hung on the wall at the
entrance of the hut. At all events, they were not there when we looked
for them. Taking our guns, we proceeded as we proposed. The rays of
the rising sun came through the few openings among the tall trees, their
light flashing on the wings of the gorgeous butterflies and still more
brilliant plumage of several humming-birds, which flitted here and there
amid the opening in the forest.

There was a sandy spot where we thought that we could venture into the
water, without the risk of being seized by an alligator or anaconda. We
were making our way towards it, when we caught sight of a small canoe,
in which a man, whom we at once recognised as the recluse, was seated.
He was paddling slowly up the igarape. We watched him for some time,
till he was lost to sight among the thick foliage which lined the banks.
We naturally concluded that he was merely taking a morning excursion,
perhaps to fish or bathe, and expected to see him again at breakfast.

While John took a bath, I stood by and beat the water with a long pole,
to frighten away any alligator which might be near, and he performed the
same office for me--a very necessary precaution, from the number of the
huge reptiles which swarm in all the rivers.

Much refreshed, we returned to the hut. We waited for the recluse some
time before beginning breakfast, which Maria had prepared; but he did
not appear, nor did Domingos. We all agreed that we ought no longer to
impose our society on our strange friend. The first thing to be done
was to build a canoe, but we had not found a tree in the neighbourhood
of the hut exactly suited to our purpose.

"We may perhaps discover one near the place at which we landed the other
day, and we may get our Indian friends to help us to build a canoe," I
observed. "Or it is possible that they may have recovered some of
theirs, and be ready to sell one of them to us."

"Then the sooner we find them out the better," observed John.

"I wonder Duppo and his sister, or some of the other Indians, have not
come here to look for us," said Arthur. "I thought Duppo, at all
events, would have shown more regard for us."

"Perhaps the recluse has taught them not to visit his hut without his
leave," I remarked. "They seem to hold him in great respect."

While I was speaking Domingos appeared at the door, with his baskets
loaded with fruit, vegetables, and birds--chiefly parrots and toucans of
gay plumage. He gave a