n thinking, Harry," said Arthur, "that if Houlston and Nyass
should come down, and make for Senhor Pimento's farm, would there not be
a great risk of their falling into the hands of the rebels, and being
killed?"

"Indeed there would," I answered. "I did not think of that. I wish we
could send and stop them."

"Would it not be better to go ourselves?" asked Arthur.

"Indeed it would," I exclaimed. "We will see what my father says to
it."

I told John, who agreed with me; and we at once determined to proceed up
the stream with our Tucuna Indians. We promised them that on finding
our friends they should have our canoe in which to perform their
homeward voyage. They seemed perfectly satisfied, and we congratulated
ourselves on the arrangement we had made. As there might not be room to
return in their canoe, John, Arthur, and I determined to go alone. We
would not even take Duppo, as he could do little, compared with the
other Indians, in working our vessel. Fanny and Ellen were very unhappy
at the thoughts of our going. We begged them to look after Duppo, and
to give him his lessons in English till we should return.

We started early in the morning, paddling vigorously up the stream,
which we found a very different thing to going down with it. At first
we kept along the shore, opposite Senhor Pimento's sitio, and then
crossed over, that we might have a better chance of seeing our friends,
should they be coming down. For some time, when the wind was fair, we
rigged a sail, and were thus able to run up with ease against the
current. At night we always chose a spot where we could command a view
of the river, which had so much fallen by this time that we hoped our
friends would keep in it instead of branching off among the channels at
the side.

For several days we continued our voyage, till we began to fear that
some accident might have happened, or that, not hearing of us, they
might have pushed onwards, with the intention of sailing up the Napo.
Sometimes we slept under the awning in the montaria; sometimes we built
huts, according to our usual custom, on the shore.

One morning, just as we were embarking, John shot a fine paca, which we
took on board, and agreed we would roast during our noon-day meal, when
our Indians generally lay down to sleep. At the hour we intended, we
found a bank, which afforded us a tempting resting-place. Arthur and I
agreed to act as cooks; while John, who had been up befor