rvation to us--at least we supposed so by
the way he took our hands and pressed them to his breast. After some
time the rest of the warriors returned, and, as far as we could judge,
they must have destroyed the greater number of their enemies. Maono
showed more feeling when he spoke to his son, who gave him an account of
what had occurred. As we hoped to learn more from our young friend than
from any one else, we set to work, as soon as we could detach him from
his companions, to make him give us an account of the expedition.

As far as we could understand, Maono and his brother with their
followers had been unable for some time to fall in with the enemy. At
length they met them in the neighbourhood of their own village, when a
fierce battle had been fought according to Indian fashion. Several men
had been killed on both sides, and among others who fell, pierced by a
poisoned arrow, was Duppo's uncle, whose musket also had been captured.
Several others had been taken prisoners, and, the lad added with a
shudder, had been carried off to be eaten. In the meantime, it turned
out, another party of the Majeronas, hoping to find our friend's village
unprotected, had made their way through the forest to surprise it.

It was very satisfactory to us, at all events, to find that we had been
the means of protecting the families of these friendly Indians. They
took the burning of their village very calmly, and at once set to work
to put up shelter for the night; fires were lighted, and the women began
to cook the provisions they had saved. Maono invited us to partake of
the meal which his wife and daughter had got ready. We would rather
have set off at once to the camp, but night was now coming on, and when
we proposed going, Duppo seemed very unwilling that we should do so. We
understood him to say that we might encounter jaguars or huge snakes,
and we should be unable to see our way through the dark avenue of trees.
As Ellen did not expect us to return, we agreed at length to follow his
advice. I observed that our friends sent out scouts--apparently to
watch lest any of the enemy should venture to return--a precaution I was
very glad to see taken.

As far as we could understand, the expedition had been far from
successful, as none of the canoes had been recovered, and our friends
did not even boast that they had gained a victory. From the terrible
character Duppo gave of the enemy, they perhaps had good reason to be