178 NARRATIVES. 



away down the river, the stentorian cries of the old fisherman. 

 We at once comprehended the situation of things and knew 

 that he was on our track. We were afraid to go back, and 

 dared not go forward. So we awaited our destiny ; nor did we 

 wait long ere we saw his grizzly visage peering through the 

 jungle, demanding our surrender, which demand we immedi- 

 ately and unconditionally complied with. He had a compan- 

 ion with him, and they wei*e both pretty well spent, owing to 

 their hard tramp. We expected to get a ducking, or some- 

 thino; worse ; but on reaching the shore he only gave us, as I 

 thought, a modei-ate cursing for not bringing the boat back 

 when he first called to us, for he was sure we heard him. I felt 

 some desire to confess my fault and ask his pardon ; but not 

 so, I fear, with my comrades. The big individual was deplor- 

 ably deficient in his moral department, and unhesitatingly 

 made oath to any thing that his short-sighted nature told him 

 would soonest help him out of difficulty. After laboring much 

 to impress us with the hardships he had encountered in get- 

 tino- up the river, the old fisherman ended by informing us 

 that we might get back the same way he came, or by any 

 other we pleased ; he should not ferry us back. Then, to 

 soften the matter a little, he said that a half mile's travel 

 directly away from the river would take us out to the settle- 

 ment, and thus avoid the difficulty of following down the river. 



Now, there is an inexorable law pertaining to human nature, 

 that " every man shall be rewarded according to his works." 

 And I think this old fisherman did not deal with us according 

 to our deserts ; therefore, at this point, Providence took the 

 matter in hand. 



We plunged in among the tangled bushes as we were di- 

 rected, congratulating ourselves with our good luck in coming 

 off so easily. But our self-complacency was premature ; for 

 after an exhausting tramp of not less than a mile, I should 

 think, instead of arriving at the settlement as we hoped, we 

 all at once found ourselves standing upon the bank of that 

 same deep and ominously dark river : — 



" Deep into that darkness peering, 

 Long I stood there, wondering, fearing." 



