38 THREE DATS ON THE ORINOCO, 



of the combat had attracted the attention of many of the denizens of 

 the wilderness, and, amongst others, several large crocodiles had 

 stationed themselves, as if watching the issue, at a little distance from 

 the tree. By these he was instantly attacked, and almost as instantly 

 devoured, much, I have no hesitation in saying, to my satisfaction. 



I was now enabled to look around me. The mist still hung in a 

 dense mass, totally obscuring the light of day. It had become raised 

 about a hundred yards above the surface of the waters, impending 

 over them like a moving sea. I looked about for my reptile-com- 

 panions, but they were nowhere to be seen. During my struggle 

 with the jaguar they had contrived either to escape, or so to hide 

 themselves as to elude the most anxious scrutiny. Strange as it may 

 sound, I felt their removal keenly. The solitariness of my situation 

 seemed more perfect, and I should have hailed their sight as the 

 mariner hails the buoy which tells him he is near safe anchorage. 

 This was quite independent of all feeling that I might possibly have 

 converted them to an article of food, as the mental excitement I had 

 undergone had for the time freed me from the pains of hunger. The 

 loss I felt was that of living companionship strange as that com- 

 panionship had been. Gone, indeed, I satisfied myself they were, 

 after a minute search throughout the vast extent of the head of the 

 zamang. 



All the violent craving for food shortly returned the innutritions 

 nature of the twigs and the leaves did but little to allay it. The 

 mere bulk served to assuage the painful gnawing sensation in my 

 stomach, but no more. If I dared to descend, it was probable I 

 might succeed in catching a tortoise, crowds of which were still 

 floating beneath me. This, however, was fraught with such immi- 

 nent peril, that as yet it appeared to me madness to attempt it. I 

 might perhaps swing myself from the tree down upon the summit 

 of the rock ; but if, in doing this, I should lose my footing, and be 

 precipitated into the water, my doom was certain ; beside that danger, 

 in my present enfeebled condition, all hope of return to the tree were 

 vain ; and there at least I was safe from many attacks which would 

 doubtless be made upon me should my locality be transferred to the 

 block of granite. 



Notwithstanding the forlorn and miserable prospect of a life which 

 at best could not long continue, I still clung to it. I had almost 

 given up all expectation that the boat would return ; I did not think 

 it possible that she could have drifted so far but that long ago she 

 might have worked back. My hopes of delivery were as base- 

 less as those of the drowning man who catches at straws on the 

 surface of the wave which will shortly overwhelm him ; yet still I 

 did hope, though my hopes took no definite shape. The elasticity of 

 my mind as yet prevented it sinking into permanent despair. There 

 were indeed moments when the whole horror of my fate came heavily 

 upon me, but I had hitherto succeeded in shaking such ideas from 

 me. I now cut a long pole, on the top of which I suspended part 

 of my linen as a sort of signal-staff, should any boat pass within sight. 

 This was however soon rendered useless for such a purpose by a 

 heavy fall of rain, which caused it to hang motionless. It had one 



