Part 9 (2/2)
As we sailed along, numerous birds of the most gorgeous plumage were seen either resting on the boughs or flying overhead across the stream.
Among them were several species of trogons and little bristle-tailed manakins. We saw also the curious black umbrella-bird; which is so called from having a hood like an umbrella spread over its head. Flocks of paroquets were seen, and bright blue chatterers; and now and then a lovely pompadour, having delicate white wings and claret-coloured plumage. Monkeys of various sorts were scrambling among the boughs, coming out to look at us, and chattering loudly as if to inquire why we had come into their domains. Now and then we caught sight of a sloth rolled up on a branch of an imbauba tree, on the leaves of which the creature feeds; while b.u.t.terflies of most brilliant hues and enormous dragonflies were flitting about in the suns.h.i.+ne.
On and on we sailed, the pa.s.sage between the trees now becoming narrower every mile we progressed, till at length they appeared almost to close us in, the branches completely interlacing overhead. Still, having gone so far, Captain van Dunk was unwilling to turn back, unless certain that there was no opening into some wider stream; but, from the depth of the water and the absence of any strong current, he fully believed we should meet with one. At length the branches extended so far across the pa.s.sage that we were compelled to unstep the mast in order to pa.s.s under them. The sudden change from the bright glare of the open water to the solemn gloom of the forest was very remarkable. We had now to paddle slowly. We were frequently able to press our oars against the trunks of the trees, and thus to shove the log ahead. Though accustomed to tropical scenery, nothing we had before witnessed equalled the rich luxuriance of the vegetation--the numberless strange trees, and hanging plants, and creepers, and beautiful flowers of every hue, affording abundance of interest as we proceeded. Marian was delighted, and was continually crying out, ”Oh, what a lovely flower!--what a graceful tree!--see that magnificent bird!--oh, what a gorgeous b.u.t.terfly!” till she had exhausted her vocabulary of suitable epithets.
At length we reached a spot where the far-extending b.u.t.tressed roots of an enormous tree completely impeded our progress; and steering up to it, we made our log fast, and stepped, I cannot say on sh.o.r.e, but on the roots of the tree. We had little doubt, indeed, that could we have penetrated through the ma.s.s of foliage, we should soon have reached dry ground. It was now time for our evening meal, and therefore, before proceeding further, we sat down to partake of it. The captain intended, if possible, afterwards to try to work the log through by towing, or else to build a small raft, and, with one or two companions, explore the pa.s.sage still further on.
We had a number of spectators at our repast; for no sooner were we quietly seated, than troops of monkeys, attracted by the strange spectacle we presented--to their eyes, at all events--came from every side through the forest, swinging from bough to bough, or scrambling along the sepos, to have a look at us. There they sat above our heads, chattering away as if talking of us and making their observations.
Quacko looked up, and answered them in their own language; at which they seemed very much surprised. Some were induced, by what he said, I suppose, to come down much closer; and had we been so inclined, we might have shot several with our arrows. That, however, would have been a treacherous return for the confidence they showed; and we did not, happily for them, require food. I very much doubt, had such been the case, that we should have allowed them to escape.
Kallolo and Maco, observing that we had no fruit remaining, volunteered to make their way into the forest, to try to find some. Uncle Paul, for Marian's sake, accepted their offer. It required great agility and practical experience for anyone to scramble among the interlacing boughs and network of sepos, without the almost certainty of tumbling into the water. They went off armed with their spears, and their long knives stuck in their girdles, saying that they would soon make their appearance again. We meantime, having finished the more substantial part of our meal, scrambled up to the huge roots of the tree where we had first landed, and sat down to await their return.
Uncle Paul, Captain van Dunk, and Peter talked over their plans. They did not conceal from themselves the difficulties of their project; but still, like brave men, they resolved to accomplish it. Though their saw was too small to cut out the planks of the proposed vessel, they might obtain them by splitting up trees with wedges, and then smoothing them down with the axe. Though they had no nails, the planks might be secured to the ribs with tree-nails or wooden pegs. ”Ya, ya!” exclaimed the brave skipper for the hundredth time; ”where there's a will there's a way. We will do it, we will do it; never fear.” His confidence raised all our spirits.
