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THE LAND OF MYSTERY





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SUDDENLY ONE OF THE KNOTS MOVED.


The. Land of Mystery
IY
EDWARD s. ELLIS
AUTIOI 0'
“on THE TRAIL or canonmo,” "Tm; wm-rs mun/me,"
“GOLDEN Rocx," no.

NEW YORK
STREET & SMITH
PUBLISHERS


Couyrlght, 1889
By FRANK F. LOVELL 8: CO.
Copyrigh!, 1901,
By STREET & SMITH


7410
.,
I
[firm/1137 i
Mé/ a%zm /

THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 9
hardly be mistaken. Had there been any misap-
prehension on the part of the visitors, there was
none after several scores launched their arrows at
the boat, as it glided away from the shore and up
stream. The aim was wild and no one was struck;
but when Professor Ernest Grimcke, the sturdy,
blue-eyed scientist of the party, picked up one of
the missiles and carefully examined it, he made the
disturbing announcement that it was tipped with
one of the deadliest of known poisons.
The other members of this exploring party were
Fred Ashman, a bright, intelligent American, four-
and-twenty years of age; Jared Long, an attenu-
ated, muscular New Englander in middle life, and
Aaron Johnston, a grim, reserved but powerful
sailor from New Bedford, who had spent most of
his life on whaling voyages. Professor Grimcke
and Ashman were joint partners in the exploring
enterprise, Long and Johnston being their assistants.
In addition, there were three native servants, or
helpers, known as Bippo, Pedros and Quincal.
They had been engaged at Macapa, near the mouth
of the Amazon. They were rather small of size,
the first-named being the most intelligent, and in
that warm, tropical climate were no clothing except
96237-6


10 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
a strip of native cloth around the loins. Ashman
had striven to teach them the use of firearms, but
they could never overcome the terror caused by the
jet of fire and the thunderous explosion when the
things were discharged. They, therefore, clung to
their spears, which, having honest points, cannot
be said to have been very formidable weapons in
their hands, even though each native was able to
throw them with remarkable deftness and ac-
curacy.
The sail that had served the explorers so well,
where the Xingu was broader and with a slower
current, became useless, or at least proved unequal
to the task of overcoming the force of the stream.
Consequently they had recourse to the broad-bladed
ears, with which they drove the canoe swiftly
against the resisting river, cheered by the oft-re-
peated declaration of the Professor, whose spirits
never flagged, that the harder it proved going up
stream, the easier must it be in descending, and
that the arrangement was much better than if the
condition of affairs were reversed.
The most tiresome work came when they reached
some place, where the falls or rapids compelled
them to land, and, lifting the boat and its contents


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 11
from the ground, carry it round the obstruction to
the more favorable current above. These portages
varied in length from a few rods to a fourth of a
mile, and the further the party advanced, the more
frequent did they become.
“ We have gone far enough for to-night, ” said
the Professor, as the prow of the boat was turned
toward the left bank; “ we will go into camp and
make ready for to-morrow.”
A few minutes later, the bow of the canoe gently
touched the dark sand of the shore. Bippo, Pedros
and Quincal understood their duty so well that,
without suggestion from the others, they leaped
into the shallow waters, ran a few steps, and, grasp-
ing the front of the craft, drew it so far upon the
land that the others stepped out without so much
as wetting the soles of their shoes.
This task was no more than finished, when the
natives scattered in the forest, which came almost
to the edge of the water, in quest of fuel. This of
course was so abundant that the work was slight,
but since Professor Grimcke and Fred Ashman paid
them well for their services, they were left to
attend to that duty unassisted.
As the surroundings of the party were entirely


12 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
new and strange, Grimcke proposed that while the
evening meal was being prepared, they should find
out, if it could be done, whether any unwelcome
neighbors were likely to disturb them before morn-
ing. After a brief consultation, it was decided
that the Professor and Jared Long should make their
way up the river, keeping close to shore, with the
purpose of learning the extent of the rapids, while
Ashman and the sailor, Johnston, should follow the
clearly marked trail which led directly away from
the stream and into the forest. It was more than
probable that one of the couples would come upon
something worth knowing, and it was not unlikely
that both would return with important information.
Twilight is of short duration in the low latitudes,
and the wish of the four white men was to be back
in camp at the end of an hour, by which time night
would be fairly upon them. But the moon was at
its full and would serve them better than the twi-
light itself.
The German and New Englander, therefore,
moved away from camp, following the course of
the Xingu, while their two friends quickly vanished
in the forest. Each carried his repeating Winches-
ter and his Smith & Wesson.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 13
Ashman felt some misgiving because of the trail
leading into the woods from a. point so near the
camp. It seemed likely to have been worn by the
inhabitants of some village near at hand, though it
was possible that the innumerable feet of wild ani-
mals on their way to and from the river may have
been the cause. The upper waters of the Xingu
are remarkably clear and pure, a fact which ren-
dered the first theory most probable.
The explorers had landed in a. dangerous region,
as they were destined to learn very soon, and the
experience of the couples who took routes at right
angles to each other was of the most thrilling
character.
It has been stated that the progress of the canoe
had been checked, as was often the case before, by
the rapids of the Xingu, which could be passed
only by carrying the canoe and luggage to the
smoother waters above. It was apparent that the
river frequently overflowed its banks, for immense
quantities of driftwood lined both shores, while the
vegetation had been swept away to that extent
that a space of a dozen feet from the margin of the
stream was comparatively free from it. Thus both
parties found the travelling easy.


14 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
The rapids were a hundred yards wide, more or
less, and with such a steep incline, that the foamy
waves dashed hither and thither and against each
other with the utmost fury, sending the spray
high in air and sweeping forward with such im-
petuosity that it seemed impossible for the strong-
est craft under the most skilful guidance to shoot
them. The explorers studied them with great
interest as they ascended the left bank.
It was inevitable that in a country with such
excessive vegetable growth, every part of the
Xingu should show much floating timber. The logs
which plunged through the rapids played all man-
ner of antics. Sometimes they leaped high out of
the waters, like immense sea monsters, the out—
spreading limbs showing a. startling resemblance to
the arms of a drowning person mutely appealing
for help. Then a heavy trunk would strike a. rock
just below the surface, and the branches, dripping
with spray, swept over in a huge semi-circle. The
roar and swirl suggested the whirlpool below the
falls of Niagara, one of the most appalling sights
in all nature.






CHAPTER II.
\_ A TRIO OF assures.
AT last, when the full moon was shining, the
two men stood at the head of the rapids and sur-
veyed their surroundings before setting out on
their return to camp. ,
Both sides of the Xingu were lined by the dense
forest, in which the vegetation is so luxuriant that
it must be a source of never ending wonder to those
who look upon it for the first time. The river
above made a sharp bend, shutting off the view so
fully that from their position, it was impossible to
tell how far they would be able to use the canoe
without making another portage.
"- We haven’t seen a person on_ our way here,”
remarked the Professor, calmly surveying the river
and shores; “ and I hope Ashman will bring back
a similar report, for we all need a full night’s rest.”
“ How is that? ”


16 THE LAND OF MYSTER Y.
Long touched the arm of his companion, as he
asked the question, and pointed down stream in
the direction of camp.
To the amazement of the Professor, three natives
were seen standing on the very spot where they
themselves had stood a brief while before, evident-
ly scrutinizing the white strangers with profound
wonder and curiosity.
They were dressed similarly to Bippo, Pedros
and Quincal—that is, with only a piece of cloth
around the loins—but they displayed a marked con-
trast in other respects. They were taller, more
athletic, with immense bushy heads of hair, enor-
mous rings in their ears, while the hue of their skins
was almost as dark as that of the native African.
One carried a long-bow and a bundle of arrows
strapped behind his shoulders, while the others
were armed simply with javelins or spears.
“ Those fellows mean fight,” added Long.
“No doubt of it,” replied the Professor.
“ But a Winchester will reach further than their
arrows and spears, even if they are tipped with
poison.”
“ Possibly they may be friendly, if they can be
convinced that we intend them no harm, and you
n


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 17
know what an advantage it will be to us if able
to trust all the natives on our return.”
Long could not share the confidence of his com-
panion and favored a direct advance down the bank
toward the savages. If the latter preserved their
armed neutrality, all would be well enough, but at
the first sign of hostility he advocated opening fire
on them.
Perhaps he was right in the declaration that an y~
thing like timidity in dealing with savages is the
worst possible course. While the rights of every
barbarian should be respected, it is all important
that he should know that such concession is made
not through fear, but because the superior party
wishes to be just and merciful.
The natives stood as motionless as statues for
several minutes, during which the white men scru
tinized them with an interest that may be im-
agined.
The first and most natural thought of our friends
was that an encounter could be avoided by enter-
ing the forest on the right and passing round the
I savages, who, it was quite apparent, intended to
dispute their return; but if such was really their
they would have little trouble in heading


18 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
OK the whites in the dense wood, beside which, for
the weighty reasons already named, it would have
been exceedingly unwise to act as though afraid of
the dusky natives.
Despite Long’s protest, the Professor decided to
make a friendly advance, being vigilantly on his
guard at the same time for the first offensive move
of the savages. He carried his Winchester in one
hand, while he rested the other on his revolver.
He was determined, while hoping for comity, to be
prepared for hostility or treachery.
Long was so dissatisfied with the looks of things,
that he followed his friend a few paces, then halt-
ing with his Winchester ready for any emergency,
and certain in his own mind that a sharp fight was
inevitable.
The approach of the white man was evidently
a surprise to the savages. The middle one, who
held the long-bow and arrows, fell back several
paces, as if about to break into flight or dart among
the trees so invitingly near, but something must
have been said by his companions to check him,
for he stopped abruptly, and not only came back
to his first position, but advanced a couple of paces
beyond. The noise from the rapids prevented the


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 19
Professor hearing their voices, though the un-
usually clear moonlight told him that some utter-
ance had passed between them.
The first ominous act on the part of the natives
was by this archer, who deliberately drew an
arrow from over his shoulder and fitted it against
the string of his how. The fact that the missile
was undoubtedly coated at the end with a virus
more deadly than that of the rattlesnake or cobra
was enough to render the would-be friend uncom-
fortable and to increase his alertness.
At the same time that the archer went through
this significant preliminary, his companions shifted
their grasp upon their javelins in a manner that
was equally suggestive.
While carrying these primitive weapons, the
fingers closed around the centre of gravity, that
naturally being more convenient, but when about
to hurl them, the hand was shoved further toward
the head. Both natives thus shifted their right
hands, though they still held them horizontal at
their thighs, from which position they could be
brought aloft in the twinkling of an eye.
The white man walked slowly. The left hand,
which supported his rifle, remained motionless,


20 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
but removing the right from his revolver, he con
tinued making signs, whose friendly meaning was
so obvious that it was impossible for the natives
to mistake it.
While approaching in this guarded manner, he
studied them with the closest scrutiny. Interest-
ing under any circumstances, they were vastly
more so at this time. What struck him in addi-
tion to the characteristics already named, were
their frowsy eyebrows and glittering coal-black
eyes. These were unusually large and protruding.
The noses, instead of being broad and flat, like
those of the native Africans, were Roman in shape.
The months were wide, and, when they spoke, he
observed that the teeth which were displayed were
black, showing that a fashion prevailed among this
unknown tribe similar to that in vogue among
many of the natives in the East Indies.
‘ Now, Professor Grimcke was too experienced an
explorer to walk directly into danger, where there
was no prospect of avoiding a desperate encounter.
While eager to make friends with all the people
whom he met, he did not intend to assume any
unnecessary risks. The demeanor of the natives
rendered it certain they were hostile. They made


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 21
no responsive signs to those of the white man, and
the latter would have checked himself half way,
but for his suspicion that they were mystified by
his conduct and were undecided as to the precise
thing to do.
He not only heard their peculiar rumbling
voices, but saw from the movements of their lips
and their glances in each other’s faces, that they
were consulting as to what they should do. The
white man was already so close that he could easily
be reached by the bowman, and there was little
doubt that either of the others could ' hurl his
poisoned javelin the intervening distance.
The only way of defeating such a movement
was for the white man to secure “the drop” on
them, but, in one sense that was impossible. Un-
able to understand the words spoken, they were
equally unacquainted with the weapons of the pale
face, and would doubtless pay no heed to the most
threatening demonstration on his part.
“ Take my advice and come back,” called Jared
Long; “keep your face toward them and blaze
away, and I’ll do my part! ”
Instead of adopting the suggestion of his friend,
the Professor slowed his pace, still making his


