imps had had the
slightest inkling of where we are it wouldn't have been necessary to
wait so long as this before the fact was made known."

"It was better to be sure. Poyor was so careful to caution us about a
noise that I was afraid he knew some of them were lurking near by. It is
all right, however, and we can congratulate ourselves on a fortunate
escape from more than one danger."

The weather was so warm that no one felt any serious effects from the
involuntary bath. A portion of the wet clothing was taken off and hung
on the guns set in the sand as stakes, to dry, and since their fears
regarding the proximity of the Indians had been partially set at rest by
Cummings' survey, there was a general disposition to talk of something
foreign to the struggle through which they had just passed.

"You have said very much about the poisoned arrows which the Chan Santa
Cruz Indians use," Neal began, "and I would like to know how they manage
to render them so deadly."

"It is by no means a difficult matter, and as Poyor's people use very
nearly the same method of increasing the death-dealing power of their
weapons, I can describe the process exactly," Cummings replied, speaking
in a whisper, regardless of the Indian's remark that "he who talks
cannot listen." "You have heard me say many times that the nahuyaca is
the most venomous of serpents, and instead of being content with a
single bite, as is the case with snakes in general, he strikes many
times with almost incredible rapidity. When the Indians wish to prepare
the poison for their arrows or spears they first get the liver of a
tapir, or some other animal as large, and then hunt for the species of
serpent I have spoken of. Once found he is pinned to the ground with a
forked stick in such a manner that he can use his head freely; but yet
be unable to escape, and the liver, fastened to a long pole, is held
where he can strike at it.

"When the snake refuses longer to bite he is killed, and the liver
placed where it will decompose without any of the moisture being lost.
You can imagine what a mixture it is when thus prepared, and in it the
weapons are dipped.

"It is said that the venom retains its deadly properties for many weeks,
and, in fact, I know of a native who came very near losing his life by
being scratched with an old arrow that must have been poisoned nearly a
year previous."

"I should think they might make a mistake when shooting game, and use a
docto