. "They are
harmless."

"Then we'll film them," decided Blake, though the mere fact of
harm or danger being absent did not influence him.

Both he and Joe had taken pictures of dangerous wild animals in
Africa, and had stood at the camera, calmly turning the handle,
when it seemed as though death was on its way toward them in
horrible form. Had occasion demanded it now they would have gone
on and obtained the pictures. But there could be no danger from
the tapirs.

The pictures obtained, however, were not very satisfactory. The
light was poor, for the jungle was dense there, and the tapirs
took fright almost at first, so the resultant film, as Blake and
Joe learned later, when it was developed, was hardly worth the
trouble they took. Still, it showed one feature of the Panama
jungle.

All about the boys was a wonderful and dense forest. There were
many beautiful orchids to be seen, hanging from trees as though
they really grew, as their name indicates, in the air. Blake and
Joe took views of some of the most beautiful. There was one, known
as the "Holy Ghost" which only blooms twice a year, and when the
petals slowly open there is seen inside them something which
resembles a dove.

"Let's get some pictures of the next native village we come to,"
suggested Blake, as they went on after photographing the orchids
and the tapirs.

"All right, that ought to go good as showing a type of life here,"
Joe agreed. And they made a stop in the next settlement, or
"clearing," as it more properly should be called.

At first the native Indians were timid about posing for their
pictures, but the guide of the boys' party explained, and soon
they were as eager as children to be snapped and filmed.

"This is the simple life, all right," remarked Blake, as they
looked at the collection of huts. "Gourds and cocoanut shells for
kitchen utensils."

That was all, really, the black housekeeper had. But she did not
seem to feel the need of more. The Panama Indians are very lazy.
If one has sufficient land to raise a few beans, plantains and
yams, and can catch a few fish, his wants are supplied. He burns
some charcoal for fuel, and rests the remainder of the time.

"That is, when he doesn't go out to get some fresh meat for the
table," explained the guide.

"Meat? Where can he get meat in the jungle, unless he spears a
tapir?" asked Blake.

"There's the iguana," the guide said, with a laugh.

"Do they eat them?" cried Joe, fo