rting ourselves too much to speak.
Our dear sister was safe; but yet it was somewhat difficult to restrain
our curiosity to know what had occurred. The wind was increasing every
moment; and as we neared the shore we saw that there might be some
danger of the water washing over the raft should we attempt to land
under the bank. I proposed, therefore, that we should steer for the
igarape. It was no easy matter, however, to get there, as the current
was carrying us down. Domingos tried to urge the raft in the direction
we wished to go. The wind continued to increase, and the current swept
us further and further to the east. The seas rising, tossed the raft,
now on the one side, now on the other; and every moment I dreaded that
those on it might be thrown off or washed away. We entreated them to
hold on tightly. Even the canoe, though before the wind, was tossed
considerably. We could now distinguish our friends on shore watching us
anxiously as we approached. Already we had drifted down below them.
They were trying to make their way through the forest to follow us.

"We must drift down till we can see some place where we can get on shore
with a prospect of safety," observed John.

I agreed with him that it was our only alternative; yet I knew that
sometimes for miles together along the banks such a place might not be
found. We turned the head of the canoe, however, down the stream,
anxiously looking out for a fit spot to land. I dreaded, as I cast a
look over my shoulder at the sky, that such a hurricane as we had before
encountered was brewing; and if so, our prospect of being saved was
small indeed. I saw that Domingos also was casting a glance back at the
sky. We could see the tall trees on shore bending before the blast.
Every moment our position became more and more perilous. If landing in
the daylight was difficult, it would be still more so to get on shore in
the dark.

Down the mighty river we floated. The last rays of the sun came
horizontally over the waters, tinging the mimic waves with a bright
orange hue. Then gradually they assumed a dull, leaden tint, and the
topmost boughs of the more lofty trees alone caught the departing light.
Still no harbour of refuge appeared. I proposed running in, as the
last desperate resource, and scrambling on shore while we could still
see sufficiently to find our way.

"We shall lose our goods, and the canoe, and the raft, if we make the
attempt," answered