s, and Jim shot the moment he landed, the shot taking effect in the
left eye, and he dropped his head and lay still, hanging over the fallen
tree.

This was exciting, while it lasted, and gave them something to talk
about for the rest of the day. Blakely dragged the animal down, and
Ralph and Will, trembling as they were, had their knives out when
Blakely commenced to skin the panther. It was a fine trophy, made doubly
valuable, as it had been their first attempt to secure big game.

[Illustration: FIG. 16. THE MARMOSET]

The boys regretted that Angel had not accompanied them, as they saw
numerous orang-outan; and here for the first time they came across whole
tribes of monkeys, particularly the marmoset, an interesting little
creature. The most striking ones were the proboscis monkey, the face
being not unlike that of an old man with an extremely long nose, with
whiskers around the neck.

Blakely and the Professor made many notes of the trees, and discussed
the uses to which they might be put, and the boys had their eyes open
for the wonderful display of animal life on all sides.

It was fully two o'clock before their steps were turned toward the
north, so that the hill could be reached, and when they emerged from the
forest, Blakely pointed out the spot and the best way to reach it. The
boys went forward with a rush, and mounted the hill, but while they
searched in every direction could not locate the rocky recess occupied
by Blakely.

[Illustration: FIG. 17. PROBOSCIS MONKEY]

The latter came up smiling. "I told the Professor you would have some
trouble in finding it. Look directly above you."

About twenty feet from where they stood was a projecting rock, and to
the left of it another, extending out at right angles.

"But how are we going to reach it?" asked Ralph.

"Go around farther to the right, and you will find a vine. I used that
as a ladder."

Around to the right the boys scampered, each trying to get there first.
There was no vine in sight. Blakely was coming up, as the boys turned
back, disappointed.

"Not there?" he inquired. "It ran up this tree. What is this? Some one
has cut it off and dragged it up to the shelf above; do you see it
there?" and Blakely pointed to the vine stump, hidden by the grass and
weeds.

The boys saw the plain evidence of the cuts.

"This is decidedly interesting," exclaimed Blakely, as he turned to the
Professor. "This was done since I was here."

The only way