With a powerful spring he landed on the tree, not five feet from the boys, and Jim shot the moment he landed, the shot taking effect in the left eye, and he dropped his head and lay still, hanging over the fallen tree.
This was exciting, while it lasted, and gave them[p. 166] something to talk about for the rest of the day. Blakely dragged the animal down, and Ralph and Will, trembling as they were, had their knives out when Blakely commenced to skin the panther. It was a fine trophy, made doubly valuable, as it had been their first attempt to secure big game.
The boys regretted that Angel had not accompanied them, as they saw numerous orang-outan; and here for the first time they came across whole tribes of monkeys, particularly the marmoset, an interesting little creature. The most striking ones were the proboscis monkey, the face being not unlike that of an old man with an extremely long nose, with whiskers around the neck.
Blakely and the Professor made many notes of the trees, and discussed the uses to which they[p. 167] might be put, and the boys had their eyes open for the wonderful display of animal life on all sides.
It was fully two o'clock before their steps were turned toward the north, so that the hill could be reached, and when they emerged from the forest, Blakely pointed out the spot and the best way to reach it. The boys went forward with a rush, and mounted the hill, but while they searched in every direction could not locate the rocky recess occupied by Blakely.
The latter came up smiling. "I told the Pro[p. 168]fessor you would have some trouble in finding it. Look directly above you."