t uttered an exclamation. In his
nervous, apprehensive state, he was sure that one of their dusky foes
had leaped from the side of the path and was crouching in front.

He drew his pistol and waited for the assault, which he was confident
would come the next moment; but the seconds passed and all remained
profoundly still.

With his weapon ready for instant use, he advanced a pace or two,
touching the sailor as a command for him to remain motionless; but the
chivalrous fellow would not obey, and was close behind him, when he
stooped down and placed his hand on a piece of decayed limb that had
fallen into the path.

"What a mistake," muttered Fred, with a sigh, as he shoved it aside
with his foot, explaining its nature to the wondering Johnston.

But it was only simple prudence to maintain unceasing vigilance, and he
did not permit the error to lessen his watchfulness. It was rather the
reverse.

But the explorers were threading their way through a labyrinth of
peril, the like of which they had never encountered before.

Fred had not gone a hundred yards further, when his companion once more
caught his arm, and he turned about as before to learn the cause.

"What have you heard?" he asked, with his mouth almost against the ear
of the other.

"There are some of 'em behind us, certain sure!"

"How do you know there are more than one?"

"By the sound--there!"

The amazement of the two may be understood, when they not only detected
the sound of footfalls, but discovered that instead of being at the
rear as both thought, they were in front!

A party of natives were approaching from the Xingu, and the keener
hearing of Johnston first discovered them.

The whites had stopped near a spot where a few rays of moonlight fell
upon the trail, giving them a faint but needed view of the direction
from which the danger threatened.

Neither spoke again, but with the utmost care and noiselessness, they
stepped aside from the path and crouched among the undergrowth.

They had barely time to ensconce themselves in their new position, when
the footfalls sounded more distinctly than before, and something in the
nature of an exclamation was heard from one of the approaching savages.

It sounded more like the grunt of a pig than anything the listeners
could call to mind, and Ashman feared it was notice of one warrior to
his companions that he had discovered something amiss.

But if such were the fact, the natives would ha