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diff --git a/43266-0.txt b/43266-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43ad51e --- /dev/null +++ b/43266-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6117 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43266 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 43266-h.htm or 43266-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43266/43266-h/43266-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43266/43266-h.zip) + + + + + +[Illustration: _A large wildcat was greedily devouring the remains of +a small deer._] + + +LOST IN THE WILDS OF BRAZIL + +by + +JAMES FOSTER + + + + + + +The Saalfield Publishing Company +Akron, Ohio New York + +Copyright, MCMXXXIII +The Saalfield Publishing Company + +Printed in the United States of America + + * * * * * * + + THE EXPLORATION SERIES + BY JAMES FOSTER + LOST IN THE WILDS OF BRAZIL + CAPTURED BY THE ARABS + SECRETS OF THE ANDES + THE FOREST OF MYSTERY + + * * * * * * + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I A Startling Discovery 1 + II Firebugs at Work 12 + III Valuable Information 19 + IV The Treacherous Crook 30 + V A Worth-while Offer 42 + VI Off for the Wilds of Brazil 49 + VII New York-And On 58 + VIII The Beginning of Trouble 62 + IX A Daring Rescue 71 + X In the Heart of the Jungle 83 + XI On the Alert 93 + XII A Fearful Sight 98 + XIII The Death Struggle 107 + XIV The Deserted Village 126 + XV Danger at Hand 122 + XVI A Thrilling Encounter 132 + XVII Terrible Peccaries 140 + XVIII A Nightmare Experience 150 + XIX The Call for Help 157 + XX Fighting Against Heavy Odds 165 + XXI Magnificent Country 174 + XXII Lost in the Wilds of Brazil 180 + XXIII Terrible Cries of Savages 188 + XXIV The Hideous Village 199 + XXV Reunion at Last 210 + XXVI The Terrible Battle 227 + XXVII Human Heads Still Dripping! 232 + XXVIII The Forced Get-away 238 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A Startling Discovery + + +"Look here, Joe. There's something stirring. I know the signs. Our +dads wouldn't keep together constantly, studying maps and reading +books and making frequent trips to the museum, for nothing. It----" + +"You're right, Bob. They certainly must have something important in +mind. And I have an idea as to what it is." + +"Another expedition into the unknown," cut in Bob Holton, in tones +that implied certainty. + +"But where, do you suppose?" asked Joe Lewis, his brown eyes sparkling +with interest. + +"More than I know," the other youth replied. "Could be any place. But +wherever it is, I'll bet they've been there before. They just travel +from one end of this little old world to another in search of birds +and reptiles and animals, and they always find them." + +"And always will," added Joe with strong conviction. "Why," he went +on, becoming even more absorbed, "do you remember the time they went +to Africa in search of a white rhinoceros?" + +"Yes. Looked high and low for several months, and finally got one +after all hopes had been abandoned. Oh, it takes them to do it. Just +let the curator mention the things wanted, and if it's at all +possible, our dads will get them. All specimens are alike to----" + +He was interrupted by the sound of footsteps from the side of the +house and turned to see who the person might be. While he is looking +expectantly, it might be well to tell who the boys were, and what had +been their experiences up to the time this story opens. + +Bob was a big fellow, strong and muscular, and endowed with the +ability to do the right thing at the right time. He was one of the +star players on the high school football team. Everyone liked him--he +was so straightforward and sympathizing and trustworthy. + +Joe was of medium size, with almost black eyes and a naturally dark +complexion. He was lighter and less robust than his friend, but was +possessed of fierce courage and bravery. He never started a thing +without finishing it. + +Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis, fathers of the youths, were noted +naturalists and collectors of specimens for museums and zoos. They had +been nearly everywhere and always welcomed any hint that might start +them on a new trip into the unknown. The two men had met several years +before at a convention of scientists, and took a great liking to each +other. As they both lived in Washington, D. C., they agreed to work +together in behalf of a large museum, and Mr. Lewis made an attempt to +purchase the residence next to that of his friend. He was at last +successful in acquiring it, and then began the warm friendship between +the two youths, Bob and Joe. + +The boys were together much of their time and got along excellently, +following in their fathers' footsteps as much as possible by taking +hikes into the woods to study nature. Fresh with the vigor of youth, +they were having a grand time together, but would have had a still +greater one had they been permitted to accompany the men on the +various scientific expeditions. + +"You're only freshmen," Mr. Holton had told them, about three years +before. "Wait till you're juniors or seniors, and then perhaps we will +consider taking you along." + +Now the boys were in their senior year, or would be when school opened +the coming fall, and were eagerly anticipating the future. + +"If they'd only make a trip this summer," said Joe, shortly after +school had closed. "Then we might----" + +Let us return to the boys, as they cast glances at the side of the +house. The sound of footsteps grew louder, and the next moment Bob's +father came into view. + +"Hello, Dad." + +"Hello, Mr. Holton." + +The naturalist returned the greetings and then made his way to a porch +seat. Several moments he spent in lighting a cigar. Then he turned to +the youths. + +"What's all this praise you've been giving Mr. Lewis and me for our +scientific work?" he asked, trying hard to suppress a smile. + +The young men grinned. They had not suspected this. + +"You got it right," returned Joe. "You two have done as much for the +museum as anyone else in this old U. S. And that's as straight as a +lion's tail when he's about to charge." + +Mr. Holton laughed unbelievingly. + +"I know your game," he chuckled. "You're paving the way to accompany +us on that Brazilian trip we're about to take. Right?" + +Bob and Joe jumped to their feet in wild excitement. A trip to Brazil! +Think of that! Then their supposition was correct. Something was +stirring after all. + +Mr. Holton guessed their thoughts and broke the short period of +suspense. + +"It's an expedition to the jungles of the Amazon," he explained, as +the boys seated themselves and listened with breathless interest. +"Going to get specimens of fauna for the museum. In addition, we wish +to make a study of several wild Indian tribes there. It's a trip I've +always wished to take, but, strange to say, I've never had the +opportunity. You boys probably know that this region is one of the +least-known on the face of the globe. It has the world's heaviest +forests, some of the most savage of people, and a wide variety of +birds and beasts." + +"Great!" blurted out Joe in a strange, animated tone. "How wonderful +it would be! Away out in the wildest of Brazilian wilds, seeing +strange and astonishing things--things that only a very few have the +opportunity of seeing." + +"It's my idea of adventure," declared Bob, taking up where his friend +had left off. "Why can't you arrange to take us with you?" + +The scientist eyed the young men intently with an expression of +sympathy. + +"Then you want to go that badly?" he asked, and then his eyes fell. He +had been young himself once. How often had he visualized this very +mission! How many times had he tramped through the heavy Western +woods, imagining himself in a great tropical forest, with its +mysteries, thrills, and tragedies! If those longings could only have +been satisfied when they were strongest! + +For over a minute Mr. Holton stared thoughtfully at the floor. Then, +with twinkling eyes, he glanced up at the boys. + +"What would you give to go with us?" he asked, his face brightening. + +"What!" cried Bob, with a look that combined delight with +bewilderment. "You mean that we can go?" + +"Not exactly," was the reply. "I just asked you what you'd give to +go." + +"Everything!" blurted out Joe. "Everything we've got--and then some. +Oh, do take us, Mr. Holton," he went on more pleadingly. "We're old +enough by now to take care of ourselves." + +"I'd like to have you," the naturalist said. "And so would your +father. But your mothers----" Here he stopped. It was unnecessary to +continue. The youths understood. + +"But I'm sure they'll consent," Bob said, with a certainty that he was +far from feeling. "Especially if they know you are willing to have +us." + +"Of course there's a possibility," the man assured them. "But I +wouldn't be too sure of it. You know how they are. Unwilling to have +their sons take any unnecessary risks. Well, perhaps they're right," +he went on, tapping the chair thoughtfully. "Perhaps it isn't best to +tax good fortune too much. You boys are young and have a great future +before you. What if anything should happen----" + +"But, Dad," Bob pleaded, "nothing will happen. We'd be with you and +Mr. Lewis--and anyone else who would be along. Nothing has happened to +you so far. You've always come back O.K." + +"We've had some narrow escapes, though," with a shaking of the head. +"Fever, wild beasts, savages, hurricanes--there's no limit to the +number of tragedies that may befall an expedition into the unknown. +But then," his tones became more lively, "you boys want to go with us +regardless of these dangers, and if I must say so, I believe you'd +make a good showing. I'll talk the matter over with Mr. Lewis and your +mothers and let you know later how things look." + +"Fine!" cried Bob, overwhelmed with joy. "Now tell us some more about +this mission. What section of Amazonia do you intend to explore?" + +"The lower middle," was the response. "We intend to follow the Amazon +to the Purús River, where we'll branch off and travel by native canoes +for approximately five hundred miles." + +Joe gave a long whistle. + +"Five hundred miles by canoe!" he gasped, almost unbelievingly. "Seems +almost impossible. How can you take food enough along?" + +"Does seem sort of absurd. But we'll manage it. And we expect to live +on game and fish to a certain extent. Everything will have to be timed +to a dot. We won't dare stay any longer than our food supply lasts. +When that begins to get low, back to civilization we'll go." + +"How long do you expect to be gone?" Bob asked. + +"We--ll, perhaps three or four months. We want to get as much done as +possible. You see," he explained, "as I said before, our stay is +limited to the supply of provisions we have with us. If it were +possible to carry enough, I would like to spend at least six months +there. What a wonderful opportunity to study primitive man in his +everyday life." + +"Should think it would be rather dangerous," remarked Joe. "He might +object and study you instead. Headhunters, I mean." + +"It's a chance we have to take," was the reply. "But after all, if we +treat them kindly there is little danger. Human nature is much the +same all over the globe." + +"I'll trust you to come out all right," Bob said. + +"We hope to," the scientist returned. "And we also hope to add +greatly to the world's knowledge of Brazil and its animal +inhabitants." + +"At present that isn't very much, is it?" Joe asked. + +"You can't exactly say that," Mr. Holton answered, "for a large amount +is known about different sections that have been more or less +frequented by civilized man. But when you refer to the deeper, more +inaccessible regions, then it's different. Of course there have been +numerous expeditions sent out to explore these unknown sections, but +even now there is a large and interesting field open to the +scientist." + +"Well," said Bob, after a short silence, "I only hope that Joe and I +may go with you." + +"We'll see about it," his father replied. "But I can assure you that +consent from your mothers will not come without considerable---- Well! +Look who's here. Come on the porch and sit down, Ben." He referred to +Joe's father, Mr. Lewis, who, as usual, was to be his intimate +companion during their stay in Brazil. + +Mr. Lewis was a man of medium height, with sparkling blue eyes and a +complexion that was extremely bronzed. + +"Hello, friends," he greeted, seating himself and wiping the +perspiration from his brow. "I suppose," he said to Mr. Holton, +"you've been telling the boys about our coming expedition to South +America. Right?" + +"Right!" echoed Bob. "And not only that, but Joe and I are going with +you." + +"What's that!" Mr. Lewis cried in surprise. + +"Yes," Bob's father returned, "they've put in their request to be a +part of the expedition. What do you think of it?" + +"Well--a--I hardly know. How do you think their mothers will look at +it?" + +Mr. Holton shook his head. + +"Impossible to say," he answered. "But we can all guess. Still, if we +see fit to take the boys along, we can put the matter before them. +They may consent after considerable pleading." + +"Hurrah!" cried Joe, in tones of gratitude. "And I'm sure----" + +He stopped suddenly and sniffed the air sharply. + +"There's something burning," he said quietly, and then moved around +the house. + +The next instant he was back, pale-faced and panic-stricken. + +"Our garage is on fire!" he cried. "It's all ablaze!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +Firebugs at Work! + + +At Joe's ominous words, Mr. Lewis leaped to his feet. + +"Come on," he said in wild excitement. "We can't get there any too +quickly, for not only are the cars in danger but a satchel of valuable +papers as well." + +"Something in connection with our expedition to Brazil?" asked Bob's +father, as he took second place in the race to the garage. + +"Yes. They're very important. I should have taken them in the house at +once." + +As they turned to look at the scene, a feeling of helplessness crept +over them, for already the blaze had leaped high in the air, and the +crackling sound told that the fire had made considerable headway. + +Bob rushed into the house and telephoned the fire department. Then, +with Mrs. Lewis and Joe's sister, he moved back outside, to see that +the structure was blazing even higher. + +Meanwhile the others had unlocked the doors and were inside, doing +their best to roll out the cars. But the smoke was so thick that they +were making little headway. + +"Quick!" cried Mr. Holton. "Where are the keys, Ben?" + +"I don't know. I--I can't seem to find them. Should be in my pocket. +No, guess I left them in the house." + +The next instant he was gone, leaving his friends to survey the +situation more carefully. + +"It strikes me," remarked Bob thoughtfully, "that if we wait for him +to return with the keys it will be too late." + +"But what--how----" Mr. Holton stammered, but was interrupted by his +son. + +"The only way that I can see is to break the glass in one of the +doors. Then we can get inside to release the emergency brake. How +about it?" + +"I'd hate to do that, my boy. Yet there seems to be no other way out." + +As Bob had stated, it was evident that if they were to wait for the +keys the cars would be badly burned. There was a possibility that the +gasoline tanks might even explode, for at intervals particles of +ignited timber fell from the blazing roof and missed them only a few +inches. Rapidly the flames crept downward. Already they were halfway +down the wall and moving like lightning. There was no time to lose. +Something must be done! + +"Come on," Bob urged, entering the garage once more. "We must get +those cars out at any cost." + +He looked about for some object with which he could break a glass, but +could see nothing. + +"If there was only a board, or even----" + +"Here," came from his father, moving on up with a sharp piece of +metal, "let me do it." + +There was a crash, a splintering of glass, and the next moment Mr. +Holton was inside. It took but a second to release the parking brake, +and then the car rolled easily out of danger. + +"There," panted the naturalist, rubbing his hand over his forehead. +"Now to get to the coupé." + +Just then there came the sound of fire bells, and before they had +attended to the other car, several fire trucks pulled up in front of +the house. Their occupants were easily attracted to the scene of the +fire, and they lost no time in hurrying back. + +"Quick!" yelled Joe, almost panic-stricken. "Let's get Dad's private +car out. The enamel is already off the left front fender." + +Again Mr. Holton made use of the iron pipe, and the remaining +automobile was pushed out just in time to avoid a large section of the +roof that suddenly caved in. + +"A narrow escape!" breathed Bob, stopping only for a moment to examine +the finish that had been slightly scorched. + +"A very narrow one," returned Joe, as he thought of what would have +happened had the roof fallen on the top. + +By now two lines of hose had been attached, and firemen were working +unflinchingly to check the cruel flames which, owing to a strong north +wind, were protruding several yards beyond the roof. Occasionally a +spark would fly over to the house, and this did not in the least +simplify the efforts of the fire fighters. + +A large crowd had gathered to view the spectacle and included several +of Bob's and Joe's friends who lived near by. + +"Some blaze, eh, fellows?" was the comment made by John Peterman, a +classmate in school. + +"The biggest I've seen for an age," put in Tom Rogers, another friend. + +"How'd it start?" asked another. + +"Beyond us," answered Bob. "Do you have any idea, Joe?" + +"No. I'm sure Dad wouldn't have left a cigar stub----" + +"Impossible," his chum broke in, "for that blaze started on or near +the roof." + +Mr. Lewis had now joined the others, and his delight was beyond words +when he saw that the cars had been removed in time to avert disaster. + +"I kept thinking that I could find the key," he said. "I finally did, +but not in time to save them." + +Gradually the flames were diminishing, and if the firemen kept up the +good work it promised to be over in a short time. + +"Good thing that your garage is quite a distance over," remarked Joe +to his friend. "One is bad enough without having two on fire." + +Finally the last blaze was extinguished amid a rousing cheer from the +crowd, and, after closer examination inside, the firemen left the +scene, and the crowd gradually thinned until no one was left but Bob, +Joe, their fathers, and a few neighbors. + +"Covered by insurance, isn't it?" inquired Bob of Mr. Lewis, as they +cast a resentful look at the charred beams of the structure that had +once been a fine garage. + +"Yes, but this may delay our expedition to Brazil for a week or two +until I can look after the reconstruction of it. That is"--he glanced +at Mr. Holton--"unless your father objects." + +"Not in the least," came from that individual. "In fact," he went on, +"that is about the only way out." + +Bob and Joe walked into the burned building. All about were +ashes--ashes that had once been the roof of the structure. The +charcoal smell was strong about them. + +"Don't know where we'll keep the cars tonight," said Joe, glancing up +through the hole in the roof. + +"Guess we can find room in our garage," his friend replied. "We only +have the one car, and it doesn't take up all the room by any means." + +"Awfully good of you." + +Suddenly Bob uttered an exclamation that brought his friend hurrying +to his side. + +"What is it?" Joe asked. + +For answer the other youth pointed to a small tin box that was black +from being in the fire. It had hung on the wall behind an old radiator +hood, which had a moment before fallen to the floor. + +"What could that be?" Bob Holton asked. "Does it belong to your dad?" + +Joe reached up and took it down from its hanger. + +"Has a hole in the top. And what's that thing protruding from the +side?" + +"Beyond me. Could be a---- Great Scott! Come on. We must get it to +your father at once." + +Bewildered, Joe followed his friend to the back door, where the two +men were still conversing. + +"What does this mean?" asked Bob coolly, handing the box to Mr. Lewis. + +The latter examined it closely for a moment. Then, suddenly grasping +the meaning, he stared at the others. + +"Firebugs at work!" he exclaimed, fumbling the box nervously. "Someone +_set_ the garage on fire!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Valuable Information + + +At the remark Mr. Holton gasped in astonishment. + +"Who would it be?" he asked. "Has anyone got anything against you?" + +"Not that I know of," Joe's father replied. "Let me think." + +He assumed a mood of thoughtful anxiety, and Mr. Holton took the small +box for a closer examination. It was about eight inches square, with a +hole in the top out of which protruded a short iron stem. Inside, an +alarm clock was still ticking. + +"Hmm! That fire was probably set for ten o'clock," Mr. Holton +murmured, as he noticed that it was now nearly eleven. + +"How long ago do you suppose it was set?" inquired Bob. + +"Impossible to say," the response came. "It couldn't have been more +than twelve hours ago, however." + +Mr. Lewis looked up. + +"I can think of several people who could be bad enough to do this," he +said thoughtfully. "But I cannot say which one it would be. + +"First I might mention a man who wanted to buy some specimens from me, +but I declined to sell them. He had a sour disposition, and his temper +was thoroughly aroused when, after he had offered large sums of money, +I refused him. Said he'd get even some time." + +"What'd he want with them?" Joe asked. + +"Wanted to sell them to a well-known museum. You see they were very +rare birds that I got in New Zealand, and he'd have been offered a +large sum for them." + +"Could be the very man!" Mr. Holton said. "Who else might have done +it?" + +"A rival naturalist," the other returned. "Name is Davis--Thomas T. +Davis. Perhaps you remember, Howard. The fellow with the gold +eyeglasses and scarred face. Said he got it when a tiger sprang at +him. Always----" + +"Yes," Mr. Holton interrupted, his eyes bright with sudden +recollection. "The museum employed him awhile, didn't it?" + +Joe's father nodded. + +"He always had a dislike for me," he went on. "Didn't like it at all +when I headed that expedition to central Asia." + +There was a short silence. Then Mr. Lewis made a resolution. + +"I'm going to put this matter in the hands of detectives," he said. +"They may be able to figure it out." + +"That's the thing to do," Bob agreed. "Seems to me, though, that this +first man you mentioned is responsible. The one who wanted to buy the +specimens from you." + +"Could be. But I am very much in doubt as to whether he would do such +a thing." + +"Are you certain that there is no one else that has anything against +you?" Mr. Holton questioned. + +"No. Not certain. But fairly sure." + +Suddenly Bob's face lightened, and he turned to Mr. Lewis. + +"Do you know where this man lives? The one who wanted to buy the +specimens from you, I mean." + +"Why--yes," Mr. Lewis faltered. "That is, I have it in my memorandum. +What do you want with it?" + +"Don't know that it'll be any good at all. But we could inquire of his +neighbors what kind of man he is." + +"Good idea. Better let me go, though." + +Bob shook his head. + +"Joe and I haven't anything else to do," he argued, "and we'll be glad +to do it." + +"All right. Come in the house and I'll put his name and address on +paper." + +In a short time Mr. Lewis was back with a folded paper, which he +handed to Bob. + +"Now use tact in getting your information," he said. "Remember, don't +let the people you inquire of in on the secret." + +"We won't," came the response, and after securing permission to use +Mr. Holton's sedan, they left for the man's address. + +What would they find? Would the people living near know anything about +this person? Would the youths find that he had moved and, owing to his +criminal record, had told no one of his new location? These questions +were in the minds of Bob and Joe as they went farther toward their +destination. + +After a twenty-minute ride they pulled up on a poor cross street near +the city limits and gazed to their left at a small house set back from +the sidewalk. Directly beside it was another house of slightly better +appearance. + +"That's the place," pronounced Bob. "Doesn't look like anyone's at +home." + +"Let's go to the house next to it," suggested Joe, getting out of the +car. "We'll trust to luck that the occupants are not related to the +man we're after." + +The boys made their way to the door and knocked. For over a minute +they waited in silence. Then, as it was evident that there was no one +at home, they turned to leave. But at that moment a small car moved up +to the curb and stopped. Two men got out and started toward the house +where the alleged crook lived. But the second they caught sight of Bob +and Joe they turned back to their car. + +"Come on," whispered Bob. "Let's follow them. I have a notion that one +of those fellows is the man we're after." + +Joe nodded in agreement. + +"Did you notice how strange they acted when they saw us?" he asked. +"Perhaps they thought we were officers that had come to arrest them." + +The youths made their way to their automobile and had the motor +started just as the other car whizzed away. + +For over ten minutes they followed cautiously, and they were satisfied +that the men had not noticed them. Then at last they turned up a +dilapidated street and stopped in front of a small, weather-beaten +house. Here they left the car and went inside, while Bob and Joe +stopped a square away. + +"Let's go up and look around," suggested Joe. + +As quietly as possible, the boys walked up to the house. + +"Come around to the back," beckoned Joe. "There might be a window." + +His supposition proved correct, for they found one before they reached +the back porch. The glass was out and the opening was boarded up +fairly tight, but there were several large cracks. + +Cautiously Bob leaned up close and peeped inside. Then he turned to +Joe. + +"Four men inside," he whispered. "Two of them are the ones we +followed. Wait! Let's hear what they're saying." + +Again he leaned over to the window, this time to listen. Joe squeezed +up close that he might hear also. + +"Where do you suppose he is?" one man was saying in a gruff voice. + +"Left town, mebbe," another answered. "Just plain slipped out on us, +an' him owin' us a lot of dough." + +"The dirty tramp!" a third said with an oath. "We'll get him, don't +you worry. No guy can put anything over on us!" + +"He's afraid of the cops, no doubt," the first said. "Maybe---- But +say! Speakin' of cops, we saw a couple of guys at the house next door +to him, and nobody lives there. Haven't for two months. They might +have been detectives." + +"He means us," whispered Joe. "We scared them off, I guess." + +The man who had been silent now spoke. + +"You may be right," he said. "It don't take them detectives long to +get on a guy's trail. If you stick around where you been keepin' +yourself they'll get you sure. That's prob'ly the reason why this guy +ain't home. Give him time. He'll settle with us." + +But the first man was impatient. + +"We want our dough now!" he bawled. "We was supposed to have it at +noon an' he didn't come. He owes us a good many bucks, and for the +spark machine too. He was supposed to pay for that, you know." + +Bob and Joe looked at each other. The spark machine! + +"That proves it!" Bob whispered, gritting his teeth. "They're the +fellows that set your dad's garage on fire, all right! We'll make +them----" + +"Shhh!" + +"But listen, Tim," one of the men was saying, "there ain't any use to +get hot-headed yet. I know this guy pretty well. I've done a lot for +him and he's done a lot for me. He's never backed out on me yet. He's +got plenty of money, even if he is tryin' hard to get more. + +"Here's what let's do. Let's give him till tomorrow night, and then if +he don't pay us we can go after him." + +"All right." And the agreement was made. + +Bob and Joe looked at each other. What were they to do now? They had +secured evidence that these men were the guilty ones. Now would it be +best to report the matter to the police at once, or had they better +wait longer for any further information that the crooks might +unknowingly give them? + +"Let's wait a few more minutes," suggested Joe. "They might leave the +house just as we made for our car, and then it would be too bad." + +Bob thought this good advice, and he leaned against the house to wait. +Joe remained at the window. + +For a minute there was silence inside. Then the man called Tim got up +from his chair and started for the door. + +"Where you goin'?" he was asked. + +"Over to see if I can't collect that dough," he growled. "Anybody want +ter go with me?" + +"What's the use?" one fellow asked. "We was there not more than an +hour ago." + +"All right. Leave it to me." + +He walked on toward the door. + +"Come on," muttered Joe. "Let's get to our car before he gets away." + +As hastily, yet as quietly, as possible the youths ran around the +back of the house and through the alley for a distance of about a +square. Then they turned out to the street and to their car. + +Joe had the motor started just as the crook left the curb. + +"Let's head him off," suggested Bob. "We can easily get there before +he does if we cut across and not take the through street." + +"Good idea," and the car was turned up a narrow cross street. + +Before long the boys were in the neighborhood of the house occupied by +that man who had indirectly set Mr. Lewis's garage on fire by hiring +criminals experienced in that line to do it. + +"Be careful and don't get too close," warned Joe, as they neared the +structure. + +"O. K. Let's go around the alley. We can park there for a few minutes +and nobody will know anything about it." + +The car was turned into the alley and parked almost directly behind +the house. Then the youths got out to stretch their legs and decide on +a plan of action. + +"How will we work it?" asked Joe, glancing around to see if anyone +happened to be watching them. + +For a moment there was no answer. Then Bob had an idea. + +"Let's walk up to the back door," he said. "There are a lot of trees +and shrubbery close and we can hide behind them until we are sure that +everything is all right." + +Joe agreed, and they made their way as quietly as possible. + +When close enough, they saw that the door was shut and the blinds were +drawn. It was evident that no one was at home. + +Suddenly there came a noise from the front of the house and both boys +concealed themselves behind a large clump of bushes. + +"Someone's coming around to the back door," breathed Bob. + +"Probably that's Tim who came back here to collect the money owed him. +The fellow we headed off, I mean. Yes, it's he," Joe observed, peeking +down the side of the house. + +The sound of footsteps grew louder, and the next minute the man +stepped around the corner, fists clinched and face scowling. + +"Come on," said Bob, and leaving his place of hiding he launched +himself with full force on the back of the crook. