CHAPTER XIX 
Benedicto and Filippe show Courage — Confronted with a Moun¬ 
tainous Country — Steep Ravines — No Food — Painful Marches 
— Starving — Ammunition rendered Useless by Moisture — The 
“Pros” and “Cons” of Smoking—A Faint Hope—A Forged 
Tin which should have contained Anchovies—Curious Effects 
of Starvation upon the Brain — Where Money is of no Avail — 
Why there was Nothing to eat in the Forest — The Sauba Ants 
— Sniffed by a Jaguar — Filippe tries to commit Suicide 
T HE departure of those two men added much to our 
troubles. I had to abandon at that spot all the 
unused photographic plates, my sextant, and a 
large prismatic compass, half the supply of cartridges we 
had taken with us, a pair of extra shoes, and a number 
of other things. With our reduced loads we made an 
early start, Filippe that day behaving very bravely. 
“ Never mind,” said he; “ if all the others are afraid, 
I am not. I will follow you anywhere. After all, nothing 
can happen to us worse than death. You have always 
behaved kindly to me, and I will never abandon you.” 
Both Filippe and Benedicto were still ill, but the 
violent exertion of the previous day had done them good, 
and their condition seemed to have slightly improved. 
We started once more across the virgin forest, 
directing our steps due west. Filippe this time under¬ 
took to open the plcada, while I, compass in hand, marched 
directly behind him, Benedicto following me. Filippe, 
who was unaccustomed to go through the forest, was even 
worse than Miguel for keeping the correct direction. If 
I had let him alone, he would have described circle after 
circle instead of going in a straight line. 
259 
