THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST. 449 



shake the ground. A band of peccaries was pursuing us ; 

 and as my two companions halted to fire, I succeeded in 

 gaining the raft, on which I placed Lucien. The peccaries, 

 about a hundred in number, rushed on in a furious crowd. 

 Sumichrast, who was closely pressed by them, leaped upon 

 the frail bark, almost capsizing it, while FEncuerado ran 

 along the shore. 



" Cut the mooring and push off !" he cried out to me as 

 he disappeared in the jungle. 



Some of the peccaries rushed after the Indian; the 

 others, chasing and hustling one another, deafened us with 

 their gruntings. I cut the mooring-line ; and, seizing hold 

 of the boat-hook, directed the raft towards the right bank, 

 whence the uproar seemed to proceed. 



"Hiou! hiou! Chanito!" 



" Ohe ! ohe !" I answered. 



I was just going to spring off, when the Indian came in 

 sight, followed by Gringalet, and plunged into the water, 

 holding his gun above his head. 



L'Encuerado, instead of corning to us on the raft, turned 

 towards a peccary which in its eagerness had fallen into 

 the water and was endeavoring to reach the bank. He 

 seized it by an ear and dragged it towards the raft, assist- 

 ed by Gringalet, who swam, barking, behind, and biting it 

 when opportunity offered. 



" Fire your gun at this poor wretch's head," called FEn- 

 cuerado to Sumichrast. 



This was no sooner said than done, and FEncuerado leap- 

 ed on board, dragging his victim after him. 



The peccaries collected on the shore continued to utter 

 loud grunts of rage ; but we were beyond their reach, for 

 the raft was soon carried past them by the current. 



" Are peccaries carnivorous ?" asked Lucien. 



" Yes, indeed, Chanito. If one of us had been knocked 



