forth from among the
trees, at a short distance off along the bank. Now it disappeared--now
it came again in sight. We paddled down towards it. It was apparently
a torch held in a person's hand. We rapidly approached the light, but
yet failed to discover any place where we could land with safety. We
shouted loudly, hoping to attract the attention of any one who might be
near. Presently a hail came off the land. We answered it. Again a
voice was heard.

"Can you tell us where we can land with safety?" cried John, in Spanish.

The answer was unintelligible. Presently he asked again in English; and
in a little time we saw the light moving along the bank. Then it
remained stationary. We exerted ourselves to the utmost to steer for
it; and we now saw a division in the wall of trees, which indicated that
there was a passage between them. Again the thunder reared, the
lightning flashed, and the wind blew with fearful force.

Maria shrieked loudly, "The water is washing over the raft!"

"Hold on! hold on!" cried John; "we shall soon be in safety." And in
another minute we were entering the mouth of a narrow channel. "We will
turn the canoe round," said John, "and let the raft go first. We may
thus prevent it being dashed on the bank."

We did as he advised. Scarcely, however, had we turned the raft round
when we found it had reached the shore.

"Do you, Domingos, help the senora and Maria to land!" shouted John.

By the light from the torch we saw a tall figure standing on the bank.
He flung the light so that it might fall across us.

"Females!" he exclaimed. "A sorry night to be buffeting with the waves
of the Amazon! Give me your hands, whoever you are. I should little
have expected to find my countrymen in such a plight in this remote
region."

While he was speaking he helped Ellen and Maria up the bank, the two
monkeys following, while Poll and Niger clung fast to Maria's shoulders.
Faithful True did not attempt to leap on shore, though he could easily
have done so, but remained with me in the canoe. Domingos, meantime,
was hastily throwing our goods on shore; while we continued exerting
ourselves in preventing the raft being lifted by the force of the water
and upset on the bank.

"All the things are safely landed," cried Domingos at length.

We then, casting off the tow-rope, paddled round, and ran the bow of the
canoe on shore. Not till then did True leap out of her. Domingos and
the st