220 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



within about five minutes, which the prompt action alone 

 of my companion prevented from ending fatally; but more 

 extraordinary still, the same symptoms returned regularly 

 at six months' intervals during the following two years. 

 Each attack lasted from a week to ten days. 



The day gradually drew to a close, and finally darkness 

 settled over the landscape, but there was no sign of the 

 hunting-party. The captain, therefore, began to cruise up 

 and down the river, giving frequent blasts of the ship's 

 whistle, for it was feared that the hunters might have 

 become lost. After an hour or so we suddenly rounded a 

 sharp bend and heard a loud voice singing cheerfully some- 

 where on the bank. A boat was sent in the direction 

 whence the sound came, and after a short time it returned 

 with Colonels Roosevelt and Rondon. They had been 

 pursuing the jaguar through forest and swamp for twelve 

 hours on foot, and without food or drink. Their clothing 

 was torn and covered with mud; it had been necessary to 

 swim frequently, in their clothes, holding their rifles above 

 their heads; the lagoons were infested with piranhas and 

 crocodiles. In running through the vegetation fire-ants 

 and wasps had been swept from the leaves and branches, 

 and the insects had been quick to retaliate with bites and 

 stings. But Colonel Roosevelt had enjoyed the experience 

 thoroughly and at once sat down to a hearty dinner, during 

 the course of which we heard the story of the hunt. Ker- 

 mit returned some hours later. Most of the camaradas 

 were so tired they spent the night in the forest and did not 

 come in until late the next morning. 



We always passed the nights ashore; the temperature in 

 our cabin aboard the Nyoac was 118 F., so we much pre- 

 ferred to sling our hammocks among the trees, where it was 

 cooler. One morning upon awakening I was surprised to 

 see the gently waving palm-leaves overhead. It seemed 

 queer that I should have forgotten to adjust the mosquito 

 net the night before; but an investigation showed that the 

 greater part of the netting had been carried away during 



