We agreed that one of the party should keep watch at a time, as it would
not have been wise to trust even to Jumbo's vigilance, notwithstanding
all the doctor had to say in his favour. At all events, he could not
put the sticks on the fire; and a stealthy jaguar might, carry him off,
should he close his eyes for a moment.

We secured our camp by dragging some logs of wood round it, and sticking
some thick boughs into the ground, so as to break the rush of a jaguar
or puma should one take it into its head to make a dash at us, tempted
by the savoury smell of the roasted paca and ducks.

I need not again mention the monkeys which came round to look at us, the
parrots and other birds which perched in the neighbouring trees, or the
brilliant fire-flies which flitted about our heads as soon as darkness
set in. I may add the mosquitoes, but they are pests to which no human
being can get accustomed. Even the natives look upon them as
persecutors; and the whites who live near the banks of the rivers, when
asked how long they have resided there, often reply, "I have been food
for mosquitoes for so many years." We had bound thick handkerchiefs
round our heads, that the ends, by covering our faces, might assist to
guard them.

Covering myself up with my poncho, I had managed to go to sleep, in
spite of the stings of the mosquitoes, when I was awakened by hearing
some one moving near me; and looking up, I saw the doctor take his gun
and steal away out of the camp. I followed him, to render him
assistance if necessary, though I could not guess his object.

"Hist!" he whispered; "I saw some creatures coming down to the water to
drink. They are tapirs; and if we are cautious we may shoot them."

We crept along, keeping under cover of a bank, at one end of which we
had formed our camp. Presently I saw two large animals, with long
snouts somewhat resembling the trunks of elephants, but considerably
shorter. They came on slowly, cropping the grass or leaves in their
course. The doctor whispered to me to aim at the one on the left, while
he took that on the right. Waiting till they came quite close to us,--
for their skin is so tough that it can turn a bullet at a distance,--we
fired almost together. The animals turned round, and I thought that we
had missed and that they were about to escape; but no sooner had they
got round than they began to stagger, and presently both came to the
ground.

The doctor, uttering a shout