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 23
but to one of the others, who stealthily turned
aside and vanished among the trees. Being in the
Professor’s line of vision the latter observed the
suspicious movement, and it cannot be said that it
added to his comfort.
Meanwhile the archer advanced, but with such
tardy step that it was evident he was timing his
pace to that of his comrade who had so stealthin
entered the wood. Convinced that his real peril
lay among those trees, Grimcke began a backward
movement with such caution that he hoped it
would not be noticed by the native who was
approaching with a sluggish pace.
The forest, like all those in South America, was
so dense that great care was necessary for one to
pick his way through it. The Professor’s theory
was that the savage with the spear would regulate
his movements on the theory that the white man
would not stir from the place where he had first
halted. He would thus aim to secure a position
from which he could hurl his javelin at him with-
out detection. Grimcke conceived this was cer-
tain to take place, and, if he remained where he
was, ndthing could save him from the treacherous
assault. It was a matter, therefore, of self pre


24 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
servation that dictated the brief retreat with the
hope of thus disconcerting the savage.
The task which Grimcke had given himself was
difficult indeed. The ground was unfavorable for
the peculiar twitching movement which he hoped
would carry him out of danger. He had gone
barely a couple of yards when the bowman evi-
dently suspected something of the kind, for he
stopped short and stared inquirineg at the white
man.
The latter extended his right hand as if to shake
that of the savage, who stood motionless, making
no sign of pleasure or displeasure. Indeed, he
remained so fixed in his position that Grimcke was
convinced he was listening for the sound of the
other miscreant stealing through the wood. He
plainly saw the black eyes cast a single inquiring
glance in that direction.
“This is getting a little too threatening,” re-
flected the Professor, satisfied that the three natives
were as venomous as so many serpents; “at the
first move war is declared.”
His situation was so critical that he did not dare
turn his head to look behind him, but never was
there a more welcome sound to him than that


THE LAND OF M YSTERY. 25
made by the footsteps of the lank New Engiander.
“ Keep moving back! ” called Long, “ but don’t
try to hide what you’re doing.”
The Professor saw the sense of this advice and
he followed it, lifting his feet so high that the
action was plainly seen, but doing so with a certain
dignity that was not lacking in impressiveness.
His aim was to give the act the appearance of a
strategic movement, as it may be called. It was
not that he was afraid of the natives, but he was
seeking a better place from which to open hostil-
ities against them.
This was the impression which he sought to give
the fierce savages, and whether he succeeded or
not was certain to become apparent within the
following five minutes. He himself believed the
chances were against the success of his plan.





CHAPTER III.
LIVELY WORK.
Now took place an unprecedented incident.
The air of comity, or at least neutrality, which
brooded over the two parties had given way to that
of silent but intense hostility. The prowling move-
ment of the native with the spear as he slipped into
the wood, the sudden advance of Jared Long, whose
face became like a thunder-cloud, when every hope
of a friendly termination vanished, and the abrupt
halt of the bowman, showed that all parties had
thrown ofi the cloak of good will and become
deadly enemies.
The third savage kept his place farther down
the stream, his black eyes fixed on the archer in
front, while he doubtless was waiting for some
action on the part of his comrade who had stolen
into the wood. As has been stated, he was nigh
26


THE LAND OF MYSTERY- 27
enough to hurl his javelin, so that both the white
men were too wise to eliminate him from the
curiously involved problem that confronted them.
The bowman having halted, stood a moment
with his piercing black eyes fixed on the nearest
white man, as if seeking to read in his face the
meaning of his action or rather abrupt cessation of
action.
“Professor,” called Jared, “I’ll attend to the
one in front of you; but look out for the scamp
among the trees.”
Grimcke was relieved to hear this, and had there
been only the two natives to confront, he would
have been disturbed by no misgiving, but there
were signs that the third one down the stream was
preparing to do his part in the treacherous business.
He too began advancing, but instead of doing so
with the quick, angry stride of the New Englander,
he stepped slowly and softly, as if seeking to con-
ceal his movement.
‘ Grimcke would have been glad to turn the
archer over to the care of Long, but he was so
frightfully close, that he did not dare do so. A
moment’s delay on the part of his friend would be
fatal. At the same time, it was not to be forgotten


28 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
that the most stealthy foe of all was prowling
among the trees on the right.
The Professor’s hope, as has been explained, was
that his own retrogression had disconcerted the
plans of this special miscreant for whom, however,
he kept a keen watch.
The archer still held his bow, with the arrow in
place grasped by his right hand, the long weapon
resting against his hip. Provided he was right-
handed, the how would have to be shifted to his
left hand, the arrow drawn back with the right
and the missile then launched at his fee. This, it
would seem, involved enough action to give both
Grimcke and Long abundance of time in which to
anticipate him.
But there remained the possibility that the savage
was left-handed, in which event, the necessary
action on his part would be much less, though suffi-
ciently complicated to afiord the white men abund-
ance'of time to anticipate him.
The native was left-handed, with a quickness,
that surpassed all expectation, the bow was sudden-
ly raised, the end of the arrow drawn back and the
missile driven directly at the breast of Grimcke.
At precisely the same instant, the latter’s strained


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 29
car caught the crackling of a twig, above the din
of the rapids (which was much less there than
below), and something was discerned moving among
the trees on his right. His frightened glance in
that direction gave him a glimpse of a dusky
figure in the act of hurling his javelin.
Thus it was that the spearmau and archer let fly
at precisely the same instant, and Jared Long,
who was so anxious to help his friend, saw only
the deft movements of the archer. Grimcke could
not fire at both in time to save himself, but he
instinctively did the very best and indeed the only
thing that could be done. Without moving his
feet, he dropped to a sitting posture, instantly
popping up again like a jack-in-the-box.
The movement took place at precisely the right
instant, and both the javelin and arrow whizzed
over his head, without grazing him, but the arrow
shot by Long’s temple so close that he blinked and
for an instant believed he had been hit.
But, like the hunter when bitten by a rattle-
snake, he determined to crush his assailant and to
attend to his hurt afterwards.
The sharp crack of the Winchester, the shriek
of the smitten savage and his frenzied leap in the


30 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
air, followed in such instant succession that they
seemed simultaneous. When the wretch went
back on the ground he was as dead as Julius
Caesar.
A man can fire with amazing rapidity, when
using a Winchester repeater, but some persons are
like cats in their own movements. The New Eng-
lander leveled his weapon as quickly as he could
bring it to his shoulder, but the native along the
side of the Xingu had vanished as though he
never existed.
Whether he knew anything about fire-arms or
not, he was quick to understand that some kind of
weapon in the hands of the white men had knocked
the bowman out of time, and he bounded among
the trees at his side, as though he, too, was dis-
charged from the how. He was just quick enough
to escape the bullet that would have been after
him an instant later.
The moment Grimcke knew that he was safe
from the javelin which sped over his head, he
straightened up, and, still maintaining his remov-
able posture, discharged his gun at the point
whence came the well-nigh fatal missile.
But the shot was a. blind one, for he did not see


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 31
the native at the instant of firing. Nothing could
have surpassed the alertness of these strange sav-
ages. The one with the javelin disappeared with
the same suddenness as did his brother down the
bank, and, had the archer but comprehended his
danger he, too, would have escaped.
The affray roused the wrath of both Long and
Grimcke. They had offered the hand of friend-
ship, only to be answered with an attempt upon
their lives. One of their assailants had eluded
them, and the other would have been an assailant
had the opportunity been given.
“ Let’s shoot him too 1 ”
He alluded to the man who hurled the javelin
and who, so far as they could see, was left with-
out any weapon with which to defend himself.
In their natural excitement overtheir victory, the
friends forgot themselves for the moment. Heed-
less of consequences, they dashed among the trees,
in pursuit of the savage who had flung his spear
with well-nigh fatal effect.
The undergrowth was frightfully tangled, and,
as the first plunge, the Professor went forward on
his hands and knees. The wonder was how Long
kept his feet; but it will be remembered that he


32 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
was much more attenuated than his companion, and
seemed to have picked up a skill elsewhere which
now stood him well.
_The moon was shining and despite the dense
vegetation around him, enough rays found their
way to the ground to give him a partial view for
a few paces in front. He had not gone far when
he caught a glimpse of the dusky figure slipping
through the undergrowth ahead, and at no great
distance.
Strange as it may seem, the impetuosity of the
American caused him to gain upon the terrified
native, who, having flung his poisoned weapon, was
without the means of defending himself. It was
not in the nature of things, however, that Long
should overtake the fugitive, who was more ao-
customed to making his way through such obstruc-
tions. The first burst of pursuit caused the white
man to believe he would win in the strange race,
but the next minute he saw he was losing
ground.
Determined that the wretch should not escape,
he checked his pursuit for an instant, and, bringing
his Winchester to his shoulder, let fly.
But brief as was his halt, it give the savage time


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 33
to make one terrific bound which shut him almost
from sight, and rendered the hasty aim of Long so
faulty that his intended victim was not so much
as scratched.
Had the savage dashed deeper into the forest,
he would have passed beyond all peril at this
moment, but he was seeking to do that which Long
did not discover until after discharging his gun.
He headed toward the river, where he was first
seen. It must have been that he was actuated by
a desire to go to the help of his comrade, or more
likely he was anxious to recover his javelin, in
which he placed unbounded faith, and believed he
could do it without undue risk.
Whatever his purpose, he quickly burst from
the forest, while Long, who was pushing furiously
after him, discovered from the increasing light in
front, that he was close to the Xingu again.
Suspecting his purpose, the white man tore for-
ward at the most reckless speed, and, before the
native could recover his weapon and dart back to
cover, he himself had dashed into the moonlight.
“Now, we’ve got him!” he shouted; “ there’s
no getting away this time i ”
This exultant exclamation was uttered to a form
3


34 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
which appeared on his right, and who he was cer~
tain was the Professor; but to his consternation, as
he turned his head, he saw that it was the other
native, javelin in hand!




CHAPTER IV.
HOW IT ENDED.
IT will be recalled that the Professor started in
pursuit of the flying native with as much ardor as
his friend, but, less skilful than he, he had taken
but a step or two, when an obstruction flung him
to the ground with discouraging emphasis.
Concluding that he had undertaken a futile
task, he hastily climbed to his feet to await the
return of Long who, he was satisfied, would
attempt only a brief pursuit.
Remembering the javelin which had whizzed so
near his crown, be cast about for a moment and
picked it up from the earth where it lay but a few
feet distant. As be balanced it in his hand, he
observed that it was about six feet in length, was
made entirely of wood, which was heavy and as
hard and smooth as polished ebony.
The light of the moon was like that of tlée5 day


36 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
itself. It would have been easy to read ordinary
print by it. He had no trouble, therefore, in
closely examining the novel implement of war.
As be suspected, the point was made of stone or
flint, ground almost to needle-like sharpness and
securely fastened in place by a fine tendon wound
around the portion of the stick that held the
harder part. This was covered with a gummy
substance extending to the end.
This he was satisfied was among the most viru-
lent of substances known to toxicology. A punc-
ture of the skin was sure to be fatal unless some
remedy, of whose existence he held no suspicion,
was instantly obtainable.
He had set down his rifle while examining the
weapon, but quickly caught it up again, still
retaining the javelin in his right hand. He had
been startled by the sound of the terrific threshing
among the trees on his right.
He supposed that his friend was coming back,
but, glancing toward the point where he eXpected
him to appear, he was amazed to see the third
native, who whisked off before Long could draw a
bead on him, step from the wood not twenty paces
away. His back was toward the Professor, and,


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 37
strangely enough, he did not observe the white
man—an oversight that never could have occurred,
but for the tumult in the undergrowth which held
his attention.
Grimcke had hardly caught sight of him, when
the other native came flying to view, so astonishing
his waiting comrade that he stood a moment irres-
olute after the white pursuer burst into sight.
Brief as was this pause, it gave the Professor
time for some exceedingly fine work. He uttered
a shout which caused the native to turn his
affrighted gaze behind him, just in time to observe
the white man with javelin raised and apparently
in the very act of launching it at him.
The savage knew what a prick from that fright-
ful thing meant, and with a howling shriek he
ducked his head as though he had caught its whizz
through the air, and shot among the trees with as
much celerity as his companion had shown in
coming from them.
Neither of the explorers wished to slay the
natives, no matter how savage, unless compelled
to do so in actual self-defence. Long had recov-
ered from his first burst of fury, and, though the
Professor could have sunk the javelin in the naked


