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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.
