CHAPTER XXI 
The Launching of the Glass Raft — Accidents — The Raft sinking 
— Saved — Our First Solid Meal — Its Consequences — The Ca- 
NUMA AND SECUNDURY RlVERS — MARCHING BACK ACROSS THE FOREST 
to the Relief of the Men left behind — A Strange Mishap — A 
Curious Case of Telepathy 
O N September twenty-first my men had a great dis¬ 
cussion. Their courage failed altogether, as they 
said they had never before seen a boat of that 
kind, made of glass bottles, and that, even allowing that 
she would float at all, if we struck a rock where should 
we be? They declared that, tired as they were, they pre¬ 
ferred to go on struggling on foot through the forest 
rather than get drowned. With his peculiar reasoning, 
Benedicto said that it was bad enough to die of starva¬ 
tion, but to die of starvation and get drowned as well 
was too much for him! 
It was decided that we should first of all try whether 
the raft would bear our weight or not. If she did, we 
would sail in her. If she did not, I would navigate her 
and they might go on foot. 
It was a moment of great excitement and suspense 
when we launched the Victory. You should have seen 
the faces of Benedicto and Filippe when she floated on 
the water as gracefully as a duck. I got on her, and with 
a punting pole went half way across the river and back 
again. 
Filippe and Benedicto, who had hardly recovered from 
their astonishment, professed that it was the cleverest 
thing they had ever seen, and no Brazilian ever would 
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