know that her life was saved, her +father and his warriors would doubtless make another attempt to reach +them. + +Looking in the direction of the opening on the other side, he saw +Haffgo pass out, followed the next minute or two by the rest of the +Murhapas. To Ashman this was proof that the party had decided to +withdraw from the cavern, but would keep watch of the egress to make +sure that the white man did not get away by some freak of fortune. + +Since they were sure he was caught in a trap from which there was no +escape, he had his choice of remaining and starving to death, of coming +forth and giving himself up, or of ending it all by precipitating +himself down the rocks. + +A terrible punishment indeed for the white man that had dared to defy +the king of the Murhapas, and had been the cause of the death of the +beloved princess! + +Ashman was still studying the insoluble problem, when a strange impulse +led him to look aloft. It will be remembered that he was near the roof +of the cavern, among a mass of bowlders and rocks which touched the +dome. + +Several times it had seemed to him that a felt a slight, upward +draught, as though a portion of the air found vent in that direction. +When he mentioned it to Ariel she admitted that she had noticed the +same thing, and urged him to investigate. + +Leaving his Winchester with her, he began a cautious ascent of the +rugged stairs. He had about twenty feet to climb, and the greatest +care was necessary. Not until at the very top, did he pass from the +sight of the maiden who was attentively watching his movements. + +Five minutes later, he let go his hold and dropped, down beside her. +His face was flushed and his eyes glowing with excitement. + +"Thank heaven!" he exclaimed, greatly agitated; "there is an opening by +which we can reach the outer world." + +"I was sure of it," she replied with a happy smile. + +During his brief absence, she had bandaged her arm as best she could by +tearing a slip from her dress. The wound bled less than would be +supposed, and caused her little pain. + +Taking her other hand, Ashman began helping her up among the rocks and +bowlders. She needed little aid, however, for she was lighter and more +graceful on her feet than he. + +Sure enough, when they arrived at the top, they came upon a broader +opening than that by which they had entered the cavern. It was hidden +from sight by a projecting table of rock, and when they came to pass +through, the outer opening was seen to be so covered by bushes that it +never could have been found except by the accident which first showed +Ariel the way into the cavern. + +But with hearts overflowing with gratitude to heaven, they found +themselves on the earth again, with the sun shining and the pure air of +heaven fanning their fevered faces. + +They had emerged at the crest of the mountainous mass, which covered a +portion of the enchanted lake and the cavern of diamonds. Fortunately, +too, they were among the woods, where they could not see far in any +direction. This rendered them less liable to discovery by their +enemies in the neighborhood. + +Ashman held his position until the two could study their location and +gain an idea of the points of the compass. The rising sun helped them +to do this, and, by moving carefully about until they gained sight of +the lake and the Upper Xingu, they soon ascertained in what direction +the Murhapa village lay, and the course necessary to take in order to +avoid it. + +It was decided to put back in the forest and thread their way through +the dense wilderness, striking the Xingu at a point below the rapids. +There, if they found nothing of their friends, they would manage to +secure a boat in which they could press their flight in the direction +of the Amazon. + +The forests abounded with wild animals and huge serpents, but the +ardent lover was admirably armed and confident that he could protect +his beloved from all harm, provided they could escape discovery by the +Murhapas and Aryks. + +If Haffgo should venture on an approach to the rocks, where the +fugitives made their stand, he could not fail to find out the +extraordinary manner in which they had eluded him, and he would be +certain to organize instant pursuit. + +But this was not likely to take place for a considerable time, though +the possibility led Ashman to push forward with all vigor, often +pausing to listen for sounds of pursuit. + +The extreme caution of the lovers led them to trend much further into +the woods than was really necessary, and they were a long time, +therefore, in reaching the Xingu. + +Neither had eaten food for an unusual while, but they cared nothing for +that. They were too anxious for any thought except that of getting +forward as fast as possible. + +As they progressed, startled now and then by the prowling wild beasts +which threatened attack more than once, and by the sight of enormous +serpents, some in trees and some on the ground, Fred Ashman's thoughts +naturally went forward, and he speculated as to what was the result of +the attack on his friends the preceding night in the village. + +He could comprehend the frightful situation in which they were placed +by the enmity of the king, and it seemed incredible that any, or at +least all of them, could have extricated themselves from their peril. +Gladly would he have risked everything in their defence, but, as has +been shown, that was beyond his power at any time. + +The young American shrank from firing his gun, through fear of the +report reaching the ears of the Murhapas. If that should take place, +it would be sure to excite their suspicions, and prompt an +investigation which the fugitives dreaded. + +Once a jaguar became so threatening, that he leveled his weapon +convinced that he must fire or be attacked, but the snarling beast +finally withdrew, after sneaking behind them for a long distance. + +The sun had passed the meridian when the wanderers caught the gleam of +water among the trees in front. They hastened forward, and a moment's +survey of the stream convinced them that they had reached the Xingu +beyond all question. + +Ashman recognized several features along the banks which he had noticed +on his way up the river. Ariel was equally positive, so they dismissed +the question from their minds. + +Both were nearly exhausted, for they had had a tiresome tramp, during +all of which they were under a severe mental strain. They felt that, +at last, they could sit down and rest themselves before resuming their +journey. + +"The next thing to be done," said Ashman as he imprisoned the hand of +Ariel and drew her head upon his shoulder, "is to find some boat in +which we can float down stream. It will be less work than we had in +ascending it." + +"I suppose," she replied, "that there are people all the way along the +river until you reach the end of it." + +"There are; but we found most of them unfriendly long before we struck +the region of the Aryks." + +"Are they likely to attack us?" she asked, raising her head and looking +at her lover with an alarmed expression. + +"We had little difficulty, so long as we kept in the middle of the +stream, and one discharge from our guns was generally enough to drive +them away." + +"And for how far does this prevail?" + +"Two or three days ought to take us out of the danger. Then it will be +plain sailing all the rest of the way. The river is long, but, +dearest, we shall be with each other, and it will seem brief." + +She parted her lips to make a suitable reply, when a startled +expression came upon her lovely countenance and she whispered: + +"They must have followed us through the woods." + +"What do you mean?" he asked, grasping his rifle. + +"I hear some one moving behind us." + +"It is a wild animal----" + +He checked himself, for, to his unspeakable amazement, Professor +Grimcke at that instant stepped to view. + +The two men caught sight of each other at the same moment. They stared +as if in doubt, and then, with exclamations of delight, clasped hands. + +By great good fortune, the lovers had emerged from the forest within a +stone's throw of the point where Grimcke, Long, Bippo, and Pedros were +waiting with the canoe hidden among the trees. + +After this reunion they set out for home. + +A few days carried them beyond danger, and in good time the Amazon was +reached. Bippo and Pedros were left at Marcapa, at which port the +explorers secured passage for home, where they arrived in safety. And +in that land, so strange to the beauteous Ariel, daughter of Haffgo, +king of the Murhapas, we bid good-by to our friends. But to her, +Ashman was all the world; and in the sunshine of their mutual love they +dwell to-day, happy, grateful, contented, and envying no one, assured, +as they are, that none can be more blessed than they. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAND OF MYSTERY*** + + +******* This file should be named 16855-8.txt or 16855-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/8/5/16855 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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