ce a
jaguar, a bear, or a tamanoir (the large ant-eater), while he would
stand to his point till he died of starvation, provided the bird chose
to stay and be pointed at. We were now to try his powers.

We had intended to go along the bank of the lake, for the sake of more
easily finding our way back; but the ground was so marshy that we were
compelled to strike inland.

We were tolerably successful, having before long killed seven large
birds of the plover species, two ground doves of a beautiful plumage,
three parrots, and a monkey, which the doctor said he preferred to any
members of the feathered tribe.

We were making our way through the forest, when between the trunks of
the tall trees I saw Tim, who was some distance ahead, turn round and
make a sign to us. It seemed to me that he intended to signify that we
should go back; but instead of doing so, the doctor advanced, treading
very cautiously, and making Jumbo follow at his heels. Tim put his
finger to his lips to indicate that we must keep silence, while he
pointed ahead. In front of us was a thick, low mass of wood, over a
portion of which we could look, our heads being concealed by the
branches above it; and we soon saw what had caused his anxiety.

At some distance, in an open spot of uneven ground, with their backs
turned towards us, were a party of Indians armed with bows and arrows;
while farther on, at a distance of thirty yards or so, was a single
Indian bound by his arms to the trunk of a tree, and in front of him
several Indian squaws, their eyes intently fixed on his countenance. I
felt my blood freeze in my veins as I observed what was about to take
place; for of their intentions there could be no doubt,--they were on
the point of putting to death the unfortunate man bound to the tree. To
interfere would have been madness; it was a question, indeed, whether we
could retreat without being discovered. Still, we stood, rivetted to
the spot. Tim made signs that he knew the man, and whispered in my ear
that he was one of the Indian spies who had been sent out from the fort
to gain intelligence, and had now fallen into the hands of the Goahiras.

Not a sound did he utter, but with Indian stoicism prepared to meet his
fate. All hope of escape must have deserted him. The Indians stood
watching him to see if he would show any sign of fear, while the squaws
advanced closer and closer, shrieking, and jeering, and making hideous
faces, to induce