38 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
body, he withheld it, not unwilling that his
assailant, now that he had started to flee, should
escape.
The one who had so foolishly come back to the
river side was left in the worst possible situation,
for both his enemies stood between him and the
sheltering forest and he Was defenceless. He was
at their mercy, and such people as those natives
neither gave nor expected quarter, when engaged
in their savage warfare.
The fellow acted like a bewildered animal. The
white strangers were standing a few paces apart,
so as to form the two angles of a triangle, while he
made the third. The nearest point to the forest
was midway between Grimcke and Long, as was ap-
parent to the savage, who was fairly cornered.
Had the Xingu behind him been as placid as
farther above or below the rapids, he would not
have hesitated to plunge into its waters, trusting
to his skill in swimming; but, to dive into the
raging current would have been as certain destruc-
tion as for a man to undertake to swim unaided
through the whirlpool below Niagara.
Grimcke and Long were not unwilling to torment
the fellow, because of his cowardly attempt a few


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 39
minutes before, though, as has been stated, neither
intended to do him any special harm.
The affrighted native crouched down, as though
seeking to draw himself into such a narrow com-
pass that the terrible javelin could not reach him.
Despite the proof he had seen of the power of the
civilized weapons, he held his own in greater dread.
Grimcke raised the spear, as if poising it aloft
to hurl at the savage. The latter uttered a bowl
of terror, and, with his head still low, attempted to
dart between the strangers. Naturally he shied
as far away as possible from the Professor, and
thereby brought himself almost close enough to
touch Jared.
“ That’s what I want,” muttered the latter, hur-
riedly concentrating his strength in his good right
leg, and delivering the most powerful kick at his
command.
It was Well aimed and most effectively landed.
The Professor was sure he heard the “ dull thud,”
and always insisted that the recipient was lifted
clear of the ground and propelled among the trees
with an impetus sufficient to break his neck.
“ There 1 ” exclaimed the New Englander, look-
ing around, “ I guess I'm through I ”


40 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
“I am sure that last fellow hopes so,” said the
Professor with a laugh, “for it’s safe to conclude
he was never handled with such vigor before.”
The levity which both felt over their triumphant
routing of their assailants was checked by the sight
of the stark, lifeless form on the ground, only a
. few paces distant.
They had the best plea in the world for shooting
the fierce savage, but the consciousness that the
necessity existed and that the deed had been done,
rendered them serious and thoughtful.
There was reason for believing the other natives
would watch them from the forest, and the one who
retained his javelin was likely to seek the chance
to use it again. He certainly had strong temptation
to do so, with the prospect of little risk to himself.
Besides, as the explorers followed the rapids,
their uproar increased to that extent that the
savages could move freely without danger of any
noise being overheard.
The most prudent thing to do seemed for the
friends to walk so briskly as to diseoncert any plan
their enemies might have formed. This was quite
easy, because of the open space, already mentioned,
as lining both banks of the Xingu.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 41
Fortunately the distance to camp was not far,
and, with the hurried pace adopted by the Por-
fessor and Long, it ought not to occupy more than
a few minutes, provided no interruption occurred.
Strange emotions tortured both, as they kept their
eyes fixed on the dark wood at their side, from
which they exPected the sweep of the fearful
javelin, Whose touch was death.
The keenest hearing could not detect the faint
whizz, while the roar of the rapids was in their
ears, and they had to depend, therefore, on their
eyes, which promised to be of little more service.
But the entire distance was almost passed, and
the hearts of the two were beating high with in-
creasing hope, when Long, with a gasp of terror,
grasped the arm of the Professor with incredible
force, and jerking him backward, pointed with his
extended finger to the camp in front of them.








CHAPTER V.
THE NATIVE VILLAGE.
MEANWHILE, Fred Ashman and Aaron J ohn-
ston the sailor, found themselves involved in a most
stirring experience.
After studying the path or trail which led direct-
ly from the camp into the vast forest, stretching
to an unknown distance from the Xingu, the young
man decided to follow the route which he believed
had been formed by persons instead of the wild
animals of the wilderness.
Johnston was disposed to complain, but he was
deeply attached to the manly partner in the explor-
ing enterprise, and there was no reasonable peril
which he would not willingly face in his defence.
The forest wore an unusually gloomy and dismal
appearance, now that the sun had set and night
was closing in.
The roar of the rapids, which at first sounded
42


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 43
so loud, grew duller and fainter as they penetrated
the wood until it became like the moaning of the
distant ocean. The men spoke in guarded under-
tones and were able to hear each other plainly,
while eyes and ears were on the alert, for the first
sight or sound of danger.
Being within the forest, they were favored with
but little of‘ the moonlight, which proved such a
help to their friends in their ascent of the bank of
the Xingu to the head of the rapids. But here and
there a few of the rays penetrated the vegetation
overhead and illuminated the trail sufficiently to
prevent their wandering from it.
Ashman was less than a rod in advance of the
sailOr and led until they had traversed perhaps a
fifth of a mile, during which they met no living
creature, though the noises from the wood left no
doubt that wild animals were on every hand.
Fred began to think he had gone far enough,
though his wish to obtain a glimpse of the village,
which he believed was not far off, prevented his
coming to a full stop. Johnston noticing his hesita-
tion put in another vigorous protest, but he was
easily persuaded to venture further under the
pledge that if they discovered nothing within the


44 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
next ten minutes, they would withdraw and re-
turn to camp.
Knowing that his companion would insist on the
fulfillment of this agreement, Fred pushed on faster
than before; the sailor, however, easily maintain-
ing his place almost on his heels. It was only at
intervals they spoke, for there was no call to do
so, and it was not wise to allow any cause to inter-
fere with their watchfulness for the peril which
was liable to come with the suddenness of the
thunderbolt.
By stepping carefully they were able to proceed
without noise, and, at the same time, hoped to catch
the sound of any other footsteps, since there was
not supposed to be any call on the part of the na-
tives for the caution which they might have dis-
played under different circumstances.
The young man’s heart gave a quicker throb
than usual when he caught the sound of some-
thing like a shout, and observed a faint light in the
path in front. It was apparent that the latter
made an abrupt turn, and the cause of the noise
was but a brief distance beyond.
Fred reached back his hand and touched his
companion, as a warning for the most extreme care


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 45
on his part, but the admonition was not needed.
J ohnston understood the situation too well.
Sure enough, less than a couple of rods further,
and the path turned almost at right angles. Pass-
ing guardedly around this, the explorers came
upon a striking scene.
There was an open space with an area of perhaps
three or four acres; it was as clear of trees as a
stretch of western prairie. It was triangular in
shape, the boundary being so regular that there
could be no doubt it was artificially made.
Around three sides of this space were erected
huts or cabins, the excellence and similarity of
their structure suggesting that the natives were
the superior in intelligence of any that had yet
been encountered during the ascent of the Xingu.
The huts were a dozen feet square, half as high,
and each had a broad open entrance in the middle
of the front. They seemed to be built of logs or
heavy limbs, the roofs being flat and composed of
the branches of trees, overlaid with leaves and earth.
In--the middle of the open square was a tall pole,
like an immense flag-staif. The light which had
been noticed sometime before by the whites was
the full flood of the moon’s rays, there being no


46 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
other kind of illumination, so far as they could
ascertain, in the native village.
The huge pole was without any limbs or appur-
tenances, but around the space were gathered a.
score of figures in rapid motion, the meaning of
whose actions was a puzzle to the white specta-
tors, until they studied them.
Then it was seen they were struggling together,
and the conclusion was that they were engaged in
some kind of a rough sport, for all the rest of the
savages were seated in front of their huts watching
the singular spectacle.
Naturally they ought to have come closer, and
the fact that they did not, suggested that they
kept back to give the actors plenty of room for
their performances.
Not the least impressive feature of the scene
was the profound silence which marked it. The
shout that first arrested the attention of Ashman
and his companion, must have been some kind of a
signal, probably announcing the opening of the
proceedings.
It was evident that the villagers in the square
were struggling hard, for their forms were inter-
locked and they were divided into two lines, which





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THE' LAND OF MYSTERY. 47


swayed back and forth as one gained or yielded
ground.
“ It is a wrestling bout,” whispered Ashman to
his companion, and then, reflecting that their situa-
tion was dangerous, the two stopped from the path
among the trees, Where they would not be noticed
, ' by any passing near.
Suddenly something like a groan was heard from
the body of contesting men. Almost at the same
instant, a command was shouted from the further
end of the square, where part of the spectators
were gathered. The two lines fell apart, and ran
silently and swiftly to opposite points a hundred
feet distant, where they abruptly halted as if in
obedience to some signal and faced each other.
This was stirring enough, but that which riveted
3 ' the eyes of the white men was the sight of three
figures lying prone on the ground, at the foot of
the pole.
They were as motionless as so many stones.
There could be no mistaking the signifiance of the
sight: they were dead.
It may have been some species of sport in which
the actors were engaged for the entertainment of
the spectators, but, if so, there was an awful earnest-


48 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
ness about it, for the stake for which they strove
was human life.
The two lines faced each other but a moment,
when another shout rang out, and they rushed to-
gether once more with the fury of two cyclones.
By this time, our friends had discovered that no
member of the parties was furnished with any
weapon other than those provided by nature.
Fearful then must have been the struggle, which
had already terminated in the death of three of the
contestants.
But they were at it again with the fierceness of
so many cougars fighting in defence of their young.
The result was terrifying. The contest had
lasted but a few minutes, and already a couple
were on the earth, when one of the combatants,
with a cry of pain dashed in almost a direct line
toward the spot where our friends were hiding.
Had he not been overtaken and dragged back,
he would have been upon them before they could
get out of the way, and it is not diflicult to conjec-
ture What would have followed.
The miserable wretch, however, was seized on
the very edge of the wood by four others and car-
ried writhing and resisting back to the space. There


THE LAND‘OF MYSTERY. 49
he was flung down, and, being unable to rise, the
others leaped upon him and in a few minutes all
was over. He was added to the list that were
already hors olu combat.
Ashman and Johnston had received a shock
which, drove away all interest in the fearful spec-
tacle. Their escape was exceedingly narrow and
they could scarcely hope for such good fortune
again.
Fred touched his friend and whispered to him.
Immediately, they began stealing from the danger-
ous spot.
4





CHAPTER VI.
ALONG THE FOREST PATH-
IF any further proof were needed of the delicacy
and danger of the situation of the white men, it
came the next minute, when, as they were in the
act of stepping back into the trail, the sailor
caught the arm of his friend and checked him.
No need of speaking, for Ashman had detected
the peril at the same instant.
Two natives were stealing like phantoms along
the path, from the direction of the river and going
toward the village.
Had they been ten seconds later, the foremost
would have collided with the young explorer.
The latter held his breath, and placed his hand
on his revolver, believing a fight was inevitable.
So it would have been, had not the attention of
the savages been absorbed by the scene in the
square, of which they caught sight a pace or two
befog?) coming opposite the watchers.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 51
They strode directly onward, and swung across
the open space, swerving enough to one side to
avoid the struggling lines, and moving on until
they reached the fringe of spectators beyond.
There they could no longer be identified, and prob-
ably took their places among those who were en-
joying the cruel spectacle.
Ashman waited a brief while beside the path,
fearful that other natives might be coming; but,
when the minutes passed without their appearance,
he resumed picking his way back, and quickly
stood erect in the narrow opening, which he felt
had been followed too far from the Xingu.
There was no reason to suspect that any of the
natives knew of the presence of the mysterious
strangers so near them, but since they seemed to
have a remarkable disposition to be on the move,
our friends felt it would not be safe to relax their
caution for a single instant.
While they did not apprehend a direct pursuit,
there was a probability that some parties might be
moving along the trail behind them, while they had
seen enough to convince them of the danger from
the front. Ashman, therefore, whispered to his
companion to keep special guard against an ap-


52 THE LAN D OF MYSTERY.
preach from the rear, while he would be equally
alert in guarding the front.
The two kept so near that they could have
reached each other by simply extending the hand.
They had no more than fairly started on their
withdrawal from the spot, when Johnston touched
the arm of his friend, who instantly halted to learn
the cause.
“I believe some of 'em are following us,” said
Johnston.
Fred listened, but his straining ear could detect
nothing to warrant such an alarming conclusion,
and he so stated.
The sailor became convinced that possibly be
was mistaken. There is no law governing noises
at night, and it might be that he had misjudged
the rustling of a branch or possibly the stealthy
footsteps of some wild animal.
Not entirely convinced, however, that his com-
panion was mistaken, Fred once more resumed the
advance, trying to perform the difficult task of
giving as much attention to the rear as the
front.
If the savages suspected the presence of others,
they would be likely to tread so lightly that their


