aratively a slight one, or it would
inevitably have killed him.

"O John, do you think he will recover?" I exclaimed, as we examined his
hurts.

"If we knew how to treat him, he might," answered John; "but I am a very
bad doctor, and I am afraid our Indians are not better ones."

"Then, John, we must go back to the island," I exclaimed; "it would be
impossible to continue our voyage with Arthur in this state; and though
we have been many days coming up, we may hope to get back again in two
or three."

John agreed with me, and we explained our intentions to the Indian
boatmen. They looked very dissatisfied, especially Tono, who just then
returned from his shooting excursion. I had not from the first liked
his countenance, and I saw by his gestures that he was endeavouring to
incite his companions to disregard our orders.

Though on their side they mustered four stout, athletic fellows, yet
John and I had our rifles, and we agreed, for Arthur's sake, to make
them do as we thought best. John at once reloaded his rifle; and as
soon as he had done so, he told me to hurry down to the boat and seize
mine. I got hold of it before the Indians were aware of my intention,
and quickly rejoined him. Our first care was to wash and dress Arthur's
wounds as well as we could. John covered me with his rifle, while I
went down to get the water.

"Now, Harry," he said, "as we do not know when we shall be able to dress
another paca, we had better make a good dinner off the portion which has
escaped burning during the time you were unable to turn the spit."

Having finished our meal, and secured a portion for Arthur--in the hope
he might recover sufficiently to eat it--we handed the rest to our crew.
They took it sulkily enough, and returned with it to the montaria.

"We must keep a sharp look-out on these fellows; for, depend upon it,
they intend to play us a trick," observed John.

Our chief difficulty was now how to get Arthur into the montaria; for
while we were occupied in so doing, they might suddenly attack us.

"You must guard me, Harry, while I lift him up. He is a good weight,
but still I can carry him as far as the montaria," observed John.

He did so; while I walked by his side, with my rifle ready for action.
When the Indians saw how much Arthur was hurt, they appeared to feel
compassion for him, and expressed their sorrow by signs. When we
ordered them to shove off, they obeyed at once, and willingly paddle