“N-n-n-no, thank you,” stuttered Ding-dong, “it will be no trouble to re-re-remember that f-f-f-fellow without having to l-l-l-look at his skin.”
“I agree with you,” said Mr. Tubbs. “I guess we’ll leave him here for a while. It won’t be long before some animal or other makes away with it.”
Leaving the repulsive looking carcass on the ground, they set out to return to the Discoverer.
“Well, all is well that ends well,” said the professor, as they tramped along; “at first I had a dreadful fear that you lads had been attacked by Indians.”
“Indians!” exclaimed Nat. “Are there Indians in this part of Bolivia?”
“Oh, yes; several tribes,” was the rejoinder.
“Are they savage?” inquired Joe.
“I am sorry to say that they are. In other parts some of the natives have been converted to Christianity, but the natives of this section are fierce and warlike. I hope we shall manage to steer clear of them.”
“What is the tribe called?” asked Nat.
“They are known as the Caripunas,” was the rejoinder. “The early Jesuits had much trouble with them, and they have ever since remained in a more or less wild and hostile state. They are very much averse to having any one enter their country, and that was one of the minor reasons why this trip was made by means of the dirigible.”