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 53
footfalls could not be heard ; but inasmuch as
neither of the whites could believe they had even
the most shadowy knowledge of them, they relied
more on hearing than sight.
Suddenly Fred started and almost uttered an
exclamation. In his nervous, apprehensive state,
he was sure that one of their dusky foes had
leaped from the side of the path and was crouching
in front.
He drew his pistol and waited for the assault,
which he was confident would come the next
moment; but the seconds passed and all remained
profoundly still.
With his weapon ready for instant use, he ad-
vanced a pace or two, touching the sailor as a com-
mand for him to remain motionless; but the chiv-
alrous fellow would not obey, and was close behind
him, when he stooped down and placed his hand on
a piece of decayed limb that had fallen into the
path.
“ What a mistake,” muttered Fred, with a sigh,
as he shoved it aside with his foot, explaining its
nature to the wondering Johnston.
But it was only simple prudence. to maintain
unceasing vigilance, and he did not permit the


54 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
error to lessen his watchfulness. It was rather the
reverse.
But the explorers were threading their way
through a labyrinth of peril, the like of which they
had never encountered before.
Fred had not gone a hundred yards further,
when his companion once more caught his arm,
and he turned about as before to learn the cause.
“What have you heard?” he asked, with his
mouth almost against the ear of the other.
“ There are some of ’em behind us, certain
sure! ”
“ How do you know there are more than one?”
“ By the sound—there ! ”
The amazement of the two may be understood,
when they not only detected the sound of footfalls,
but discovered that instead of being at the rear as
both thought, they were in front!
A party of natives were approaching from the
Xingu, and the keener hearing of Johnston first
discovered them.
The whites had stopped near a spot where a few
rays of moonlight fell upon the trail, giving them
a faint but needed view of the direction from which
the danger threatened.


THE LAND ~ OF MYSTERY. 55
Neither spoke again, but with the utmost care
and noiselessness, they stepped aside from the path
and crouched among the undergrowth.
They had barely time to eusconce themselves in
their new position, when the footfalls sounded
more distinctly than before, and something in the
nature of an exclamation was heard from one of
the approaching savages.
It sounded more like the grunt of a pig than
anything the listeners could call to mind, and Ash-
man feared it was notice of one warrior to his com-
panions that he had discovered something amiss.
But if such were the fact, the natives would have
stopped, while the cat-like steps were more audible
than before, though the wonder to the watchers
was that the parties continued invisible.
The eyes of both remained fixed on the faintly
illuminated space, where they expected to catch
sight of them, but the straining gaze failed to de
tect the most shadowy form.
Ashman was just beginning to suspect some
strange mistake had been made, when he suddenly
saw the form ‘of a tall savage with bushy head
and a javelin in his hand, glide like a shadow into
the darkness in front. A moment after, a second


56 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
followed, then a third, fourth and fifth, the last
carrying a long-bow, and all plainly seen by “
whites at the side of the trail.
A few minutes later, Fred once more took the
advance, reflecting that they were as likely to meet
more of the natives as to have them overtake
them.
The mystery was where they had come from in
the first place. They could not have entered the
trail at the camp where Ashman and Johnston had
started on their little exploring enterprise. It
looked as though they were hiding among the trees
at the time the canoe approached the land, and may
have followed the explorers soon after they started
along the path with the purpose of cutting off their
retreat. If such should prove to be the case, Fred
felt that not only he and his companion were in
danger, but all the rest were liable to be attacked
by these natives, who, as has been stated, were the
most athletic that had been encountered since leav-
ing the Amazon.
“ Fred," whispered the sailor a little later,
“ they’ve turned back and are following us again.”
“ Are you sure of it? ”
“There’s no mistake about it.”


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 57
Fred was debating whether they should not turn
again from the path, but he reflected that the
natives having discovered the trick played on them,
would be likely to defeat such a piece of strategy.
Before he could decide upon the best course,
Johnston whispered:
“ Run! it’s the only chance we’ve got i ”




CHAPTER VII.
DESPERATE WORK.
IT seemed to be the only course left. Whether
it was or not, it was too late to try anything else.
That the natives had discovered the explorers was
proven by several low, tremulous whistles which
at that instant sounded on the night.
It was risky running along the dark trail, even
though illuminated here and there by the rays of
the moon: but, feeling that the situation was des-
perate, Ashman broke into a swift lope, with
Johnston at his heels, urging him to make haste.
“If they come too close,” thought the younger
man, “we can dodge among the trees again and
pick our way back to the river as best we can—
helloa! what’s that ?”
Well might be ask himself the question, for the
whizz of something close to his car left no doubt
58


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 59
that one of their pursuers had hurled a poisoned
javeliu at them.
An instant after he heard a faint but peculiar
noise which he could not describe nor identify.
Johnston at the same instant uttered a suppressed
exclamation, not intended for his ears, and he called
out in a recklessly loud voice,
“Into the woods, quickl ”
Ashman did not hesitate, but darted to his right,
halting after a couple of steps, through fear of
betraying himself.
“Where are you?" asked Johnston, speaking
more guardedly.
His groping hand touched Ashman, who seized
it and silently drew him forward, neither speak~
ing again.
Even in that trying moment, the younger was
impressed by the singularity of his friend’s actions,
though there was no opportunity to ask an ex-
planation. .
The savages could be plainly heard, as they hur-
ried past, evidently believing they would overtake
the fugitives the next minute and certain of locat-
ing them, wherever they might be.
Sure enough, they had not gone fifty feet, when


60 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
they detected the trick and turned about to catch
the whites before they could steal any distance from
the trail.
“We must leave,” said Ashman; “we are too
close to the path, and they are sure to find us.”
Johnston made no answer, and, instead of fol-
lowing him,'sank heavily to the ground, with a
groan.
“ Great heaven! what is the matter, Aaron?”
gasped his friend.
“ I’m done for,” was the feeble reply ; “ never
mind me: look—out—for—for—good-bye ! ”
Struck almost dumb by an awful fear, Fred for—
got the natives for the time and stooped over his
friend. It was as he suspected: the poor fellow
had been struck full in the back by one of the
poisoned javelins. The exclamation which he ut-
tered at the moment of receiving the wound was
that which puzzled Ashman. The sailor had with-
drawn the weapon, and the wound bled but little.
The young man, however, identified it on the
instant.
“ Aaron, rouse up l “ he called, shaking his
shoulder; “ fight off your drowsiness! ’
He suddenly ceased, for at that moment, he


THE LAND OF BIYSTERY. 61
realized that his companion was dead. Thus fear-
fully did the virus do its work.
Before Ashman could do more than rally from
his shock, a muttered exclamation at his elbow an-
nounced that the savages had located him.
“ Curse youl ” he exclaimed, whipping out his
g revolver and letting fly in the dark at the point
where he knew several of his foes were standing,
waiting for a chance to hurl their missiles at him.
A screech announced that the bullet had found
its mark, and he followed it with a couple more
shots, which inflicted wounds, even if they caused
no mortal ones.
The eflect of this volley was to throw the nth
tives into consternation and panic. There is
nothing so appalling as an unknown peril, and the
flashes of fire lighting up the gloom sent them fly-
ing toward their village.
The path was open for the young man’s escape,
but could he leave the body of his friend behind?
Alas I it was that all he could do, and unless that
were done within the next few minutes, it would
be too late.
Stooping over, he grasped the shoulders of the
body and drew it further from the path, in the


62 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
hope that it would remain unnoticed. Then he
loosed the Winchester from the death grip. re-
moved the revolver, and stepping back into the
trail, started on his sorrowful return to his friends.
“I wish they would follow me,” he muttered,
glaring into the gloom behind him; “ the man they
have killed is worth more than the whole tribe of
miscreants.”
He was in a savage mood, and, despite the fear-
ful danger from the poisoned arrows and spears,
he yearned for another chance at the wretches who
fought so unfairly.
He held a couple of loaded and repeating Win
chesters, with which he could pour the most
destructive of volleys among the savages, and he
longed for the opportunity; but the profound
silence which followed the fierce encounter was so
striking that to Fred it all seemed like some horrid
vision of sleep.
But he dare not wait. These wretches had come
from the direction of the Xingu, and he was appre-
hensive of trouble at the camp, where the three
native attendants had been left. His services
might be needed at that very moment.
He did not run, but advanced with the stealth


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 63
of an American Indian stealing upon an enemy.
It seemed to him his senses were strung to a higher
pitch than ever before, for he had not walked far,
when he became aware that some one was ahead of
him, in the path and travelling in the same
direction.
As yet he could catch no glimpse of the stranger,
but there could be no mistake about the stealthy
tread. He was sure, too, that sooner or later the
broken rays of moonlight would give him the
sight for which he was waiting.
“ Yonder is a spot where he will betray himself,”
he added a moment later, as he observed the faint
light ahead.
Instead of following on, Fred paused and laying
the rifle of his dead friend on the ground he knelt
and sighted his own piece as best he could in the
darkness. Where the hunter is placed in such a
situation he instinctively feels how to aim his
weapon.
He was not kept long waiting. A dark form
became dimly outlined in the faint moonlight and
an instant later the infuriated Ashman fired.
The rasping screech which followed was enough
to curdle one’s blood, but the young man only


64 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
uttered an exclamation of disgust. He had driven
a ball through the vitals of a South American
cougar, instead of through one of the natives, a
score of whom he gladly would have wiped out of
existence had he possessed the power.
The shot could not have been better aimed, had
the sun been shining. The furious beast dropped
in the middle of the path, rolled over on his back,
clawed the air for a moment or two, and then
became motionless. Had not Ashman been on the
lookout when he reached the spot, he would have
stumbled over the carcass.
“ It is only so much ammunition thrown away,”
he muttered, again glaring into the gloom behind
him, in the hope of catching sight or sound of his
pursuers ; but they were too thoroughly panic-
stricken by the frightful experience a few minutes
before to trouble the white man for some time to
come.
The dull roar of the rapids grew plainer, and,
increasing his pace, he had but to walk a short
distance when the clear moonlight, unobstructed
by cloud or vegetation, was discerned where the
path debouched from the forest.
The feeling that something had gone amiss in


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 65
the camp during his absence was so strong with
Ashman that he slowed his walk and stopped
before emerging from the wood. He paused, how-
ever, at a point where he had a full view not only
of the camp but of the river and dark shore beyond.
The sight which met his gaze was not calculated
to soothe his nerves. From some cause Bippo,
Pedros and Quincal seemed to have been seized
with a panic, hardly less than that produced
among their countrymen by the discharge of the
firearms of Ashman. They were in the act of
shoving the canoe back into the water in such
haste that there could be no doubt they intended
to flee from some enemy that had driven all
thoughts of resistance out of their minds.
“What the mischief are you doing?” shouted
the young man, dashing from cover and hurrying
down the bank to intercept them before they could
get away.
5




CHAPTER VIII.
THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
THE peremptory tones of Fred Ashman rang
out loud and clear above the roar of the rapids
and caused the servants to halt at the moment the
canoe was shoved into the water. They looked up
with frightened expressions and awaited his
approach.
“ What do you mean ? ” he demanded as he
drew near.
Bippo, who was by far the brightest of the three,
had shown a wonderful readiness in picking up a
knowledge of the English tongue. He was so
much superior in that respect to his companions,
that they invariably left to him the duty of con-
versing with their masters.
“ Dey’re ober dere,” he replied, pointing to the
other shore.
66


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 67
“ Who’s over there ? "
“ Perfess’r and Long man; we seed ’em; dey
motion for us to hurry ober to ’em.”
This was astounding news and Ashman was
mystified.
“ How did they get over there “P And why did
they leave camp?”
“ Don’ know; seed ’em; want us hurry.”
Without waiting to reflect upon the strange
information, and recalling that more of the natives
were likely to issue from the path at any moment,
the young man stepped into the canoe, and, catch-
ing up one of the paddles, lent his help in pro-
pelling the craft across the foamy Xingu.
“ Where Johns’n?” asked Bippo, when the
middle of the stream was reached, and without
ceasing his toil with the paddle.
“ The natives killed him with a poisoned spear ;
you will never see him again.”
Bippo made no reply, but communicated the
startling tidings to his companions, who muttered
their amazement. It was apparent that the news
had added to their panic, and they bent to their
task with such vigor that the boat rapidly
approached the other bank.


