because of the open space, already mentioned, as lining
both banks of the Xingu.

Fortunately the distance to camp was not far, and, with the hurried
pace adopted by the Professor and Long, it ought not to occupy more
than a few minutes, provided no interruption occurred. Strange
emotions tortured both, as they kept their eyes fixed on the dark wood
at their side, from which they expected the sweep of the fearful
javelin, whose touch was death.

The keenest hearing could not detect the faint whizz, while the roar of
the rapids was in their ears, and they had to depend, therefore, on
their eyes, which promised to be of little more service.

But the entire distance was almost passed, and the hearts of the two
were beating high with increasing hope, when Long, with a gasp of
terror, grasped the arm of the Professor with incredible force, and
jerking him backward, pointed with his extended finger to the camp in
front of them.

CHAPTER V.

THE NATIVE VILLAGE.

Meanwhile, Fred Ashman and Aaron Johnston the sailor, found themselves
involved in a most stirring experience.

After studying the path or trail which led directly from the camp into
the vast forest, stretching to an unknown distance from the Xingu, the
young man decided to follow the route which he believed had been formed
by persons instead of the wild animals of the wilderness.

Johnston was disposed to complain, but he was deeply attached to the
manly partner in the exploring enterprise, and there was no reasonable
peril which he would not willingly face in his defence.

The forest wore an unusually gloomy and dismal appearance, now that the
sun had set and night was closing in.

The roar of the rapids, which at first sounded so loud, grew duller and
fainter as they penetrated the wood until it became like the moaning of
the distant ocean. The men spoke in guarded undertones and were able
to hear each other plainly, while eyes and ears were on the alert, for
the first sight or sound of danger.

Being within the forest, they were favored with but little of the
moonlight, which proved such a help to their friends in their ascent of
the bank of the Xingu to the head of the rapids. But here and there a
few of the rays penetrated the vegetation overhead and illuminated the
trail sufficiently to prevent their wandering from it.

Ashman was less than a rod in advance of the sailor and led until they
had traversed perhaps a fifth of a mile, during w