The Land of Mystery | Page 3

arms of a drowning person mutely appealing for help. Then a heavy
trunk would strike a rock just below the surface, and the branches,
dripping with spray, swept over in a huge semi-circle. The roar and
swirl suggested the whirlpool below the falls of Niagara, one of the
most appalling sights in all nature.
CHAPTER II.
A TRIO OF ENEMIES.
At last, when the full moon was shining, the two men stood at the head
of the rapids and surveyed their surroundings before setting out on their
return to camp.
Both sides of the Xingu were lined by the dense forest, in which the
vegetation is so luxuriant that it must be a source of never ending
wonder to those who look upon it for the first time. The river above
made a sharp bend, shutting off the view so fully that from their
position, it was impossible to tell how far they would be able to use the
canoe without making another portage.
"We haven't seen a person on our way here," remarked the Professor,
calmly surveying the river and shores; "and I hope Ashman will bring
back a similar report, for we all need a full night's rest."

"How is _that_?"
Long touched the arm of his companion, as he asked the question, and
pointed down stream in the direction of camp.
To the amazement of the Professor, three natives were seen standing on
the very spot where they themselves had stood a brief while before,
evidently scrutinizing the white strangers with profound wonder and
curiosity.
They were dressed similarly to Bippo, Pedros and Quincal--that is, with
only a piece of cloth around the loins--but they displayed a marked
contrast in other respects. They were taller, more athletic, with
immense bushy heads of hair, enormous rings in their ears, while the
hue of their skins was almost as dark as that of the native African.
One carried a long-bow and a bundle of arrows strapped behind his
shoulders, while the others were armed simply with javelins or spears.
"Those fellows mean fight," added Long.
"No doubt of it," replied the Professor.
"But a Winchester will reach further than their arrows and spears, even
if they are tipped with poison."
"Possibly they may be friendly, if they can be convinced that we intend
them no harm, and you know what an advantage it will be to us if able
to trust all the natives on our return."
Long could not share the confidence of his companion and favored a
direct advance down the bank toward the savages. If the latter
preserved their armed neutrality, all would be well enough, but at the
first sign of hostility he advocated opening fire on them.
Perhaps he was right in the declaration that anything like timidity in
dealing with savages is the worst possible course. While the rights of
every barbarian should be respected, it is all important that he should

know that such concession is made not through fear, but because the
superior party wishes to be just and merciful.
The natives stood as motionless as statues for several minutes, during
which the white men scrutinized them with an interest that may be
imagined.
The first and most natural thought of our friends was that an encounter
could be avoided by entering the forest on the right and passing round
the savages, who, it was quite apparent, intended to dispute their return;
but if such was really their purpose, they would have little trouble in
heading off the whites in the dense wood, beside which, for the weighty
reasons already named, it would have been exceedingly unwise to act
as though afraid of the dusky natives.
Despite Long's protest, the Professor decided to make a friendly
advance, being vigilantly on his guard at the same time for the first
offensive move of the savages. He carried his Winchester in one hand,
while he rested the other on his revolver. He was determined, while
hoping for comity, to be prepared for hostility or treachery.
Long was so dissatisfied with the looks of things, that he followed his
friend a few paces, then halting with his Winchester ready for any
emergency, and certain in his own mind that a sharp fight was
inevitable.
The approach of the white man was evidently a surprise to the savages.
The middle one, who held the long-bow and arrows, fell back several
paces, as if about to break into flight or dart among the trees so
invitingly near, but something must have been said by his companions
to check him, for he stopped abruptly, and not only came back to his
first position, but advanced a couple of paces beyond. The noise from
the rapids prevented the Professor hearing their voices, though the
unusually clear moonlight told him that