68 I THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
Fred was asking himself, that if his friends had
managed to get across the river, why it was they
were not in sight. He scrutinized the dark forest
and the line of moonlit space in the expectation of
seeing them come forth to welcome him, but not a
soul was in sight.
He did not know what to make of it. There
was something so uncanny about the whole busi-
ness, that a strange distrust and uneasiness took
possession of him. It could not be that the natives
had deceived him and were anxious to place the
Xingu between them and the fierce savages who
had handled the whites so roughly. Bippo and
his comrades had shown a loyalty from the first
which gave their employers the fullest confidence
in them.
The canoe was almost against the bank, when
something of the bewilderment of Ashman seemed
to enter the head of Bippo. He spoke to his
companions and the three ceased paddling. Ash-
man had done so a moment before and was scan?
ning the bank with a searching but vain scrutiny.
“ You must have been mistaken,” he said in a
low voice; “they could not have swam the river
and they had no other way of crossing.”


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 69
“ We seed ’em —motion dat way, ” and "the
native beckoned with his right arm, just as a per-
son would do when signalling to another to approach.
“ I can’t understand it, ” replied Ashman with
a shake of his head.
His doubts were confirmed, when he recalled
that the Professor and Jared Long had gone up the
bank of the river with the purpose of learning the
extent of the rapids. It followed, therefore, that
if they had made their way to the other shore, it
must have been at a point so far above the angry
waters that there was no danger of being caught
in the furious current.
He was turning over these troublous thoughts,
when Bippo, who was facing the bank they had
left, uttered an expression of dismay and extended
his arm toward the shore behind them.
Ashman turned his head, and there in the moon-
light he saw Professor Grimcke and the New
Englander standing on the land and motioning to
them to retum.
“ Yes,—-dat de way he do,—he move arm like
dat,” said Bippo; “ we hurry to go to him, den he
ain’t here,—but dere.”
Ashman could not doubt that the servant


70 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
believed the extraordinary assertion he had just
made, and such being the case, the startling truth
was manifest; they had seen two strangers whom '
they mistook for their own friends, and these
strangers had beckoned them to paddle the canoe
to the other shore where they were awaiting
them.
If such were the fact—and he did not doubt it
—a new mystery confronted him.
Who were the white men and strangers? and why
had they disappeared when approached by the
canoe and its occupants ?
Ashman ordered the servants to turn the craft
about and return to the shore they had left with
all speed. While doing so, and while Grimcke and
Long were doubtless wondering what had got into
the heads of the others, the young man wrought
himself into a most uncomfortable condition of
mind.
He questioned Bippo more particularly as to the
appearance and actions of the strangers. It was
clear that he, as well as the other two, still believed
the couple on the opposite bank were Grimcke and
Long; though, when reminded that it was impos-
sible that they could have crossed and recrossed the


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 71
stream in such a brief time, and without any means
except that of swimming, they only shook their
heads, signifying that, though they could not ex-
plain that feature of the strange business, they
would not yield their belief.
Ashman asked further, directing his question to
each of the natives in turn, whether they saw the
parties plainly enough to make sure they were
white men. The servants were positive on this
point, adding the distracting statement that they
were dressed precisely like .the two absent mem-
bers of the little company, and that each carried a
rifle as they did.
“ Same ones—same ones; don’t know how cross
riber, but allee same do so,”'repeated Bippo, with
a grin.
By this time the swiftly-moving canoe was well
on the way to the camp which it had left so
' abruptly, and, a minute later, Ashman sprang out
and grasped the hand of each of his friends in
turn.
In a few words he explained the extraordinary
incidents of the last half-hour, receiving in return
the story of the experience of the Professor and his
companion. The latter were deeply touched by the


72 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
loss of Johnston. Danger tends to draw the mem
bers of a party closely together, and, despite the
peculiar disposition of the sailor, the three felt a
deep attachment for him. They would have faced
any danger in his behalf, but the time had passed
for that, and they could only mourn the loss of
such a valuable comrade.
“ But what about this story that Bippo tells? ”
Before a reply could be made, the native ap-
proached, with his peculiar grin.
“ How you cross riber ?—why you come back
’gin ? Why you no stay ober dere when we hurry
to go to you? ”
“ Bippo, you are mistaken,” replied the Professor,
with all the earnestness at his command. “ We
went up this side of the stream, and have not been
on the other shore since dark. When we came
back and saw that you were not in the camp, we
thought you had all been killed.”
The native grinned more than ever, and sh00k
his head.
“ De Purfes’r funny man~he make laugh.” And
he walked back to his companions with an unshak-
able belief in the story given to Fred Ashman when
no dashed in such excitement from the wood.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 73
“ Bippo believes what he has told us,” said Long,
who had studied the fellow closely; “and it follows
that he and the others did see a couple of white
men.”
“I imagined,” remarked Grimcke, with some—
thing like regret in his tones, “that we were the
first of our race to reach this spot; but it is hard
in these days to find any place on the globe where
some white person has not been before us.”
“ If there are a couple of them over there,” said
Ashman, scanning the opposite bank, “ they ought
to be friends; and, after signaling to our servants
to cross, it is inexplainable that they should with-
draw from sight as they did.”
“ We can depend on one thing,” added the Pro-
fessor: “ we haven’t seen the last of them. I would
be glad to believe them friends, but their actions
are unsatisfactory. I am inclined to think that the
cause of their withdrawing was your entrance into
the canoe. For some reason they wished to have
nothing to do with any of us.”
“ It may be that since we are suspicious of them,”
said Fred, “ they feel the same toward us, and are
unwilling to make our acquaintance until after
reconnoitering us. Helloal what’s up now?”


74 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
This question was caused by the action of Bippo,
who, trembling in every limb, and with the appear-
ance of a person overcome with terror, pointed to
the forest behind them.




CHAPTER IX.
A NATIVE HERCULES.
THE savages that had shown such pluck in the
instances described, now gave another striking
proof of their courage.
At the moment the mystified explorers were
discussing the strange appearance and actions of
the white men, more than twenty of the athletic
barbarians issued as stealthily as phantoms from
the trail leading from the forest and crouched
along the edge of the timber.
Their silence added impressiveness to the singu-
lar scene and prevented their movements being
observed except by Bippo, who was so terrified
that he could only tremble and point at them.
They were partly hidden by the shadow which
put out a short distance from the fringe of the
wood, but there could be no doubt of their hostile
75


76 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
intentions. They assumed the form of a line,
somewhat after the manner of the combatants in
the square of the native village. This was to give
free play to their arms in flinging their javelins.
The occasion was one in which the fate of the
explorers depended upon their promptness and
bravery. Anything like timidity or hesitation
meant sure destruction, and the whites knew it.
“ Into the boat! ” commanded Ashman, address-
ing Bippo and his friends.
The words were like an electric shock to the
helpers, who instantly clambered ' into the canoe
and lay flat behind the luggage, where they were
safe from the poisoned missiles that would soon be
flying through the air.
Those natives, with their crude weapons, were
only incumbrances in a crisis like the present.
The whites exchanged but a word or two and
then opened the ball.
A savage, evidently the leader, and one who
probably now saw the whites for the first time,
had the audacity to step forward a couple of paces,
and with a yell of defiance, raised his spear over
his head.
Before he could launch the missile, Jared Long


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 77
sent a bullet through him, and then, shifting the
muzzle of his Winchester toward the line of dusky
figures, he blazed away as fast as he could sight
the weapon and pull the trigger.
At the same instant the Professor and Ashman
opened, and the bombardment which followed was
enough to strike terror to the hearts of a hundred
men.
It was more than the savages could stand, but,
great as was their panic, most of them hurled one
or two javelins apiece at the white men who stood
fearlessly erect and combated them. They had
come from their village prepared for a fight, and
each warrior was provided with several of the
poisoned missiles.
Before the explorers had emptied the magazines
of their Winchesters not a live foe was left. The
affrighted survivors, shrieking with terror,
scrambled hastily back among the trees, some of
them dragging the dead bodies, so that the spot
was freed of the dusky miscreants with as much
suddenness as it had been occupied by them.
There were plenty of shots left, and, after the
disappearance of the savages, the whites fired into
the woods, where they had vanished, not with the


78 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
expectation of accomplishing anything more than
adding to the panic.
When it was sure the wretches were gone, our
friends made their preparations for leaving the
spot, for nothing was clearer than that such was
the wisest step to take.
It will be borne in mind that all the trouble had
taken place on the left bank of the Xingu, no sav-
ages having been observed on the western bank.
The daring of the savages could not be questioned.
They had faced death repeatedly, and now, that
they had the strongest of all motives—revenge—
to prompt them, they were sure to use every means
possible to bring about the ruin of the whites and
their three native companions.
The forest, extending so close to the river was a
constant menace, for it afiorded the best kind of
shelter. Indeed, had the savages been less coura-
geous and kept among the trees, taking a stealthy
shot as the chance ofiered, they would have had a
much better chance of doing what they wished
and with less risk to themselves.
The javelins flung in blind desperation went
wide of their mark, with the exception of one
which whizzed over the canoe within a few inches


80 I THE LAND OF' MYSTERY.
could avoid detection would be by crossing above
or below this point.
They would hardly ascend the Xingu for this
purpose, since the rapids would oblige them to
travel a long way, and the place of ferriage, there-
fore, was likely to be below the camp-fire.
Such were the views of the whites, as they
shoved the canoe into the stream, and stepping
within, seized the paddles, which the helpers were
too frightened to use efiectively, while so near the
dreaded shore. ’
Fred Ashman had taken but a few strokes when
he handed the implement to Bippo and ordered him
to use it. Then, resuming his Winchester, he faced
the land, half suspecting they would not be allowed
to reach the other side without some demonstra-
tion on the part of their fierce antagonists.
Time was of the first importance, and all the
paddles in the craft were plied with the utmost
possible vigor, each yard passed adding to the hope
that hostilities were over for the time.
Probably three-fourths of the distance was ac-
complished, when a low exclamation from Ashman
caused all to cease paddling and gaze at the shore
which he was watching with such interest.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 81
The most gigantic savage yet seen had emerged
from the forest trail, but instead of advancing to
the river’s edge, he halted just far enough from
the wood to allow the moonlight to enclose him.
He was thus in almost as plain sight as if it were
mid-day.
He stood in silent contemplation of the strangers
that had invaded his dominions and given his
people such a dear lesson. Confident that he
could accomplish no harm, even if he wished to
try it, Ashman refrained from firing, while the
company surveyed him with a feeling akin to ad-
miration.
He was over six feet in height and of massive
proportions. He would have been an ugly cus-
tomer in a. tussel where the conditions were equal,
and Ashman could not forbear the thought that
he was one of the contestants in the frightful sport
he had witnessed near the village. If so, there
was little doubt that he was hailed the champion.
It may have been that he had hastened along the
forest path, burning with a desire to assail the
mysterious beings who had used his countrymen
so ill, and he was filled with chagrin and disap-
pointment that he had arrived too late.
6


82 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
But there was no end to the fancies that might
be formed concerning him. That there was little
imagination about Bippo was shown by his timid
request to his masters to shoot the savage. To
Bippo the elimination of a single enemy of such
formidable mien was a consummation devoutly to
he prayed for. But the Professor reminded the
native that they only slew in self-defence.
All at once, the herculean savage was seen to
make a motion of his arm, and before the act could
be understood, the terrified Bippo called out that
he was about to throw his javelin. At the same
instant, he and his two companions cowered in the
bottom of the boat, where they were abundantly
protected.
“ The poor fellow is disappointed,” laughed Ash-
man, “and he must show his anger, even if it re-
quires the loss of one of his_”
Something like the flitting of a bird's wing
whisked so close to the speaker’s face that he in-
voluntarily threw back his head. At the same
instant, a heavy javelin crashed through the side
of the boat, as if it were cardboard, and splashed
out of sight in the water beyond.
The missile of the gigantic savage had passed


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 83
between Ashman and the Professor, missing both
by a few inches.
The young man, like a flash, brought his rifle to
his shoulder and sighted at the savage who was
still in plain sight, as if defying the whites to do
their worst.
But Ashman did not pull the trigger. Lowering
his weapon, he said :
“ You have earned your life.”





