The Young Llanero | Page 9

I agreed to take those of the
morning. I was to succeed him. When he called me, I got up and
examined the priming of my pistols, and, taking my gun in my hand,
began to pace up and down. My uncle, instead of lying down, joined
me.
"I will keep you company, Barry," he said; "though the bright fire we
have had may have scared away the jaguars, it may have attracted the

notice of the Indians, and perhaps at daylight they may be coming this
way to ascertain its cause. The wind appears to have gone down
considerably, and we shall be wiser to shove off as soon as we have
light to see our way, without waiting for breakfast. I will put some
steaks to roast and we can eat them in the boat."
I replied that I thought his suggestion a good one; and while he was
occupied as he proposed, I kept marching up and down. Some time had
passed, when I fancied that I heard a rustling noise among some thick
bushes near me. I cocked my gun, ready to fire, and pointed it in the
direction from whence the sound I had heard proceeded. Uncle Denis,
seeing this, came forward, and we stood for some time watching the
spot; but as nothing appeared, we thought that we must be mistaken.
Still, at every turn I took an inquisitive look in that direction; and
before long I again heard the sound. I stepped back and told my uncle.
"If a jaguar or puma were there, the creature would come forward. I
suspect that some Indians are watching us; and if so, depend on it they
will have sent to collect their companions to attack us," answered my
uncle. "I will rouse up the men, and the sooner we get on board the
better."
He on this shook each seaman, and in a low voice told them to collect
the few things remaining on shore, and creep quietly down to the boat;
directing me to retire in the same direction. The men obeyed him, and I
followed, glancing round every now and then at the suspected point.
They had got out the oars, and I was in the act of stepping on board,
when a fearful yell rent the air. At the same moment a number of
half-naked savages, armed with bows and spears, tall feathers
ornamenting their heads, and the skins of wild beasts floating from
their shoulders, dashed out of the forest. My uncle took the helm, and
the seamen gave way with might and main. The current was strong, and
the savages had some distance to traverse before they could reach the
margin of the stream. As they saw us escaping, they let fly a shower of
arrows; but from the uncertain light--for the dawn was only just
breaking--their aim was, fortunately, bad; and by the time they reached
the edge of the water we had got some way down the stream. We did

not relax our exertions, for they might possibly follow us along the
banks, and, as the river took two or three turns, cut us off at some
narrow part. Their arrows, my uncle afterwards told me, he believed
were poisoned. The Indians shot another flight, several of which
dropped unpleasantly close astern of us; but they now saw that we were
beyond their reach, though their fierce shouts and cries still followed
us.
The wind had by this time completely fallen. We made rapid way down
the stream, happily escaping any sunken logs, and once more saw the
broad surface of the lake extended before us. Still, there was no time to
be lost, as the Indians might possibly have canoes concealed along the
banks, and might follow us; though, unless they had the agility of
monkeys, there was little probability of their making their way among
the mangrove-trees.
"If they do come, we must try and keep them at bay," observed my
uncle. "None of them appear to have firearms, and our guns will tell
upon them before they can get us within reach of their arrows."
The men, having no wish to fight where nothing was to be gained,
pulled away as fast as they could lay their backs to the oars; and we
soon shot through the narrow opening, and rounding the extreme point
of the bay into which the stream emptied itself, we steered for the
village for which we were bound. We had a long pull before us; but
fortunately the deer-skin kept the water out very well, and we had only
occasionally to bail to keep her clear. I could not refrain from giving a
glance astern every now and then, to ascertain if the Indians were
coming; but we saw nothing more of