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Treacherous Crook + + +With an oath the man shook Bob off and turned to deal with him. + +"You?" he growled in surprise. "You, little more than a kid, would +dare to fight Tim Donnahan? Why, I'll----" + +The sentence remained unfinished, for at that moment Bob's fist shot +out with lightning rapidity and caught the man squarely between the +eyes. Without an outcry he went sprawling to the ground and rolled +over. + +For a second he remained dazed. Then he recovered himself and regained +his feet. + +Summoning all his power he lunged forward, mouth foaming and eyes +glaring with rage. + +It was easy to see that Bob was dealing with no weakling. His heaving +chest was in itself a symbol of strength, as were also the powerful +arms and heavy body. But then neither was Bob a weakling, as he had +displayed so many times before. True he did not delight in fighting, +but when called upon he was able to give a good account of himself. If +the truth be known, he had not only won cups and letters in high +school football and basketball, but in boxing as well. Joe was lighter +and less robust, although by no means easy to knock out. + +Now, as the young men faced this crook, there was a strong desire to +win in their minds. Here was a chance--perhaps the only one they would +have--to bring these men to justice for their cruel, underhanded way +of getting even with Mr. Lewis for a trivial matter. + +They possessed two fears. What if this fellow had a gun with him and +thought nothing of using it? And what if the arch-crook would emerge +from the house? + +"If he only stays away," thought Bob, as he cleverly ducked the large +fist that came with all force. + +For nearly five minutes the fight kept up, neither of the participants +gaining anything. + +Then suddenly the man swung around in an unguarded moment and sent his +fist crashing into Bob's jaw. Taken unawares, the youth went to the +ground, almost unconscious. + +Grinning in triumph, the crook was reaching for a revolver when Joe +leaped forward and threw him on his side. The impact hurled the gun +several feet away, and both made for it. + +But Bob was there first! He had struggled to his senses while Joe did +his part to prevent calamity. + +"Get back!" Bob commanded, flashing the automatic in the man's face. +"It's all over now!" + +For a moment the fellow could not believe that the tide had turned. He +stared first at Bob and then at Joe, muttering to himself. Once he +started forward, but, as the gun was pressed in his face, he shrank +back, apparently giving himself over to any fate. + +"Get goin'," Joe commanded, advancing a step or two. + +The order was obeyed, and they marched out to the alley, where Mr. +Holton's car remained, unmolested. + +"Now," said Bob, handing the key to Joe, "I'll get in the back seat +and guard this man, and you get in front and drive us to the police +station." + +No conversation was carried on during the trip, for the boys resolved +to take no chances. + +"At any minute he might attempt a get-away," thought Joe, as he +increased the speed as much as was consistent with safety. + +Through streets and side streets they went, until at last they found +themselves near the city's business district. It was thought best not +to travel on the busy thoroughfares for fear of attracting attention. + +After rounding a sharp corner, Joe found it necessary to stop quickly +at a traffic signal. + +Directly to the right was a horde of people, gathered to witness a +ceremony of the Salvation Army. There were fully thirty in the crowd, +and shrill notes of a trumpet attracted more spectators constantly. + +Suddenly Bob and Joe were taken in total surprise. Their captive +leaned out of the car window and, hailing the crowd of people, cried, +"Help! A hold-up! Help!" + +Immediately the people's attention was attracted, and with wonder and +curiosity they rushed toward the screaming man. + +The two youths, because of the suddenness of the unexpected +happening, could not immediately master the situation. + +The crowd enfolded the car and rushed toward Bob and Joe, against whom +the criminal had directed them. + +"Well, of all the rotten experiences!" muttered Bob Holton, as a tall +man grasped him by the arm none too gently. And upon glancing behind +he saw that Joe, too, had been taken a mistaken prisoner. + +So their captive had won out after all! Thus it seemed to the boys, +but they clinched their fists, and Bob especially was determined not +to be beaten so easily. + +True they might wait and explain matters to the police, and if they +did not believe, perhaps the judge would. But there was too much +chance of losing, even though there was a possibility of winning. + +The next instant they saw that it would be impossible to settle later, +for the crook, deciding it best to take advantage of the situation, +opened the door of the car, and with the words, "Arrest these +fellows," he ran down the street, leaving the crowd to stare in +surprise and wonder. + +Thinking it useless to explain to the people in time to recapture the +man, Bob suddenly sent his fist crashing into the man who still had +hold of his arm with such force that he went down in a dazed +condition. + +For a second the youth was free and, gathering courage, he broke +through the mass of people and dashed down the street in pursuit of +the escaped criminal, who could be seen some two blocks ahead. + +"I ought to catch him after awhile," the youth thought, as he noted +that the man was rapidly losing ground. + +Several more minutes brought pursuer and pursued to the Potomac River, +and Bob feared that the man might attempt to swim across but was +mistaken. + +The youth was now close upon him, and when they came to a small clump +of shrubbery, Bob resolved to end the chase. + +"Here goes," he thought, and, exerting himself to the utmost, he +caught up and aimed his foot in the man's path. + +With an exclamation of rage the fellow went down head first in a clump +of bushes. + +Immediately he was up, and with a hoarse bellow he aimed a blow at his +young enemy's chin. But Bob dodged and with expert quickness sent his +fist smashing into the man's nose. + +Stunned, dazed, bewildered at this youth's daring, he again took +flight, Bob at his heels. + +Had the revolver not been taken from him by the crowd of people, Bob +would have been tempted to open fire. + +Suddenly a man appeared not far away, and Bob called to him for +assistance. The stranger finally grasped the meaning, and not +questioning the cause of the chase, started after the criminal from +another direction. + +"We've got him," panted Bob, as he came within an arm's reach. "It's +all over now." + +And so it was. With a terrific crack to the chin the youth sent his +enemy to the ground unconscious. + +"But what does this all mean?" demanded the stranger who had helped in +the capture. + +"He's a criminal," Bob answered. "Set a garage on fire. Tell you later +if you'll give me your name and address. Mine's Bob Holton. I live +at----Wait, here's one of Dad's cards." + +The stranger accepted the card and in turn gave his name and address, +but it was evident that he was very much puzzled about the whole +affair. + +The criminal's eyes were opening, and he squirmed about uneasily. At +last he seemed fully revived and sat up. + +"Where's an officer?" Bob asked, looking about. + +"Here," came a shout, and the next moment a policeman stepped up, +looked at the downed captive and then at Bob. + +"Take this man to the police station," the youth directed. + +"You're certain you've got the goods on him?" + +"Yes. I'll come along with you." + +Tim Donnahan slowly responded to the officer's command to "rise an' +get goin'," and they started to a police telephone, where a call for a +patrol wagon was to be made. + +Meanwhile Joe, who was left behind in the car when Bob made his +escape, had resolved to free himself if it were at all possible. He +saw that it would be impossible to break away as his friend had done, +for the crowd was all the more determined to bring him to justice as a +"hold-up man," which they didn't doubt that he was. So the only thing +left was to do his best to make them believe what he told them. + +"I tell you it's a mistake," he pleaded. "This first fellow that got +away is the guilty person. We caught him after he had set fire to my +father's garage. We were taking him to the police station when he +pulled his gag about being held up. You noticed he lost no time in +getting away, didn't you? Would a man who wasn't guilty have done such +a thing?" + +His tones were so much in earnest that many of the people were +inclined to believe him. + +"He's telling the truth, all right," declared one man, nodding. + +Several policemen now came up on motorcycles, and Joe again told his +story. + +"My friend is still after the crook down the street," he said, as +finishing words. + +"All right," one of the officers replied, as if he believed. "Suppose +we go down the street and investigate. I'll get in the car with you." + +Joe, glad of the chance to prove that he had told the truth, did as +directed. + +A little farther down they pulled up beside the crowd that had +gathered at the spot where Bob had caught the criminal. + +"There they are," pointed out Joe, as he saw his friend, a policeman, +and Tim Donnahan making their way to a telephone. + +"Bob did get him," observed Joe, overwhelmed with joy. + +The car was stopped beside them, and a short discussion was held. + +Bob was asked to tell his story, and the policemen noted that it +exactly coincided with that told by the other boy. + +"Looks like a clear case on you," one of the officers said to Tim +Donnahan, but the man remained silent. + +"I'll go with you fellows to the garage that burned," the other +officer said to Bob and Joe. "And meanwhile," he went on, "we'll send +police out to get those other crooks you were talking about." + +Bob took the wheel, and in less than fifteen minutes they pulled up in +front of Joe's house and got out. + +Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton came out to meet them. + +"What's it all about?" the latter asked, as he noted the policeman. + +"We've caught the fellows that set fire to Dad's garage," Joe +answered, and then proceeded to tell of their experiences. + +When he had finished, the men looked at their sons with intense +admiration and praise. It was evident that the youths had gone beyond +their expectations. + +"It was a brave deed!" commended Joe's father, patting them on the +back. + +But Bob protested. + +"We didn't do much. Catching that fellow wasn't so hard." + +"You got the whole gang indirectly," corrected Mr. Lewis. "Now," he +continued, "you fellows are entitled to a reward. What would you like +to have?" + +"Nothing," returned Bob. "It wasn't worth much. We came out all right +and had a lot of fun at that." + +"I won't have it that way," rejected Mr. Lewis. "You boys must have a +reward for your services, and I'm going to see that you get it. What +would you like?" + +There was a short silence. Then Joe's eyes twinkled, and he resolved +to venture a bold question. + +"Let us go with you on that trip you're about to take to the wilds of +Brazil," he said quietly. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A Worth-while Offer + + +Both Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton smiled. It was evident that they had not +expected this. + +"That's the only thing that'll satisfy you?" the former asked, his +mind working rapidly. + +The young men nodded. + +"We'll be careful and do all we can for the good of the expedition," +said Bob anxiously. "Please arrange to take us along." + +There was a period of suspense. Then the men looked at each other. + +"What will we say?" Joe's father asked, totally undecided. + +Mr. Holton had been mentally debating the subject. Now he was ready +for an answer. + +"Let's let them go," he said. "They're as big and strong as we and are +usually equal to any crisis. You see what they did to this gang of +men. Shows they are resourceful, and that's what you have to be in a +strange land where danger lurks at every step. In my opinion they'd be +a valuable asset to the expedition." + +The youths looked at Mr. Holton gratefully. They felt that the battle +was nearly half won. + +For nearly a minute Mr. Lewis was silent. Then he spoke with decision. + +"I think you're right, Howard," he said. "We'll have a talk with their +mothers this afternoon, and I am of the opinion that they'll give +their consent if we go at them right." + +"Fine!" cried Bob joyously. "Do your best to win them over. I think +they'll agree to let us go, especially since they have so much faith +in you. But say! You haven't told us who all intend to make up the +expedition. There isn't to be a large number, is there?" + +"No," Mr. Holton answered. "We only intended to have three, Mr. Lewis, +an anthropologist, and myself, but if you boys accompany us the number +will, of course, be raised to five. And perhaps," he went on, "that +would be better than to have so few. You see it isn't like an +expedition into Africa, where there are plenty of native carriers to +bear your provisions. We'll have to rely more on our own resources +and be extremely careful that we don't get lost. Several million +square miles of jungle is a wide area to cut into, especially when so +much of it is unexplored." + +"Should think it would be great fun," commented Joe, mentally +picturing the many thrills that promised to make the trip interesting. + +"It will be," Mr. Holton returned. "But it will also have its dangers. +These are mainly of human character. Why, it is said that there are +tribes of Indians so uncivilized that they think nothing of----" + +"Ahem!" Mr. Lewis cut in purposefully. + +"What were you going to say?" Joe asked. + +"Perhaps I'll tell you some other time," came the reply. "Right now I +think I'll have a look at my firearms. In all probability they need +oiling." + +He left for the house, and the others remained for several minutes +longer. Then Mr. Lewis departed also, leaving the youths to +themselves. + +"What do you suppose Dad was going to say--about the savages, I mean?" +Bob asked, glancing around to make sure that the men were gone. + +"Something that shouldn't go into our young ears," smiled Joe and then +turned to the house. + +As he did so he happened to glance out at the street, to see that two +men were making their way up to the house. Each carried a small hand +satchel. That they were strangers Joe guessed at once, although they +might not be to his father and Mr. Holton. + +Joe waited until the men were close and then turned to meet them. + +"Naturalists by the names of Lewis and Holton," one man said. "Can we +find them here?" + +"Yes," Joe replied, wondering what was meant. "Come in the house and +I'll call them." + +The strangers did as directed, and Joe went around to find his father +and Mr. Holton. + +Bob took a chair on the porch. + +Joe found the men cleaning their rifles. Neither could explain who the +strangers were. + +"Perhaps they're from the museum," said Bob's father, as he and Mr. +Lewis left for the living room of the Lewis home. + +During the discussion Bob and Joe remained on the porch, not wishing +to intrude on the naturalists' private affairs. They were not there +long, however, till Mr. Holton called them in with the others. + +"Boys, this is Mr. Weslowe, and this, Mr. Duncan, both of the Neuman +Film Corporation. The young man on my left is Joe Lewis; on my right, +Bob Holton, my son." + +After a few casual remarks, Mr. Holton proceeded to tell why the +representatives from the film corporation were there. + +"You see, they learned of our proposed expedition into the wilds of +Brazil," he explained, "and they have come to make a business +proposition. Suppose one of you continues," he ended, looking at the +men, "for if these young men are to be a part of the expedition they +should know about this." + +"As you know, we are with the Neuman Film Corporation," Mr. Weslowe +explained. "Now this house is always on the lookout for an opportunity +to take motion pictures of little-known places, and here is certainly +an opportunity. Unexplored Brazil! Ah! What a chance! + +"The minute Neuman learned of this expedition they lost no time in +sending us out here to make an offer--one that we sincerely trust you +will take up." + +He stopped to open his satchel and get out a folded paper. Then he +continued: + +"We want you to take motion pictures of Brazil for our company. Will +you do it?" + +For a few seconds no one answered. Then Mr. Lewis leaned forward. + +"Won't it be difficult?" he asked. + +"On the contrary," Mr. Duncan returned. "Very simple. Hardly anything +to it. We'll give you complete instructions and will not hold you +strictly responsible for any lost film. In fact it nearly always +happens that at least several score feet of film are lost on such an +expedition, where wet and damp have so much to do with the success of +the pictures taken." + +"Of course," said Mr. Weslowe, "we realize that yours will be an +expedition for the good of science, not to take moving pictures. It is +for this reason that we will willingly place the responsibility, which +isn't very much, in the hands of these young men here--your sons. + +"Now this will not mean," he assured them, "that they must put in all +their time for this cause. We only wish several scenes along the +journey. For instance, you might start by taking a movie of Pará, or +whatever other city you first reach. Then several hundred feet may be +used along the mainstream of the Amazon, showing the gradual progress +of the expedition. When you turn onto a less-known river, that's when +we want the real show to start. The country you'll pass through will +be wilder, and the pictures will be more interesting. But once again +let me assure you that the apparatus we'll furnish will be of the +simplest design, and you need not worry about not meeting with success +as far as that goes. And we'll pay you well for your trouble. Here's +the contract. Read it over. See what you think of it." + +He passed the paper to Mr. Holton, who shared the reading with Bob, +Joe, and Mr. Lewis. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Off for the Wilds of Brazil + + +"Well?" + +It was Mr. Weslowe's voice after the scientists and their sons had +finished reading the contract. + +Mr. Holton nodded. + +"It's all right," he declared. "Contains nothing whatever that would +be objectionable." + +Mr. Lewis agreed. + +"We'll leave the matter to the boys," he said. "They'll be the ones +who will have charge of taking the pictures. And let me say that you +can rely on them." + +"You haven't said that we can go yet," remarked Bob. "How about our +mothers? Will they consent?" + +"Yes," Mr. Lewis answered. "They finally agreed. We were planning to +make it a surprise later." + +"What!" cried Bob, while Joe gasped in astonishment. + +"Fine!" blurted out Joe, after he had regained his breath. "We don't +know how to thank you enough. And I'll be more than glad to accept +this offer to take the movies. Bob will, too, I'm sure." + +"All right," Mr. Weslowe said. "Here's a pen. You men, as the ones in +charge of the expedition, must sign here." + +They did as directed, and then the representatives prepared to depart. + +"The film, machine, and other equipment will be here inside of a +week," Mr. Duncan said. "And you'll find it as simple as we +explained." + +Then they took their leave. + +"A chance to make some money," said Mr. Lewis to the youths, as they +seated themselves on the porch awaiting the evening meal. + +"Yes," said Bob. "And I know we'll find it interesting." + +"What kind of a camera do you suppose they'll furnish?" Joe asked. + +"Probably the small, simple kind that requires no tripod. All you do +is press a button and the film is automatically exposed. But you'll +have to follow the instructions closely or the whole thing will be a +total failure. And to a certain extent, Mr. Holton and I will be held +responsible." + +Practically all of the next day was spent in the business district +purchasing various articles to be used on the coming great adventure. +In the evening when they returned home they were satisfied with +everything they had bought. Bob and Joe were especially delighted with +the new rifles that their fathers presented them, for they were of the +very latest design. + +"I suppose they'll bring down anything," said Bob, in reference to the +guns. + +"Anything but elephants, rhinos, and the like that have extremely +tough hides," his father answered. "You needn't fear them, though, for +we won't come across them in South America." + +"What is considered the most dangerous game of that continent?" asked +Joe. + +"The jaguar, generally," was the response. "He sometimes attains a +length of nearly six feet and is extremely powerful. He has been known +to attack a mustang, swim with it across a river, and place it in the +thick bushes. Again he has been seen to open fish and heavy turtles +with his powerful claws." + +"Poisonous snakes are also dangerous," said Mr. Lewis, "although they +seldom attack a man without first being disturbed." + +"There's a remedy for every such bite, isn't there?" inquired Joe. + +"Yes. That is, for nearly every one. The strange part of it is that +one antidote may be totally ineffective against one kind of poison, +while it has effect on another. You see there are several types or +classes of venomous reptiles, and each has a different type of poison. +Hence several antidotes have to be carried so as to take no chances." + +"Anacondas are not poisonous, are they?" asked Joe. + +"No," replied Mr. Holton. "They are constrictors, that kill their +victims by crushing them to death. Another name for them is 'water +boa,' because they are found near a stream or mud hole. You boys +probably know that they are among the world's largest snakes, often +being thirty feet in length and thicker than a man's leg. They are +capable of crushing an ox to death, and often tear up small trees by +the roots." + +Joe shuddered. + +"I don't think I'd care to meet one of them," he said. "Especially +since I'm not an excellent shot like you and Dad." + +"And Bob," added Mr. Lewis. Really Bob was not far behind the +naturalists in marksmanship. + +After the preparations for the trip were fully completed, the youths +and their fathers rested, for the coming venture was to be a tiresome +one, and it was wholly unwise to use too much of their energy that was +to be so much needed later. + +Meanwhile reconstruction work was being done on Mr. Lewis's garage, +and the workmen promised to have the task completed in three days. + +"Won't have to worry about that," Bob assured his chum's father. "You +can just take it easy until the time comes to leave for Brazil." + +Mr. Lewis nodded but found out later, as did Mr. Holton, that to rest +was impossible, much as they would have liked to. Frequent trips to +the museum had to be made, visits to various libraries were necessary, +and they found at last that a journey to Baltimore was inevitable. As +might be expected, they were greatly fatigued when, although every +matter was settled, only two days remained before the long mission +into the unknown. + +That afternoon Professor Bigelow, a noted anthropologist who was to +be a part of the expedition, arrived at Mr. Holton's home, where he +was to remain until the expedition would leave. He was a rather small +man, with heavy gray hair and a swarthy complexion that the boys +rightly guessed was due to his many missions into strange lands to +study primitive people. He at once took a great liking to the youths, +and together they discussed many strange happenings, which the +professor related in breath-taking tales. He told of adventures in +darkest Africa, where many little-known clans of natives were studied. +He thrilled his listeners with stories of narrow escapes from the +Dyaks of Borneo, of journeys into Ecuador to investigate the savage +head-shrinkers, into India, Mongolia, Venezuela, islands of the South +Seas, and many other strange places. Yes, it was a great life--that +pursued by an anthropologist. + +"Two more things I'd like to know," said Bob, the next afternoon. +"First, what food will we take along?" + +"That is all arranged," his father replied. "A company in New York +packed our provisions in light tin containers that are airtight and +will float on water. You don't need to worry about our having enough, +for we took into consideration the possibility of a long, unexpected +delay. What's your other question?" + +"This: Where do we sail from, New York? And on what ship?" + +Mr. Holton gasped in astonishment. + +"What!" he cried. "You don't know that yet? I thought we discussed +that matter several days ago." + +"If you did, I wasn't there," Bob returned, grinning. "We've been so +busy with preparations that I haven't given it a thought." + +"All right, I'll tell you. We sail from New York on the steamer +_Empire_, a vessel of ten thousand tons. It is scheduled to arrive in +Macapá, which is several miles inland on the Amazon, in twelve days. +Fairly good time, considering a stop at the West Indies." + +At frequent intervals Mrs. Holton and Mrs. Lewis expressed the desire +for their sons to give up the thought of accompanying the expedition, +but the boys did their best to convince their mothers that, while +there were dangers attached, they were not as numerous as one might +think. + +"Come to think of it, you can't blame them, though," said Joe. "We're +rather inexperienced in the art of exploring." + +"We'll come through all right," Bob assured him. "Oh! How I wish the +time would pass quicker!" + +Despite Bob's desire, the great day of leaving took its time in +coming. But when it did arrive, everyone was in readiness. + +"Weather's cool and the sky's clear," observed Joe, as he and Bob +lugged their belongings out to the front porch of Bob's home, where +the members of both households were to gather before the party would +leave. + +"Just the right temperature," declared Mr. Holton, who had moved up in +time to hear his son's chum. + +The train was to leave for New York at ten o'clock and the party +barely had time to get breakfast and prepare themselves and their +possessions, which, by the way, included the motion-picture cameras +and several thousand feet of film, sent ahead by the Neuman Film +Corporation. + +Bob and Joe--and the others to a less degree--had studied the +instructions on how to take motion pictures and felt that it would be +an easy matter to carry them out. + +Shortly after breakfast Mrs. Holton and Mrs. Lewis drove the family +cars out in front, and the others carried out their belongings and got +inside. + +"The last we'll see of good old Washington for several months to +come," sighed Joe, as he cast a final look at the homes they were +leaving behind. + +There were tears in the eyes of Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Holton as they +gave the youths and their fathers a warm farewell. Professor Bigelow +also took part in the leave-taking, for he was well liked by all. +Bob's smaller brother and Joe's sister gave tender good-byes, and with +one last adieu the adventurers made their way down the platform and to +the New York Limited. