CHAPTER XXXI. 



THE HUNTERS HUNTED— ESCAPE FROM PECCARIES— A JAGUAE HUNT — 

 AN IBIS— THE CAYMANS— THE WILD BULLS. 



FTER we had finished our breakfast next morning, we 

 embarked our baggage and menagerie, and prepared to 

 depart. I was just going on board the raft when a 

 noise attracted our attention to the forest, and two peccaries 

 rushed past us, pursuing one another. L'Encuerado, taken by 

 surprise, shot at one of the animals without killing it, and we 

 all gave chase. Hardly had we gone a hundred paces, when the 

 Indian, who was in front of us, turned right about, shouting out, 

 " To the raft ! to the raft ! " 



A noise like the gallop of a troop of horses seemed to shake 

 the ground. A band of peccaries was pursuing us ; and as my 

 two companions halted to fire, I succeeded in gaining the raft, 



