thankful that they had escaped without greater loss.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

DANGERS BY LAND AND WATER--A NEW FRIEND FOUND.

Our Indian friends, although their people are generally so
undemonstrative, endeavoured by every means in their power to show their
gratitude to us for the service we had rendered them. When we offered
to pay for the canoe, which we were anxious to retain, Maono entreated
us to accept it, intimating that he would settle with the owner. We
were very glad to obtain the little craft; for, though too small for our
voyage down the Amazon, it would enable us to carry out our project of
searching the neighbouring shores for our parents. Though we had not
preserved their village from destruction, we had certainly saved the
lives of their women and children, and did not therefore hesitate about
accepting the canoe as a gift.

The chiefs sat up the greater part of the night, holding a council.
Next morning it was evident that they had arrived at some important
determination. The inhabitants were busy collecting their scattered
goods, and doing them up in portable packages. When we explained to
them that we were anxious to set off immediately for our own camp, they
intimated that they purposed accompanying us. As this, however, would
have delayed us greatly, we got Duppo to explain that we would gladly
meet them again at any spot they might appoint, but that we would go
down by the igarape in the canoe.

A hurried meal having been taken, we prepared to embark. Meantime the
men were employed in loading the women and children with their goods.
We thought that they were reserving some of the heavier loads for
themselves; but this, we soon found, was not the case, as they were
placed on the backs of the stronger women. Even our hostess--the
chief's wife--had to shoulder a load; and we felt very indignant when we
saw that Oria had to carry one also.

"I say, Harry, don't you think we ought to save her from that?"
exclaimed Arthur. "I am sure I would gladly carry it for her."

"You would somewhat astonish her if you made the offer," observed John;
"and I suspect you would fall in the estimation of our warrior friends.
Their creed is different from ours. They consider it derogatory to
manhood to carry a load or to do more work than they can help. However,
as Ellen would perhaps like to have Oria with her, we might induce her
parents to let her accompany Duppo. We cannot do without him, at all
eve