TAPIR. 



137 



growing thing seemed to be studded with spikes 

 and hooks. I think the very roots had thorns. And 

 every gnarled and knubbly tree had interlocked its 

 branches with those of every other tree ; while sin- 

 uous coils of rattans, enwrapped in thorny sheaths, 

 bound altogether into a compact and solid whole, 

 which offered a resistance as unyielding as that of 

 a barbed-wire entanglement. To move forward even 

 a step was a matter not only of difficulty but one 

 that called for considerable ingenuity : ten or perhaps 

 fifteen separate branches, creepers, or rattans would 

 bar the way, and it was necessary to decide which 

 one would pull down, which press down, which shove 

 upwards or sidewards, and which, in such silence as 

 was possible, one would slice through with the heavy 

 knives we both carried. Sometimes the opening 

 would look clearer to right or to left, and hope 

 would lead us thither ; but generally we found that, 

 after a comparatively open space of a yard or two, 

 we were confronted by a thicket so impenetrable 

 that it seemed better to retrace our steps and try 

 to find some other way. 



Although the tapir was so close to us, we found it 

 impossible to catch it up, and within half an hour it 

 was obvious that it had been moving faster than we 

 were. We also saw by the impression of the feet that 

 it was not even going lame, and that our expectations 

 of its having broken a limb had not been realised. 

 After following the tracks for some distance farther, 

 we reluctantly came to the conclusion that there was 

 no chance of seeing it again that day, and therefore 

 decided to return home. 