CHAPTER X.
DOUBLE-G UARDED.
THE native who had made the wonderful throw
of the javelin, stood a moment longer, and then, as
if satisfied that he could do no more, he turned
about and disappeared.
Fortunately the missile had struck the upper
part of the canoe, through which it tore a jagged
hole several inches Wide, and a short distance above
the water. The injury could be easily repaired,
and at present required no attention.
The paddles were again called into play, and the
prow of the craft gently touched shore.
Having reached the right bank, the explorers
had something to think of beside the savages whom
they hoped were left behind for good. Two white
men were known to be in the neighborhood, and
there was warrant for believing they were as hos-
tile as the natives from whom our friends had had
84


THE LAND OF MYSTER Y. 85
such a narrow escape. With their superior intel-
ligence, there was more to be feared from them
than from the brave but ignorant savages; but, at
the same time, it was to be hoped they might be
conciliated, and that if not, they would fight with-
out the use of the fearful implements used by the
savages, who held human life in such light esteem.
On the other hand, the explorers were too sensi-
ble to believe they had seen the last of the warriors
that had proven their daring and ferocity.
It was decided to leave all the luggage in the
canoe which was held so lightly against the bank
that it could be shoved into the river at an instant’s
need. No fire was to be kindled, although the
entire party left the boat and advanced to the edge
of the wood, beneath whose shelter they seated
themselves on the ground.
The night which they had hoped would afford
them much needed rest, promised to be most ex-
hausting in its requirements.
It had been the custom of the explorers, when
camping on their way to the Matto Grosso, to have
at all times a couple of their number on guard, the
night being divided into two watches. For the
first five hundred miles, after leaving the Amazon,


86 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
this precaution was mainly to provide against the
wild animals, that were always prowling around
camp, and often showed a curiosityto make the ac-
quaintance of the sleepers, and especially of their
supplies.
The white men held an earnest consultation,
while occupied in eating their evening meal or
lunch. Had they deemed it prudent to kindle a
fire, they would have prepared some fragrant cofiee,
of which they carried an abundance, though plenty
of the little berries were encountered growing wild
along the Xingu.
But that much relished refreshment was now
dispensed with, and they ate their fruit and a slight
quantity of dried meat in darkness. The fish in
the river was an unfailing source of supply, but
that species of food also required fire in its prepa-
ration, and was therefore out of the question for
the time.
Their latitude was about fifteen degrees south,
the temperature being so mild that the whites
could have got along very well with as scanty
raiment as their native helpers, though, as has
been intimated, they clung to a civilized costume.
They wore broad Panama hats, flannel shirts, with


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 87
no coats or vests, and strong duck trowsers thrust
in their bootlegs. Thus attired, they were prob-
ably as comfortable as they could be.
A belt around the waist contained a supply of
cartridges for their Winchesters and revolvers,
besides affording a resting-place for the knives, the
indispensable Smith & Wesson being carried in
the hip pocket, after the usual fashion.
In view of the unusual peril threatening the
party, extra precautions were taken against sur-
prise. It was arranged that Quincal and Jared
Long should mount guard until midnight, when
they would give way to Pedros and the Professor.
This would leave Bippo and Ashman free from
any duty, their turn to come the following night.
Ashman, however, insisted on taking a part
which was somewhat original in its nature. He
was confident that if the savages found it imprac-
ticable to cross the Xingu in sight of the explorers,
they would pass down stream and endeavor to do
so, at a point where they could not be observed by
those in camp.
He meant, therefore, to station himself so as to
be able to detect such a movement. With his re-
peating rifle at command, he was sanguine of


88 THE LAND OF' MYSTERY.
defeating the attempt, even though made by a
score of their enemies.
But for the peculiar contour of the banks on
both sides, the whites could have done much better
by simply paddling the canoe a quarter of a mile
down the river and then hiding under the over-
hanging vegetation; but it has been explained that
the Xingu, when its volume was swelled by rain,
had swept the shores with such violence that they
were bare for a dozen feet from the water.
Such a movement, therefore, would have to be
made in the full light of the moon, and would,
therefore, be plainly perceptible from the opposite
bank,—a fact which rendered the precaution of no
avail.
All conceded the wisdom of Ashman’s plan.
The Professor urged him in case he found himself
growing drowsy, to return at once to camp and
allow one of his friends to take his place. The
young man gave his promise, and, bidding them
good-bye, he began stealing down the stream, keep-
ing as closely within the wall of shadow as he
could, and advancing with as much care as though
he saw the fierce savages across the Xingu watch-
ing for just such a movement.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 89
The peculiar nature of the ground rendered
progress easy, and he paused after going about a
furlong, believing he had advanced sufficiently far
to accomplish what he wished.
The essential work of Ashman was to cover one
half the distance between him and the camp, the
further half being under the surveillance of the
guards on duty there. Since he could also over-
look the stream equally far in the opposite direc-
tion, it will be seen that the savages would have
to make their crossing nearly a fourth of a mile
below the camp to escape observation.
All this was on the theory that the lone sentinel
was really able to scan the space with sufficient
clearness to detect anything of the nature ap-
prehended, and that the savages themselves had
no suspicion of any such extra care on the part of
their enemies.
The astonishing brilliancy of the moonlight will
be appreciated, when it is stated that Ashman felt
not the least doubt of his ability to meet every
requirement of his self-assumed duty.
Well aware, from previous experience, of the
insidious approach of slumber to the most vigilant
sentinel, when unable to keep in motion, he avoided


90 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
sitting down, even though he never felt more
wakeful. So long as he stood erect, there was no
danger of his lapsing into unconsciousness.
Another indispensable requirement was that he
should not be tempted into venturing from the
shadow where he stood, for such an act was liable
to bring about discovery and defeat the very object
that had brought him thither.
The moon was so nearly in the zenith that the
shade from the edge of the forest did not project
half-way across the open space to which we have
alluded. It was in this partial gloom that the
young man took his station, placing himself as far
back as he could without standing among the trees
themselves.
He was in the position of one who feels that the
lives of his dearest friends are placed in his hands.
To him, nothing was more evident than that the
revengeful savages would attempt to cross the
stream and make another stealthy attack upon the
camp. They surely must feel enough dread of the
terrible weapons that had wrought such havoc
not to defy them again, but would make their next
demonstration in the nature of a flank movement.
One fact caused Ashman some surprise ; he had


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 91
seen nothing of any canoes or boats, which were
plentiful along the shores of the Xingu below. It
was not to be supposed that such a powerful and
brave tribe as those on the other side, would live in
a country abounding in streams, without finding
need of such craft.
But because he had not seen them, was no proof
that they were not in existence. They may have
been drawn up among the trees, their precise loca-
tion known only to their owners.
The prospect of holding his place for several
hours, with his senses at a high tension, was not an
inviting one, for he did not expect the savages to
make their attempt before midnight ; all such peo-
ple aiming to surprise their enemies when wrapped
in profound slumber.
But Ashman had not been at his station a half
hour, when, to his amazement, he discovered that
something was going on across the river directly
opposite.
Despite the strong moonlight, he was unable to
guess for a long time what it meant. He first
heard a splash, as though a body had fallen or been
thrown into the water, and then, for several
minutes, everything was still as bef0re.


92 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
It was a source of annoyance to him that at this
moment, when he hoped to keep his attention fixed
on matters on the other bank, he should be dis-
turbed by a sound among the trees directly behind
him. He turned sharply and looked around, for
the noise which had caught his attention was a
footfall beyond all question.
But, if the youth was to be taken between two
fires, he was ready. The stranger nearest him
could have no thought of his proximity, or he would
have taken more care to suppress any noise. Since
he was so much nearer than him on the other side,
Ashman was forced to give his whole attention for
the moment to the former’s approach.
His suspense was brief, for while he stood with
rifle ready, a large puma, or American lion, emerged
from a point a couple of rods away, walked in his
stealthy fashion to the edge of the river and began
lapping the water.
Ashman wished nothing with him in view of
more important business elsewhere, and he, there-
fore, stepped softly back in the wood, before the
beast finished drinking.
The puma quickly slaked his thirst, and then,
raising his head, looked about him with an inquir-






CHAPTER XI.
A MYs'rirrr’n) snn'rmnn.
JARED LONG, the New Englander, and Quincal,
the native helper, were the sentinels on duty in the
immediate vicinity of the camp.
The Professor was wearied from a hard day’s
work, and, feeling that everything possible had
been done for the safety of all, stretched out upon
his blanket on the soft ground and was soon
asleep.
He expected to assume his duty as guardsman
in the course of a few hours, and needed all the
rest he could get before that time.
Bippo and Pedros were so disturbed by what
they had witnessed, that, though they lay down at
the same time, it was a good while before they
closed their eyes in slumber. Their homes were
' near the mouth of the Xingu, and, even at that re-
mote point, they had heard so many fearful




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EN TO RISE AS IF FROM THE VERY EARTH.
A GIANT FIGURE WAS S]


umvsnam w ILLIHBIS


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 95
accounts of the ferocious savages that infested the
upper portions of the river, that they never would
have dared to help in an attempt to explore the
region but for the liberal pay promised, and their
unbounded faith in the white men and their fire-
arms.
The poor fellows would have given all they had,
or expected to have, to be transported down the
Xingu and out of the reach of the terrible natives
who used their poisoned arrows and javelins with
such effect ; but, behold! the explorers, undaunted
by what had taken place, had no thought of turn-
ing back, but were resolved to push on for an un-
known distance, and Bippo and his friends had no
choice but to go with them, for to run away would
insure certain death at the hands of these people
who seemed to be all around them.
Jared Long had so little faith in the usefulness
of the servant Quincal as sentinel, that he arranged
to place the least dependence possible on him.
With no supposition that any danger was likely to
come from the woods behind them, he sent the
fellow a short distance back, instructing him to
keep his ears and eyes open, since if he failed to
do so, some wild animal was likely to devour him.


96 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
In crossing the Xingu below the falls, the rapid
current had swept the canoe downward, so that it
lay against the bank at a point fully two hundred
yards below. It was here that the American
stationed himself, standing, like Fred Ashman, just
far enough from the water to be shrouded in the
slight but increasing shadow made as the moon
> slowly worked over and beyond the zenith.
Looking across to the other shore, he could dis-
cern nothing upon which to hang a suspicion; but
the first thing, perhaps trifling in itself, which at-
tracted notice, was the unusual quantity of drift-
wood which appeared to be coming through the
rapids and floating past.
As has been stated, in such a wooded country as
the Matto Grosso there was always more or less
of this, and Long had taken a critical survey of
the rapids and noted the stuff which went plung-
ing and dancing through them. Now, however, he
was sure there was an increase, and a good deal of
it consisted of large trees and logs, which must
have been brought down by some cause more than
ordinary.
Had there been anything else to occupy his
attention, the fact would have escaped him, but


THE LAND OF MYSTER Y. 97
the sentinel who is alive to his duty, notes little
things, even when they seem to have no bearing
on the great subject which engages all his energies.
It was a long way from the camp to the source
of the Xingu, and in such a vast country as Brazil,
there might have been a violent storm raging at
that moment above and below them without the
least evidence, so far as they could see, around
them. Like all countries, that portion of empire
is raVaged at times by fierce hurricanes and
cyclones, which might have uprooted scores of
trees and flung them into the waters which were
now bearing them toward the Amazon and the
broad Atlantic.
The sentinel naturally gave his chief attention
to the other side of the Xingu, where so many
stirring scenes had taken place that afternoon and
evening. The camp fire, which had been left
burning, had smouldered so low that none of the
embers were discernible, and only a thin column of
smoke crept slowly upward marking where it had
been. But this vapor was so clearly seen in the
wonderful moonlight that it was easy to fix the
precise point where the trail entered the wilderness.
It was just there, as Long believed, that the


98 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
savages would debouch into sight, and renew the
warfare which thus far had been only one series of
disasters to them.
He was not mistaken, when, shortly after he had
noticed the increasing number of logs and drift-
wood, he fancied he detected something going on
at the very point on which his gaze was fixed.
As was the case with Fred Ashman, it was some
time before he could so much as conjecture its
nature. The glimpses were so faint and moment-
ary that nothing tangible resulted, though he was
positive that some of their enemies were there.
At the moment he uttered an exclamation of
impatience, he made out three figures of the
natives, who advanced far enough from the wood
for him to identify them.
Not only that, but they walked stealthily to the
edge of the river and stood several minutes, as if
looking across at the canoe.
Long was confident that he could drop one of
them at least, and he was tempted to do so. The
most effective way of keeping the savages off was
by nipping their schemes in the bud, and filling
them with additional terror of the white strangers.
But he decided to wait awhile, suspecting, as he


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 99
did, that some scheme whose nature he could not
guess was under way, and that if the projectors
were undisturbed, it would soon be revealed.
Jared Long, we say, was convinced that the
natives were scrutinizing the canoe and seeking to
learn something about the occupants, whom they
had doubtless watched as they made their way
from the water to the shelter of the wood. Such
was his belief, and yet he was altogether mistaken.
It struck him as odd that the savages acted as
they did, when it would seem that they could see
just as well from the edge of the wood, where they
were not exposed to the fire of theirv enemies; but
he reflected that there was precious little about
the conduct of the natives from the first that could
be explained on the line of common sense and
consistency.
The trio stood in view less than five minutes,
when they darted back to cover, as if afraid of
being seen by the whites,—a theory altogether
untenable under the circumstances.
The natural supposition of the sentinel was, that
a large number of the savages had gathered under
the bank and were making ready for some demon-
stration, which would soon take place.


