236 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



pillar, upon feeling the pain, promptly began to wriggle, 

 thus exposing its unprotected under-side, and the ants 

 immediately rushed at that vulnerable part and soon suc- 

 ceeded in overwhelming their victim. 



Near by lay the dry, bleached skull of a steer. A fer-de- 

 lance three feet long had apparently been struck with the 

 possibilities as a safe hiding-place presented by the interior 

 of the skull, and proceeded to crawl into it via the nasal 

 openings. Then it discovered that this was not the proper 

 entrance and tried to back out; but bits of sharp, splintered 

 bone caught under the plates and scales of the reptile's 

 body, holding it as securely as a trap, until it died, perhaps 

 of starvation. 



At 8.30 p. m. we started on our long walk. It was very 

 dark at first, so that it was impossible to see the trail. We 

 had taken one of the dogs with us, and this is the only time, 

 so far as I know, that he was of the slightest use. He was 

 of a light color, so we could make out his dimly outlined 

 form in the darkness. He was therefore permitted to go 

 in advance, and we followed in his footsteps; not once did 

 he lose the trail. 



Each of us carried a hammock and blanket, also a gun, 

 as Colonel Rondon had warned us against bands of prowl- 

 ing Indians and jaguars. But to our disappointment we 

 saw absolutely nothing, and did not hear so much as even 

 the hoot of an owl. The only excitement was occasioned 

 when streams blocked our way, and it was necessary to 

 start across without knowing just exactly what was ahead. 

 At midnight we saw a bright light in the distance, and soon 

 after passed the sleeping sentinel and entered Captain 

 Amilcar's quarters; he was camped on a grassy knoll called 

 Campo Novo. 



Formerly the third telegraph-station was located at this 

 point, but it now stands on the Rio Nhambiquara, a league 

 away. We were now on the border of the great Cerro do 

 Norte, a vast tract of country composed of high, broken 

 plateaus or mesas covered luxuriantly with grass. Many 



