ed a small stream. The storm had
abated, but the stream was swollen with the rain, and we could not cross
it. We were now a safe distance from our pursuers--at least, we thought
so--and we resolved to "pitch our camp" upon the bank.

This was a simple operation, and consisted in pitching ourselves to the
ground under the shade of a spreading tree.

Raoul, who was a tireless spirit, kindled a fire, and commenced knocking
down the nuts of the corozo palm, that hung in clusters over our heads.
We dried our wet garments, and Lincoln set about dressing our numerous
wounds. In this surgical process our shirts suffered severely; but the
skill of the hunter soothed our swelling limbs, and after a frugal
dinner upon palm-nuts and pitahayas we stretched ourselves along the
greensward, and were soon asleep.

I was in that dreamy state, half-sleeping half-waking, when I was
aroused by a strange noise that sounded like a multitude of voices--the
voices of children. Raising my head I perceived the hunter in an
attitude of listening.

"What is it, Bob?" I inquired.

"Dod rot me if I kin tell, Cap'n! Hyur, Rowl! what's all this hyur
channerin?"

"It's the _araguatoes_," muttered the Frenchman, half-asleep.

"Harry-gwaters! an what i' the name o' Nick's them? Talk plain lingo,
Rowl. What are they?"

"Monkeys, then," replied the latter, waking up, and laughing at his
companion.

"Thar's a good grist on 'em, then, I reckin," said Lincoln, throwing
himself back unconcernedly.

"They are coming towards the stream. They will most likely cross by the
rocks yonder," observed Raoul.

"How?--swim it?" I asked. "It is a torrent there."

"Oh, no!" answered the Frenchman; "monkeys would rather go into fire
than water. If they cannot leap the stream, they'll bridge it."

"Bridge it! and how?"

"Stop a moment, Captain; you shall see."

The half-human voices now sounded nearer, and we could perceive that the
animals were approaching the spot where we lay. Presently they appeared
upon the opposite bank, headed by an old grey-bearded chieftain, and
officered like a regiment of soldiers.

They were, as Raoul had stated, the _araguatoes_ (_Simia ursina_) of the
tribe of "_alouattes_," or "_howlers_." They were of that species known
as "_monos colorados_" (red monkeys). They were about the size of
foxhounds, though there was a difference in this respect between the
males and females. Many of the latter were mothers, and