100 THE LAND OF MYSTERY. '
It was not yet time to awaken the Professor and
the natives. In fact, the plucky New Englander
half believed that with his repeating rifle he would
be able to beat off any approach from the other
shore.
At this moment, he was amazed to see one of the
savages do an extraordinary thing.
Dar-ting out from the wood behind him, he ran
to the smouldering camp-fire, seized a brand that
was covered with ashes, and circled it so swiftly
about his head that it was fanned into a roaring
blaze.
While doing this, he stood apparently with one
foot in the margin of the Xingu, and evidently
with not the slightest fear of the white strangers
within gun-shot. He not only swung the brand
forward several times, but revcrsed and spun it in
the other direction, with avelocity that made it
look like a solid ring of fire.
Suddenly the truth flashed upon the bewildered
sentinel: the savage was signalling to some friend
or friends on the other bank! That being the case,
it followed that the friend or friends were most
uncomfortably close to the camp of the white
men.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 101
And still Long failed to attach any importance
to the unusual quantity of logs and driftwood that
was sweeping down the Xingu in front of him.












CHAPTER XII.
TO THE DEATH.
IT was at this juncture that Jared Long, peering
out from the shadow of the wood, observed a
larger log than any he had yet noticed, sweeping
by within a short distance of shore.
It was without any branches, except a few near
the top, but there seemed to be a number of big
knots projecting from the upper side. He counted
seven and they were all of the same size. Further-
more, unless he was mistaken, the huge tree, from
some cause, was working closer to land.
Suddenly one qf the knots moved !
The sentinel uttered an exclamation, for the
startling truth flashed upon him with the quick-
ness of lightning.
Each apparent knot was the head of a native l
With amazing coolness, the New Englander
brought his Winchester to a level, and bang, bang,
102


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 103
bang, he shattered three of the knots in quick
succession.
He would not have stopped the frightful work
even then, had not the other targets disappeared.
Awaking to their danger, the warriors dropped
down so low in the water that the log intervened
between them and the deadly marksman.
Still the tree with its terrible load was approach-
ing land. The natives were swimming toward
shore and pushing it in front of them.
Long stepped back and roused the Professor,
placing his mouth so close to his ear that he was
able to apprise him of what was going on, without
being heard by their enemies.
Grimcke bounded to his feet, rifle in hand.
“ We'll take them as they come outl” he re-
plied, instantly grasping the situation.
The log was drifting lower down at the same
time that it neared the land. Determined to con-
front the savages the instant they came forth, the
explorers hurried along the edge of the wood, so
as to be on the spot when the landing should be
made. It was well they did so, for a more astound-
ing discovery than the first instantly followed the
movement.
More than one of the trees that had floated by
carried its human freight, and nearly a score of
savages were crouching in the edge of the river, so
flat on their faces that not one was visible from the


104 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
spot where the sentinel was standing a moment
before.
The natives, with a cunning that was never
suspected, had crossed the Xingu above the rapids,
where, as they knew, such a proceeding would not
be anticipated by the explorers. Then, stealthily
making their way to the bottom of the rapids, they
first launched a number of trees and logs until, as
may be said, the white man on guard should
become so accustomed to them that they would
cause no distrust.
If he should be tempted to scrutinize the first,
he would learn that nothing was amiss and would
let the rest go by unquestioned.
As a result, the natives had floated past the
canoe and under the very nose of the sentinel
without his detecting it.
The savage who swung the torch on the other
side of the river probably meant it as a command
for the daring raiders to make no further delay in
their attack.
The group lying against the shore must have
been puzzled by the sudden bombardment from
the edge of the wood. They were so disconcerted,
that instead of springing to their feet and charging
upon the two defenders of the camp, half of them
turned about, and diving deep into the stream,
began furiously swimming for the other shore.
They must have concluded that there was a


THE LAND OF MYSTER Y. 105
hitch somewhere in the programme, and the time
for disappearing had arrived.
The other half, however, leaped to their feet,
and, brandishing their spears and yelling at the top
of their voices, ran swiftly in the direction of the
whites, who were still firing their Winchesters.
“Get behind a tree! ” shouted the Professor,
who had a wholesome dread of the poisoned
weapons, and who lost no time in availing himself
of the nearest shelter.
But he did not cease to use his rifle. The cart-
ridges in his magazine were running low, and it
was necessary to exercise care in aiming, for a few
precious seconds must be consumed in extracting
an additional supply from the belt at his waist.
But Jared Long declined to follow the sensible
advice and example of his friend. Scorning to seek
shelter, even from such terrible weapons, he blazed
away, making nearly every shot tell.
It was not until he saw a knot of savages working
round with a view of getting behind him, that he
fell back a few paces, though still exposed. The
wonder was that he had not already been pierced
by more than one of the fatal missiles.
Suddenly he was jerked almost off his feet. The
impatient Professor had seized his arm and yanked
him behind the tree at his side in spite of himself.
The New Englander would have been a zany to
expose himself again, after being provided in this
summary fashion with a shield.


106 THE LAND OF MYSTERY-
But he, too, had about emptied the magazine of
his Winchester. Although he could have brought
out more cartridges from his belt in a twinkling,
he coolly leaned his rifle against the tree and
whipped out his revolver.
“ After that is emptied,” he reflected, “ my knife
is left. ”
The action of the natives suggested that it was
their wish to take both the men prisoners instead
of killing them. They had done too much to be let
off with such an easy death: they were wanted for
torture.
But, in making such a contract, it may be said
that the assailants found it exceedingly difficult to
deliver the goods.
They might as well have tried to seize and hold
a couple of diminutive volcanoes, as to lay hands
on the men whose supply of fire and death seemed
without limit.
In the midst of the frightful struggle, with the
shrieking figures falling, dashing forward and
retreating, as if in wild bewilderment, Quincal
rushed out of the wood with a shout brandishing
his spear and making straight for the ferocious
savages.
With a daring and strength that surprised the
latter no more than it did his white friends, he
drove the head of the weapon sheer through one of
the assailants, who went over backward with a
screech that drowned all other noises.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 107
Quincal still grasped his weapon with both hands,
and with amazing power, extricated it, as his vic-
tim fell, and turned upon the others.
But, by this time, he was surrounded and his fate
was sealed.
Anxious to save the brave fellow, the Professor
and Long emptied their revolvers among his en-
emies, but were unable to scatter them, until the
fellow sank to the ground, pierced deep and fatally
in a dozen places by the poisoned javelins.
Instinctively, the two white men filled their
magazines from their belts, as quickly as they
could, and by the time Quincal was no more, they
opened again on the savages.
The latter had already lost fearfully, and this
renewed assault was more than they could stand.
If, instead of trying to make the white men prison-
ers, they had contented themselves with hurling
their spears, when they first sprang from the
ground, nothing could have saved Grimcke and
Long.
Now, when they launched the missiles, it was
too late. The white men were each protected by
the trunk of a large tree, and standing back in the
shadow, their faces could not be seen. The only
way of locating them was by the flash of their guns.
They sent a shower of the javelins into the wood,
and then were seized with that strange, aimless
panic which sometimes comes over the bravest men
in the crisis of a conflict. The survivors made a


108 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
wild break for the river, into which they sprang as
far as they could leap, diving deep, swimming as
far as possible beneath the surface, then coming
up an instant for breath and diving again.
The blood of the Professor and the American was
at fever heat. They felt it wrong to show mercy,
after what had taken place, and were in no mood for
any further weakness of that nature.
Both ran down to the edge of the stream, and,
standing almost in the water, took deliberate aim
at every black head as it rose to the surface. They
kept popping up here and there, at varying distances,
only to drop out of sight again, the instant the
swimmer caught breath; but in many instances,
when they went down the second or third time,
they did not come up again.
Professor Grimcke and Jared Long were throw-
ing away no ammunition.
Finally, the dark forms began rising from the
river on the other shore, where they darted into
the wood, fearful of the dreadful messengers which
followed them even there.
The repulse was decisive and there was little
fear of the attack on the camp being renewed that
night.
The shocking evidences of the disastrous repulse
were on every hand, with the body of poor Quincal
lying at the feet of the assailant whom he had slain,
and. with nearly a score of dusky bodies stretched
in every conceivable attitude.




CHAPTER XIII.
A CHANGE or CAMP.
Pnonnssoa Gmmcxn and Jared Long stood like
a couple of warriors, exhausted from the desperate
conflict which they had been waging for hours.
And yet the sanguinary contest had lasted but a
few minutes, while they who had wrought all this
destruction did little more than stand, aim and
fire their guns. The task of the natives was ten-
bld harder, as the results were tenfold worse
against them.
Like old hunters, the first thing the explorers
did was to fill the magazines of their Winchesters
with cartridges, after which their revolvers were re-
loaded. Then they were ready for business again.
At this moment, Bippo and Pedros crept from
the wood, the picture of quaking terror. They
had been roused at the beginning of the tumult,
but deeming discretion the better part of valor,
scrambled farther back into the forest, where they
remained almost dead with fright, until sure the
awful scene was over.


110 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
There can be little question that Quincal was as
much terrified as they and possibly more. It was
his very excess of panic, which turned his head,
and caused him to do that which would have been
beyond his power under other circumstances.
When they saw the dead body of their comrade,
Bippo and Pedros broke into loud lamentations.
There could be no doubt that they mourned the
poor fellow as much as did the explorers who had
witnessed his death.
The surroundings of the camp were so frightful
that the Professor proposed they should get beyond
sight of it by drifting further down stream,—a pro-
posal to which his companion willingly agreed.
What should be done with the body of Quincal?
This was the question which caused the party to
hesitate a minute or two after the canoe was shoved
into the water and ready to float down stream.
The wishes of his companions were asked, and
Bippo replied that the most fitting burial, and one
in accordance with the peculiar customs of their
people, was to give it burial in the Xingu.
This was in consonance with the feelings of
Grimcke and Long, and they at once made ar-
rangements to carry out the plan.
The remains were tenderly carried into the boat,
and a large stone fastened by means of a piece of
rope to the ankles, which were tied together. Then
the craft was paddled to the middle of the river,


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 111
and the body carefully lifted over the side. Hold-
ing it thus suspended for a minute or two, Jared
Long and the Professor lifted their hats and closed
their eyes while the New Englander uttered a brief
prayer, committing the soul to Him who gave it,
commending the other body, lying alone in the dark
forest where it- had fallen, to the same merciful
Father, and beseeching his protection to the living
through the perils by which they were environed.
A splash followed, and all that was mortal of the
native sank out of sight to sleep until awakened by
the trump of the resurrection morn.
The sad duty completed, the attention of the
party was given to the duties before them.
It was a sorrowful reflection, that, since the set
of sun, two of their number had yielded up their
lives, and they had barely reached the edge of the
Matto Grosso, that land of mystery into which
they hoped to penetrate far enough to learn much
that was yet unknown to the civilized world.
If they were compelled to pay such fearful toll
before they were fairly within the strange region,
what was to be the cost of exploring the wild
country itself ?
But while Bippo and Pedros were more anxious
than ever to leave the section with its dreadful
memories behind them, neither dare give expres-
sion to his thoughts, and the German and American
were not made of the stuff which yields when first
exposed to the fire.
il


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 113
despite the vast superiority of their weapons over
those of the assailants.
It never occurred to Grimcke or Long that their
friend could have got into trouble himself. He
was removed from the scene of conflict, which was
over so quickly that he could not have reached the
spot in time to take part, had he started on the
instant the first gun was fired.
But it struck both, while drifting downward and
carefully scanning the shore, as strange that
nothing had been seen of Ashman. Enough time
had now elapsed for him to traverse the interven-
ing distance several times, and it was to be sup-
posed that he would have put in an appearance
without delay, provided he was free to do so.
The two talked together in low tones, and ad-
mitted that there was something to cause misgiving
in Fred’s continued absence. What could be the
explanation ‘?
The Professor was inclined to think their friend
had gone farther down stream than he first in-
tended ; but, even if such were the fact, he hardly
could have travelled so far that he would not have
been well on his way back to the battle ground by
this time.
The trend of the Xingu was such at this point,
that the thin line of shadow along the wood on
their left, as they passed down the river, steadily
widened until it now almost reached the water it-
8


114 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
self. In a short time it would extend over the sur-
face and afford the canoe that shelter which, had it
come earlier in the evening, might have postponed
the desperate conflict with the savages.
The move from above was merely to get away
from the sights that met them at every turn; and,
without seeking to drift to the point where Ash-
man was supposed to be waiting, the explorers
turned the prow to land, which they touched a
moment later.
It would have been more cheerful to have had
a fire burning, but there was no other call for it.
The mild temperature rendered it really more en-
joyable without it, since the blaze was always sure
to attract innumerable insects, and possibly might
tempt the defeated natives to another effort to
wipe out the deadly insults that had been theirs
from the beginning.
It was not yet midnight, nor indeed anywhere
near it, but the Professor volunteered to take his
turn with Bippo for the remaining hours of dark-
ness. But no such arrangement was necessary,
since every member of the party was rendered
wakeful by the exciting incidents, while the grief
of Bippo and Pedros over the loss of their friend
was sure to drive away all slumber for a long time.
The luggage was left in the canoe, where all the
party would have stayed, had not their positions
been so cramped as to render sleeping diflicult.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 115
Their blankets were spread on the ground, where
they reclined, talking in low tones, watching, listen-
ing, and speculating as to the cause of Fred Ash-
man’s continued absence.
Long was about to open his mouth to advance
a new theory, when a slight sound apprised him
that either the young man they were talking about,
or some one else, was approaching.