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +New York--And On + + +The trip to New York, while interesting, was without incident, and +they were glad to stretch their legs in the Pennsylvania Terminal, +where hundreds of people from all parts of the country were assembled. + +"Now what?" asked Joe, after a bountiful lunch. + +"Better get to a hotel," replied Mr. Holton, picking up his bags. + +The party walked outside and hailed a taxi, the driver of which agreed +to take them to a comfortable hotel near the waterfront. + +"An outside room," observed Bob, as he glanced at his ticket and +followed the others to an elevator. + +Their sleeping quarters were on the seventeenth floor, where a +wonderful view of lower Manhattan and the waterfront could be had. + +"Fairly high, but could be a lot higher," observed Joe, as he gazed +out at the scores of other tall buildings that were grouped about +them. + +"The trend is upward," remarked Mr. Lewis. "Imagine how old New York +will look fifty years from now, when there may be buildings two +hundred stories high!" + +"Suppose we go down and see how things look from the street," +suggested Mr. Holton. "Been a long time since we've been here." + +The remainder of that day was spent exploring Manhattan Island. They +turned in early in the evening, for they were very tired. + +"Tomorrow," said Bob, as he threw himself on the bed, "we'll see +sights for sore eyes." + +And they did. The scene at the dock was one of absorbing interest to +all, even as much as the men had witnessed it. Ships from all +countries were anchored in dense rows, their crewmen busy loading and +unloading cargoes. Boxes and bales were being piled in great stacks, +awaiting transfer by motor truck. Passengers and spectators crowded +closely around the sections where passenger liners were anchored. + +"Here we are," said Mr. Holton, pointing to a medium-sized ship +between two other smaller boats. "The _Empire_. Looks staunch enough." + +The others agreed and then made their way up the gangplank. A +white-clad officer came out to meet them and upon receipt of their +tickets directed them to their staterooms. + +"Large and comfortable," commented Bob, as he set down his baggage and +looked about. + +"All you could ask for," said Joe, who was to share the room with his +chum. + +The youths spent several more minutes in examining the articles +furnished them for the voyage. Then Bob turned toward the door. + +"Let's go out on deck," he suggested. "It won't be long until the ship +lifts anchor." + +On deck they found everything in readiness for the voyage, and the +scene of action below was interesting to the extreme. Crewmen hurried +back and forth with ropes, boxes, bales, and other objects, intent +upon a purpose. Visitors scurried off the ship and stood by to witness +the leaving. + +"Everyone probably wishes he were going with us," said Bob, as the +crowd grudgingly stepped back for the gangplank to be pulled in. + +The next instant the long-drawn, deep whistle of the boat sounded, +and with the ringing of gongs the engines started. A streak of foam +arose between the hull and the dock, and the ship started moving. + +"Good-bye, America!" shouted Joe, leaning far out over the rail. + +"Yes," affirmed Mr. Holton. "It's the last we'll see of good old New +York for many weeks to come." + +Mr. Holton, Mr. Lewis, and Professor Bigelow turned and walked to the +other end of the deck. Bob and Joe remained where they were. + +Neither of the youths said anything, for they were busy with their +thoughts. + +Who knew what perils might befall them before they would again see +that land they so dearly loved? + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Beginning of Trouble + + +Bob and Joe found the ocean voyage very interesting, for it was +something new to them. The waves, sea gulls, flying fish, an +occasional shark, the painted horizon, and the ship itself all held +their undivided attention and made them thrill at the fact that they +were living through an experience that only a comparative few had the +opportunity of enjoying. + +They spent much of their time on deck, enjoying the never-ending charm +of the ocean. Thus far the weather had remained peaceable enough, and +both boys expressed a desire for it to continue thus. They had never +witnessed a hurricane, but had heard from their fathers of how +destructive a tropical ocean storm could really be. + +"The ship looks strong enough to come through safely," remarked Joe, +as he cast eyes about the deck. + +"Yes," his friend replied. "She's built on the stoutest possible +lines." + +Section by section the youths explored the _Empire_ and were much +impressed by everything they saw. They visited the various passenger +quarters, the bridge, the enormous kitchens, the hold, and last and +most interesting, the engine rooms, where mammoth turbines turned +harmoniously and kept the ship at a smooth, even gait. The vessel +interested them greatly, and while not built on the enormous +proportions of the huge liners that sailed between American and +European ports, it was large enough to keep the youths wondering. + +"One of the many man-made wonders," said Bob, as he thought of how +complex the engines were. + +One of the things that impressed the boys most was the large supply of +provisions that were taken along. There were literally tons of food, +water, novelties, and other goods stored in great rooms, and every bit +was to be used on this one voyage. Artificial refrigeration kept +perishable food fresh and wholesome. + +Early the next day Bob and Joe showed their first signs of +seasickness. They had been standing at the rail watching the rolling +of the waves and were growing rather tired when Joe turned about, his +face pale and of a yellowish color. + +"I think I'll go to my berth," he said, his voice unsteady. + +"What's the matter? You----" + +"It came at last," smiled Mr. Lewis, who had moved up to the youths. +"I seldom knew it to fail. Seasickness is almost sure to be felt on +the first voyage one takes. Bob, I'm betting that before two hours +will have passed you'll be as bad off as Joe. Of course," he went on +in a tone that he tried to keep serious, "let's hope you'll have +better luck, but the chances are against you." + +Mr. Lewis's prophecy proved correct. In fact it was less than one hour +later that big Bob, after heroically postponing the dreaded +seasickness as long as he possibly could, turned and went to his berth +to join his stricken comrade. + +"Too bad," remarked Mr. Holton, closing the door of the stateroom +after cautiously peeping in. "Perhaps their next voyage--if they take +any more--will be free from unpleasantness." + +Throughout the remainder of that day the boys' condition remained +unchanged. If anything, they were worse off than before, and neither +would look at a bite of food of any kind. + +"This is terrible," moaned Joe to his father, the professor, and Mr. +Holton, who went in to see how the youths were. + +"Cheer up," Mr. Holton said in lively tones. "You can surely stand a +couple of more days." + +He was right. It was two days later when the boys began to show signs +of recovery. Then only very slowly did they resume their natural +cheerfulness. + +"Too bad we had to miss so much," mourned Bob. "But I'll admit there +wasn't much to see." + +"Nothing but water," said Joe and then turned to go into the cabin. As +he did so he happened to glance down at the stern and pointed for Bob +to follow his gaze. + +Leaning against the rail were the boys' fathers conversing with an +elderly bearded man, with a uniform that distinguished him as the +ship's captain. He seemed good-natured and humorous, for occasionally +he would cause the men to laugh so hard that they would have to grip +the rail to maintain their balance. + +"Come over, boys," Mr. Holton said, glancing up. + +They did so. + +"This," he continued, "is Captain Crowell, chief officer of the +_Empire_. Captain, this is Joe Lewis, and this, Bob Holton, the young +men we were telling you about. What do you think of them?" + +The old officer spent nearly a minute in looking the boys over. Then +he turned to the naturalists. + +"Spirited-looking chaps," he grinned. "Look as if they'd like to +deprive Brazil of every bit of animal life in it. Better not let them +have a rifle. The jaguars will all make for cover." + +"Roasting us, are you?" retorted Bob. + +"No. What creature, no matter how fierce, wouldn't be afraid of two +mates who captured a gang of desperate criminals all by themselves? +You don't need to worry about these fellows," he said to their +fathers. "They'll take care of themselves and you, too, perhaps." + +Bob and Joe took a liking to the old seaman and intended to discuss +many problems with him in the future. + +"Maybe he can suggest something to do to while the time away," said +Bob the next day, when Captain Crowell was again referred to. + +"That reminds me," the other youth blurted out. "There's a swimming +pool in the second deck. Let's go up." + +Bob readily agreed, and they were soon floating calmly about. + +"We'd better get as much out of this as we can," remarked Joe. "There +won't be a chance to enjoy this sport in Brazilian waters." + +"No," put in Bob. "The alligators and piranhas and other dangerous +forms won't give us a chance to even wade." + +The youths were not the only ones to invade the swimming pool, +however. As they neared the tropics, and the temperature steadily went +up, people from all over the ship enjoyed its cool retreat, the pool +becoming almost crowded. It was great fun. Nothing to do but just +splash about. + +Games also held the boys' attention. Shuffleboard, quoits, deck +tennis, horseshoes, and other activities played an important part in +the daily life, and in times when they desired more quiet +entertainment, the library, with its scores of books of all types, +afforded interesting occupation. + +Many leisure hours were spent conversing with Captain Crowell, who +always had a humorous tale to tell. On one occasion, when they had +been at sea nearly a week, Bob and Joe happened upon him standing at +the rail, gazing up at the sky, on his face a worried expression. + +"Big storm coming," he said, after the salutation. + +"A storm!" cried Joe and then looked upward. + +Sure enough, clouds were banking heavily, and the sun was nowhere in +sight. A stiff breeze had arisen, and with this came the smell of +rain. + +An officer came up and handed a slip of paper to the captain. He read +it, and then, with a parting word for Bob and Joe, he turned and went +toward the bridge. + +The boys looked at each other. Were things going to turn out for the +worse? Surely something serious was wrong, or the captain would never +have acted in such manner. + +"Getting darker," Bob said, as he noted that the clouds were joining. + +"Won't be long before it'll rain," prophesied Joe, and he was correct, +for it was less than ten minutes later that a heavy drizzle fell, +forcing the chums into the cabin. + +There they turned and looked out at the sea, which was rapidly getting +higher. The wind was blowing fiercely, its velocity increasing with +each minute. + +"Well, boys, what do you think of it?" + +It was Mr. Holton's voice. He and his two companions had moved up to +the glass, as had a number of other people. + +"Suppose you answer that question," replied Bob. "You're in a better +position to know than we are." + +"I believe we're in for a bad one," was the opinion voiced by +Professor Bigelow. "But how long it will last is hard to say." + +Mr. Lewis nodded. "Tropical hurricanes are very uncertain," he said. +"Sometimes they last only a few hours, while at other times they keep +up for two and three days." + +The boat was now rocking violently, and many people had difficulty in +keeping their footing. Bob and Joe took chairs that were fastened +securely to the floor. They intended to remain awake all night if the +storm did not subside. + +But exhaustion was stronger than their intentions, and finally they +stumbled to their stateroom, ready for a night's rest. + +"Storm or no storm, I'm going to turn in," Bob said, and then lost his +footing and went sprawling to the floor, with Joe on top of him. The +ship had suddenly tilted as she struck a mountainous wave. + +"Wow!" cried Joe, gripping a water pipe and righting himself. "Better +hold tight from now on or we're likely to get a bad spill." + +By almost a miracle the youths undressed. Then they tumbled into their +berths, to go to sleep at once. + +About midnight they were awakened by a shrill, long-drawn whistle, and +all the sleep knocked out of them, they were on their feet in an +instant wondering what was meant by that unusual sound in the dark of +the night. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A Daring Rescue + + +"What is it?" asked Joe, as he hurriedly slipped on his clothing. + +"Beyond me," Bob answered. "Come on. Let's go out on deck. We may be +able to find out." + +The ship was rocking terribly, and the boys found it difficult to keep +their footing. But they finally managed to catch hold of a rail, and +from then on it was easier. + +Several other passengers were up also, intent upon investigating the +strange whistle. + +"Maybe the boat's sinking," suggested Joe. + +Bob shook his head. + +"Probably isn't that. At least let's hope not." + +With beating hearts the youths came up to the glass and turned to look +out at the angry sea. Then their expression changed. + +A short distance from the _Empire_ was a small fishing schooner, its +prow out of sight in the water. On the stern stood a score or more +men, waving their arms frantically. It was evident that they were +panic-stricken, for several of them occasionally shouted for help. The +little boat tossed about violently on the crest of the mountainous +waves, her front deck gradually fading from view. Every minute it +seemed that the end would come. + +"It's sinking fast!" cried Joe. "Why don't some of our crew do +something?" + +"They are. Look." + +Farther up on the _Empire's_ deck fifteen or twenty men, under the +direction of officers, were busy lowering lifeboats, although it +looked out of reason to let them down on that sea. + +Suddenly Bob turned and started toward his berth. + +"Where you going?" Joe asked. + +"To get the motion-picture camera. Here'll be a good chance to take +some pictures. There's plenty of light around here." + +The next moment he was gone, and Joe turned to the deck. + +The roar of the storm was deafening, and the wind howled ruefully +through the funnels and masts. It was as though the end of the world +were coming. + +In less than five minutes two lifeboats were lowered, four or five men +in each one. Then slowly they made their way toward the doomed +schooner. + +Bob now returned with the movie camera and cranked away, delighted to +get an opportunity to film such an unusual happening. + +The boys, however, were not the only ones to watch the daring attempt +at rescue. In fact the glass was now crowded with people, and Mr. +Holton, Mr. Lewis, and Professor Bigelow came up and wormed their way +to their companions. + +"Most thrilling thing I ever saw!" exclaimed Mr. Holton, as he +breathlessly directed his gaze at the puny boats, which wallowed +heavily and threatened to be swamped at every moment. + +On and on went the rescue boats, their occupants bailing furiously. +Now and then they threatened to capsize but always righted themselves. + +In what seemed to be a long period of suspense to the spectators, the +_Empire's_ crew reached the fishing schooner, which was now far under +water. + +One by one the fishermen climbed into the lifeboats, although it was +necessary to give sharp commands to prevent disorder. + +When the last of the men from the doomed boat stepped into the +lifeboats, the officer in charge gave the word, and they started back +to the _Empire_. + +The return trip threatened to be more perilous, for the boats were +very low in the water with the added load. Hurriedly the oarsmen set +to work, so that they might be a good distance from the schooner when +it sank, for a whirlpool would be created, meaning certain disaster to +all around it. + +Once a giant wave passed over the little boats and they disappeared +from view, amid gasps from the spectators. But the danger was soon +over, and the lifeboats emerged unharmed, the crewmen bailing rapidly. + +They were barely at the _Empire's_ side when the schooner sank. With a +last look at the scene of disaster, the fishermen boarded the ship. +They were water-soaked and shivering with cold, but were too glad that +they had been saved from the hungry depths of the sea to make any +complaints. + +"They're Portuguese," observed Professor Bigelow, as the fishermen +came nearer. + +The men muttered several words of thanks to the _Empire's_ crew, but +it was clear that few understood them. Professor Bigelow, however, +picked up the meaning at once and translated to his companions. Mr. +Holton and Mr. Lewis had a slight knowledge of that language, but +could not keep up with the excited men. + +"The captain says it's too bad they had to lose the schooner," +Professor Bigelow said. "He said they did their best to save it from +going down, but had to give up. They did not intend to be this far at +sea, but the storm gave them no chance of turning back." + +In a short time the excitement was over, and most of the passengers +again retired, for the next morning they were to sight the West +Indies. + +Bob was overjoyed at the success he had had in taking the movies of +the rescue and knew they would be a hit with the Neuman Film +Corporation. They were the first of any importance that had been taken +on the ship, and, as Joe said, a little action now and then does a lot +to liven up a thing. + +The next morning the storm had completely subsided, and true to +schedule the _Empire_ sighted Porto Rico. There was a scramble of +passengers who had reached their destination. + +"Probably think they'll be carried on," smiled Bob, as a rather +nervous man fled down the stairs. + +At first the shoreline was so dim as to be hardly distinguishable from +the low clouds, but it gradually grew more plain. At last trees and +houses could be made out, and then the skyline of San Juan loomed up +in the distance. + +"Looks like a city," remarked Joe. + +"It is," his father replied. "Has over eighty-five thousand +inhabitants." + +"Will we have time to go ashore?" asked Bob. + +"Yes. The ship remains in port for about three hours," Mr. Holton +answered. + +As the _Empire_ approached the city, she backed her engines and moved +slowly into port, where a small crowd of people were massed to give +greeting. + +Several other boats, large and small, were anchored at the busy docks, +and the _Empire_ steamed in between two freighters, one of which was +being loaded with sugar. + +"Sugar is one of the principal exports," explained Professor Bigelow, +as the exploration party prepared to leave the ship on a tour of the +city. + +As soon as they were in port, the gangplank was lowered. The +adventurers made their way down, among a score of other passengers, +many of whom were to leave the ship here. + +Bob and Joe were at once impressed by the native residents, for there +was a great variety of races. Spaniards were the most numerous, but +there were also Negroes, mulattoes, French, Americans, and a small +sprinkling of Indians. + +"Quite a variety," commented Joe. "Though it is possible to see this +very thing in parts of New York." + +The explorers found that it would be comparatively easy to walk to +various places of interest, and, after passing the former +governor-general's palace, they resolved to take in as much of the +city as they could in two hours. + +They found that the city was built on Morro Island, although the +mainland could be easily reached by the numerous bridges. The streets +were regularly laid out, and in the white quarters the residences were +rather attractive. + +"Doesn't look much like America, though," said Joe. + +The exploration party reached the _Empire_ with thirty minutes to +spare, and they took chairs on deck to watch the busy dock below. + +All too soon the whistle of leaving blew, and visitors scrambled down +the gangplank. Then, with one long blast the ship slowly steamed out +to sea, leaving Porto Rico behind. + +At last they were on the final stretch. There would be no more stops +till they reached South America. Then only short stays at Paramaribo +and Cayenne, which were important seaport cities about two hundred +miles apart. + +"How long will it be until we again see land?" asked Bob, as he and +the others sat on deck. + +"Two days," replied his father. "No doubt that they'll seem like a +long time, too." + +And they did. Bob and Joe were no more vexed than the others, however, +for the men were also anxious to get started into the unknown. But +when at last they did sight South America they forgot the past and +looked into the future. + +The boys, with their cameras in hand, were the first to reach the +prow. They were closely followed by their fathers and the professor, +who also crowded in for a first view. + +At first, land was only a speck far out on the horizon. Then only +gradually did it take on form and color. + +"We're nearing Paramaribo," pronounced Mr. Holton, as he made out the +outline of the city. + +"What country is it in?" asked Joe. + +"Dutch Guiana," the professor answered. "One of the smallest nations +in South America." + +The _Empire_ steamed into a port nearly as busy as that of San Juan, +although most of the boats were small. + +For a second time the gangplank was lowered, and as the explorers had +a half-hour to spare, they started on a short walking trip of the +city. + +"Quite a bit different from San Juan," said Bob, as he noted that many +of the people were native Indians. + +The others nodded. None of them had been here before, and they +naturally took a great interest in these unusual surroundings. In fact +Professor Bigelow was the only one who had ever seen South America +before, but this did not lessen his enthusiasm. + +The streets were, for the most part, narrow and straight, cutting one +another at right angles. The party was surprised to find the houses +extremely low, hardly any of them exceeding two stories. Some were +built of brick, but most were of cane plastered with mud. + +Several minutes were spent in rambling over the various quarters of +the city. Then they went back to the ship, which was now nearly ready +to sail. + +"South America is all right to visit," remarked Joe, "but I don't +think I'd care to live here." + +The others agreed with him. + +"And yet," said Professor Bigelow, "there are a number of cities that +are very well developed. Take Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, for +instance. They are large, clean, and well kept. A street in Buenos +Aires looks very much like a street in the United States." + +Soon the _Empire_ was off, having unloaded a large cargo of American +goods. Several passengers also took their leave here. + +From then on the scientific party was restless and eager to get +started into the unknown. As one nears his goal, he nearly always +finds it hard to wait through the last few stretches. Bob and Joe +especially were excited, for it was their first adventure. Their +hearts throbbed as they eagerly anticipated the coming days. + +That evening they arrived in Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, +and, as before, took a short trip about the city. It was much the same +as Paramaribo, however, and they were glad to board the _Empire_ again +for the last leg of the long journey. + +It was about six hundred miles to Macapá, the _Empire's_ destination, +and the party settled back in anticipation. + +Neither of the boys did anything of importance. They were too +enthusiastic over the coming great adventure. + +"Let's take it easy on deck," suggested Bob, and they arranged chairs +for all of the party that cared to rest. + +"There's nothing like enjoying the spell of the ocean," remarked Mr. +Holton. + +A few days later Captain Crowell announced that they were sailing up +the mighty Amazon, and the explorers were thrilled to the bone. The +Amazon! At last one of their strongest ambitions had been fulfilled. +Bob and Joe were overjoyous, for they had had a strong desire to see +this great water system. + +"Doesn't look like a river to me," said Joe as he tried in vain to see +the shore. + +"Over a hundred miles wide at the delta," said Bob. "It's the greatest +river system in the world." + +For several hours they steamed on up the great river, past small +settlements, plantations, and green islands. Occasionally they would +get a glimpse of beautiful wild vegetation, and their hearts would +beat fast. Then, almost without knowing it, they came to Macapá. + +There was a fairly good port, and the vessel took her place between +two small river steamers. The long ocean voyage had come to an end. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +In the Heart of the Jungle + + +"Now what?" asked Joe, as the party passed on down the gangplank. + +"Better get our belongings together first," said Mr. Lewis. "Then we +can make inquiries about the leaving of a boat that'll take us to our +destination." + +"But what about finding a place to stay overnight?" asked the +professor. + +"You needn't worry about that." + +All looked around, to see that Captain Crowell had moved up behind +them. + +"I heard what you said," he remarked. "And let me say that you are +welcome to your berths on the _Empire_ until we leave for New York. +That may be tomorrow, or it may be the next day. Go on up and make +yourselves at home." + +The party accepted the invitation with warm thanks. Then they moved on +up to the boat. + +"Pretty soft," smiled Bob, as they sat on deck. "We might have hunted +for hours before finding rooms." + +It was late that night when the party retired, but all slept well and +awoke the next morning ready for any plans that might be made. + +After breakfast Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton left for the dock, where they +would make inquiries about the leaving of a boat for farther upstream. +Bob and Joe followed a road out of town to see the country. + +They hiked for perhaps two miles, looking sharply about. Then, as +there was not much new to see, they turned and went back to town, +desirous of finding out what information, if any, their fathers had +gained about the leaving of a boat. + +By luck the boys met their fathers in the main street, and there were +smiles on the men's faces. + +"Pat us on the back," smiled Mr. Holton, so overjoyed that he could +hardly keep his composure. + +"What!" cried Bob. "You've found a boat so soon?" + +The naturalists nodded. + +"By chance we met the captain of a small freight vessel that happens +to be going up the Purús to Acre, on the Bolivian frontier," said Mr. +Holton. "Sheer luck, I calls it. Any other time it would have been +necessary to wait three or four weeks before finding such an +opportunity. Of course we wouldn't have waited that long, though. We +would have found it necessary to take two boats, one to Manáos, and +one on up the Purús. But the way things are now--" he smiled +broadly--"we're all set for a pleasant voyage, with no stops till we +reach our destination." + +"When does the boat leave?" inquired Joe. + +"In less than three hours," his father answered. "That means we'll +have to hurry and get packed." + +They walked on down the dock to the _Empire_ and found Professor +Bigelow in the library. He looked up smilingly and placed his book +back on the shelf. + +"What did you find?" he asked. + +Mr. Holton told of obtaining passage on the boat to the Purús, and the +anthropologist was delighted beyond words. The delay was maddening to +him, even though he was able to keep his time occupied. + +It did not take the party long to get their possessions together, and +after locating Captain Crowell and thanking him for the use of the +berths, they left for the newly chartered boat, which was anchored +farther down the pier. + +"Small but staunch-looking," commented Bob, as they came to it. + +"Built on rather speedy lines, too," added Mr. Lewis. + +They lugged their baggage up on deck, to be met by the burly captain, +who in his rough attire was a strange contrast to Captain Crowell. He +was good-natured, however, and readily showed the explorers to their +sleeping quarters. + +"Hope you have a jolly voyage," he boomed, leaving for the cabin. + +"I told you boys wrong when I said we don't stop till we get to our +destination," Mr. Holton corrected himself, as the party started out +to the rail. "The boat stops at Manáos, but only for a couple of +hours. We'll have time to go about the city." + +A little later the boat's whistle sounded, and then came the faint +chugging of the engines. + +"We're off!" cried Joe excitedly. "Off on the last stretch of our +journey." + +Soon the waterfront of Macapá was left behind, and the _Selvas_, for +that was the vessel's name, steamed out to the middle of the mighty +Amazon. + +The explorers did not move from deck until one of the crew announced +that the noon meal was ready. + +"Wonder what we'll have to eat?" asked Joe, as they went into the +dining room. + +"Probably salt pork and a few other dishes of cured food," returned +Mr. Lewis, and he was right. + +"It's all right for a change, anyway," said Bob. + +The boys spent the remainder of that day in exploring the boat and +were impressed by everything they saw. Aside from the fact that it was +rather old, it was worthy of the great river on which it steamed. + +"Let's hear something about Manáos," Bob said to his father that +night. "If we are to see it soon, I'd like to know what to expect." + +"It's a wonderful city," Mr. Holton replied. "Large stores, office +buildings, hotels. If what I've heard is correct, we will be +astonished." + +And they _were_ astonished. In fact, when they pulled into the busy +port, the boys' eyes almost popped from their heads. Even after +hearing about Manáos from their fathers, they could not believe that +they would find anything like this away out in the heart of the vast +wilderness. + +"Has a rather impressive skyline," observed Joe, gazing ahead at the +outlines of the hotels and office buildings. + +"Many of the structures are new," put in Professor Bigelow. "The +city's growth has been rather rapid. But now," he went on, "suppose we +get off the boat and take a short trip about town." + +The adventurers easily procured a map of the city. Then they boarded a +street car for a ride down the principal business street. + +"Modern is right," commented Bob, gazing out at the large buildings, +hotels, theaters, and stores. + +They passed many points of interest, including the Theatre of Manáos, +the many parks and gardens, schools and colleges, and monuments and +statues. And to cap all this, they spent several minutes in one of the +most complete museums they had ever been in. + +"Truly a great city in the heart of the forest," said Mr. Holton, as +they prepared to board the boat for the continuation of the journey. + +They got to the _Selvas_ with barely five minutes to spare. Already +the crew were making ready for the long voyage that was to follow. + +Shortly later they were again in the midst of the forest, after having +left Manáos behind. + +"I see we're not the only passengers on the boat," said Professor +Bigelow, glancing across at two men who sat near the stern. + +"Probably they're rubber gatherers who have a plantation farther +down," was the opinion voiced by Mr. Lewis, and his guess was right, +as they later found out when an acquaintance sprang up between the +Brazilians and the Americans. + +That acquaintance was delightful and tended to relieve the monotony of +the trip. The men, Acmio and Piemo by name, took a liking to the +explorers and told of many strange sights of the jungle. They knew +nothing, however, of the region the expedition was going to penetrate. + +"I bet we won't find anything, either," said Joe. "No one seems to +have been far in the interior." + +At last the _Selvas_ came to the Purús River, and down this it +steamed. + +"Considerably narrower than the Amazon," observed Bob. "But at that +it's a good many rods across." + +"The Purús is noted for its crooked course," remarked Professor +Bigelow. "The sand bars occur with such regularity that the natives +reckon distances by counting the number of them." + +At this time of year the water was rather high, for the rainy season +was barely over. + +They steamed on for the greater part of that day before coming to a +settlement, and this was small and crude. They did not stop, although +several men came out to greet them. + +As they steamed farther, the river became more crooked. In fact it was +often impossible to see more than three hundred feet ahead. And as +they penetrated deeper into the jungle, vegetation became more dense. +Great clusters of bright-colored flowers lined the banks, tall trees +showed themselves above the other growth, parasitic vines wound +themselves around forest giants. Ferns, high grass, small bushes, +oddly shaped stalks--all these caught the eyes of the explorers. + +After a long journey they reached the mouth of the Tapauá, and at a +small town between the two rivers the boat stopped. Here the +adventurers got off. + +It seemed strange to set foot on ground out here away from +civilization. Why, it was almost like another world! For some time Bob +and Joe could not realize that they were now in the very heart of the +great Amazon jungle. + +The captain of the _Selvas_ had given the party a letter of +recommendation to a Brazilian who would be able to fit them out with +boats and Indian crew. He lived at the edge of the town, and to that +place they went, led by Mr. Holton. + +They found the man sitting idly in his thatched house. He was very +tall and slender, but looked to be possessed of great strength. + +"You are Senhor del Pereo?" asked Mr. Holton in the native tongue. + +"_Sí_," the man replied. + +Bob's father took out the letter and handed it to him. + +He read carefully for several moments. Then his face lighted. + +Sure he would help them. Anyone who was a friend of the captain was a +friend of his. It would be easy to get a boat--or boats, for that +matter--and he knew of several trustworthy Indians who would readily +act as guides. But he knew nothing about the distant country. Few +people did. It was a land of mystery. + +Mr. Holton translated to Bob and Joe. Then he again turned to the +Brazilian. + +"You will lead us to the boats and guides now?" + +"Yes." + +They started out, the Brazilian in the van. + +He led them around the village to a large native hut, in front of +which sat several semi-naked Indians. They were on their feet in an +instant when they caught sight of Senhor del Pereo, and with friendly +greetings listened to what he had to say. + +For several minutes he conversed with them in their native tongue, and +in the end they nodded in acceptance. + +"They will go," he said to the explorers. "They will be your guides in +an unknown country." