The Young Llanero | Page 8

my apprehensions was soon fast asleep.
When morning broke, the gale was still blowing as hard as ever, as we
saw by the way the tree-tops moved. We were unable, therefore, to
continue our voyage. We could not help also feeling some anxiety
about the fate of the schooner; till the men observed that, as the wind
was off the shore, she would probably have run out to sea, or might
have remained safely at anchor.
Matters were now growing unpleasant, if not serious. My uncle told me
that he was more apprehensive of an attack from Indians than from

wild beasts, as a large and savage tribe--the Goahiras--inhabited the
whole region bordering the coast; and should any wandering party
discover us, and suppose that we were Republicans, they would
certainly attack us and put us to death, as they had been induced to side
with the Spaniards. We accordingly launched our boat, but found the
water leak in so rapidly that it was evident it would not do to put the
baggage on board till the last moment. As we had no more nails, we
could not expect effectually to stop the leak.
We had now exhausted all the biscuits, and were again very hungry.
Uncle Denis and I accordingly took our fowling-pieces and
endeavoured to make our way through the forest, in the hope of
shooting some birds or monkeys--indeed, any creature with flesh on its
bones would have been welcome. It was only with the greatest
difficulty that we could advance even a few steps, in consequence of
the numberless creepers. Now and then we caught a glimpse of
gay-plumaged birds amid the few openings between the branches; but
to shoot them was impossible, and we heard the monkeys chattering,
and nuts and broken twigs came rattling down on our heads as the
nimble creatures leaped from tree to tree.
We dared not venture far into the forest, for fear of losing our way;
besides which, it was necessary to proceed very cautiously, lest we
should be surprised by a jaguar or tread on any venomous serpent. We
neither of us at that time, it must be remembered, had any experience of
tropical forests, or we might have been more successful.
At length we were making our way back to the river, when just as we
got in sight of it we heard a rustling among the foliage. My uncle
signed to me to stop, and I fully expected to see a jaguar springing
towards us. He advanced cautiously a few paces; then stopped a
moment, and fired. At the same instant I saw a good-sized deer, which
had been going towards the water to drink. The animal made one spring,
and then fell over dead. With an exulting shout of satisfaction my uncle
dashed forward, and I followed him; while the men, hearing our voices,
came running up, and quickly bore the deer to our camp.
While Uncle Denis and I relighted our fire, which had gone out, the

men skinned and cut up the animal, and we soon had some slices
roasting on forked sticks.
"If we had had some nails, this deer-skin would have assisted famously
to patch up our boat," observed one of the men.
"Though we have no nails, we may secure it under her bottom with
ropes, and perhaps it will answer as well," said my uncle.
His suggestion was acted on; and again hauling up the boat, we covered
the hairy side of the skin thickly with mud, and then lashed it to the
bows, bringing one end up above water. On once more launching the
boat, we found that the plan succeeded beyond our expectations, but
little water leaking in.
Our patience was still to be tried: as yet the gale gave no signs of
abating. As we had a good supply of food, we had no cause to complain,
except on account of the delay. No one expected us at Cervanos, and
the captain of the schooner knew well that his boat could not cross the
bar. Our principal cause of anxiety was, that the Goahira Indians might
discover us, and perhaps commence an attack before we had time to let
them know that we were English. Uncle Denis thought it prudent,
therefore, to reload the boat, that we might be ready to shove off at a
moment's notice. We accordingly prepared everything for a start; but as
the wind was still violent, there was but little chance of our getting
away that evening. We therefore, before dark, collected a good supply
of fuel, so that we had enough to maintain a blazing fire during the
hours of darkness.
As on the previous night, we kept vigilant watch. The earlier watches
were kept by the men, and my uncle and