a
dozen savages on horseback were beating the thicket, but had not yet
seen the men. These I recognised easily. They were Gode and the
doctor. The latter was nearer me; and as he scrambled on over the
shingle something started out of the rocks within reach of his hand. I
noticed that it was a small animal of the armadillo kind. I saw him
stretch forward, clutch it, and with a pleased look deposit it in a bag
that was by his side. All this time the Indians were whooping and
yelling behind him, and not fifty yards distant.

Doubtless the animal was of some new species, but the zealous naturalist
never gave it to the world. He had scarcely drawn forth his hand again
when a cry from the savages announced that he and Gode were discovered,
and the next moment both lay upon the ground pierced with lances, and to
all appearance dead!

Their pursuers now dismounted with the intention of scalping them. Poor
Reichter! his cap was pulled off; the bleeding trophy followed, and he
lay with the red skull towards the cave--a hideous spectacle!

Another Indian had alighted, and stood over the Canadian with his long
knife in his hand. Although pitying my poor follower, and altogether in
no humour for mirth, knowing what I did, I could not help watching the
proceedings with some curiosity.

The savage stood for a moment, admiring the beautiful curls that
embellished the head of his victim. He was no doubt thinking what
handsome fringes they would make for his leggings. He appeared to be in
ecstasies of delight; and from the flourishes which he made with his
knife, I could see that it was his intention to skin the whole head!

After cutting several capers around it, he stooped and grasped a fistful
of curls; but, before he had touched the scalp with his blade, the hair
lifted off, displaying the white and marble-like skull!

With a cry of terror, the savage dropped the wig, and, running backward,
fell over the body of the doctor. The cry attracted his, comrades; and
several of them, dismounting, approached the strange object with looks
of astonishment. One, more courageous than the rest, picked up the wig,
which they all proceeded to examine with curious minuteness.

Then, one after another went up to the shining skull and passed his
fingers over its smooth surface, all the while uttering exclamations of
surprise. They tried on the wig, took it off, and put it on again,
turning it in various ways. At length, he who cl