ofound. Not a breath of air is stirring.
Yet now the tall ferns, which cover the soil, begin to move almost
imperceptibly, as though their stems were shaken by the slow progress
of some crawling body. From time to time, this trifling oscillation
suddenly ceases, and all is again motionless. But, after several of
these alternations of rustling and deep silence, a human head appears
in the midst of the jungle, a little distance from the trunk of the dead
tree.

The man to whom it belonged was possessed of a grim countenance, with a
complexion the color of greenish bronze, long black hair bound about his
temples, eyes brilliant with savage fire, and an expression remarkable
for its intelligence and ferocity. Holding his breath, he remained quite
still for a moment; then, advancing upon his hands and knees, pushing
aside the leaves so gently, that not the slightest noise could be heard,
he arrived cautiously and slowly at the trunk of the dead tree, the
summit of which nearly touched the roof of the ajoupa.

This man, of Malay origin, belonging to the sect of the Lughardars
(Stranglers), after having again listened, rose almost entirely from
amongst the brushwood. With the exception of white cotton drawers,
fastened around his middle by a parti-colored sash, he was completely
naked. His bronze, supple, and nervous limbs were overlaid with a
thick coat of oil. Stretching himself along the huge trunk on the side
furthest from the cabin, and thus sheltered by the whole breadth of the
tree with its surrounding creepers, he began to climb silently, with
as much patience as caution. In the undulations of his form, in the
flexibility of his movements, in the restrained vigor, which fully
put forth would have been alarming, there was some resemblance to the
stealthy and treacherous advance of the tiger upon its prey.

Having reached, completely unperceived, the inclined portion of the
tree, which almost touched the roof of the cabin, he was only separated
from the window by a distance of about a foot. Cautiously advancing his
head, he looked down into the interior, to see how he might best find an
entrance.

At sight of Djalma in his deep sleep, the Thug's bright eyes glittered
with increased brilliancy; a nervous contraction, or rather a mute,
ferocious laugh, curling the corners of his mouth, drew them up towards
the cheekbones, and exposed rows of teeth, filed sharp like the points
of a saw, and dyed of a shining black.

D