hades. The stillness and gloom, indeed,
became almost painful. From the lofty trees hung down thousands of
lianas, or air-roots, some forming thick festoons, others perfectly
straight, of all lengths, many reaching almost down to our heads, others
again touching the ground and taking root in the soft earth. Here and
there some giant of the forest, decayed by age, had fallen, to remain
suspended in the loops of the sipos. Thus we went on, following in
Indian file. I kept near Ellen to cheer her up, while True followed
close at my heels, every now and then licking my hands and jumping up,
as if to ask me what I thought of the strange region we had entered. We
found it rather difficult to converse. Sometimes we walked on for a
considerable distance in silence.

We had thus been progressing for some time, the only sound heard being
that of our footsteps on the rustling leaves, or that produced by the
sharp axes of our pioneers, when suddenly our ears were startled by a
loud crash, which, contrasted with the previous silence, made it seem as
if the whole forest was coming down together. Ellen gave way to a
slight cry of alarm. "Do not be afraid, my young friends!" shouted Don
Jose. "It is only an ancient tree, weary of standing so long." In a
short time the crashing sound ceased, and directly afterwards we came in
sight of a vast trunk, which had fallen across the path we were about to
pass along. We had to make a circuit therefore to avoid it. We could
not but feel thankful that it had not delayed its fall till we were
passing beneath, although we might possibly have had time to escape, in
consequence of its being upheld for a few seconds by the sipos, till its
vast weight had dragged them down.

CHAPTER FIVE.

THE RIVER REACHED AT LAST.

We were not yet free of the mountains, for numerous spurs of the mighty
Andes run eastward, between which the many streams proceeding from their
snow-capped heights make their way towards the Amazon. Once more we
were compelled to ascend a steep height, and then to proceed along the
ridge for a considerable distance; then again we descended, to find at
the bottom a roaring torrent. This had to be crossed.

The huge trunk of a tree had been placed by the natives over the deeper
part, resting on the rocks on either side. The water hissed and bubbled
round it, threatening every instant to carry it away. Isoro, however,
urged us to cross without delay. He observed si