ed by means of a piece of rope to the ankles, which were tied
together. Then the craft was paddled to the middle of the river, and
the body carefully lifted over the side. Holding it thus suspended for
a minute or two, Jared Long and the Professor lifted their hats and
closed their eyes while the New Englander uttered a brief prayer,
committing the soul to Him who gave it, commending the other body,
lying alone in the dark forest where it had fallen, to the same
merciful Father, and beseeching his protection to the living through
the perils by which they were environed. A splash followed, and all
that was mortal of the native sank out of sight to sleep until awakened
by the trump of the resurrection morn.

The sad duty completed, the attention of the party was given to the
duties before them.

It was a sorrowful reflection, that, since the set of sun, two of their
number had yielded up their lives, and they had barely reached the edge
of the Matto Grosso, that land of mystery into which they hoped to
penetrate far enough to learn much that was yet unknown to the
civilized world.

If they were compelled to pay such fearful toll before they were fairly
within the strange region, what was to be the cost of exploring the
wild country itself?

But while Bippo and Pedros were more anxious than ever to leave the
section with its dreadful memories behind them, neither dare give
expression to his thoughts, and the German and American were not made
of the stuff which yields when first exposed to the fire.

They reasoned that if there were no such formidable difficulties to
overcome, others would have visited the country long before and
explored it so fully that nothing would be left for those who came
after them. The prize is the most valuable for which the highest price
is exacted. Neither referred to the abandonment of their work, for no
such idea entered their minds.

It is not to be supposed that during the fearful scenes through which
the leader of the expedition and his friend passed, they forgot that
their friend Fred Ashman was only a short distance away. Indeed, one
cause for pushing the canoe into the stream and allowing it to drift
with the swift current was that they might join Fred with the
announcement of what had taken place during his absence.

They supposed that he must have heard the rifle reports and the yells
and shrieks of the natives during the desperate conflict, for though
the rapids gave ou