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +On the Alert + + +"Now the next thing is to get boats," said Mr. Holton. + +Senhor del Pereo announced that it would be possible to get them at +once, without having to have them constructed, and the explorers were +delighted. + +He led them down to the river bank, where two large canoes were +aground. Each was about thirty-five feet long and capable of carrying +a ton and a half of cargo with ease. Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis were +amazed. + +"They are not native canoes," Mr. Lewis said, as he noted the deep, +full lines and high freeboard. + +The Brazilian explained that they had been used by a party of British +hunters on the Purús River, and were purchased when the men were +through with them for a small sum. + +"Got it all over Indian boats," remarked Bob, glancing farther down at +several that were moored. + +The Indians had accompanied them to the boats, and now Senhor del +Pereo introduced the ones who were to be a part of the expedition. +There were six of them--three to attend to each boat. All were large, +strong fellows, capable of any kind of work required by the venture, +and the Brazilian assured the explorers that they could be relied +upon. + +After attending to a few more matters with Senhor del Pereo, the party +set about loading their provisions and supplies in one of the boats; +the other was to be used as a storeplace for the specimens they would +collect. + +Bob and Joe did a good share of the work. Then occasionally they would +take motion pictures. + +When the last box was lifted up, Mr. Holton gave the sign, and, with +parting words with the Brazilian who had done so much for them, they +got in the foremost canoe and were paddled upstream by the crew. At +last they were off for the unknown. + +"Now for the fun," smiled Joe, as he cranked the movie camera and +looked expectantly into the green depths of the bordering jungle. + +"I suppose you're referring to hunting," said Mr. Lewis. "Well, we'll +do plenty of that a little later. But first we want to penetrate a +large distance from any outposts of civilization." + +At the start, the river was rather wide, but it promised to narrow +later. + +They glided swiftly on for perhaps three hours. Then Mr. Lewis +suggested that they stop for the noon meal. Meanwhile, the crew could +be resting. + +The boats were brought to a stop at a large sand bank, and all climbed +out to stretch their legs after such a long journey in more or less +one position. Bob and Joe felt like running and shouting. + +"Like to go in for a swim," said Bob, wiping the perspiration from his +streaming brow. + +"So would everyone else," returned Mr. Lewis. "But with the alligators +and piranhas and other dangerous aquatic forms it's absurd even to +think of such a thing." + +"Are they this close to the Purús?" asked Joe. "I thought they were +found deeper in the jungle." + +Mr. Holton shook his head. + +"Piranhas and alligators are very common all through this region," he +said. + +Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis got out a ration of food, while Bob and Joe +attended to minor tasks. Professor Bigelow looked after the plates and +utensils. + +In a short time the meal was prepared, and all ate in quiet +contentment. The food tasted good after those three long hours of +constant traveling. + +Bob and Joe glanced at the frowning jungle, which was but a short +distance away. It seemed to challenge the explorers to penetrate its +leafy depths, although in many places this was almost impossible. + +"Quite a variety of trees," observed Bob, his eye scanning the edge. +"I suppose there are hundreds of different kinds." + +"There are," answered Professor Bigelow. "All different kinds, from +mahogany to bacaba palms. Much of the wood is worthlessly soft and +useless, but mahogany and a few others are shipped to all parts of the +world. There would be a much greater amount sent out, though, if it +were all buoyant. The fact that many of the logs are not prevents them +from being floated downstream." + +The explorers spent several minutes in the shade of a large tree, +talking and chatting merrily. Then the professor suggested that they +move on, and the others were more than glad to do so. + +"You're right," Mr. Lewis told the professor. "We want to cover as +much ground as possible today." + +The provisions were packed in the boat. They then boarded, to be +paddled upstream by the Indians. + +There was plenty of room to move about, and the youths shifted their +positions frequently. Not because they grew tired of the scenery, +however, for at every yard there was something new to see. +Bright-colored flowers lined the banks, red-leafed bushes were common, +tall palms, grotesque vines, ferns, plants of all kinds that baffled +the boys. Occasionally they would pass dead branches covered with +living orchids. Then again there were trees that themselves had +flowers. Once they came to a tree over fifty feet high with wide, +spreading branches that were covered with yellow blossoms. + +Often the river would bend sharply, making necessary utmost caution by +the crew. On one such occasion the explorers were engaged in +conversation when suddenly a loud splash from ahead made them look up. +Then, as they rounded the bend, they saw something that made them jump +to their feet and grasp their rifles. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A Fearful Sight + + +On the bank not far away were at least fifteen large alligators, their +hideous jaws partly open as they basked in the hot sun. Frequently one +would plunge into the water to cool itself, and then there would be a +terrific splashing about. + +As soon as possible, the Indians stopped the boats, and the explorers +viewed the creatures with a terrible awe. Here was their first +encounter with the wild life of Brazil. Here, not far away, were some +of the most terrible reptiles of South America. + +For some time the alligators did not seem to notice the human +invaders. Then they one by one crawled off the bank and sank a few +inches beneath the water. + +"Evidently don't care for our company," said Joe in a low tone. He had +brought the movie camera to his shoulder and was taking in the +unusual sight. + +It was thought best not shoot any of the reptiles for fear of causing +an undue commotion. Then, too, it would prove difficult to get the +victims in the boat with so many others around. + +In a short time no traces of the creatures were left, and the Indians +again turned to the paddles. + +"Is it safe to go on?" asked Joe. + +"Yes," the professor replied. "They probably won't attack the boats. +And if they should they could do little or no damage to the stout +hulls." + +For a few seconds he conversed with the Indians. Then the party +resumed the journey, keeping a close watch about. + +No more was seen of the alligators, and the explorers again were +quiet. But now they were more anxious than ever before, for the past +experience had stirred their sporting blood and made them long for a +jaunt in the forest. Even Professor Bigelow was affected, and he sat +fingering his rifle as if awaiting another such incident. + +"Alligators and crocodiles are very much alike," said Mr. Lewis, +wishing to break the silence. "The only difference is in the canine +teeth. In the alligator they fit into pits in the upper jaw; in the +crocodile they fit into notches. Otherwise they look alike." + +"Which is the most ferocious?" inquired Joe, thoroughly interested. + +"Scarcely any difference," his father returned. "Both are bad enough +when they're after you." + +For a time the adventurers paddled near the center of the river, in +order to avoid heavy piles of brush that lay near the shore's edge. +They did not feel like talking. The mid-afternoon sun beat down upon +them until they were dripping with perspiration. Why, even summer +Florida weather was nothing to this! + +The water glistened like silver. It was almost impossible even to cast +eyes upon it, for the reflection of the sun was extremely blinding. + +For entertainment and amusement the boys' fathers and Professor +Bigelow related some of their experiences, which Bob and Joe never +grew tired of hearing. The naturalists told of encounters with wild +animals; the professor, of savage people. Bob and Joe sat in silence, +marveling that before long they could tell of happenings probably as +much or more breath-taking. + +Suddenly, as they neared a patch of bright red bushes, Mr. Holton +called to the Indians to stop the boat. + +"What is it?" asked Bob, and then his gaze followed that of his +father. + +Not far away on a low branch was a large oriole, almost the size of a +crow, with a red and white bill, and yellow, green, and brown plumage. +It uttered not a word, although no one doubted that it could. + +"We must have that bird," whispered Mr. Holton. "It is rather rare, +and few of them are in museums. Keep quiet now, while I get a small +gun." + +The others obeyed. The naturalist found a suitable shotgun. He raised +it to his shoulder, took careful aim, and pulled the trigger. + +The next moment there was a terrible screeching and wailing. The bird +fluttered about for a brief second, then fell into the water. + +"You got him," said Bob joyously. "You----Well, of all things!" + +The reason for his exclamation was not far to seek. No sooner had the +bird struck the water than a rather small fish darted to the surface, +caught the bird by the breast, and bit it in two. It evidently did +not like the taste, however, for the remains of the bird's body were +left to float on the water. + +"Stung!" exclaimed Mr. Holton, regaining his breath. "The piranhas +spoiled the chance of getting that specimen." + +"So that fish was a piranha?" asked Joe, looking to see if he could +locate it in the dark water. + +"Yes," Mr. Lewis returned. "They're mean creatures, all right. Got a +temper like a bull. They'll attack anything from jaguars to people, +and they usually do the job right. I once heard of a man devoured by +them in a very short time." + +"It wasn't very large," said Bob. "Looked about like a pickerel to +me." + +"It isn't their size," his father returned. "It's their ferocity--and +strong, sharp teeth." + +"Let's don't worry about the bird," consoled the professor. "We'll +probably see more of them later on." + +The naturalists resolved to follow the professor's advice and regard +the matter as one of the many discouragements that could be expected +at almost any time. + +"After all, we didn't lose much," said Mr. Lewis. "But then--but +then----" + +As they paddled on, signs of life became more frequent. Once there was +a small flock of bright red birds, and the naturalists had more luck +in bringing them in as specimens. None was shot near the river; only +those on shore were aimed at. A little later they saw the first +monkeys since they had turned down this river. They had often heard +the little creatures in the depths of the jungle, but had never been +successful in getting a glimpse of them. + +Along toward evening Mr. Lewis suggested that they go ashore and pitch +camp for the night. His friends agreed, and after making sure that the +Indians were willing, he gave the word and the boats were turned into +a little cove, where they were tied to a stout tree. + +"Plenty of room around here," observed Bob, as he got out and +stretched his legs. "No trees within a radius of several score feet. +Ought to be fairly good protection against night marauders." + +The tents and poles were untied, and after locating a suitable site +the stakes were driven to the ground, the poles hoisted, and the +hammocks hung. + +Then a bountiful supper was prepared, and the party ate hungrily. Bob +and Joe especially partook of large quantities, for their appetites +were those of youth. + +After the meal the explorers sat in a group, chatting merrily. Even +the Indians took part in the conversation, answering many of the +whites' questions about the jungles they were passing through. Bob and +Joe had trouble in understanding them, but their fathers translated +whenever there was any difficulty. + +A little later, darkness fell suddenly, and with it came the chill of +night. + +"Seems strange that the nights should be so cool when the days are so +hot," remarked Bob, going into the tent for a coat. + +"Does at that," said Mr. Lewis. "But it's true of all tropical +places." + +Soon the sky became dotted with countless numbers of twinkling stars. +Soon afterwards the moon came out in full splendor, flooding the +boundless expanse with enchanting light, and casting a reflection on +the water beautiful beyond description. + +The explorers were filled with awe as they sat staring into the vast +jungle, thrilled that they were the only inhabitants on this wild +shore. + +For some time no one spoke. Then Mr. Holton rose and looked at his +watch. + +"Getting late," he said, walking over to a box of supplies. + +"Yes," agreed Professor Bigelow. "I suggest that we turn in." + +The others agreed, and they attended to last-minute tasks. + +"Ordinarily it is the Indians' duty to stand guard," said Mr. Lewis, +glancing at the brawny crew, several of whom had fallen asleep. "But +since they've worked hard and unflinchingly, and are nearly worn out, +I suggest that we whites take turn about on this first night. We've +had it comparatively easy all day. Then, too, it will increase their +respect and liking for us. What do you think?" + +"I'm all for it," declared Professor Bigelow. "Now who is to have the +first watch?" + +It was decided to draw straws, the person getting the shortest to be +the first guard. + +By chance the short piece fell to Bob, and he took his place just +outside the tents, sitting on one of the boxes, a rifle in ready +grasp. The others retired to their hammocks. + +For over a half-hour Bob stared quietly into space, glancing +occasionally at the sparkling river. Then he decided to change his +position. + +But at that moment there came a crashing sound on the far side of a +group of palm trees. + +The youth was on his feet at the instant, wondering what the noise +meant. Then he decided to find out. + +"It's only a short distance from camp," he thought. "There's no harm +in going over there." + +Grasping his rifle, he stole quietly in the direction of the strange +commotion. + +It did not take him long to reach the patch of trees. Then he wormed +his way through the tall grass for a distance of perhaps twenty feet. + +The next instant he shrank back, for the sight that met his eyes was +fearful and repulsive. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Death Struggle + + +Beside a patch of bushes was a large wildcat, greedily devouring the +remains of a small deer. Most of the deer's body has been torn to +pieces, so that only the head remained intact. There was a terrible +stare from the wide eyes that caused Bob to shudder in disgust. + +The tiger-cat was evidently very hungry, for it would scarcely bite +out one section when it would tear into another, crunching horribly. +Occasionally it would shift its position and sample various parts of +the body. It finally crouched at the stomach, and in no time stripped +the flesh from the bone. + +The sight was not wholly to Bob's liking, but he could not tear +himself away. After all, the occasion was not one so terrible. All +wild creatures must eat, and this is the only way they know. + +Bob lifted his eyes from the feast to the great cat, and for the +first time saw how beautifully marked it was. Why had he not noticed +that before? Probably because he was much more impressed by the meal. +The wildcat's fur was of a light brown, spotted and barred with black +and darker brown. Its abdomen was pure white, and seemed spotlessly +clean. It looked about four feet long, exclusive of the tail. + +"Doesn't look very ferocious," Bob thought, but he knew what would +probably happen if the creature were to discover him in its domain. + +For several minutes the feast continued, the animal's hunger seeming +to increase rather than lessen. + +Suddenly there came a rustling sound from behind a low shrub. + +Instantly the cat was on its feet, tail erect, eyes staring. + +The rustling sound continued, and a moment later another cat of the +same type leaped out into the clearing, took in its surroundings +carefully, and then made for the body of the deer. + +But it did not get far. A moment later the first tiger-cat crouched +itself and sprang at the invader's throat. Then a terrific combat took +place, the memory of which was to remain with Bob for many years to +come. + +The creatures thrashed constantly about, each trying to inflict a +death wound. They growled horribly, and occasionally one would cry out +in pain. Sometimes they reared up on hind legs, biting and tearing +fearfully. Then again they would be on top of each other, stamping and +tearing to the height of their ability. For nearly five minutes the +fight continued, and by now it was evident that the invader was +getting the worst of it. Instead of being on the offensive it slunk +back, trying in vain to ward off the assaults of its enemy. Suddenly +it fell back, as a vital part was pierced. The first tiger-cat had +won. + +A few more minutes were spent in awaiting any further movements from +the defeated, but as none came the victor resumed its feast. + +"All over," Bob muttered to himself. "A swell fight, too. I wouldn't +have missed it for anything. But say! This fellow would be a fine +specimen for Dad and Mr. Lewis. I wonder if I can plug him. Don't +think the dead one will be of much use to them, it's so badly mauled." + +The moon was still shining down brightly, and it was nearly as light +as day. This was both an advantage and a disadvantage. True, it would +be much easier to get a good aim at the animal, but the light would +make Bob much more easily seen. Still he resolved to chance it. + +Gripping his rifle firmly, he parted the bushes and rose to his feet. +But the slight commotion caused the tiger-cat to turn about, and rage +came into its eyes as they lighted on the youth. What was this new +type of creature that had come to interrupt the feast? + +Bob raised his rifle to his shoulder and awaited a chance to fire an +effective shot. But none came. The great cat crouched to spring. + +"I've got to get him," said Bob, gritting his teeth. + +Then, as the animal launched itself into the air, the youth took rapid +but careful aim and fired. + +The bullet sped true, entering the open mouth. + +The tiger-cat fell at the boy's feet, twitched about for a moment, and +then lay still. + +"Hurrah!" Bob cried, exulted beyond words. "I got him. And what a fine +specimen." + +The rifle shot had aroused the rest of the expedition, and they came +running out, wondering what was meant. + +"What's up?" demanded Mr. Holton, as he first caught sight of his son. + +"Plenty," Bob replied and led them to the bodies of the wildcats. + +Everyone cried out in surprise and amazement at sight of the beasts. + +"Ocelots," pronounced Mr. Lewis. "I didn't know that they were this +common. How did you happen to come across them?" + +Bob was obliged to relate the entire experience. He told of how he had +come across one of the creatures at the body of the deer, of the +thrilling combat that took place when the other ocelot arrived, and of +shooting the survivor. The party listened with breathless interest, +and even the Indians demanded a translation. + +"An unusual happening," said Professor Bigelow, looking at Bob in +admiration and wishing that he had been present. + +"Takes old Bob to do it," smiled Joe. "And that required some nerve, +too. The first wild animal he's ever met." + +"It's a case where the first is one of the most savage," remarked Mr. +Lewis, directing a glance at the creature's sharp canine teeth. "The +ocelot is next only to the jaguar in ferocity and daring." + +"Not much left of the deer he was feasting on," observed Joe. "I +suppose he would have left little more than the skeleton if Bob hadn't +so rudely interrupted him." + +Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis procured knives and began the task of +skinning the creatures. It was believed that both could be used, as +the one that had been previously killed was not as badly mauled as Bob +had thought. + +In a short time the skinning was completed, and they again retired for +the night, Bob remaining throughout the remainder of his watch. +Nothing more happened that night, however, and they awoke the next +morning to witness a beautiful sunrise. Breakfast was soon over, and +then began the task of breaking camp. + +"Let's hurry," urged Professor Bigelow. "We want to cover twenty miles +today, if possible." + +"And we will if rapids don't bar our way," said Mr. Lewis. + +Soon the belongings were packed in the boats, and they started on up +the river. Meanwhile Bob and Joe were taking motion pictures quite +often and were always on the lookout for new sights. Many times did +they regret that they had been unable to film Bob's experience of the +night before. + +The men kept their time occupied in writing notes and collecting +specimens, which were growing in number hourly. Already there was an +abundance of game. Monkeys quite often were crowded in the trees, +birds of brilliant plumage were more numerous, various small animals +darted out, and once Joe caught a glimpse of a wild pig running +through the underbrush. + +"When are we going ashore?" asked Bob. "Looks like here is a good +chance to get some specimens." + +"It undoubtedly is," Mr. Holton returned. "And we would try our luck +now if Professor Bigelow were not anxious to find a strange tribe of +Indians that's reputed to be somewhere in this region. When we locate +it we can stop and stay at one spot as long as the professor chooses, +for game will probably be abundant, and we will have the chance to get +scores of specimens." + +That day they made nearly twenty-five miles, and all were delighted +that no rapids loomed up to hinder them. + +"There's nothing that puts you at more inconvenience than rapids," +said Professor Bigelow, as they sought out a place to camp for the +night. + +They found the spot they wanted beside a rocky knoll, not far from the +river. There was a small open space a short distance away, and to this +the party made. Again preparations were made for the night, and then +the evening meal was prepared. + +"Let's turn in early," suggested Mr. Holton, after they had finished +eating. "The three Indians in the back boat complained that one of the +clamps for an oar is loose, and it may take quite a while to repair +it. For that reason we must be up early in the morning." + +The clamp, they discovered later, had been split through, making it +necessary to carve out a new one. To do this was not easy, for +suitable wood had to be cut and measurements taken. All told, there +was a delay of over three hours. + +"Now let's go," urged Professor Bigelow, his patience almost +exhausted. + +Day after day the miles were laid behind them in both a pleasant and +disagreeable manner. In times when treacherous rapids offered a +hindrance, they struggled unflinchingly, often knee deep in the water +or mud. But there were chances for relaxation, when there was nothing +to do but take it easy in the high seats of the boats. Bob and Joe +could not fully realize that they were not in a dream but that this +was the real thing--a wild, untamed land in the very heart of vast +Amazonia. + +"It's great, Joe, old boy," said Bob, when over a week had passed. +"I've often visualized this expedition, but my expectations are far +surpassed." + +One morning when they were paddling swiftly along, Professor Bigelow +uttered a cry of delight and pointed to the bank. + +"Indians!" he cried excitedly. "At last we've found a band of +Indians!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +The Deserted Village + + +Professor Bigelow was right. On the shore not far away were a dozen or +more native huts, grouped in a cluster about one that was larger and +more carefully built. All about on the ground were various objects of +daily life, such as wooden machetes, pots and kettles of clay, pieces +of wood, and hides and skins of animals. But, strain their eyes as +they did, the explorers could see no Indians. + +The explorers were uncertain as to whether it would be safe to go +ashore, but finally Professor Bigelow resolved to take the chance. He +was as excited as a boy, and seemed not able to wait until the boats +could be turned to the river bank. + +The crew, however, were a bit dubious about the venture into an +unknown village. They had heard stories of how explorers had been +massacred by savage Indians, and as they had never been far as this +upstream, they were at a loss to know how the strange tribe would +treat them. + +Still if the strange scientist was bound to hazard it they would go, +although they would be ready for instant flight if necessary. + +The boats were brought up alongside the bank and made secure to small +trees. Then the explorers climbed out and looked about. + +"An ideal site for a village," said Joe, glancing about. + +"Trust the natives to pick out the best spots," said Bob. + +Slowly and cautiously they walked toward the village, gripping their +rifles tightly. When within a short distance from the foremost hut +they stopped, and the professor, who had studied the languages spoken +in this region, called out loudly in the native tongue--or rather what +he thought to be the native tongue. + +There was no answer, and the explorers proceeded on into the +habitation. + +"No signs of life anywhere," said Professor Bigelow. + +"Perhaps another tribe invaded and killed the inhabitants," suggested +Mr. Lewis, glancing about. + +"No," disagreed the professor. "There is evidence that the place has +been recently inhabited. For instance, look at those ashes over +there," pointing to a place where a fire had been built. "They are not +very old. I know the signs. We can look for the tribe at almost any +time now." + +"Seems strange that the women and children went away too," said Mr. +Holton, almost unbelievingly. + +"They often do it," answered the professor. "The women, you see, do +almost as much as the men. In many cases they do much more. They many +times go along on excursions into the forest to carry the weapons and +the trophies of the hunt. And as this is a rather small settlement, we +can take that for granted." + +"When do you think they'll return?" asked Bob. + +"That is hard to say," was the reply. "It is all according to how long +they have been out. They may be back in a few hours, or it may be a +week. But," he added, "I am all for waiting. The chances are we'll be +all right." + +They explored the huts and found them to be very substantially built. +There were few pieces of furniture in them, but the largest hut, +which was undoubtedly the chief's, contained several articles of +interest to the visitors. There were brightly decorated pots and +kettles, carved sticks, jaguar hides, spears and clubs, bows and +arrows and blowguns. + +"Quite an elaborate display of implements," remarked Joe, examining a +blowgun with interest. This weapon was about ten feet long, round and +tapering, and covered with a glossy substance resembling glue. At each +end it was bound with heavy cord made from vines. A quiver of arrows +was attached to it, and, with utmost care lest they be poisoned, he +took one out. It was about three feet long and sharp as a needle. + +There were many other objects of domestic use lying and hanging about, +and they were examined especially by Professor Bigelow, who had found +himself in an anthropologist's paradise. Baskets, closely woven from a +strange type of straw, were filled with farina; bone tubes for +snuffing were strewn about, and many kinds of ornaments hung on wooden +pegs. + +Bob's attention was attracted to a kind of necklace, which was strung +with the teeth of some wild animal--unless, but this was hardly +probable, they were human teeth. + +"Not human," smiled Mr. Holton. "Can't you tell a monkey's molars when +you see them?" + +"Sorry, but I'm not as much of a naturalist and zoölogist as you are," +laughed Bob. + +Meanwhile Joe was cranking the movie camera, filming the entire +village. As a matter of fact he had been engaged in doing this since +they first sighted the village. + +"These ought to be interesting scenes," he confided to Bob, as the two +walked toward the river bank. + +"They will be," was the reply. "Tend to break the monotony of the +constant river-traveling." + +At the shore they found several native canoes tethered to trees. They +were mere dugouts, but they looked staunch and strong enough to stem +almost any current. + +The youths spent several more minutes at the bank; then they made +their way back to the others. + +"What'd you find?" asked Mr. Lewis. + +"Only native canoes," Bob answered. "Only----" + +He stopped and listened. What was that he had heard? + +Again it came to his ears, this time louder and nearer. + +"Sounds like someone's shouting," said Joe. "Sounds like----" + +"Indians!" cried Professor Bigelow. "The Indians are returning!