The day drew on, but the two natives did not appear, and we began to fear that they must have met with some accident, or lost their way. One thing was certain, we should have to spend another night on our log, instead of, as we had hoped, on dry ground under the shelter of leafy huts, which we had proposed building. My father's great wish, for Marian's sake, was to return as soon as possible to civilised parts. He said something to that effect.
”Oh, don't think about me, papa,” exclaimed Marian; ”I really enjoy this sort of life; only I hope that we shall not meet with another anaconda, or boa, or any of those venomous serpents which are said to frequent this region.”
”I trust indeed that we shall not, my child,” said our father; ”but there are other dangers I fear for you, though I pray that you may be preserved from them also.”
”We will not talk of dangers nor of difficulties,” observed Uncle Paul; ”the great thing is to face them bravely when they come.”
My father remarked that it was time to return to our log, and to make arrangements for pa.s.sing the night while there was daylight, as we should find the darkness much greater under the shelter of the trees than we had found it in the open part of the river.
I had just got on my feet and was looking up the stream, when I observed a bright light burst forth from among the trees at a considerable distance. I called the attention of Uncle Paul to it, who was sitting near me. He also got up and looked in the direction to which I pointed.
”It must be produced by a fire,” he observed. ”It is either just kindled on the branches of some high tree or else on ground rising considerably above the stream. Can Kallolo and Maco have got there and kindled it as a signal to us? For my part, I confess I cannot make it out?” The rest of the party now got up and looked in the direction in which we were gazing. They were greatly puzzled.
”Can the fire have been lighted by natives?” asked Arthur. ”Some of the tribes which inhabit these regions are accustomed to form their dwellings among the trees, I have heard; if so, we must be on our guard.
It will be better, at all events, to avoid them; for though it is possible they may prove friendly, they may resent the intrusion of strangers into their territory, and attack us.” Uncle Paul agreed with Arthur that in all probability the fire was lighted by natives. ”They cannot, however, as yet have seen us,” he remarked, ”and it might be wiser to retreat while we have time, and to try to find another pa.s.sage.”
”I cannot agree with you there,” observed Captain van Dunk. ”We have no reason to fear the natives, who are poor, miserable creatures; and as they believe that white men never go without firearms, they will not venture to attack us.”
”But, captain, if they find that we have no firearms, they will know that we are at their mercy, and may easily overwhelm us by numbers,”
observed Arthur.
”But we have our spears, bows, and arrows, and we shall cut some stout cudgels, with which we could easily drive away such miserable savages as they are.”
”Suppose they possess the deadly blowpipe, with its little poisoned darts, they may attack us without giving us a chance of reaching them,”
said Arthur.
”I am afraid that Arthur is right,” remarked Uncle Paul. ”It would be folly to expose ourselves to danger if it can be avoided.”
The discussion was still going on when we caught sight of two figures approaching through the fast increasing gloom. Could they be the savages of whom we were talking? I confess that I felt very uncomfortable,--not so much for myself as for Marian and my father; and for the first time since we reached the Orinoco I began to wish that we were safe among civilised people. I suspect that my companions shared my fears. No one spoke. At length our anxiety was set at rest by hearing the voices of Kallolo and Maco. They soon joined us, bringing a number of ripe purple plums, and some bunches of the delicious maraja, the fruit of several species of palms, which I may as well here say afforded an acceptable supper to all the party. We eagerly asked if they had seen any Indians.
”We have,” answered Kallolo; ”but they are a long way off, and as they will not wander from their encampment during the night, we may, if necessary, avoid them. We will, however, first learn if they are friends or foes. If they are friends, they may a.s.sist us with their canoes in getting through the pa.s.sage; but if they are foes, we must try to steal by them without being seen.”
We had now all collected on the log, and Marian having retired to her cabin, we sat down to discuss the best plan of proceeding.
”I see we must do what I before proposed,” said the skipper. ”We will build a small raft, and Peter and I, with Maco and Sambo, will endeavour to push through the pa.s.sage while you all remain concealed from the natives behind these thick trees. Should we get through, I will send Maco back to guide you; and you must build two other small rafts, which will be sufficient to carry you.”
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