y were tall men, dressed in long tunics,
and had beards and lank black hair. Each man carried a club by his
side, and a long spear in one hand, and a bow, with an arrow ready for
use, in the other. As one of them turned his face, I saw that he was a
Red Indian; and by the peculiar expression of his countenance, I felt
certain that they must belong to the dreaded _Cashibos_. I trembled for
the safety of Nita and my two friends, for I could not doubt that many
others were in the neighbourhood; and I could scarcely dare to hope that
they could fail to discover our camp, or to fall in with Manco and the
Indians.

They were evidently intent on taking game, for they sounded the notes of
several birds in succession, to try if any were in the neighbourhood.
Two or three answered, and shortly making their appearance, fell,
pierced by the Indians' unerring arrows. Again they sounded their
notes, which were answered from a distance, but no game appeared.

I must own that I was far from comfortable all the time, and afraid to
move or almost to breathe. Every moment I expected to see them turn
their heads, and to be discovered by their sharp eyes; and from the
account I had heard of them, I could hope for nothing better than to be
shot, and cooked forthwith for their suppers. After waiting, however, a
short time, I saw them dart among the trees, and, to my great relief, in
an opposite direction to the camp. Instantly I hurried down from my
lofty perch, and made the best of my way towards the camp, keeping a
bright look-out, lest any of their friends should catch me unawares.

I ran in breathless haste, anxious to warn my friends in the camp.
Twice, in my hurry, I missed my way, and found myself going in the very
direction the Cashibos had taken. At length I saw a column of smoke
curling up among the trees. I felt certain that it must proceed from
the camp; yet, as I got nearer, a horrid idea seized me, and I fancied
that I must be mistaken, and that I might find instead, the cannibals
seated round one of their dreadful banquets. Still I went on, advancing
as cautiously as I could, and taking care to leave as little trace of my
course behind me as possible. After going on in this way for some time,
my ear caught the sound of singing; and looking between the bushes, I
saw a fire burning with a spit before it, and on the spit there was
roasting what I might have mistaken for a small baby, had not my friend
Ned been officia