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Danger at Hand + + +"Quick! Let's get to the boats at once!" cried Mr. Holton. "It won't +do for them to find us here in the village." + +The explorers hastened to the river bank with all the speed they could +put into their legs. Not until they were safe in the boats did they +draw a breath. Then they cast glances about the shore. + +The shouting grew louder, and the next moment twenty-five or thirty +semi-naked Indians burst into the clearing and made for the huts. But +one that was evidently the chief called them back and pointed to the +river, where the explorers' canoes were moored. + +"Now's the time to act," muttered Professor Bigelow, getting out of +the boat. + +He strode up to within fifty feet of the Indians, throwing his hands +apart in a gesture of friendliness. Then he called out something that +the other whites did not understand. + +Immediately there was a turmoil of excited chattering, in which the +chief took the biggest part. Then the latter called back to the +professor, who listened eagerly. In the end there was a smile on his +face. + +"It's all right," he said to the explorers, beckoning them to come +ashore. + +"Sure there's no danger?" asked Mr. Lewis. + +"It will be safe. The chief welcomed us into the village." + +Mr. Holton was the first one out of the boat, followed by Joe, Mr. +Lewis, and Bob. The crew trailed. + +They did not think it wise to bring their rifles, for the Indians +might suspect them. But each had a revolver in his holster, and it was +Mr. Lewis who warned them to be on the lookout for any treachery. + +Professor Bigelow waited for them to come nearer. Then he led the way +into the village. + +For several minutes he carried on conversation with the chief and +seemed to have little or no trouble in understanding him. The Indian +regarded him soberly most of the time, but at several of the +professor's remarks he smiled broadly. + +"The professor's building up a feeling of good will," grinned Bob, a +new glow of respect for the scientist coming over him. + +"He'll manage those savages all right," said Mr. Holton, as he +recalled some of the encounters with savage people that had been told +of Professor Bigelow. + +The conversation ended with an introduction of the other whites to the +Indians, and after a few more casual remarks Professor Bigelow +resolved to tell why they were there. + +While the remainder of his party waited in ignorance of what was being +said, he related the details of the expedition: why it had been +organized, what its purposes were, and where it intended to explore. +All this he put in the simple language of the natives, and although it +was difficult to convey many ideas correctly, he succeeded admirably. + +The chief's answer was that he and his people would furnish +information about their daily life, and, if the whites so desired, +they would also help in getting specimens. The big Indian stressed +the point that these were the first white people he had ever seen, +although several of the older members of the tribe had met a party of +them many years ago. + +Professor Bigelow translated what had been said, and the naturalists +were joyous. They could gain many things by remaining here with these +simple people. + +As soon as the novelty had worn off, the chief, whose name was Otari, +escorted the party to one big hut, where they were to remain at night +during their stay at the village. + +"Plenty of room here," observed Joe, glancing about the thatched +walls. + +"Yes," Bob agreed. "Not a bit crowded. It's one of the best dwellings +in the settlement." + +Much room as there was, however, there were only a few pieces of +native furniture and implements. A large box-like table, assembled +with wooden pegs, stood in the middle of the room. Beneath it were +five or six clay pots and containers, each washed clean. In one corner +were two bows and arrows and a blow gun. + +"They sure use poor taste in furnishing a house," grinned Bob. "But I +suppose for them it's sufficient." + +Professor Bigelow thought it wise to bring in their belongings from +the boats, but the others were a bit dubious about the safety of them. + +"We can leave the crew to guard them when we are away," he said. "I +don't think even that will be necessary, for I have a light, portable +safe that I take on all expeditions such as this." + +He opened a large box and took out several flat pieces of metal. To +his friends' astonishment they were easily lifted, although they +looked to weigh seventy pounds each. + +"They are magnalium," he explained. "About the lightest and strongest +metal there is." + +There were lock clamps at the edges of each piece, and these were +fitted into each other. In a short time a large safe stood before +their eyes. + +Bob gasped in astonishment. + +"That's a new one on me," he confessed. "Never heard of anything like +it." + +"It's also new to me," said Mr. Lewis. "I knew there were such safes, +but heretofore I have never seen one." + +"But," hesitated Mr. Holton, "what kind of an explanation will we +give the Indians? It occurs to me that they would take this as a kind +of insult. Might get it in their heads that we thought they would +steal something." + +"Restrain yourself from worrying about that," the professor consoled +him. "I've used this before many times. As an explanation, we'll +simply say that the safe is a place to store the belongings where we +can have them easily at hand. Then, too, it will prevent any of the +children from curiously straying into our hut to meddle with things. +I've never yet had any trouble." + +The safe was large enough to hold the professor's typewriter, paper, a +few books, and various other essential objects. In addition, there was +room for rifles, ammunition, knives and preparations used in skinning, +and several other articles that it was best to lock up. + +"It's just the thing," remarked Joe. "Now we can be sure that valuable +possessions will always be here when we get back from a hunting trip." + +"I will probably spend most of my time in here writing and conversing +with the natives," Professor Bigelow said. "So when you are out you +can be doubly sure that things will be all right." + +It was now about meal time, and the chief wanted to bring the +explorers dishes of native food, but they thanked him, saying that +they would use their own provisions. + +"For my part I don't care for any of their delicacies," grinned Joe. +"You can never tell what you're getting." + +"True enough," laughed Mr. Holton. "For that reason we'll stick to our +own grub." + +After lunching bountifully, the explorers rested on the straw beds and +felt much better for it. When an hour had passed, Mr. Holton rose and +walked over to the supplies. + +"Let's go out specimen-collecting," he suggested, getting out a rifle +and small shotgun. + +Bob and Joe were on their feet in an instant, their faces radiant with +delight. At last had come a chance to explore the jungle, with its +many thrills, wonders, and tragedies. How they had longed for it! + +"Can't get there any too soon for me," said Bob, grasping his rifle. + +Mr. Lewis also agreed, and they started out toward the back of the +village, Bob and Joe in the lead. + +There was a fairly well blazed trail at the edge of the last hut, and +the hunters resolved to follow it. + +"Probably won't be much large game along this path, but there will +undoubtedly be others branching off from it," remarked Mr. Holton, as +he took the lead and plunged into the jungle. + +That jungle interested the youths immensely, for the variety of +tropical vegetation was wide. Trees of all types grew one beside +another, their leaves coming in contact with each other. Many of the +trunks were encircled with parasitic vines, which, in many cases, +caused the trees to be stunted. All about on the ground were shrubs +and bushes and tall grass that hindered walking. + +"Have to be careful here," warned Mr. Lewis, carefully avoiding a low +shrub studded with sharp-pointed thorns. + +"Right," agreed Bob's father. "Keep a ready hand on your rifles, for +there are countless creatures that may be dangerous." + +Although the jungle seemed thick at the start, it was nothing to what +they found it later on. Vegetation was certainly dense. Large clusters +of ferns barred the way, their enormous leaves suggesting forests of +prehistoric times. Gay flowers loomed up here and there, tempting the +hunters to stop and marvel at their beauty. Oddly shaped plants were +numerous, among them being a stalk that grew straight up for a +distance of perhaps ten feet, then spliced and fell to the ground in +several places. + +Bob and Joe had expected much, but this was beyond any of their +anticipations. Nature was certainly bountiful in displaying her art in +these little-known places. + +After a fifteen-minute hike they reached a region of thick bushes, +many of which bore sharp-pointed thorns that were far from pleasant to +encounter. Even with their heavy clothing, they emerged with torn +garments and with bruises that stung and pained severely. But the +unpleasantness was lost before the many tropical wonders that +presented themselves. + +Suddenly a flock of white birds flew overhead, and Mr. Lewis and Bob +fired their shotguns together. At once four fell to the ground, amid +the terrible screeching of the others. + +"Egrets," said Mr. Holton, upon examining the birds. + +As the hunters moved on they added many other birds and small animals +to the collection. One of the most remarkable of the latter was a +large ant-bear, with a long, slender head that terminated into a +toothless mouth. The creature was about four feet long, with a bushy +tail protruding another two feet. + +Bob and Joe did their part in the specimen-collecting, and they at +once won the recognition of their elders for their accurate shooting. +Bob was especially praised, for he was not far behind the men in +marksmanship. + +The hunters had been out several hours when Mr. Lewis suggested that +they get back to the village. + +"Professor Bigelow and the others may worry about us," he said. "In my +opinion we have been out long enough for the first time." + +The others agreed, and they were about to retrace their footsteps when +Joe caught sight of something that turned his blood cold. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A Thrilling Encounter + + +Protruding from a tree bough not ten feet away was a long, sinister +snake, its evil eyes glistening in what little sunlight penetrated the +dense jungle. Whether it was poisonous Joe did not know, but he knew +that even though it were not it would be dangerous to the extreme. + +As cautiously as possible he nudged his companions, and then the +naturalists held their rifles tighter. Here, only a short distance +away, was a jararaca, one of the most poisonous of Brazilian +reptiles--a snake that often was known to take the aggressive. + +For a moment there was silence--an ominous silence that ended in a +blood-curdling hiss. + +Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis raised their rifles and took long and careful +aim. Bob followed suit, although he was not sure that his aim would be +true. + +Then, just as the snake prepared to strike, the men fired +simultaneously, and Bob pulled the trigger a second later. + +In such a crisis it was necessary that their bullets take effect, and +they did. + +The reptile's head was shattered into a horrible pulp that was all but +sickening, and the great body lashed about in pain. For several +minutes the movements continued; then, as life faded out, the snake +became less active, finally stretching out into one last mass. + +"Whew!" breathed Bob, relaxing for the first time. "That was some +encounter." + +Mr. Holton nodded in affirmation. + +"If we had been stung by those terrible fangs it would have been the +last of us," he said, casting a resentful look in that direction. + +"The venom is extremely powerful," remarked Mr. Lewis, wiping the +perspiration from his brow. "It is yellow in color, and takes effect +almost immediately. The nervous system becomes paralyzed in a very +short time." + +"A pleasant way to die--I don't think," muttered Joe, shrugging his +shoulders. + +They made a wide circle about the reptile's body and started on the +return journey. + +"I'd like to have it as a specimen," remarked Mr. Lewis, referring to +the jararaca. "But in its shattered condition it would not be worth +the taking." + +The hunters rested awhile under the shade of a large hardwood tree, +whose branches extended out over a great distance. Then Mr. Holton +took up his belongings, and the others did the same. + +Gradually the jungle became less dense, and at last they came to the +village, where they were given a hearty greeting by the Indians, who +were glad to see the hunters back in the village. They found Professor +Bigelow in the hut, his hands flying over the keys of the typewriter. + +At first he did not notice them, thinking they were Indians, but +finally he lifted his gaze. + +"What kind of luck did you have?" he inquired absently. + +The others hesitated a moment at the professor's almost unconscious +question. It was evident that the anthropologist was becoming deeply +absorbed in this work of observing the daily life of the little-known +Indians. Then, with a wink at the others, Mr. Holton decided on a +preposterous answer to see how the professor would take it. + +"We brought down two tigers and an elephant," he said, in as sober +tones as he could summon. + +"Hmm. Well, that's fine"--the typewriter still clicked rapidly. "I +suppose you'll have them skinned at once?" + +Bob and Joe could not help breaking out in laughter, and the +naturalists joined them. Professor Bigelow looked up in surprise. + +"I must confess I wish I could see something humorous," he said, +stopping his writing for a moment and looking at his companions in +wonder. + +The others were laughing all the harder now, and poor Professor +Bigelow was bewildered beyond words. Only an explanation would satisfy +him. + +As soon as Mr. Holton could regain his breath he hastened to assure +the professor that it was nothing about his person that caused the +laugh, but only his intense scientific enthusiasm. He joined in the +merriment also when the joke was told. + +"That's one on me," he said mirthfully. "I guess I was too deeply +engrossed in this manuscript." + +The remainder of that day was spent rather idly, for, hot as it had +previously been, it seemed to grow all the more stifling. Bob +remarked that he did not feel like doing anything but loafing, and the +others were none different. + +The next day Bob, Joe, and their fathers again started out on a +collecting trip and added many new specimens to the already large +assemblage. They brought in gorgeously colored macaws, screamers, +woodpeckers, trumpeters, finfoots, waxbills, and many other birds. +They shot many small animals, including a type of opossum, a large +lizard, and an armadillo. It was indeed a large number of specimens +that the naturalists prepared that night. + +"So far, everything is working out fine," smiled Mr. Lewis, as he put +the fauna up for exhibition. + +Meanwhile the chief, Otari, was helping Professor Bigelow as best he +could and gave him several articles of daily use as a present, in +return for which the professor gave the Indian beads and mirrors and +other objects dear to all primitive people. + +"I have enough material now to write several books," the professor +said joyfully. "The museum certainly will welcome this information. +And these articles that the chief gave me--well, they will tickle the +museum heads greatly." + +Time tended to increase rather than lessen the number of daily +interests to the explorers, and they found themselves living as in a +dream. The great tropical forest about them added an enchantment to +the work, and the simple, primitive people that they were living with +caused them to imagine themselves living in prehistoric times. + +"It's great, Joe, old boy," said Bob, deeply stirred. "Who would have +ever thought that away out here in the wilderness it would be possible +to come across things so interesting?" + +"Yet," said Joe, "I suppose they wouldn't be interesting to everyone." + +One day, when the party had been at the Indian village nearly a week, +Bob and Joe asked permission to go into the forest and try their luck +at getting specimens. + +"All right," Mr. Holton replied. "But don't get too far away." + +Bob picked out a rifle and Joe a small shotgun, and after parting +words with their elders they made for the jungle. + +The trail was one that they had never taken, and it was consequently +necessary to be doubly careful to pick the right branch. But they had +little difficulty, as the main path was much wider than the branches. + +In no time they were engulfed by the jungle, which was here even +thicker than they had previously found it. Monkeys were more numerous +in the tree boughs, and they peered doubtfully at the white hunters +who had invaded their land. + +Joe raised his shotgun and brought several down, intent upon leaving +them at the spot until they would return to the village. + +"So far, so good," remarked Bob. "Wonder what else we'll come across?" + +"Time will tell," Joe replied. + +On and on they trekked, keeping a sharp lookout on all sides. Once Bob +lost his footing and went sprawling on the ground. + +"Better be more careful," warned Joe. + +Suddenly there came a loud snort, and the youths were on the alert at +the instant. + +Gripping their guns tightly, they stopped and waited. + +Again it came, and the next minute they caught sight of a wild pig, or +peccary, rustling the tall grass not far away. + +"Keep still," whispered Bob, raising his rifle. "Maybe I can get him. +Then we can have meat--and his hide as a specimen." + +Several moments Bob spent in taking careful aim. Then he pulled the +trigger. + +Bang! Oink! Oink! Silence. + +"Hurrah!" cried Joe. "Killed him dead as a doornail. Now to get +his----" + +He stopped suddenly as he caught sight of something that froze him +with horror. Not fifty feet down the path rushed a drove of peccaries +numbering at least twenty. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Terrible Peccaries + + +"Run!" cried Bob in tones of mortal terror. + +He tore down the path at full speed, closely followed by Joe, who was +panting furiously. + +The youths had a start of less than fifty feet, but how long they +could keep in the lead they well knew, for hardly any creature, large +or small, could elude the tireless chase of peccaries. + +They dared not glance back for fear of stumbling, but feared that the +wild pigs were gaining rapidly. + +What would the boys do? How could they ever escape that furious drove? + +Suddenly Joe's foot slipped and he went down, his face as pale as +death. He looked appealingly to Bob. + +Bob wheeled about and brought his rifle to his shoulder. The nearest +peccary was not more than ten feet away. The youth took hasty aim, +then pulled the trigger. + +At the report of the gun the animal fell, gasping and writhing about. + +Bob worked the bolt on his rifle. He took a second aim at the next +peccary and killed it. + +For a moment, at least, the jungle was cleared, and by now Joe had +arisen to his feet, although the pain in his ankle was terrific. + +"Come on," beckoned Bob. "We must get away at once. The rest of them +will be here in a moment. Can you make it?" + +"I--I guess so. My ankle hurts terribly, though." + +Not far away there was a large hollow, the place where the roots of a +tree had been before a hurricane had uprooted them. To this the boys +made with all speed. If they could only reach it in time there might +be a chance of escape, for the peccaries would find it hard to climb +the steep bank. + +The youths scrambled down the edge and tumbled to the bottom. Then +they began the task of climbing the opposite side. They reached the +top just as the drove started down, and for the first time felt that +they had a good chance of escaping. + +"Make for the trail," panted Joe. "Then we might get back to the +village." + +They kept up the fast pace for a distance of several hundred yards, +and then, panting and gasping, they slowed down to a trot. + +"Guess we've thrown them off the track," breathed Joe, hobbling along +almost on one foot. + +"Let's hope so," Bob answered, glancing around for a brief moment. + +At last they parted the foliage and burst into the village, their +faces red with fatigue, their bodies dripping with perspiration. + +Mr. Lewis came out to meet them, and he glanced up in some surprise. + +"What happened?" he asked, sensing that the youths had met with some +misfortune. + +"Peccaries!" returned Bob. "A drove of peccaries! Doesn't that mean +something?" + +"Ah!" the naturalist exclaimed. "Well, it's no wonder you're so worn +out. Let's hear about it." + +Mr. Holton and Professor Bigelow now came running out, along with a +few Indians. + +Bob related their narrow escape from the wild pigs, and Mr. Holton +shook his head gravely. + +"You don't want any more such encounters," he said. "Good luck like +that couldn't happen twice." + +"At that, we would have got away sooner if Joe hadn't sprained his +ankle," said Bob. + +"A sprained ankle is a bad thing to have when in a wild land," said +Professor Bigelow, with a grim smile. "It often proves one's own +undoing. But now," he added, "I'm off to converse with the chief. I'm +getting a wealth of information about these strange people." + +But though he was meeting with success, the professor was destined not +to be satisfied in prolonging his stay in this village. It happened in +this way. The explorers were seated about the campfire one evening +when the chief happened casually to mention a strange Indian tribe +that lived in the remote beyond. At once the anthropologist was on the +alert, ready to hear anything that Otari might say. + +"Tell me something about them," urged the scientist in the native +tongue. + +The chief explained that little was known about the tribe, except that +the members were extremely warlike and did not hesitate to kill anyone +that looked to be an enemy. Often they were cannibalistic, boiling +their victims in huge clay kettles. Asked how he knew about them, +Otari replied that one of his tribe, a born rover and adventurer, +happened to come across them when on an exploring expedition in the +upper reaches of the river. At first he was taken prisoner but was +later released and allowed to return down the river. + +For nearly five minutes after Otari had finished, Professor Bigelow +was thoughtfully silent, absorbed in picturing the journey into the +unknown. How wonderful it would be to visit this strange tribe! What +an opportunity to win recognition from eminent men of his profession! + +"How far away is this place?" he asked at last. + +How far? A journey of many, many days through wild, heavily forested +country. It would not be safe to attempt the journey. + +The professor then asked the chief how he thought the unknown tribe +would treat the explorers, and the big Indian shook his head +doubtfully. + +"_Otanima turutee nevark_ [take big chance]," he said vaguely, and +then proceeded to point out the many dangers that would accompany the +venture. + +But despite the Indian's warning, Professor Bigelow was determined to +investigate this unknown tribe. It was more than likely that Otari +was influenced by native superstition and that the dangers that he +feared were largely imaginative. After all he (Professor Bigelow) had +looked up many other strange people in various parts of the world and +had had little difficulty in winning their good will. Even the wildest +of savages, if well treated and presented with gifts, were more or +less easily won over. Surely this tribe would not be worse than others +he had visited. + +Professor Bigelow sought out his companions and put the facts before +them, not hesitating to tell them that the venture would probably be +dangerous and fraught with displeasures. But he pointed out much +stronger that there would be a wonderful opportunity to study the most +primitive of men, in addition to finding many strange, or perhaps +unknown, animals. + +The others listened intently, and in the end they were very +thoughtful. + +Bob and Joe remained silent. Here was a time when they thought it best +not to voice an opinion, for they had had no experience in the work of +exploring. + +"If it were not for the fact that the boys are with us I would answer +'yes' at once," said Mr. Lewis. "But since they are, I hardly know +what to say." + +"It would be terrible if anything should happen to them," put in Mr. +Holton. "But they have proven that they are able to take care of +themselves in almost any predicament, and we wouldn't need to worry +about them. Still, that wouldn't prevent anything from happening to +the whole party. Yet Professor Bigelow has shown that he has an +enormous amount of ability to handle savage people, and I'd be willing +to bet that in the end we'd come out all right. What do you think of +it, Ben?" + +"I'm willing to go if you are," Mr. Lewis replied. "As you said, we'll +probably have little or no trouble." + +"Then you'll go?" the professor asked. + +The others nodded. + +"Fine! I assure you that I will do all in my power to bring about +friendly relations. And I might add that Otari has consented to give +me a list of words of the strange tribe's language. He got them from +the fellow that wandered into their domain. + +"Now the next thing," he continued, "is to get our belongings together +and pack them in the boats. You can start doing that now, while I look +up Otari. I'll be back in a very short time." + +The next minute he was gone, and the naturalists and their sons began +the task of packing their provisions in the boats. For some time no +one spoke. Then Mr. Lewis put down a box he was carrying and turned to +the others. + +"We don't want to have any bloodshed if we can possibly prevent it," +he said gravely. "But there may be a time when we'll find it necessary +to use our rifles in order to protect our lives. In that case, every +man must be depended upon to be wide awake and do his part in the +shooting. Let's hope that nothing like that happens, but as there is a +possibility, it is best to be on the safe side. I think it might be +wise to construct sides and a top on the boats, so as to ward off +spears and poisoned arrows--if any should come our way. We can get the +Indians to help us, and Otari will point out the best wood to use. +What do you say?" + +"I'm all for it," replied Bob. "It might mean the difference between +life and death." + +Professor Bigelow and Otari now came in, and the plan was explained +to them. At once the professor gave his approval, and translated to +the chief, who in the end sent men into the forest to pick out the +best wood to be used in building the enclosure. Then the work of +carrying the expedition's belongings to the boats was resumed. + +In a short time the Indians were back with a good supply of a light +but tough wood, and the adventurers at once set to work at building +the sides and top on the boats. + +First the sides were built up to a height of about three feet; then a +top was placed over about half of the length and fastened on securely. +The material was so light that no difference in the standing of the +boat was noticed. Yet Otari said that the tough wood would withstand a +blow from any kind of native weapon. To prove this, he ordered one of +his men to shoot an arrow at close range, and the sharp-pointed +missile merely glanced off the wood and fell into the river. + +The explorers were well pleased with this floating fort, and stood for +some time admiring its staunch construction. + +"Now to get to the other boat," said Mr. Lewis, picking up a hammer +and nails. + +In less than an hour the second enclosure was built on the other +canoe, and it appealed also to the explorers. + +"Let's get started at once," said Professor Bigelow. + +The last of their belongings was packed into the compartments, and +then, with a sincere farewell to Otari and his tribe, the crew paddled +them upstream on another stretch of the great river journey. + +What new adventures and thrills awaited them? + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A Nightmare Experience + + +It did not take the explorers long to pass a group of islands not far +upstream, one of the landmarks that Otari had told them about, and as +the islands were a number of miles from the village, they felt that +they were making a rapid start. + +The country was gradually becoming wilder and more beautiful, but with +this came an increase in the number of dangerous obstacles that had to +be avoided. On the shore the jungle was denser than they had ever seen +it before. In many places, to attempt to penetrate its depths would be +difficult and perilous, and disaster would come upon anyone who would +not blaze a trail. + +The variety of fauna was still greater, and many new specimens did the +naturalists add to their already large collection. Birds and beasts +and reptiles all fell at the report of the explorers' rifles. + +Finally they came to a wide tributary, which forged off from the main +stream, making the two rivers form a perfect V. This was the second of +Otari's landmarks, and the explorers felt that another important +distance had been covered. + +"The current's rather rough," said Bob, his eyes following the course +of the tributary. + +The explorers passed the stream by, not thinking it wise to chance an +exploration of it. + +The next day their adventurous spirits proved their own undoing. They +had been paddling constantly after the morning meal when suddenly they +came upon another tributary, this time branching out at right angles +from the main stream. There was something about that river that made +the explorers want to follow its rough course. + +"Probably doesn't continue far," was the opinion given by Mr. Holton. +"Let's turn the boats up for a considerable distance. We may come +across something totally different." + +The others agreed, for there was a possibility of finding almost +anything in this out-of-the-way tributary. + +"But we must not stray too far from the Tapauá," warned Professor +Bigelow, as the crew turned the boats in that direction. + +For the first hour the country remained much the same. Then they +reached a region where rocky crags protruded out from the shore, +making it necessary for the crew to be doubly careful in guiding the +boats. And with this danger came the possibility of another, for the +current was growing stronger. A terrific rapids could be only a short +distance downstream. At last, much to the surprise of all, they came +to another river, running at right angles to the one they were on. + +A thought struck Bob. + +"Do you remember that tributary we passed yesterday that formed a V +with the Tapauá?" he asked. "Well, I'll bet this is it. It runs almost +parallel with the Tapauá, and we've come upon it by taking this course +that runs at right angles." + +"By George, you may be right," agreed Mr. Lewis, suddenly grasping the +meaning. "What say we turn down it and see if Bob isn't right? If he +is we'll gradually fork over to the Tapauá and be where we were +yesterday afternoon." + +The others did not object, for they were curious to know whether or +not Bob was right. + +The current gradually grew stronger, carrying the boats ahead at a +much swifter pace. Although this afforded the crew a chance to rest, +it worried the explorers, for it was plain that a rapids was somewhere +ahead. + +They paddled on, however, confident that they were not near enough to +be in danger. + +"We'll continue for a while," said Mr. Holton. "Then we may be able to +find out what is ahead of us." + +The words had scarcely left his mouth when the boats rounded a corner, +not two hundred feet above a seething, boiling rapids, its waters +rushing madly past protruding rocks. + +There was no time to lose. Something must be done at once! + +"Stop the boats!" cried Mr. Lewis in Portuguese to the crew. + +The Indians heard, and struggled with all their might against the +rapidly increasing current, but their efforts were in vain. The boats +had gained too much momentum. + +The cruel water carried them on at terrific speed, which was increased +several fold when they went into the rapids. Then they realized that +there was little use trying to stop. The forces of man were puny +indeed compared to that terrific onslaught of foam. + +"Make for the middle of the stream!" commanded Mr. Holton. "Even then +it will tax our efforts to the utmost." + +The whites grabbed poles and what other objects they could find and +did their part in keeping the foremost boat at as near the middle of +the river as they could. But even with the added help it was extremely +difficult to guide straight. + +The crew had the paddles, and they were doing their best to steer the +boats away from the banks. They succeeded fairly well, for the river +was still several score feet wide. + +But grave misfortune awaited them. + +Not far away was a small island, stretching several hundred feet along +the course of the river. The distance between the river bank and the +island shore was little more than twenty feet, hardly room enough for +the boats to get through. And to make matters worse, there were +several large boulders protruding near the bank. Disaster seemed +almost certain! + +In the face of this grave danger the explorers remained calm, +determining to save themselves and the boats if it were at all +possible. But how? + +With sinking hearts they saw the boats head directly for the rocks, +where they would immediately be dashed to pieces. + +"We must--we've got to do something!" cried Professor Bigelow, rapidly +losing his nerve. + +Bob and Joe were nearest the bank, and anything that could be done was +up to them. + +Summoning all his power, Joe thrust a sturdy pole into the roots of a +large tree that grew almost in the water. He little expected anything +to come of the act, but it was a last resort. + +Much to the surprise and relief of all, the sudden impact forced the +boat back into midstream, although Joe was nearly thrown overboard by +the clash. + +Bob drew a sigh of relief. A narrow escape! Perhaps the closest they +would ever be to death and yet evade it. + +But what of the other boat? The whites were so intent upon guiding the +one they were in that they completely forgot about the one that +trailed. + +They quickly glanced around, to see that it had escaped also, and was +dashing along behind. How the good luck was brought about they never +knew. + +"That was a wonderful act on your part," praised Mr. Holton, turning a +moment to Joe. + +The latter shook his head. + +"Don't know how I happened to think of it," he said modestly. "I +didn't expect any good from it, though." + +The others also took part in the commendation, and Joe was glad to +turn the conversation to their present predicament. + +"Looks like we have a fair chance now," he remarked, glancing far +ahead. + +Then suddenly they struck a seething whirlpool and were spun around +broadside to the terrific current. