dinner, accordingly, we went; and one of our dishes was the sloth I
had shot, and we had some more monkeys, and several birds, which we had
brought hung on to our saddles. We were obliged to light a fire, and we
did not fear to do so, as we knew that in daylight the Indians would
just as easily track us without its guidance as with it. After dinner
we began to construct our huts in a more substantial way than usual, as
we should be compelled, we knew, to live here some time to build our
canoe. Everything depended on the rapidity with which we could work, so
as to be in perfect readiness to receive an attack from the cannibals,
should they have ventured to follow us. It was night before all our
arrangements were concluded; and as during the whole time we had not
given ourselves a moment's rest, we were well nigh worn out. It was
necessary, however, to keep a watchful guard during the night, for which
purpose we divided ourselves into three watches. We slept with our
weapons by our sides, ready for instant use. When it came to my turn to
watch, I walked round the ramparts to keep myself awake, for I was well
aware of the cunning of the Cashibos, and that they always make their
attacks at night. As I stopped for a moment, a long, shrill plaintive
cry came through the night air, followed by three others of the same
length, gradually deepening in tone, and which had a peculiarly
melancholy expression. At first I thought the cry must have arisen from
some human being in distress. I remarked it to the Indian who was
watching with me.

"Ah, that sound comes from a little bird," he answered. "We call it the
_alma perdida_. It is bewailing the dead, and good cause has it now to
sound its notes--_Aye de me_!"

The night passed on, and though on several occasions I fancied that I
could distinguish the forms of the savage Cashibos skulking round us,
none appeared, and daylight once more returned.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

CONCLUSION.

VOYAGE ON THE AMAZON--PARA--SAIL FOR RIO DE JANEIRO--ALL'S WELL THAT
ENDS WELL.

Our first care in the morning was to search for a tree which might serve
us to scoop into a canoe, till lower down the Amazon we might fall in
with one large enough to convey us to Para. Fortunately we discovered
one to suit our purpose close to the rock, and we instantly set to work
to bring it to the ground. Thanks to Manco's forethought in providing
us with good hatchets, in the course of three hou