een some animal in
the woods, and got my gun ready to fire at it, when I caught sight of a
figure emerging from the narrow path of which I have spoken, and,
greatly to my satisfaction, I recognised Duppo. As soon as he saw us he
ran forward. I went down to meet him. He took my hand, and, by his
action, and the gleam of satisfaction which passed over his impassive
countenance, showed the satisfaction he felt at again being with us. He
then made signs that others were coming, and soon afterwards a party of
eight Indians, with his father at their head, made their appearance.
Maono gravely saluted John and I, and signified that his men had come to
convey our property to another place. Duppo asked whether any of us
would like to return in the canoe. We agreed that it would be a good
plan for Arthur and Ellen to do so.

"Oh, let me go through the woods," exclaimed Ellen; "I should like to
see the country."

"But then, who is to look after Arthur? He is not fit to walk so far
yet," said John.

"Oh, then I will go and take care of him," answered Ellen.

It was finally arranged that Maono and Duppo should paddle the canoe,
and look after Ellen and Arthur. They formed a sufficiently large
freight for the little craft. The Indians now shouldered our goods,
each man taking a load twice as heavy as any one of us could have
carried, although much less than our Napo peons had conveyed down to the
river. Before starting, Arthur wrote the note he had proposed to the
recluse, and left it on the table. We could not help feeling sorry at
leaving that shady little retreat. At the same time, there was no
chance while remaining there of obtaining tidings of our family. Having
handed Ellen and Arthur into the canoe, with Nimble, and Ellen's other
pets, we watched her for some minutes as Maono paddled her along the
shore, which presented as far as we could see one wall of tall trees of
varied forms rising almost from the water. "We shall meet again soon,"
exclaimed Ellen as she waved an adieu. "Who knows what adventures we
shall have to recount to each other!" We could not tear ourselves from
the spot while the canoe remained in sight. As soon as she disappeared
we hurried after the Indians. Domingos and Maria had gone on with them.
We walked on rapidly, fully expecting, as they had loads, that we
should quickly overtake them. John was a little ahead of me, when
suddenly I saw him take a tremendous leap along the path. I