Popular Adventure Tales

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER XXXIII.

  THE GUARDIAN BROTHER.

  The current of the river flowed at the rate of about four miles an hour,and at this speed they travelled. They had nothing to do but guide theraft in the middle part of the stream. This was effected by means of alarge stern-oar fixed upon a pivot, and which served the purpose of arudder. One was required to look after this oar, and Don Pablo and Guapotook turns at it. It was not a very troublesome task, except where somebend had to be got round, or some eddy was to be cleared, when both hadto work at it together. At other times the balza floated straight on,without requiring the least effort on the part of the crew; and thenthey would all sit down and chat pleasantly, and view the changingscenery of the forest-covered shores.

  Sometimes tall palms lined the banks, and sometimes great forest treesnetted together by thick parasites that crept from one to the other,and twined around the trunks like monster serpents. Sometimes the shoreswere one unbroken thicket of underwood, where it would have been almostimpossible to make a landing had they wished it. At other places therewere sand-bars, and even little islets with scarce any vegetation uponthem; and they also passed many other islets and large islands thicklywooded. The country generally appeared to be flat, though at one or twoplaces they saw hills that ran in to the banks of the river.

  Of course the change of scenery, and the many fresh vistas continuallyopening before them, rendered their voyage both cheerful andinteresting. The many beautiful birds too, and new kinds of trees andanimals which they saw, were a constant source of varied enjoyment, andfurnished them with themes of conversation.

  During the first day they made a journey of full forty miles. Havingbrought their balza close to the shore, and secured it to a tree, theyencamped for the night. There was no opening of any extent, but for somedistance the ground was clear of underwood, and the trunks of great oldtrees rose like columns losing themselves amidst the thick foliageoverhead. A dark forest only could be seen, and, as night drew on, thehorrid cries of the alouattes, or howling monkeys, mingling with thevoices of other nocturnal animals, filled the woods. They had no fear ofmonkeys, but now and then they thought they could distinguish the cry ofthe jaguar, and of him they had fear enough. Indeed the jaguar possessesthe power of imitating the cry of the other animals of the forest, andoften uses it to draw them within reach of him.

  In addition to the fire upon which they had cooked their supper, as soonas night had fairly set in, they kindled others, forming a sort ofsemicircle, the chord of which was the bank of the river itself. Withinthis semicircle the hammocks were stretched from tree to tree; and, asall were fatigued with the day's exertions, they climbed into them at anearly hour, and were soon asleep. One alone sat up to keep watch. Asthey thought they had heard the jaguar, this was deemed best; for theyknew that fire will not always frighten off that fierce animal. As theneighbourhood looked suspicious, and also as it was their firstencampment, they, like all travellers at setting out, of course weremore timid and cautious.

  To Leon was assigned the first watch; for Leon was a courageous boy, andit was not the first time he had taken his turn in this way. He was tosit up for about two hours, and then wake Guapo, who would keep themidnight watch; after which Don Pablo's turn would come, and that wouldterminate in the morning at daybreak. Leon was instructed to rouse theothers in case any danger might threaten the camp.

  Leon from choice had seated himself by the head of the hammock in whichslept the little Leona; in order, no doubt, to be nearer her, as she wasthe most helpless of the party, and therefore required more immediateprotection. He had both the pistols by him--ready to his hand andloaded--and in case of danger he knew very well how to use them.

  He had been seated for about half-an-hour, now casting his eyes up tothe red and wrinkled trunks of the trees, and then gazing into the darkvistas of the surrounding forest, or at other times looking out upon theglistening surface of the river. Many a strange sound fell upon hisear. Sometimes the whole forest appeared to be alive with voices--thevoices of beasts and birds, reptiles, and insects--for the tree-frogsand ciendas were as noisy as the larger creatures. At other times aperfect stillness reigned, so that he could distinctly hear the tiny humof the mosquito; and then, all at once, would fall upon his ear themelancholy wailing of the night-hawk--the "_alma perdida_," or "lostsoul"--for such is the poetical and fanciful name given by the SpanishAmericans to this nocturnal bird.

  While thus engaged Leon began to feel very drowsy. The heavy day's work,in which he had borne part, had fatigued him as well as the others; and,in spite of the odd voices that from time to time fell upon his ear, hecould have lain down upon the bare ground and slept without a feeling offear. Snakes or scorpions, or biting lizards or spiders, would not havekept him from going to sleep at that moment. It is astonishing how thedesire of sleep makes one indifferent to all these things, which atother times we so much dread. Leon did not fear them a bit, but kepthimself awake from a feeling of pride and honour. He reflected that itwould never do to be unfaithful to the important trust confided to him.No; that would never do. He rubbed his eyes, and rose up, and approachedthe bank, and dipped his hands in the water, and came back to his formerplace, and sat down again. Spite of all his efforts, however, he feltvery heavy. Oh! when would the two hours pass that he might rouse Guapo?

  "Car-r-ambo! I nev-er was so s-s-sleepy. _Vamos_! Leon! you mustn't givein!"

  And striking himself a lively slap on the chest, he straightened hisback, and sat upright for a while.

  He was just beginning to get bowed about the shoulders again, and to noda little, when he was startled by a short sharp exclamation uttered bythe little Leona. He looked up to her hammock. He could perceive it hadmoved slightly, but it was at rest again, and its occupant was evidentlyasleep.

  "Poor little sis! she is dreaming," he muttered half aloud. "Perhapssome horrid dream of jaguars or serpents. I have half a mind to awakeher. But, no, she sleeps too soundly; I might disturb them all;" andwith these reflections Leon remained upon his seat.

  Once more his head was beginning to bob, when the voice of Leona againstartled him, and he looked up as before. The hammock moved slightly,but there was no appearance of anything wrong. From where he sat hecould not see well into it, but the outlines of the child's body wereeasily discernible through the elastic netting; and at the farther endhe could just perceive one of her little feet, where it had escaped fromthe covering, and rested partly over the edge.

  As he continued to gaze upon the delicate member, thinking whether hehad not better cover it against the mosquitoes, all at once his eye wasattracted by something red--a crooked red line that traversed from thetoe downward along the side of the foot. It was red and glittering--itwas _a stream of blood_!

  His first feeling was one of horror. His next was a resolve to spring tohis feet and rouse the camp, but this impulse was checked by one ofgreater prudence. Whatever enemy had done it, thought he, must still beabout the hammock; to make a noise would, perhaps, only irritate it, andcause it to inflict some still more terrible wound. He would remainquiet, until he had got his eyes upon the creature, when he could springupon it, or fire his pistol before it could do further harm.

  With these ideas, quickly conceived, he rose silently to his feet, andstanding, or rather crouching forward, bent his eyes over the hammock.