ting as cook; and I guessed that it was a monkey which
had been prying too near the camp, and had been shot either by him or
Pedro. The scene I looked on was one of perfect quiet and repose. The
three huts were finished; Nita was concluding some arrangements in the
interior of hers, and her infant lay in a basket at the entrance. Ned,
as I said, was acting as cook, and Pedro was attending to the horses
which were picqueted around. I was very unwilling to be the bearer of
bad news to my friends; but there was no time to be lost, so I walked in
among them.

"Ned," I said, "we must be on our guard, there are Indians in the
neighbourhood; they are fellows who would eat us if they could."

"They must catch us first," said Ned coolly. "If they do, they'll find
some of us tough morsels, I calculate."

On seeing me, Nita rushed out and inquired for her husband, being
alarmed at my having returned alone. I somewhat tranquillised her by
explaining that I had been separated from the rest; but still she saw
that all was not right. Though I was anxious to bring in the peccaries,
Ned agreed with me that it would be imprudent to leave the camp, for we
could not escape being discovered before long by the Cashibos. After a
time I told Nita quietly that I had seen some strange Indians, and that
I thought it wise to be on our guard against them; indeed, as we might
possibly find a large party of them, and be obliged to retreat in a
hurry, it would be better to pack up and be prepared for a start, as we
were not in a spot where we could well defend ourselves if attacked.
Nita agreed with me in the wisdom of this proceeding, and accordingly we
packed up our goods, and saddled and loaded our horses. I loaded my
rifle, and Ned his pistols and musket; and Pedro and Nita got the bows
and arrows and spears ready. I expressed a hope that all this
preparation would not be required.

"So do I," answered Ned; "but you see, mate, a good seaman always gets
his ship snug at night if he thinks a storm is brewing, because he can't
see exactly the time when it may come. So I think we are right to get
ready, for the savages, who may pay us a visit when we least expect
them; and as just now, you see, if the rest don't come back, and we've
only got you and I, and the young Don and the woman and the child, who
won't be much help, the odds will be rather against us. Looking at
these things, I think if we were to build up a bit of a fortification