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Call for Help + + +"Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear. "Turn the head +around or we'll be swamped at once." + +The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the +craft about, but he was having little luck. The terrible rapids was +reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being. + +Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue +there could be but one outcome--tragedy! + +This time it was Bob who came to the rescue. + +Pushing the Indian aside, he jumped into the seat and caught hold of +the paddle, at the same time giving the rudder a swift turn about. + +There was a roar and a swish, and the next moment the boat had swerved +around and was facing the current head first, leaving the treacherous +whirlpool far behind. + +"Great work, son!" panted Mr. Holton. "You saved the day that time." + +It was now evident that the worst was over, for the current was +gradually losing its terrible force. Slowly but surely they were +pulling away from the perilous rapids, and if their good fortune +continued, they would soon be in calm waters. + +"Unless," said Joe soberly, "we strike another whirlpool." + +But no other whirlpool barred their way, and soon they were safely +riding the calm ripples farther downstream. + +For the first time they were given a chance to relax. Their faces were +red from exertion; their bodies were dripping with perspiration. In +short, they were greatly fatigued. + +"The most thrilling adventure we've had since we started," remarked +Bob, rubbing his forehead. + +"It was a terribly narrow escape," affirmed Professor Bigelow, not +bearing to think of the tragedy that was so closely averted. + +"We owe our lives to you boys," praised Mr. Lewis. "It was your +thought and action that prevented the boat from being dashed to +pieces. First Joe came across with a plan that kept us from striking +the rocks. Then Bob swerved the boat around out of the whirlpool. If +it hadn't been for you----" + +"Forget it!" Bob dismissed the subject as best he could, and then +asked his friends' opinion of where they now were. + +"Probably halfway to the junction with the mainstream," replied Mr. +Holton. "That rapids carried us along at a terrific speed." + +His opinion proved correct, for they reached the Tapauá early the next +morning and turned the boats to retrace the distance covered the day +before. + +"Might as well consider that much time wasted," said Joe. "For about a +day the journey will be a repetition of what it was two days ago." + +They did not mind the delay, however. That is, all but Professor +Bigelow, who was anxious to find the strange tribe that Otari had +spoken about. Every mile that went behind them lagged, to him, till it +seemed that he was almost in a nightmare. Even after they had made up +for the lost time and were paddling several score miles farther +upstream, he was irritated. It was clearly evident that his impatient +scientific enthusiasm was getting the better of him. + +As they traveled on, his anxiety increased rather than lessened, for +they were getting nearer the region occupied by the savages. + +"The old boy's so excited he can hardly wait," smiled Joe, aside to +his chum. + +"He's anxious to test his wits against the cannibals," returned Bob. +"Wants to stay for dinner, maybe." + +They camped that night on a wide sand bank, at the base of a rocky +knoll. After the evening meal, they sat in a group about the +firelight, chatting merrily, despite the fact that they were near, or +perhaps in, the cannibal country. + +They turned in early, and the night passed without incident. + +"Well," smiled Mr. Holton the next morning as he went about preparing +breakfast, "nothing happened to disturb our deep slumber." + +"Perhaps we are not quite near enough the dangerous territory," +replied Professor Bigelow. "But according to Otari, we shouldn't have +to travel much farther." + +That morning, for the first time, two of the crew began to show signs +of uneasiness. It was Bob who first noticed them talking in muffled +tones, and upon listening, he found that they did not like the idea of +going into this unknown country that was the abode of wild savages. +But as they appeared to come to no conclusion, Bob turned to help +prepare the meal. + +After breakfast they paddled on upstream in search of a suitable +hunting area, for the naturalists wished to go ashore and add to their +collection. + +At every point of the compass the scenery was beautiful beyond +description. There were steep, jagged cliffs, densely overgrown with +the brilliant green of tropical vegetation; tall forest giants, +towering a hundred feet into the sky; gorgeously colored flowers that +sent their sweet fragrance far afield. + +Mr. Holton broke the enchanted silence. "Here we are," he said, +singling out a stopping place. + +The boats were turned into a little cove, behind which was a stretch +of smooth country. + +The naturalists and their sons picked out guns and prepared to leave +on a hunting trip, but Professor Bigelow announced that he would +remain at the boats to read. + +"Don't see how he can read on a morning like this," murmured Joe. +"This cool air gets under my skin and cries 'action, _action_!'" + +They decided to take all but two of the crew with them to help carry +in specimens, and strangely enough the two Indians who remained behind +were the ones Bob had heard talking about not liking the prospect of +penetrating into this unknown country. + +Bob wondered if it would be safe to leave things as they were. For a +moment he thought of appealing to the others to change the situation, +but thought better of it and followed on into the forest. After all, +nothing would probably come of the happening. + +"We want to get a jaguar today if it's at all possible," said Mr. +Lewis, his keen eyes scanning the surrounding trees, as if he expected +to find one of the big cats lurking there. + +"A jaguar!" repeated Joe. "Fine. We'll get one if there's any around." + +They tramped on for about five minutes before seeing any game but +monkeys and bright-colored birds. Then Mr. Lewis caught sight of a +long, lithe body gliding over the tangled underbrush. + +The others saw, too, and they raised their rifles and fired. + +The snake was immediately made into pulp, and the hunters ran up to +examine it. + +"Coral snake," said Mr. Holton, recognizing the striped body. "Whether +it's poisonous I don't know. Here is one reptile that cannot easily be +distinguished as to whether it is of the harmless or poisonous +variety." + +The reptile was no good as a specimen, and they passed it by. + +Suddenly Mr. Holton stopped still in his tracks and pointed to a low +tree bough not far away. The others looked and then shrank back in +awe. + +There, resting peacefully in the shaded depths of a limb, was a huge, +powerful jaguar, its spotted coat showing in strange contrast to the +surrounding jungle. + +"Back," whispered Mr. Holton, slowly raising his rifle. + +Carefully the naturalist took aim, while the others stood by with +ready rifles. + +Bang! The bullet sped true. + +There was a terrific pawing and clutching at the bough, but to no +avail. A second later the great cat fell to the ground, moved +convulsively for a moment, and then lay still. + +"Hurrah!" cried Bob. "Our first jaguar." + +"The biggest and most dangerous animal of South America," chimed in +Mr. Lewis. + +At once the skin was ripped off and then placed in a bag carried by +the crew. + +A little later Bob was several score feet behind the others, examining +a peculiar plant that had small blue flowers. As he started to pluck +one he suddenly heard a faint cry that seemed to come from the +direction of the river. + +At first he thought it was some strange bird, but when he heard it +again he was immediately on the alert. That a bird? Absurd. But what +could it be? + +Then a thought struck him, and he almost turned pale. It was Professor +Bigelow! + +He called to the others to follow and then turned and ran with all +speed to the boats. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Fighting Against Heavy Odds + + +Bob had often run in track races at high school, but never had he +equaled the pace that was now taking him to the boats. It was as +though wings had suddenly lifted him through space at an alarming rate +of speed. + +The youth had all he could do to prevent coming in contact with thorns +and fringed plants, but he did his best. But what of thorns when +Professor Bigelow needed help? + +On and on he went, swinging his rifle over shrubs and bushes. At times +it was necessary to hold his arms high above his head to prevent +striking limbs and other projections. + +At last, after what seemed a terribly long time, he parted the foliage +and gazed ahead to see what was happening. Then a look of rage came on +his face. + +On the river bank a terrific struggle was taking place between +Professor Bigelow and the two Indians who had been left behind. The +men had the professor down, and the latter's face was ghastly white as +strong arms and hands tried to choke him into unconsciousness. +Occasionally he would manage to call out a muffled cry for assistance. + +For a moment Bob took in the situation carefully. Then he rushed at +the men with rage and fury and landed on the back of the one nearest, +bearing him to the ground with a thud. The Indians glanced up in +surprise at this abrupt interruption, and they turned to deal with +this new enemy. + +One of the men gained his feet and launched himself with all force at +Bob's side, the impact hurling the youth from the back of the first +man. But Bob shook the fellow off and threw an arm around his neck +with the strength of one in desperation. There was a terrific +struggle, and the two thrashed about, neither able to gain the upper +hand. Bob gripped the Indian's neck with all his strength, and the +man's face began to turn purple from the terrific strain. It was +clearly evident that he would soon be put out of the fight. + +But the other Indian was not motionless. In fact if it had not been +for him, the youth would have had the better of the first fellow, for +he was slowly giving out. But suddenly Bob felt a heavy body landing +on his back and had to release his hold on the first man. + +This again gave the Indians the advantage, and they were quick to +sense their chance. + +Bob soon saw that he could gain nothing as things were. He must resort +to some other means. + +Professor Bigelow was now beginning to show signs of life, but he was +so badly battered that what little he did to help amounted to nothing, +for he was soon sent sprawling to the ground. + +Suddenly Bob gained his feet, intent upon resorting to boxing, a +method that the Indians probably knew little about. + +A quick glance around showed that his friends had arrived and were +making for the boats as fast as they could. But it was only a glance, +for the Indians were rushing at him with redoubled force. + +Bob caught the first man squarely between the eyes and sent him +sprawling to the ground in a dazed condition. The other Indian saw +that it would be useless to continue the fight, for the other whites +were returning fast. + +He turned and made for the boat, Bob at his heels. The youth suspected +that the man was going after a gun, and he was right. But he hardly +had the revolver in his hand when Bob pounced upon him and wrenched +the weapon from his grip. One hard blow put him out of the fight. + +Then, for the first time, Bob drew a long breath. He was panting and +gasping from exertion, but he hurried over to Professor Bigelow. + +"Are you all right?" he asked. + +"Yes," the professor replied, getting to his feet. And then: "That was +a wonderful fight you put up, Bob. If you had come much later, the +Indians would have escaped with the boat and our provisions." + +"So that was their game!" said Mr. Lewis angrily, glancing at the +still limp Indian on shore. "They wanted to put you out and then +escape with the boats, leaving us here to starve!" + +He drew his fist, and for a moment it looked as if another fight were +going to take place. + +"Just for that we should desert them," gritted Joe. + +"Can hardly do that," said Mr. Holton. "It would amount to the same as +murder for robbery, and such punishment is unjust. Now if they had +killed one of our party it might be different. Even then I'd hesitate +to do it." + +"But they've got to have some kind of punishment," persisted Joe. "Who +knows but that they'll attempt the same thing later?" + +"We'll have to keep a close lookout," returned the professor. "If we +see any more treachery we won't dare take any more chances." + +The other members of the crew could not understand the actions of the +two would-be deserters, and at once cast them aside as traitors, +calling them names which, had they been translated into English, would +have been extremely shocking to civilized persons. + +In a short time the two Indians emerged into consciousness, and they +sat awaiting any fate that might be thrust upon them. The explorers +were at a loss to know what to do with the men, but they finally +decided to give them hard jobs in full view of all, so that they could +neither escape again with the boats nor get the others of the crew to +thinking their way. + +"Probably won't have any more trouble," remarked Mr. Lewis, as they +prepared to start up the river again. "We'll keep a sharp lookout, +and if we see any more dishonesty we'll act accordingly." + +The specimens were prepared, and they resumed the journey up the +river, hoping that few more days would pass before they found the +unknown Indians. The whites were anxious and yet rather fearful to +come in contact with them, fortified as the boats were. Professor +Bigelow, however, took the matter lightly, and often when his friends +thought of his numerous visits to strange tribes, many of them +hostile, they were inclined to cast aside their worries and leave the +future happenings to him. For surely, with his wide experience, he +could see to any predicament. + +"We want to make good time today," said Mr. Holton. "Twenty-five +miles, at least." + +"We will," Joe's father assured him. "Unless," he added, "more rapids +hold us back." + +"I don't think--I hardly believe they will," Professor Bigelow said, +but this was a statement of hope rather than of conviction. + +Bob and Joe constantly took motion pictures of the country they were +passing through, and often they took the cameras with them on hunting +trips, to photograph not only wild life but any adventures that they +might have. The number of feet of exposed film had grown to nearly a +thousand, and they intended to make it several more before they +"closed" the picture. They were allowed four thousand feet and fully +expected to use all of it. + +The next day after the fracas with the traitorous Indians, they were +paddling swiftly along when suddenly there was a jar and a crash, and +the foremost boat was sent aside and heading in the opposite +direction. At once the explorers were on their feet and had their +rifles in ready grasp. They cautiously peered over the side into the +river, half expecting to see a dozen or more savages leap out and make +for the boat. + +But no savages came. Instead there arose a large black body, nearly +ten feet long, shaped like a seal, with the faintest suggestion of +fins protruding from its side. For a moment it glanced about, then +swam on up the river. + +"A manatee," said Mr. Holton. "Or sea-cow, if you prefer that name." + +"Sure is a whopper," observed Joe. "Looks like it might be dangerous. +Is it?" + +"No," his father replied. "One of the most harmless animals of South +America." + +Mr. Lewis raised his rifle to bring the creature down as a specimen, +but just as he prepared to pull the trigger it darted below the water +and swam off at a rapid pace, leaving a thin streak of ripples behind. +Then the naturalists saw that shooting would mean only a waste of +bullets. + +A few miles on they came upon another rapids and saw that it would be +necessary to lay a portage of logs along the river bank in order to +get the boats through. Anxious to make time, they worked untiringly +and had the task completed in a short time. + +"Now to get the boats through," said Mr. Holton, beginning to unload +their contents. + +The canoes were heavy, even with the provisions removed, and it +required all the combined strength of the whites and the Indian crew +to get them beyond the rough stretch. But the undertaking was finally +finished. + +Next the provisions were carried around, placed in the boats, and the +latter were moved into the river. At last the strenuous task was +completed. + +"Ready to go again?" asked Joe. + +"It's about noon," said Professor Bigelow. "I suggest that we get a +lunch." + +The others agreed, and an ample repast was prepared. + +Then Mr. Lewis advised that they take it easy under low palm trees. +The others, with the exception of Bob and Joe, were glad of a chance +to repose. The boys, however, were restless and eager to explore the +surrounding territory. Unlike their elders, their tireless limbs cried +out for action, even after hard labor. + +"We'll be careful and not take any chances," Joe assured the men. + +But had they realized what dangerous country they were in, they would +never have started out. + + + + +Chapter XXI + +Magnificent Country + + +There was a rocky hill not far away, and it was Joe who expressed a +desire to go over and climb to the top. + +"Fairly high," he remarked. "Ought to be able to get a good view of +the surrounding territory." + +"Yes," Bob agreed. "Maybe we can catch sight of an Indian village in +the distance. The unknown tribe! Be fine if we could be the ones to +locate it, wouldn't it?" + +"Sure would. Professor Bigelow would be delighted beyond words. Think +of the rumpus he'd kick up if we announced that we'd found the savages +he's been hunting." + +It was a distance of less than a half-mile to the foot of the knoll, +and the youths made it in a very few minutes. Then they began the task +of climbing the jagged side. There was little vegetation to hinder +their progress, although twisted vines and shrubs were rather numerous +on the ground. + +"The undergrowth offers footholds that we could not otherwise find," +said Bob. "Here's a place where it comes in handy, even though most of +the time it's merely something to avoid." + +At last, panting and perspiring, the youths reached the top of the +hill and then turned to glance down below. Jungle, jungle, jungle! +Nothing but heavily wooded country stretched before them. As far as +the eye could see the great tropical forest loomed up--in green, +brown, red. It was as though all the world were covered with dense +vegetation. The boys turned about. + +On the other side was the river, winding through gulches and hills and +stretching out of sight in the distance. Opposite the hill were the +boats, and under trees not far away were the explorers resting +peacefully in the shade. + +It was a spectacular view, and Bob and Joe spent several minutes in +silently gazing down. + +"No evidence of human habitation anywhere around," remarked Bob, +trying to single out a settlement somewhere in the distance. + +In the vast, silent jungle sound travels far, and realizing this, the +youths shouted to the others, to let them know of their commanding +position. + +"Now let's get down from here and tramp on through the forest," said +Joe, finding a foothold in the heavy soil. + +It was necessary to exercise more care in descending, for the rocks +were pointed and dangerous to step on. A safe place had to be felt out +cautiously. + +The youths reached the bottom in a very short time, however, and +followed a narrow trail that wound out of sight. + +"Be impossible to cut through this jungle if there were no trails of +any kind," said Bob, his keen eyes unable to penetrate the tangled +mass of vegetation on either side of them. + +"Not without a machete, anyway," nodded Joe. "Even then it would be a +hard job." + +The youths hiked on until they came to a small stream that emptied +into the river. They sat down on the bank to take in their +surroundings. + +On the other side of the stream was a break in the ground that +indicated the presence of a gully--how steep, they did not know. They +resolved to find out as soon as they had rested. + +"Unless," said Joe, "we can't get across the creek. Never can tell how +many alligators and piranhas have migrated here from the river." + +He picked up a stone and threw it with all his strength into the muddy +water, hoping to arouse any life that might be lurking sluggishly out +of sight. Once he thought he detected a slight ripple other than that +caused by the stone but was not sure. + +"Don't believe I care to wade it," backed out Bob. "Wouldn't feel +funny to have a toe nipped off by a piranha, or worse yet, to be +carried into an alligator's lair. Suppose we throw a log across for +safety." + +They spent several more minutes sitting on the bank in idleness. At +last Joe got up and looked about the near-by jungle. + +"No logs around here," he called to Bob, who had wandered along the +bank. + +Further search was not in vain. A small tree that had been uprooted by +a hurricane lay in a patch of bushes not far away, and it was carried +to the stream and thrown across. Then the youths began carefully +walking along its narrow surface. + +Bob reached the other side first, and he warned his friend to be +careful. Joe was, and in a few moments also had crossed the log. + +"Now let's see what's beyond that ravine," he said. + +They walked over to the edge and then halted abruptly, awe-stricken +and spellbound at the wonderful panorama that stretched out before +them. They were standing at the brink of a two-hundred-foot canyon, +which sloped down and back up to form a perfect U. At the very bottom +was a large grove of huge red flowers, which added not a little to the +beauty of the scene. + +"Some view," breathed Joe, gazing far ahead at the distant jungle. + +Bob nodded. "Bet we can see twenty miles or more," he said. "And +nothing but dense jungle." + +The youths spent several more minutes in looking off into space. They +could not tear themselves away from the wonderful view. It seemed +almost impossible to come suddenly upon such a gulch in a land that +seemed fairly level. + +At last Bob shouldered his rifle as a signal to move on. + +"Can't spend too much time here if we expect to do any more +exploring," he said, looking at his watch. "They'll expect us back in +another hour." + +"Where'll we go next?" + +"No difference to me. How about down the hill?" + +They hiked down the gradual slope of the canyon, although the jungle +was in places impenetrable. + +When about halfway down, Joe stopped suddenly, his face an ashen gray, +his limbs trembling. Bob's eyes opened wide, and he clutched his rifle +tightly. + +The next moment there came a horrid hiss, and the thirty-foot anaconda +lunged forward. