“Yes, sir: that if we go right up to the head of this stream we can make a portage somewhere, and strike another, which will lead us down east, and so hit the Paraguay again.”
Rob laughed, and the man gave him an inquiring look.
“Make a portage,” he said, “and strike this stream and hit that? Not very plain English, Shaddy.”
“Then I don’t know what is,” growled the old sailor, who held up his hand and listened for a few moments. “Thought I heard ’em coming up after us,” he said. “Strikes me, Mr Rob, that you’d better have another of them powder tins ready, so that we could contrive to let it off and startle ’em, if they come nigh. We’ve plenty of powder, and it’s better than shooting the poor wretches, who don’t know any better. They’re used to seeing one thing kill another, and I suppose they think they ought to do the same, and we can’t teach ’em any better.”
It was rapidly getting dark now, but they reached the top of the torrent, passing again into comparatively smooth water, along which the boat was rowed for some distance before a suitable spot was found for the night’s shelter—a night full of anxiety, during which careful watch was kept.
But day broke without there being any sign of the enemy, and as soon as a hurried meal had been despatched, at which they had to dispense with freshly made bread and tea, the men, too, with their maté, a new start was made, and another rapid ascended, after which for many miles the river wound, with plenty of deep water, through valley after valley.
All this time they were on the alert for pursuing Indians, but by degrees they were able to feel confidently that they had journeyed beyond the territory occupied by the inimical people, and Brazier began his collecting once more, and the boys their fishing and shooting.
“It’s absurd, Rob,” said Brazier one evening, when the crisp cool air told that they must during the past week have attained to far above the dense forest regions. “I could have filled this boat a dozen times over.”
“Yes,” said Rob, peering hard at the stacks of dried and half-dried plants around them; “but you have got a great many.”
“A mere nothing, boy, as compared to what there is about us! Why, up here we are surrounded by quite a different growth of flowers and plants.”