might expect to hear from a hundred spades or pickaxes working
together in the depths of the forest. After a minute or two it ceased,
and profound silence reigned. Dead silence in critical circumstances is
even more alarming than definite noise, for then the imagination is
allowed full play, and only those who have got the imagination
powerfully developed know of what wild and terrifying vagaries it is
capable!

Lawrence and Manuela looked at each other. The former had often before
admired the gorgeous black orbs of the latter, but he had not till then
thought them to be so very large.

Suddenly the earth trembled under their feet; it seemed as if a volcano
were heaving underground. The memory of San Ambrosio rushed upon them,
and they too trembled--at least the girl did. At the same time a shout
arose which seemed to them not unfamiliar. The noise increased to
something like the galloping of a distant squadron of cavalry.

"Let me lift you into this tree," said Lawrence, quickly.

Manuela did not object. He lifted her by the waist with his two large
hands as if she had been a little child, and placed her on a branch that
happened to be just within his reach. Scarcely had he done so when a
host, a very army, of American wild-hogs, or peccaries, burst from the
bushes like a tornado and bore down on them. They were so near that
there was no time for Lawrence to climb up beside Manuela. He could
only seize the branch with both hands and draw up his long legs. The
living torrent passed under him in a few seconds, and thus--thanks to
his gymnastic training at school--he escaped being ripped up in all
directions by the creatures' tusks.

It was these same tusks digging round trees for the purpose of grubbing
up roots that had produced the strange sounds, and it was the shouts of
Quashy and Tiger in pursuit that had awakened the echoes of the forest.

On the heels of the large animals came galloping and squealing a herd of
little ones, and close upon these followed the two hunters just named--
panting, war-whooping, and cheering. Several of the little pigs were
speared; some were even caught by the tail, and a goodly supply of meat
was obtained for at least that day and the next. But before noon of
that next day an event of a very different and much more serious nature
occurred.

It was early morning at the time. They were traversing a wide sheet of
water, both banks of which were high, richly-wooded, and