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +Lost in the Wilds of Brazil + + +The largest snake of Brazil was about to strike and enfold the youths +in its terrible coils. And that could mean but one thing--death in an +awful form. + +Slowly Bob and Joe raised their rifles and took careful aim at the +horrible head. They must not miss. Here, if ever, was a need for +accurate shooting. + +There came another hiss, and the reptile glided still closer, its +wicked eyes gleaming in the sunlight. It was moving stealthily, as if +wondering which of the boys to make for. + +"Now!" whispered Bob and a second later pulled the trigger. + +Bang! Bang! Two rifles spoke, but only one found the mark. It would +have been a difficult task for even an expert marksman to strike that +small swaying head. And Bob and Joe were not expert marksmen, +although the former was much better than the average. + +But the bullet had only glanced the top of the head and had done no +real damage. The reptile was only more enraged. + +"Run!" cried Joe, as he saw that the anaconda was preparing to strike. + +"One more shot," whispered back Bob, again raising his rifle. "I'm +afraid we couldn't get far if we ran." + +Again the rifles spoke, and this time, thanks to the young hunters' +courage, both bullets smashed into the head and shattered it. The +great snake thrashed about in its death struggle, the coils describing +circles and curves. At last it quieted down and lay still. For the +first time it had been defeated. + +Bob and Joe waited several minutes for any other signs of life, but +none came. They moved up to examine the great body, which lay +stretched out over a radius of fifteen feet. + +"Thicker than a man's leg," observed Joe, who was still unsteady from +the terrible encounter. + +"An unusually large specimen," commented Bob. "Think of the excitement +our dads would stir up if they could see it." + +"They might take it back to the States," said Joe. "Only--I doubt if +it would be much good to them with the head shattered as it is." + +The boys spent several more minutes in examining the anaconda. Then, +unwilling to lose precious time, they started on down the decline. +They intended at least to reach the other side before turning back. + +"Steep along here," said Joe, as they came to a rocky edge. + +"Couldn't fall far," his friend remarked. "The heavy vegetation would +catch you before you'd fallen ten feet. But even then I wouldn't care +to lose my balance and come up against a tree." + +The young explorers stumbled on to the bottom and then began the +ascent of the opposite side. + +Suddenly they heard a vicious snarl and looked back to see that a +large, powerful jaguar was poised ready to spring. Its wicked eyes +shone like beads as it bared its sharp teeth. + +Slowly the youths raised their rifles and took steady aim. Joe was the +first to pull the trigger, and a moment later Bob followed. + +A part snarl, part whine came from the beast, and it weaved as if +going to fall. But it righted itself and then again prepared to +spring. + +"It's up to you, Bob," murmured Joe in a tone that he tried to keep +steady. "My rifle's empty. Can't get it loaded in time." + +Bob frowned. + +A second later he raised his gun to fire, but it caught on a sharp +protruding branch and was wrenched from his grasp. With a frightened +glance at the huge cat he turned to run, and Joe was at his heels. + +The boys well knew that they had little chance of escape in that dense +jungle, but they resolved to retreat as fast as their legs would carry +them. And the fact that the jaguar was severely wounded gave them +courage to run with all the strength they could muster. + +"Good thing you got him in the leg," panted Joe, as they made for a +faintly outlined path not far away. "We wouldn't have had a chance in +the world otherwise." + +As Joe said, the boys would have proved no match for the animal's +agility had it not been wounded. Even as it was, they knew that the +great cat was gaining rapidly. In no time it would be upon them. + +A few yards down, the path branched into several directions. They +chose the one to the right, for no reason at all. It offered no better +chance of escape than did the others. + +"Oh!" groaned Joe, imagining that he could feel the hot breath of the +beast. "We can't keep this up much longer." + +The youths refused to lose heart, however, and continued as rapidly as +they could. At several other places the trail branched, and they +followed the widest and most clearly defined. They had no notion of +where they were going. In fact they did not care, as long as they were +outdistancing their terrible enemy. + +At last they found it impossible to continue the flight. Their breath +gone completely; their hearts were beating like triphammers. + +With a sudden movement Bob wheeled about and brought out his hunting +knife, just as the jaguar prepared to spring. The great cat lunged +forward, bearing the youth to the ground. As he fell, Bob summoned all +his strength and plunged the sharp blade of the knife deep into the +animal's side at a point where he judged it would find the heart. His +aim was true. With one last cough the beast rolled over and lay still. +The knife plus Bob's courage had proven too much for even its brute +strength. + +For a time the youth could not speak. At last he managed to blurt out +a few almost unintelligible words to Joe, who had been helpless to +render aid during the death struggle. + +Joe sighed and shook his head. "Another narrow escape!" he breathed, +picturing what would have happened had not Bob made use of his hunting +knife. + +The boys spent only a short time in examining the great cat, for they +were anxious to get back to the boats at once. + +"Let's hurry back to camp," moved Bob, looking at his watch. "We've +been gone several hours. Doesn't seem possible, does it?" + +But little did the young hunters dream that they were miles from the +boats and their elders--that they had unknowingly penetrated deeper +and deeper into this dense jungle. + +After one last look at the great jaguar, the chums started back down +the trail, heading for the boats. They wondered what kind of a +reception their fathers would give them after being gone so long. + +Ten minutes of constant hiking brought them to a spot where the trail +branched into four or five other paths, each winding in a slightly +different direction from the others. Which branch should they take to +get back to camp? + +"Strange," mused Joe. "I thought sure we could pick out the right +branch. But you know we didn't have much time for thought when that +jaguar was chasing us." + +The youths spent fully ten minutes in trying to decide on which trail +they had turned out, but in the end they were no more enlightened than +they were at the start. They tried to remember some landmark that +might be suggestive but could not. The heavy Amazonian jungle had +proven too much for their memories. + +But they refused to admit that they were beaten, and at last chose the +middle trail, as it seemed more like the one they had followed. There +was no use giving up without showing fight. They walked on constantly +and at last came to another place where the path branched. Here again +they were at a loss to know which direction to take. + +"Believe it's the one to the left," concluded Joe, scratching his head +thoughtfully. + +"I'm sure I don't know," the other said. "But if you think you're +right, we may as well follow it." + +They did follow it. One, two, three miles they hiked. But where was +the canyon? + +"We're surely on the wrong course," said Bob, glancing at his +pedometer. "Three miles is farther than we went before. And we haven't +come to the spot where I dropped my gun yet. Suppose we go back and +try another trail." + +Joe was willing, and they retraced their footsteps, at last coming to +the place where the path branched. + +"Suppose we try the one to the right," suggested Joe, and they did. + +But when, after a half-hour's tramp, they made no more headway than +before, they saw the futility of continuing on this trail. Again they +went back and took another direction. And again they failed to come to +Bob's rifle. The youths continued the search for several hours, never +ceasing. But each time they met with failure. The cruel Brazilian +forest was not to be conquered by man. + +Finally, exhausted and baffled to the extreme, they sat down on a +decaying tree trunk. The stark truth had at last dawned on them. They +were lost--lost in the wilds of Brazil! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Terrible Cries of Savages + + +"Oh, why did we have to wander so far away!" moaned Joe, rapidly +losing his nerve. "We should have known better than to try to +penetrate this endless jungle." + +Bob was equally touched, but he resolved to keep up hope. There was no +use in tamely submitting to fear so soon. One more search might bring +them to the river, and then it would be easy to find the boats. + +"We'll come out all right," he said, "although I'll admit we're in a +tight fix." + +The youths rested for nearly a half-hour. Then their strength--and to +some extent their hope--restored, they again took up the task of +finding the right trail. + +Back and forth they hiked, confident that at last they would happen +upon it. But search as they did, their efforts were in vain. The +cruel Brazilian jungle was not to be conquered by man. + +At last, satisfied that nothing could be gained by continuing such +efforts, Joe moved that they take one of the other trails in the hope +that it would lead them to the river. + +"All right," said Bob. "No use trying to find the one we followed when +running from the jaguar." + +Joe had reloaded his rifle, and Bob had placed his hunting knife ready +for instant use. They were taking no chances on meeting some +formidable jungle beast. + +The path that they now followed was wider than the others and +consequently was more likely to lead to some definite spot. But +neither of the chums was sure that they were heading for the river. It +might lead them fifty miles away, for all they knew. Still they hiked +on. + +"Do you know," remarked Bob, when another hour had passed, "that I'm +beginning to think that these trails were not cut by wild animals! +They're too closely defined. Now take this one, for example. See how +wide it is? And look over there. The vegetation's been _cut_ by a +machete." + +Joe grew suddenly pale. He clutched his rifle tighter. + +"You mean--savages?" he demanded, at the same time looking sharply +about. + +"I may be wrong," Bob said quietly, "but that is my opinion. And as +we're about in the region inhabited by the savage tribe that Professor +Bigelow was searching for, it seems that these paths could have been +cut by them. What do you think?" + +"I'm all too afraid that you're right," was the reply. "And we'll have +to be very careful from now on. At the slightest unfamiliar sound +we'll have to hide." + +Bob groaned. + +"If I only had my rifle," he cried. "Or if I had brought my revolver +it wouldn't be quite as bad." + +But there was no use regretting something that could not be helped, +and Bob and Joe resolved to meet conditions as they were. Perhaps if +it should happen that Indians discovered them, it would be best not to +use their weapons except in self-defense. If the natives' good will +could be gained, it would not only help them but be of benefit to +Professor Bigelow also. + +All the remainder of that afternoon the youths tramped on up the +trail, hoping to burst at last upon the river. They were tired and +downhearted when finally they stopped by a small spring of cool water. +Experience had taught them that in the great majority of cases these +jungle springs were ideal drinking places and that only a very few +were poisoned. So they drank freely of the refreshing liquid and felt +much better for it. + +"Better stop here for the night, hadn't we?" asked Bob, taking in the +surrounding country. + +"Yes," his friend replied. "There's a good place to sleep," pointing +to a large hollow in the ground. + +A little later darkness fell suddenly, and with it came the usual +chill of the atmosphere. Joe had some matches in a small waterproof +box, and he took them out and ignited the dry branches of an uprooted +tree. The fire blazed lively up into the black reaches of the jungle, +giving off heat that was welcomed by the two chums as they sat close +together. + +Before retiring, they took account of their weapons and ammunition. +Joe's rifle was the only firearm in their possession, but both boys +had a large supply of cartridges that should last a long time. With +cautious use they might make them satisfy their needs for several +days. But after that? Still there was no use worrying about the +future. They could let it take care of itself. At present they were +safe. + +"I'll take the first guard," said Bob, half an hour later. "You turn +in and get several hours' sleep. I'll call you when the night's half +over." + +Joe grudgingly consented. He had intended to stand watch first. + +Bob heaped the fire up high and had a good supply of fuel ready to +keep it blazing constantly. + +But when ten minutes had passed he smothered it down to half the size +it had been. It was not wise to keep it too high, for though it was a +sure protection from wild animals, it might attract the attention of +hostile Indians. + +"Have to prevent that at any cost," the young man thought. + +Bob sat moodily fingering his rifle, gazing into the dark depths of +the jungle. From afar came a terrorizing howl of some beast that had +fallen victim of a stronger enemy. Shortly later there came another +howl of different origin. Then another, another, until the whole +jungle rang with fiendish cries. + +It was enough to frighten anyone, and Bob stared rather fearfully +into the surrounding forest, wondering what tragedies were going on at +that moment. + +"Probably scores of creatures being killed," he thought, shifting +uneasily. + +Nothing happened throughout his watch, and he at last moved over and +tapped Joe on the back. The latter jumped to his feet as if shot, and +gazed fearfully about, as if expecting to see a band of cannibals rush +in on them. But a moment later he smiled sheepishly. + +"Guess I was dreaming," he said, taking his position on a log. + +Bob readily sympathized with his chum, for the day had been a +strenuous one, and their endurance had been taxed severely. + +"We'll surely find a way out tomorrow," Bob said, curling up in the +hollow. + +"Hope so," was the reply. + +Joe's watch was also devoid of incident, and late the next morning he +called the other youth from his slumber. + +They were obliged to begin the day without any breakfast, although +they were extremely hungry. They could have shot some small animal, +but Bob thought it wise to wait until noon. + +"By that time," he said hopefully, "maybe we'll have found the +river--or something else." + +They followed the same trail until Joe stopped and looked about. + +"We're not getting any place as things are," he said. "Seems to me the +river should be over in that direction." + +"I think so too," agreed Bob. "There should be plenty of branch paths +that would take us over there." + +They found one before another five minutes had passed, and turned onto +its narrow surface. + +"The world's greatest jungle," mused Bob, shaking his head. + +"Sure is a whopper," the other agreed. "Wonderful. I had no idea it +would have such a wide variety of plants, and that it could be so +dense." + +All that morning the boys spent in vainly searching for the river. The +trail that they had turned onto continued, but where it would lead to +they did not know. It might have gradually circled several miles out +of the way. + +During that desperate search the chums saw a large number of all types +of wild animals, although none happened to be dangerous. Monkeys +crowded thickly down to the lowest boughs, small gnawing creatures +darted across the path, brightly colored birds flew swiftly overhead. +Occasionally the boys could get a glimpse of a snake slinking through +the underbrush. It was a wonderful menagerie and could have been +enjoyed to the full had they not been in such a terrible plight. + +"Do you know," remarked Bob, his eyes on a small creature, "I believe +these animals are used to seeing people." + +Joe looked around inquiringly. + +"Now take that small furred creature that just passed," Bob continued. +"Did you notice how wary it seemed? One glance at us was enough to +send it running back at full speed. They never did that before. Now +here's what I think: we're in a country inhabited either by rubber +gatherers or Indians. Why rubber gatherers would be so far from +civilization I don't know, unless----" + +"I don't think they would be," interrupted Joe. "We didn't come across +any boat that they might have come in. And of course they wouldn't +have come all these hundreds of miles by land." + +"Then it's Indians. Savages, cannibals, maybe, for all we know. It's +their bows and arrows that have scared these wild animals out of +their wits." + +The youths knew not what to make of the situation. There could easily +be Indians in this region, for Professor Bigelow was almost sure they +were near the strange savage tribe that Otari told about. But how the +natives would treat these two lone whites was a mystery. If there +should be a battle the youths knew that their rifle could be relied +upon only as long as the supply of cartridges lasted. Then they would +be compelled to surrender. + +"I have a plan," stated Joe, several minutes later. "If anything +should happen that we are discovered by savages, it might be best to +act extremely exhausted, as if we couldn't stand up a minute longer. +We could even fall in our tracks before they quite get sight of us. +The chances are they would sympathize with us and take us into their +village." + +"Then what?" + +"We could gain their friendship and have them lead us to the river." + +"Fine!" cried Bob Holton, his hope renewed. "Takes you to think of +some plan to get us out of danger. Most likely we could carry it out, +for these savages are only grown children when it comes to catching +on to anything unusual. But we'd have to be very careful and keep a +close watch for any treachery." + +Along toward noon the youths began to look for game. They were by now +furiously hungry and felt as if they could devour almost any creature +that would fall at the report of their rifle. + +They did not have to wait long before a large duck-like bird flew over +and perched on a tree bough, not twenty feet away. Joe handed his +rifle to his chum. + +"Take a shot at it," urged Joe. "We may not see another chance as +good." + +Bob aimed carefully and fired just as the bird prepared to take +flight. A moment later feathers flew and the creature fluttered to the +ground. + +"Hurrah!" cried Joe. "Now we eat!" + +A fire was built of dead wood in the vicinity, and the young hunters' +quarry was placed over the flames to bake. Before long a delicious +odor filled the clearing, and the youths prepared a feast fit for a +king. + +"Roast duck! Think of that!" cried Joe. + +The bird tasted good, despite the fact that it was rather tough. Bob +and Joe ate heartily, until only a small portion was left. Then they +stretched themselves on the soft grass for a short rest. + +"I feel like getting some sleep," remarked Joe. "But of course----" + +He stopped suddenly and strained his ears to listen. + +Bob looked inquiringly but remained quiet. + +A moment later there came a long, weird chant that cut through the +thin jungle air with remarkable clearness. It was repeated several +times, always nearer. Never before had the youths heard anything like +it, and they were intensely bewildered. + +Bob looked inquiringly at his friend, but the latter could give no +explanation. + +"Beyond me," he muttered. + +Again the cry came, and then the boys jumped to their feet in horror. + +"Savages!" cried Bob excitedly. "Indians--wild Indians. They're coming +this way!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +The Hideous Village + + +"Oh!" groaned Bob hopelessly. "Guess it's all up with us." + +"No, it isn't," the other youth retorted. "You remember what we said +to do in such an emergency, don't you? Act extremely exhausted, as if +we couldn't move another foot. Lie on the ground--do anything to make +them feel sorry for us. They will if the thing is carried out right." + +The cries were gradually getting louder, indicating that the Indians +were coming closer. Occasionally some savage would chant louder than +the others, and then there would be a grand chorus of shouts and +yells. + +"They're getting nearer," muttered Joe. "Come on, let's lie on the +ground. Act as if you're half dead." + +The youths threw themselves on the soft grass and awaited +developments. + +They had not long to wait. + +A figure burst into view from around a bend in the trail. Another, +followed by fully twenty other savages, their gruesome faces showing +surprise and bewilderment at sight of the youths. + +Who were these persons--persons of a strange color? Were they enemies? +Were they on the ground waiting for a chance to kill? What was that +strange long thing that was beside them? What were they doing here? +Had they been sent down from the sky to bring destruction to villages, +or had they wandered from an unknown region in the remote beyond? + +For fully ten minutes the savages were silent. Then they began +chattering loudly and moved stealthily up to the boys, bows and arrows +and blowguns in readiness. + +Bob and Joe waited in terrible suspense, half expecting to be pierced +by deadly weapons. The youths longed to move about, if only for a +moment. Once Joe felt an itching along his back, and the desire to +scratch was almost uncontrollable, but he finally managed to remain +quiet. + +An Indian that was evidently the chief felt of the boys' bodies and +limbs carefully, while his men looked on, ready to send an arrow at +once if necessary. At last, after feeling the beating of the boys' +hearts, the native regained his feet and conversed with the others. + +Then Bob and Joe were picked up by strong arms and carried through the +jungle. + +Where would they be taken? What was to be their fate? Could they gain +the friendship of the savages? These questions were in the youths' +minds as they were being carried along the trail. + +"Maybe they're going to put us in boiling water," thought Joe, and he +shuddered in spite of himself. "But then," he finally reasoned, "they +probably won't do that. After all, very few tribes are cannibalistic." + +How long the tramp continued, Bob and Joe did not know, but at last, +after what seemed several hours, they came to a spot where the path +broadened into twice the original width, and a few minutes later they +parted the bushes and came to a large native village, where at least +sixty wild Indians were walking about. At sight of the warriors and +their burdens the Indians rushed forward and crowded around, their +eagerness to get a view of the strange people resembling that of +small children at a circus. + +There was a turmoil of excited chattering, in which everyone took +part. Questions flew thick and fast, and it was all the warriors could +do to answer them. + +Bob and Joe were placed in one of the native huts and for a short time +left to themselves. There was a crude door at the entrance, and this +was shut to keep out the curious. + +Then for the first time they opened their eyes and looked about. + +"We're in a fairly large hut," whispered Bob, glancing about. "And +there are several pieces of furniture to keep us company. Over there +is a kind of a table, laden down with pots and---- Hurrah! There's our +rifle. What do you know about that!" + +"They're certainly generous," admitted Joe. "It's a wonder they didn't +take it and start pulling the trigger, which would no doubt have +resulted in five or ten of them getting their brains blown out." + +"But now," mused Bob, "what do you think? What'll they do with us?" + +"I don't happen to know," was the response. "But we'll----" + +He ceased abruptly, as he noticed that the door was opening. The +youths took a sitting position and tried to act as innocent as they +could. + +A second later the chief entered, followed by ten others. They stopped +short when they noticed that the boys were sitting up, and stared in +wonder. + +Bob and Joe threw their hands apart in a gesture of helplessness and +smiled gratefully. Bob beckoned the men to come in the hut. + +They stood undecidedly at first, but finally, convinced that these +strangers meant no harm, moved on in the dwelling. + +Then the boys did all they could to convey the idea that they were +thankful to the Indians for saving them from death from exhaustion, +and in the end it looked as if they had succeeded. Not until the big +chief smiled, however, did they feel secure, for there were grim looks +on the faces of all the savages. But when the chief showed his teeth +in friendship, the youths felt that the battle was won. With the head +native on their side things looked a great deal brighter. + +"Now for something to eat," said Bob to his chum. "I'm not particular +what it is, just so it's nourishing." + +He put his hands to his mouth, and began working his jaws as if +chewing. Then he imitated drinking. The chief understood, and he gave +directions to one of his men, who dashed off to another part of the +village. + +Meanwhile the others stood gazing at the youths, who in their +sun-tanned condition were scarcely less dark than the Indians +themselves. + +In a short time the Indian returned with plates and pots of food, +which he placed on the ground beside them. + +"Do you suppose the stuff's all right?" asked Joe, hesitating to begin +eating. + +"Don't know why it wouldn't be," Bob returned. "Why should they poison +us? At present we're too much of a curiosity to kill. They'll at least +wait for the novelty to wear off." + +The food tasted good despite the fact that the boys were ignorant as +to what it was. They ate heartily, and in a very short time their +strength was restored. + +Then by signs they asked permission to walk around the village. At +first the natives hesitated, but at last the chief nodded in approval, +and the youths got to their feet. + +"If we could just speak some of their language," said Bob, as they +went out of the thatched house. + +"Be easy then," affirmed Joe. "But maybe we can get them to take us to +the river, and then Professor Bigelow can talk with them." + +The chief led the way around the settlement, pointing with pride to +many articles that were the results of the Indians' handiwork. Many +objects were totally new to the boys, and they viewed them with +interest. But when they came to one large hut they saw something that +turned their blood cold with horror. + +Hanging thickly on the walls were scores of dried human heads, their +features perfectly preserved. In fact the ghastly trophies were so +thick that there were no cracks between them. + +Bob and Joe glanced around the room in terrible awe. Suddenly, as they +turned about, their eyes fell on something that again caused them to +be horror-stricken, this time more than before. + +Near the corner were two heads that were--white! + +"Explorers," breathed Bob, rather nervously. "Or were they +missionaries? At any rate these heads were those of white men--and +they've been killed for their heads!" + +The youths felt fairly sick, and once Joe reeled as if to fall. But he +got a grip on himself and resolved to take matters as they were. At +present they were in no danger. The terrible and yet genial chief +seemed to be their friend. But how soon his lust to kill would come to +the surface they did not know. + +They spent no more time at the horrible trophy house, for it contained +such things as one might see in a nightmare. Bob and Joe made up their +minds to seek out something more pleasant. + +They found it in a large board that had lines crossing and +crisscrossing from one side to the other. The chief got out a box and +took out several wooden pegs, which he placed in the spaces on the +board. He moved them back and forth and laughed. + +"Must be some kind of a game," concluded Bob, thoroughly interested. + +The boys spent several hours in touring the village, and although they +were constantly enfolded by the crowd of curious savages, they +enjoyed the experience. It was unique and different, but they felt +some repulsion for the various activities carried on by these heathen +people. + +"All right for a visit," mused Joe, "but I don't think I'd care to +live here." + +"I'd feel a whole lot safer back in the boats with our dads and the +professor," said Bob, as he thought of the hideous dried human heads. +"Still," he went on, "I suppose we should do all we can to help +Professor Bigelow. Here is a chance for him to get plenty of +information of the kind that he wants most." + +Late that afternoon Bob and Joe took the rifle and, motioning for the +chief to follow, started into the jungle just back of the village. +They intended to give the native a real surprise and thrill, such as +he had never before had. + +At last he went with them, probably wondering what the strange whites +had in mind, but willing to find out. + +"Maybe we can show him how to kill a jaguar," said Joe, keeping a +sharp watch over the forest. + +No game was in the immediate vicinity of the village, owing to the +frequent hunting trips made by the savages. But when they had gone +several miles there came fresh signs that wild creatures were close +by. + +Suddenly they caught sight of a large tapir rooting in the tall grass. + +Bob took the rifle and, motioning to the Indian, he pointed to the gun +and then to the animal. + +A moment later he pulled the trigger. + +At the report of the weapon the big Indian jumped in fright and was on +the verge of running back to the village, when Bob pointed again to +the gun and then to the tapir, which was now dead. Then for the first +time the chief caught the meaning, and he looked at the boys with +something like worship in his eyes. + +What strange magic was this? A long thing that spouted fire had killed +a tapir instantly, without a struggle. These people must be gods. + +From that moment on, the chief's friendship for the youths increased +to devotion, which at times promised to be embarrassing. But Bob and +Joe did not care. This would be all the better opportunity for +Professor Bigelow to secure information on the savages' daily life and +customs. + +The three hunters trudged on farther, hoping to stir up more game. +The boys wished particularly to get a shot at a jaguar, so that the +power of the gun could be demonstrated still further. + +"The old boy'd just about throw a fit if he saw the rifle pot off the +king of Brazilian wild beasts," smiled Joe. + +At last they burst through a thick mass of vegetation and found +themselves on the bank of a small stream. + +At once Bob and Joe were wild with delight, for this stream evidently +was a tributary of the river. And the river was what they wanted to +find above all else. + +"Hurrah!" cried Joe, overwhelmed with delight. "We've as good as found +our party already!