265 



CHAPTEE XIX 



We separate — Achaba — The giant armadillo — Dogs attacked by a puma — 

 Guayarapo— Maite loses his reason — Death of our guide — Para — We 

 leave Para — We reach Mura — Back at La Prision. 



We were all up before daybreak. The men went to 

 work silently, the impending separation appearing to have 

 .affected the whole of us. We drank some unsweetened 

 tea, our only luxury, and we divided the few remaining 

 pounds of beans and rice, leaving the greater part with 

 those who were to continue marching through the forest. 

 We shook hands with the five men, and then took our 

 places in the boat. Laureano, ' the Pirate,' and Eamon 

 paddled in front, Maite was steersman, the rest of us 

 packed close together occupied the middle of the boat, 

 sitting on the blankets and hammocks. Freddy had my 

 twelve-bore handy in case we should come across any 

 game on the way. For this reason and for safety we 

 kept close to one of the banks all the time. So laden was 

 our small dug-out that when we pushed off the slightest 

 movement to either side on the part of any of us caused it 

 to ship water. Hallooing a last adieu to the poor fellows 

 standing on the rocks to see us off, who had many a 

 weary mile of fever-breeding forest to tramp through, we 

 were carried away by the swift current and soon lost 

 sight of them. The river at this place is smooth and 

 deep and its banks densely wooded to the water's edge. 

 Although there was not much cause for alarm in such 



