nd utensils they could lay their hands on. In an instant they were
showing these trophies to their rightful owners from a safe distance,
laughing as if they would split their sides. One of the naked rascals
had seized a flannel undershirt of the colonel's, which was drying
on a branch. His efforts to introduce his great feet into the
sleeves were excruciating. Another savage had found a pair of linen
pantaloons, which he was endeavoring to put on like a coat, appearing
much embarrassed with the posterior portion, which completely masked
his face. Aragon had seen a young reprobate of his own age make off
with a pair of socks of his property. Detecting the rogue half hidden
by a tree, the mozo made a sortie, seized the Indian, and by a
violent shake brought the property out of his mouth, where it had been
concealed as in a natural pocket.

The travelers immediately threw themselves into marching order and
took up their line of route. The savages followed. At the first
obstacle, a mass of matted trees, they easily rejoined the party of
whites.

Then, for the first time, the idea of their power seemed to strike
them, and they precipitated themselves upon the porters, who took to
flight, rolling from under their packs like animals of burden. In a
moment every article of baggage, every knife and weapon, was seized,
and the red-skins, singing and howling, were making off through the
woods. Among them was now seen the Siriniri with orioles' feathers,
who must have guided them to their prey.

The expedition was pillaged, and pillaged as a joke. The thieves were
heard laughing as they scampered off like deer through the woods.

It was hard to realize at once the gravity of the misfortune. No one
was hurt, no one was insulted. But provisions, clothing, articles of
exchange and weapons were all gone, except such arms and ammunition as
the travelers carried on their persons. A collection of cinchonas was
in possession of one of the Bolivians, though it represented but
a fraction of the species discovered. The besiegers, however, had
disappeared, and a westerly march was taken up. Good time was made
that day, and a heavy night's sleep was the consequence. With the
morning light came the well-remembered and hateful cry, and the little
army found itself surrounded by a throng of merry naked demons, among
whom were some who had not profited by the distribution of the spoils.
At the magic word _siruta_ all these new-comers rushed in