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Reunion at Last + + +The chief was puzzled by the actions of Bob and Joe, and the boys +realized it, but there was no use trying to explain. It would take +more than signs to convey the idea that more whites were near the +river. + +"Suppose we try to get him to go with us," suggested Joe. "Think he +will?" + +"Hard to say. We'll find out." + +The youths beckoned the Indian to come with them, and they were +surprised to find that he did so without hesitation. + +"He probably intends to do anything we ask from now on," said Bob. +"Our ability to kill wild beasts with fire was too much for him. Maybe +he thinks he'll die like the tapir if he refuses." + +There was a narrow trail along the bank of the stream, and Bob led the +way down it, followed by Joe and the chief. The boys intended to make +as much time as possible, for they wished to reach the river as soon +as they could. How far away it was, they did not know. Perhaps a large +number of miles. + +"If we can just keep the chief with us everything will turn out fine," +said Bob. + +All the rest of that day they trudged on, keeping their rifle ready +for any savage jungle beast that might show itself. The Indian kept +with them tirelessly, and many times he proved of valuable assistance +in pointing out the easiest course through the underbrush. + +Along toward evening they stopped at a large open space that was +devoid of vegetation. + +"Better stay here for the night, hadn't we?" asked Joe. + +"Yes," Bob replied. "You stay here and build a fire while the chief +and I go in search of game. Don't think you'll be in any danger. We'll +be back in a short time." + +Bob and the Indian started out down the bank of the stream, confident +that they would see game sooner or later. + +They had not far to go. + +At a sharp bend in the trail a small animal, the name of which Bob +did not know, darted out and made for the water. + +But it did not get there. + +Bang! came the report of the rifle, and the bullet sped straight. The +creature fell dead at once. + +This time the Indian did not show signs of fear, for he knew what was +to come. Instead he looked at Bob with awe and wonder in his eyes. + +Back at the clearing they found that Joe had started a large fire. The +warmth of it felt good as the chill of the fast-approaching night +fell. + +"You did have some luck, didn't you?" observed Joe. "Wonder if it'll +be good eating." + +"Hope so." + +The animal was skinned with Bob's hunting knife and placed over the +fire to bake. Then the three sat together to witness the falling of +night. As usual it came suddenly, and they huddled closer to the fire. + +In time the animal was thoroughly baked, and then they began the meal. + +Suddenly the chief got up and dashed through the jungle out of sight, +leaving the youths to wonder at this sudden departure. + +"Think he's gone?" asked Joe, trying to catch sight of the Indian +through the dense vegetation. + +"Doesn't seem possible that he'd desert us as abruptly as this," +replied Bob. "He seemed to be all our friend." + +The youths waited silently, almost convinced that the man had left for +good. + +But a moment later he emerged from the jungle as suddenly as he had +disappeared. In his arms were several varieties of what was evidently +wild fruit. + +He ran toward the boys with a smile as he glanced first at the roasted +animal and then at the fruit he was carrying. When he reached the fire +he deposited the stuff near, and then sat down to eat. + +"A welcome addition to the meal," said Bob joyfully. "Takes these +savages to know what all the vast forest contains that's nourishing." + +Nevertheless the young men were careful to see that the Indian ate +first before they sampled any of the wild fruit. + +"Take no chances," remarked Joe. "Ten to one he means no harm, but +it's best to be on the safe side." + +The chief ate of everything, however, and then the boys followed +suit. They found that all of the fruit was delicious, with flavors +that they had never before tasted. + +There were large, round melons, like a cross between a watermelon and +a cantaloup. There were bulbs resembling potatoes, bunches of small +bright-colored berries, and wild bananas. + +It was a meal unlike any that the boys had ever eaten. They felt like +savages themselves, and were delighted that soon they would come to +the river. + +"Won't it be wonderful to see our party again?" asked Joe, deeply +touched. + +"Sure will," Bob replied. "But we don't want to be too sure that +everything will turn out all right. Something else may turn up that's +not expected." + +After the feast the three sat in silence, watching the moon float +silently and majestically over the great jungle. + +At last Joe turned to put more fuel on the fire. + +"Hadn't some of us better turn in?" he asked. "We've had a tough time +of it today and need rest." + +Bob agreed, and they set about arranging watches. + +"I'll be the first guard," announced Joe. "You and the chief curl up +by the fire and get some sleep. I'll call you in a few hours. We'd +better not disturb the Indian tonight." + +Thus it was arranged, and Joe sat idly beside the fire, his rifle near +by. + +His watch passed without incident, and at last he tapped Bob on the +back. They changed positions, Joe retiring and Bob keeping a lookout +for intruders. + +Despite the fact that Bob had a strange feeling that something would +happen, the night passed peacefully, although the youth was confident +that wild animals were just beyond the zone of firelight. + +In the morning Joe and the Indian were up early, preparing to hike on. +The former still did not know where the boys were going or what their +purpose was, but he showed no signs of hesitation. + +"We want to see the river today," remarked Bob, as they again took up +the trail. + +"I think we will," the other youth returned. "We made good time +yesterday, and if the luck continues, we will today." + +All morning they tramped without a stop. They were tired and +exhausted, but did not wish to lose time until necessary. + +About noon they came to another clearing, and Bob moved that they stop +for the noon meal. + +The chief and Joe went into the jungle a short distance away to gather +wild fruit, which alone was to serve as their meal. + +In a short time they returned with a bountiful supply, and then the +feast began. + +"Several new additions to our menu today," remarked Bob, as he noticed +that there were cocoanuts, roots like carrots, and a plant resembling +cane. + +The three ate heartily of everything, and then they started on. + +"Stream's getting wider," observed Bob, several hours later. + +"Yes," returned Joe. "The river shouldn't be very far away." + +He had scarcely uttered the words when they rounded a sharp curve and +found themselves at the junction with the river. + +For a moment the youths could hardly believe their eyes. Here at last +was the thing they had been searching for all these days--the thing +that would lead them to their fathers and the others of the party. +Never had anything looked so good to them. + +"At last!" breathed Joe, too delighted for words. "Now let's hurry on +up to the boats." + +"How do you know we should go up?" demanded Bob. "They could be easily +farther downstream as well." + +"I know it," was the response. "But it seems to me that I remember +passing this stream several hours before we stopped." + +"All right. Let's go." + +They had to search quite a while before a path was found that followed +the river. + +"If we keep up this good time, we'll surely see the boats today--if +they're there to see," said Bob, as he led the way up the trail. + +Notwithstanding this, they hiked on constantly for the remainder of +the afternoon without coming to the explorers' boats. + +"Perhaps if we fire rifle shots it will attract their attention," said +Joe, and he sent out three shots, repeating at intervals. + +"What's that?" said Joe, raising a hand for silence. + +"Thought I heard an answering report," he said. "But maybe---- Yes, +there it is again. And there." + +Two shots had sounded from afar, and at once the boys responded with +Joe's rifle. + +"Now let's move on upstream," said Bob. "If we can meet them halfway +it will be all the better." + +The youths again followed the trail, the Indian chief close behind +them. They realized that the answering reports had come from afar and +that it would take no little hiking to get to them. + +About every five minutes Joe raised the rifle and fired, each time +receiving an answering shot. + +Finally, after an hour's constant traveling, they heard a crashing +sound in the jungle not far ahead, and they were on the alert at once. + +A moment later Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton emerged and looked about. + +Their eyes fell on Bob and Joe, and the men rushed forward in intense +relief and thankfulness. + +"Boys!" cried Mr. Holton, almost unable to believe his own eyes. + +The next instant they were stammering out words of thanksgiving at +finding their sons alive and apparently none the worse for their +experience. + +"We didn't see how you could possibly escape tragedy," said Mr. Lewis +gravely. "Getting lost in the vast Amazon jungle is a serious thing, +especially when you have no food of any kind with you." + +"All the time we were in doubt as to how we'd come out," said Bob. +"Worst part of it was that we were afraid to hike far for fear of +getting farther away from the river, but we knew we couldn't get any +place sitting down." + +"Tell us all about it," urged Mr. Holton, and the youths related their +experience from start to finish. They told of shooting the jaguar, of +the necessary abandoning of Bob's rifle, and of the flight that +followed. And at last of coming across the strange tribe of Indians +that was probably the one Professor Bigelow had been searching for. + +"A fearful experience," breathed Mr. Lewis, when the youths had +finished. "Not many could have had such good luck. If you hadn't come +across the Indians, your fate would probably have been sealed by now." + +"But wait," hesitated Joe, with a sudden recollection. "Here's the +chief of the tribe we got in with. We finally got him to come with +us." + +He glanced around, but the Indian was nowhere in sight. + +"Strange," mused Bob. "He was here a few minutes ago. Could he have +left?" + +He called loudly, but it was unnecessary. The man had only stepped +behind a bush, undecided as to whether to come in sight of the other +whites, and at once left his place of concealment and walked out +warily. + +Bob and Joe beckoned for him to move up to them. At first he was +uncertain, but finally concluded that it would be safe to venture +nearer. + +The boys introduced him as best they could by signs, and although it +was rather awkward, they felt that much of his uncertainty vanished +before the cordial attitude of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton. + +"Now we must get to the boats," Joe's father said. "Professor Bigelow +will be worried about us, if he is not by now." + +They hiked on up the river, the chief following. + +"Won't the old boy be surprised when he finds that Professor Bigelow +can talk with him!" smiled Joe, as they rounded a long bend. + +"That isn't a strong enough word," laughed Mr. Holton. "Still," he +hesitated, "we don't want to be too sure that this Indian is from the +tribe that the professor was searching for." + +The boats were several miles distant, and it would require several +hours' traveling to get to them. But the whites were all overly +anxious and made good time. + +At last, after passing through a thick grove of palms, they sighted +the boats in the distance. + +Professor Bigelow came running up at once, a broad smile of +thankfulness on his bronzed, scholarly face. He gave the boys a +welcome almost as warm as that of Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis. The crew, +too, took part in the reception and muttered words of joy at seeing +Bob and Joe alive and unharmed. Even the Indians who had previously +attempted desertion joined in, outwardly at least. + +"But look here, Professor," said Bob. "We've found the savage tribe +you were searching for and have brought you the chief." + +"What!" + +For answer Bob motioned for the Indian, who was standing several score +feet down the path, to come closer. He grudgingly did so, and the +professor was taken completely aback in surprise and joy. His eyes +opened wide, and it was some time before he could regain his +composure. + +"How can I ever thank you enough?" he muttered, his eyes on the sober +Indian. "We might have searched for days and days and then not found +the tribe." + +He turned to the chief and said something that the others did not +understand. At once the savage's face lightened, and he began +chattering so rapidly that the professor had to put up a hand for +silence. + +"I'm sorry, but I'm not that familiar with his language," laughed the +professor. "I think, though, that if he'll talk slowly I may be able +to understand him. Luckily he's from the same tribe that Otari told +about." + +Again Professor Bigelow turned to the Indian and this time asked him +to talk more slowly. + +He did, and a long conversation followed. It was broken and awkward, +but in the end the professor gained a large amount of information. +There was a smile on his face as he turned to the others. + +"He says he will tell me all I want to know about his people if I will +go with him to his settlement. His people will treat us all right. I +don't think there is cause to worry about that. What do you think +about going?" + +"All right with me," returned Mr. Holton. "That was one purpose for +coming up here, you know. And the chances are that we'll find an +abundance of fauna in those remote forests. I'm all for it." + +"Fine," burst out Professor Bigelow. "Then we'll go at once. But +first," he hesitated, "we'll have to decide who will go and who will +stay with the boats." + +"Why not take the boats with us?" suggested Joe. "The stream that Bob +and I followed to the river is deep, even if it isn't wide. I think we +can easily paddle through." + +The others gave their approval at once, and they moved on up to the +boats. + +They decided to get a lunch first, however, for all were tired after +the day's strain. The chief was in no special hurry to get back to the +village, as he had often left on long hunting trips alone. + +Soon after the meal the provisions that had been taken out were packed +in the boats, and then all climbed in. + +"Now let's make time," urged Mr. Lewis, and the crew paddled them +upstream. + +The afternoon was rapidly wearing away, and before long it would be +night. + +At last Mr. Holton called to the crew to stop the boats. + +"It's unsafe to paddle farther," he said. "Suppose we turn up into +that little bay over there." + +The suggestion was carried out. Then they made camp. + +"Hope nothing happens tonight," said Bob, as he prepared to turn in +for the night. + +"I'm with you there," his chum returned. "Somehow I've had enough +thrills for a while." + +But he had no way of knowing how soon action would present itself in a +big way. + +The next morning they were up early, preparing to resume the journey +shortly after breakfast. The chief of the strange tribe told Professor +Bigelow that they should reach his village late that day, if all +turned out well. + +"I'm not especially anxious to get back among those wild men," Bob +said aside to his chum. "But we must do all we can to help Professor +Bigelow." + +Late that afternoon the chief said something to the anthropologist and +pointed to a clearly defined trail that wound away through the heavy +vegetation. + +"He says that here is where we leave the boats and head for his +village," the scientist told the others in animated tones. + +"Fine!" exclaimed Mr. Lewis, also delighted that the journey had come +to an end. "There's a place that will act as a harbor," pointing to a +groove in the shore. + +He directed the crew to paddle the boats to land, and as soon as this +was done all climbed out and made the crafts fast to staunch trees. + +Professor Bigelow turned to the savage and conversed for several +minutes. Then he moved to the boats. + +"The village isn't far away," he said. "It will be safe to leave our +provisions here for the time being." + +As a precaution, however, and also because the naturalists wished to +secure new specimens, they carried their rifles and a good supply of +ammunition. + +The chief led the way along the path, the others close at his heels. +The path was so well cut that they had no trouble in walking along +briskly. A half-hour, the Indian said through Professor Bigelow, would +be all the time required to get to the village. + +Suddenly the explorers heard a faint screaming and shouting that came +from the village, and at once the chief began chattering nervously. + +Professor Bigelow gave a groan and translated to the others. + +"He says that probably a fight is taking place between his tribe and +another," said the scientist. + +"What!" cried Mr. Holton excitedly. "Then that means that we whites +may have to use our rifles after all. Ask him if the other tribe is +using poisoned arrows." + +The savage nodded in affirmation when the question was put before him, +and the whites tightened their grips on their weapons. + +"I guess this means that we're in for some excitement," Bob confided +to his chum, as the party again followed the trail. + +Ten minutes later they parted the foliage and came abruptly within +full view of the village. All uttered cries of consternation at the +furiousness of the battle that was taking place between the two savage +tribes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +The Terrible Battle + + +Spears and arrows and darts flew thick and fast, striking down many a +man on both sides. Fierce cries filled the atmosphere and made the +Americans shudder. Here in the untamed wilds of Brazil was taking +place as terrible a battle as the world had ever known. Savages--wild, +hostile Indians--were the participants, and no people anywhere were +more terrible when excited to insane fury. + +For some time none of the explorers spoke. They were too captivated by +the scene. But at last Mr. Holton turned thought into action. + +"Get your rifles in readiness," he commanded. "It's up to us to drive +this tribe away. The chief's men seem unable to do it. + +"Now we're all good shots," he went on. "Suppose we fire a volley of +bullets and see if we can't make them leave without bloodshed. If we +can't, we'll have to shoot to kill. Come on, now." + +The whites raised their rifles, and, one at a time, pulled the +triggers. Five shots rang out, much to the surprise of the savages. +But as no damage seemed to be done by the strange reports, the Indians +regained confidence and sent spears and arrows in the explorers' +direction. As a result, one of the crew went down, wounded in the +thigh. + +"We'll have to shoot to kill," said Mr. Lewis at once. + +He raised his rifle and, taking careful aim, fired at the nearest +native, who went down instantly. + +Mr. Lewis's shot was followed by those of the other whites, and at +once panic ensued among the invading savages. + +After only a thin defense, they took to their heels with cries of +fright and bewilderment, leaving their dead and wounded behind. + +"Guess that drove them off all right," said Bob with a grim smile. +"Come on, let's----But wait! Look! The chief's tribe is worshiping +us." + +Bob was right. The Indians had fallen to their knees, waving their +arms and muttering words that were not understood even by Professor +Bigelow. + +Even the chief, accustomed as he was to the rifles and the whites' +power to bring down animals, bowed his head in awe at his tribe's +deliverance. + +It was a most embarrassing situation, and for a time the explorers +were at a loss to know what to do next. + +Finally Professor Bigelow walked forward and uttered kind words, at +the same time raising hands for the savages to rise to their feet. + +He succeeded well. At once they got to their feet and resumed +something of their usual attitude, although they were not quite +convinced that these people were not gods. + +The chief went forward and conversed with them so rapidly that +Professor Bigelow could not keep up. + +"He's telling of his visit to our camp," the scientist said. "He +perhaps considers it a much-prized experience." + +As soon as the chief had finished, the Indians jabbered excitedly, +eager to get all the details. Occasionally they would look at the +whites as if they considered them super-beings. + +"They can't get over the thought that we have higher powers than they +have," mused Bob. "But maybe," he hesitated, his thoughts going back +to the terrible trophy chamber of dried human heads that was one of +the tribe's prized possessions, "it will be just as well to let them +go on thinking that way. It would be hard to say when they might turn +against us if they thought we were ordinary persons." + +"Turn against us?" demanded Mr. Lewis, rather surprised. "What makes +you think they would do that? They seem all right." + +"Don't know that they would," Bob replied, exchanging meaning glances +with Joe. "Still it's wise to be on the safe side." + +It was evident that Bob's significant statement had the men highly +puzzled. Finally Professor Bigelow demanded an explanation. + +"There's nothing to it--except that these people are headhunters," +said Joe. "If you don't believe it just take a look at the place where +they keep the heads. And say! They've killed a couple of white men, +too." + +Astonished gasps came from Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis, but not from +Professor Bigelow. Anthropologist as he was, he had suspected this +from the start. Very few _savage_ tribes in the wilds of Brazil did +not have that custom. + +Suddenly a groan made all turn about, to see that the Indian of the +crew who had been wounded by a spear had regained consciousness. His +side apparently pained severely, for on his face was a look of agony. + +Mr. Holton got to work at once. + +"Ask the chief if we can have some water," he said to Professor +Bigelow. "Bob, suppose you run down to the boats and bring a box of +antiseptic. Go as fast as you can. Meanwhile we'll be taking care of +others that were wounded." + +Bob grabbed a rifle and dashed off down the path for the stream. + +He reached the boats in record time and hurriedly got out a box of +first-aid materials. Then he made his way back to the village. + +But he had gone only a few yards when a fluttering noise caused him to +look up. + +At once his jaw dropped in astonishment, and a look of surprise and +wonder came on his face. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +Human Heads Still Dripping! + + +The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have +the opportunity of seeing. Strange sights were common enough in all +little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders. + +Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a +half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was +three times heavier than itself. The tapir was very much alive, as +indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing. It +might as well have been caught in an iron vise. + +For several minutes Bob stared spellbound, taken completely aback. + +Finally he called himself to action and raised his rifle. + +"Dad and Mr. Lewis would no doubt welcome the addition of such an +unusual specimen as this eagle," he thought and then pulled the +trigger. + +The report of the gun was immediately followed by the dropping of the +bird and its prey. It fluttered about for a moment and then lay still. +The tapir had been killed instantly by the fall. + +Much to Bob's surprise, the bird could be lifted easily, and he +hastened on to the Indian settlement, confident that the naturalists +would nearly throw a fit over the strange eagle. + +And he thought right. Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis exclaimed in delight +and surprise when they caught sight of Bob and the strange creature he +was carrying. + +"Where did you ever find it?" asked Mr. Lewis, and Bob was forced to +tell of the entire experience. + +"The great hairy eagle," pronounced Mr. Holton, when the youth had +finished. "I thought they were confined to the jungles of Guiana, +didn't you, Ben?" he asked of Joe's father. + +"Yes," was the reply. "Never heard of their being found here. Such is +unusual indeed. The claws are the most powerful of any known bird." + +But there was little time for further examining the specimen, for the +wounded Indians needed treatment. The member of the crew was looked +after first, and then they turned to the chief's men, many of whom +were seriously wounded. As for those who had been struck by poisoned +arrows, treatment was unnecessary, for death had set in long before. + +The better part of an hour was spent in giving first-aid to the +unfortunate savages, and in the end they felt that a large number of +lives had been saved by their actions. + +"But don't think that the natives have no cure for human ills," said +Professor Bigelow. "The chances are that they know of many remedies +that surpass those of civilization in curing properties." + +When the task was completed, the Indians invited the whites to come in +the main hut and participate in a feast in honor of their ability to +drive off the hostile invaders. The invitation was accepted at once, +for the explorers were all very hungry. + +"Wonder what they'll give us to eat?" asked Joe, as they went into the +thatched hut. + +"Perhaps it'll be better not to know," Bob grinned. + +Whatever it was, however, it tasted good, and they ate heartily of +everything. + +"Now I'm going to get in touch with the chief, whose name I recently +learned is Reemikuk," announced Professor Bigelow. "But first, +however, I must have my typewriter. That means a trip to the boats." + +"And while he's doing that, Mr. Lewis and I can have a look about the +village," Bob's father said. "Perhaps you boys can show us the places +and things of interest. Will you do it?" + +"To be sure we will," returned Joe. "But first," he said with a grim +smile, "you must prepare yourselves to see things that are +unpleasant." + +"What do you mean?" his father demanded. + +For answer the youths led the way to the trophy house and its hideous +contents. + +Impulsively the naturalists shrank back in disgust at the scene. Never +had they laid eyes on such a place of horror before. + +"To think," muttered Mr. Lewis, "that even these wild people could do +such hideous things!" + +But despite the gruesomeness of the place they spent several minutes +there, unable to tear themselves away from its terrible fascination. + +At last Mr. Holton made for the outside. + +"Now for something more pleasant," he said. "What is there, boys?" + +"Plenty," answered Joe. "There are games and baskets and carvings +and...." + +All the remainder of that day was spent in examining the many articles +of interest made by the simple savages. + +When at last they went back to the hut that was to be theirs during +their stay at the village, they found the professor in earnest +conversation with the chief and a witch doctor. + +The Indians were talking slowly, so that the scientist could pick up +every word. He glanced up at the other whites only for a moment, so +deeply engrossed was he in what the savages were telling him. + +"He seems to be enjoying himself immensely," observed Joe aside to his +chum. + +"No doubt about it," Bob replied. "And look how the Indians are +regarding the typewriter. Probably think it's another of the whites' +magics." + +Professor Bigelow _was_ enjoying himself. Every strange custom of the +savages appealed to him as a wonderful item to put in the book he +intended to write about the primitive inhabitants of these wild +regions. But two days later something happened that, although +considered a very interesting custom by the anthropologist, was not to +the liking of the other whites. A band of twenty-five warriors had +gone into the upper reaches of the river several days before, and now +they returned laden with--human heads! + +"Ugh! Me for the hut," said Bob, a sickly feeling creeping over him as +he viewed the ghastly trophies. + +And the others, with the exception of Professor Bigelow, felt the same +way. The anthropologist, however, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the +terrible scene. + +"How thrilling a custom!" he said to his friends that night, as they +prepared to retire. + +For answer the others only groaned. + +But if the explorers thought the mere carrying in of human heads was +gruesome, they were to witness something still more terrible before a +week would pass. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +The Forced Get-away + + +"Bob!" + +"Joe!" + +"Did you see it?" + +"Yes. Human bones! These savages are _cannibals_!" + +It was night--a dark, lowering night. The moon was nowhere in sight. +Not a star twinkled down from the heavy jungle sky. Huge, roaring +fires blazed in front of the chief's large hut, while about them +danced scores of painted savages, shouting and screaming and +gesticulating. + +It was a scene wild enough to strike terror to the heart of anyone. +Bob and Joe gazed fearfully into the raging mob, wondering if the +lives of them and their companions would be taken for the feast. + +The boys moved over to their elders, who were standing at the other +side of their thatched dwelling. + +"Cannibals!" Professor Bigelow was muttering. He had seen too. + +Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis nodded, on their faces a grave expression. +They were so taken aback as to be almost speechless. + +"I think perhaps we had better get away from here," said the +professor, who, although deeply attentive to scientific work, knew +when he was in a dangerous situation. "I know enough of the ways of +primitive people to surmise what they'll probably do to us if we stay. +Their appetites for human flesh will be so stimulated that they will +no doubt kill us also. Lucky that this happened as late as it did. I +wouldn't have wanted to leave so soon if I had not secured about all +the information there is to be obtained about them." + +Just before leaving, Bob and Joe got out their cameras and took motion +pictures of the gruesome feast, and in the end they were almost +convinced that nothing of this kind had ever been shown on the silver +screen. + +With the aid of flashlights, whose beams, by the way, were concealed +from the savages, the explorers had gathered their belongings together +and were now ready to leave for the boats. Of course it would be +perilous traveling at night through the jungle, but the chance had to +be taken. + +At that moment an Indian entered their hut, glanced about, and then +started to call to the others. + +Displaying a quickness remarkable for his size and weight, Mr. Holton +launched himself full force at the fellow, sending him to the ground +unconscious. + +"Now let's get away--quick!" he said. "There's no telling when the +whole tribe will be in here after us." + +As quietly as possible, the explorers and their Indian crew dashed +away down the trail for the stream, never looking back, but fearing +that they would hear the screams of the cannibals at any moment. + +The flashlights rendered traveling easy, and as they had been over the +trail many times, they reached the boats in record time. + +Their possessions were piled inside. Then they climbed hastily in and +were paddled swiftly away. + +It was not until they had reached the main stream that they felt safe. +Then they turned the boats downstream on the journey back to the +coast. + +"It isn't wise to tax good fortune too much," said Mr. Lewis, as the +narrow stream faded in the distance. "We came up here for two definite +purposes, and we've accomplished them both. First, Professor Bigelow +has made a rather extensive study of little-known Indians, and second, +Mr. Holton and I have collected hundreds of specimens for the museum. +You boys have met with success in taking moving pictures, also. Now +that our work is finished, we'd better get to the Purús at once." + +However, "at once" was a bit too hastily, for there were dangerous +rapids that had to be portaged, totally unknown animals that diverted +the naturalists' attention, and a hundred and one reasons for making +slow progress, even downstream. But at last they sighted the Purús in +the distance. + +"Now to hunt up Senhor del Pereo, the man who fitted us out with our +boats and crew," said Mr. Holton. + +They found that individual in his house at the edge of the little town +that rested between the two rivers. + +He was more than glad to see the explorers back after such a long, +perilous journey, and insisted that they remain at his house +overnight, or until a boat could be found that would take them to the +Amazon. The explorers accepted the invitation at once, glad of the +chance to partake of the comforts of civilization after those long +weeks into the unknown. + +The next day they were fortunate in getting passage on a boat bound +for Manáos. It was a small steamer, scheduled to reach its destination +in less than five days. + +At Manáos the explorers had another streak of good luck, finding a +large liner that would take them straight to New York. + +Down the mighty Amazon they steamed, at last coming into the port at +Pará for a short stay. + +After a walk about town, the Americans again boarded the vessel for +the trip to New York. + +It was an ideal evening as they steamed majestically out of the busy +harbor and turned toward the United States. + +"Do you know, Joe, old boy," remarked Bob, as they sat with their +elders on deck in the light of the full moon, "the farther away we get +from the region we explored the more I prize our experience." + +Joe nodded. + +"It was great," he agreed. "And just think. We were lost--lost in the +wilds of Brazil." + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +The four books in this series have been transcribed in the same +manner. This means that in some books, table of contents and or/list +of series names have been added. + +Except in cases of obvious typographical errors, archaic and +inconsistent spelling has been retained. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43266 *** |