CHAPTER XIV.
A STRANGE ENCOUNTER.
FRED ASHMAN was standing near the edge of the
'Xingu, as will be remembered, when his attention
was diverted for the moment by a puma, which
came out of the wood, drank from the stream, and
then, after a brief pause, returned to his shelter.
All this while, the dull roar of the rapids was in
the explorer's ears, and he was eager to withdraw
his attention from the beast and direct it upon the
opposite shore, where he was convinced some-
thing unusual was going on.
The minute the beast disappeared, he looked
across at the point that had so interested him.
The question which he had asked himself some
time before, was answered by the sight of a small
canoe that was stealing down the river, instead of
heading directly across to where he was standing.
In this boat was a single individual, using a paddle
with the deftness of an American Indian.
Here was something that needed attention, and,
with the aid of the brilliant moonlight, Ashman


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 117
watched the craft and its'occupant as closely as if
his own fate were wrapped up in its movements—a
supposition which it was not improbable was fact
itself.
The savage moved slowly, as if sensible of the
call for the utmost care, went only a few rods down
stream, when he turned out in the water and aimed
for the shore where the watcher was standing. He
had gone some distance below, and it was to be
supposed that the force of the current would carry
him still farther, so that if he made a landing, i
was likely to be far below. -
But he who held the paddle was a master of tha.
species of navigation, and Ashman was surprised
to observe thathe was aiming at the very spot where
he was standing carefully concealed in the shadow
If nothing interfered, they were sure of making a
closer acquaintance.
The boat was about the middle of the river, when
the white man was struck by the immense size of
the occupant. He was one of the largest men he
had ever seen, his weight sinking the canoe almost
to its gunwales.
“ He must be the savage who hurled his javelin
through our boat,” was the conclusion of the as-
tonished Fred. “ What a magnificent fellow
he is! ”
The native sat so that his face was turned toward
the young man, who studied his countenance with
the deepest interest.


118 THE LAND OF' MYSTERY.
He had the bushy head, the large protruding
eyes, and the dark naked skin of all his people.
His enormous arms swung the paddle first on one
side of the boat and then on the other. As he
did so, Fred saw the play of the splendid muscle,
which was like that of Hercules himself. Rash
would be that antagonist who engaged him in a
hand-to-hand struggle.
Nothing in the world was easier than for the ex
plorer to extinguish the life in that impressive
specimen of physical manhood, without the least
risk to himself, and yet, although he knew him to
be the most formidable enemy of his people, he held
no thought of doing him harm,—at least not at the
present stage of this extraordinary business.
It was at this decidedly interesting juncture, that
a new element obtruded itself. The sounds of
guns, “shouts and yells, in the direction of the
rapids left no doubt that his friends there were
having a lively time with the natives.
Ashman would have turned and made all haste
thither, but for the presence of this burly giant in
front. Whatever was going on down stream was
with the full knowledge of him, and he was the one
for the white man to look after.
Had the latter been surprised by the sounds of
conflict, he would have ceased paddling or headed
his boat up stream, but he merely glanced toward
the rapids, and continued dipping his paddle and


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 119
propelling his craft, as if it was his intention to
step ashore and grasp the hand of the astonished
youth awaiting his arrival.
The passage occupied but a very few minutes.
Just before the bank was reached, he made one
powerful sweep of the oar, which sent the prow far
up the shingle, and then leaped as lightly as a cat
from the structure, which bounded up as if relieved
of several hundred pounds’ weight.-
Turning about, the giant stooped down and took
a spear as long and heavy as the one he had hurled
nearly across the Xingu, through the boat of the
explorers.
It seemed that there was to be no end to the ob-
trusion of “side issues ” upon the little drama go—
ing on under Fred Ashman’s eyes. It must have
been that the puma which had slaked its thirst at
the Xingu’s margin a short time before, had become
convinced that parties were near entitled to his
attention.
While endeavoring to locate them, he probably
caught sight of the approaching native and con-
cluded that he was the individual to whom he
should turn.
Be that as it may, the native had only time to
pick up his ponderous spear and face toward the
wood, when the lion emerged from the broadening
band of shadow, and with a low, threatening growl
advanced upon him.


120 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
Like the cat species to which he belonged, he
crouched so low while walking, that his shoulders
protuded above his back in large humps, and his
belly almost touched the ground. His long tail
flirted angrily from side to side, his jaws were
parted, disclosing his sharp, carnivorous teeth and
blood-red tongue, while his eyes emitted a phos-
phorescent glow that was like fire itself.
He was a formidable antagonist, and as Ashman
observed his movements and ugly appearance, he
felt like pumping a half dozen bullets into his lank,
muscular body.
But he experienced the natural interest of a
sportsman in an impending fight, and was curious
to see how the huge native would acquit himself
in the struggle at hand.
He was not kept long in doubt. The savage
observed the puma the moment his head emerged
from the shadow into the moonlight, and he in-
stantly prepared himself to meet him.
Little preparation, however, was necessary, for
he carried but the single weapon and that had only
to be grasped in his right hand.
The warrior might have leaped into his craft and
escaped by paddling out in the river, where he
could drive the boat at a faster pace than the beast
could swim, but he did nothing of the kind.
He neither advanced nor retreated, but, standing
just in front of the prow, he rested on his right leg,


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 121
with the left foot thrown forward, and the tre-
mendous javelin balanced over his right shoulder.
His pose was admirable, and even in that thrilling
moment compelled the admiration of the single
spectator, who was strongly of the opinion that
the puma, to put it mildly, was committing an
error of judgment.
There may have been some strange, instinctive
knowledge which penetrated the brain of the beast
before he reached the assailing point, and which
compelled him to stop. The individual whom he
had selected as his victim was not to be crushed at a
single effort, as he was accustomed to bring down
the llamas, antelope, and other animals of the wilder-
ness. No; there was something in that pose, the
demeanor and the flash of the midnight eyes which
forced the fierce creature to pause, when on the
very death line as it may be termed.
But if the native was defiant, the puma had no
purpose of retreating from before such a powerful
enemy. In his blind ferocity, he would have assailed
'him, could it have been impressed upon him that
his own destruction would be the inevitable
result.
The lank jaws were still parted and dripped foam,
as the lion continued his cavernous growls, while
his ears lying flat on his head in the manner
peculiar to the feline species, the bristling spine
and the lashing of the tail gave the beast the


122 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
appearance ofa bundle of concentrated fury, as
indeed he was.
Fred Ashman was struck almost breathless by
what followed.
He observed the curious, twitching movement of
the puma’s legs as they were gathered closer under
his body, and which is always a sure evidence that
the animal is about to make his decisive leap upon
his victim. The native must have read the
movement aright, for the hand over his shoulder
was suddenly thrown back and instantly forward
again, as his javelin left his grasp with terrific force
and the suddenness of lightning.
But inconceivably quick as was the action, the
puma dodged the missile, which entered the,
earth just behind him, and driven with such tre
mendous force was buried half its length in the
ground.
Almost at the same instant the body of the lion
rose in air and shot forward as if driven from the
throat of a Parrott gun.
But if the brute was quick, so was the man, who
dropped downward without moving his feet, and
allowed his assailant to pass over his head and land
directly in the canoe, where for a single second only
he was partly hidden from sight.
Hardly had he landed, when the warrior darted
forward several paces to where his javelin projected
from the ground, seized it with both hands and


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 123
wrenched it free. Whirling about, be confronted
the beast once more, as he was gathering himself
for a second leap.
The savage learned wisdom from what had just
occurred, and instead of allowing the weapon to
leave his hand, held it with an immovable grip
and awaited the renewal of the attack.
The puma seemed also to have absorbed some
instruction from his failure, and instead of leaping
at once, began a stealthy advance, coming over
the side of the canoe with the gliding motion
of a serpent, and evidently wishing to get so near
that his victim could not escape again by the
means he used before.
Suddenly the native, still holding the javelin
with both hands, stepped forward a single pace.
This placed him in the strongest possible position,
and, with one appalling thrust, he drove the spear
for a distance of two feet into the chest of the puma,
instantly snatching it forth again, moving back a
couple of feet, and holding himself ready for any
assault from the brute.
No need of any virus on the point of that
weapon, for it had cloven the heart of the lion
in twain, and he went down without a single
groan, as dead as dead could be.
The native stepped to the river, washed the
blood from the weapon and then turned about to
resume his advance toward the wood.


124 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
As he did so, he found himself face to face with
a white man, who, stepping from the shadow, held
his Winchester levelled at him in an exceedingly
suggestive fashion.
If Fred Ashman had been astonished before,
what words shall describe his amazement when
the dusky Hercules, calmly staring at him for a
moment, said in unmistakable English, “1 sur
render!”






CHAPTER XV.
ZIFFAK.
FRED ASHMAN was so startled by hearing the
giant native utter his submission in unmistakable
English, that he came near dropping his leveled
Winchester to the earth in sheer amazement.
He had not dreamed that the savage understood
a word of that .tongue, but judged from his own
posture, with his weapon pointed at him, that the
other knew when an enemy had “the drop ” on
him. Even if such were the fact, he counted
upon a desperate resistance, and was prepared to
give the fellow his quietus by a shot from his rifle.
The savage held his ponderous javelin in his
hand, but made no effort to use it. His black
eyes were fixed on the face of the handsome Amer-
ican, and he could not have failed to note the
expression of bewilderment and wonder caused
by the words that had just dropped from his dusky
lips. Indeed, Ashman fancied he detected some-
thing akin to a smile lighting up the forbidding
countenance.


126 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
It may be said that the young explorer for the
moment felt himself in the position of the man
who drew an elephant in a lottery,—he didn’t
know what to do with his prize. It had come to
him so unexpectedly that he was bewildered.
But he was quick to rally from his dazed condi-
tion. The fact that the giant had shown such a
knowledge of the English tongue suggested the
possibility not only of obtaining important infor-
mation, but of making a friend of this personage,
who must possess great influence among his people.
True, the events of the afternoon and evening
were against anything in the nature of comity or
good will, but no harm could come from an at-
tempt to bring about an understanding between
the people and the explorers that had become in-
volved in such fierce conflicts with them.
“ Drop that spear l ” commanded Ashman.
“ I have surrendered,” said the savage, ina low,
coarse voice ; “and Ziffak does not lie.”
Nevertheless, while the words were passing his
lips, he unclosed his right hand and allowed the
implement to fall to the ground.
“ Is your weapon poisoned?” asked Ashman,
still mystified by the extraordinary situation and
hardly knowing what to say.
“ Your man in the wood was pierced by one of
our spears; ask him.”
“ Such a warrior as Zifl'ak does not need to tip


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 127
his weapons with poison,” said Ashman, glancing
significantly at the carcass of the puma. “It is
cowardly to use such means against yourenemies."
The savage shook his head and an ugly flash
appeared in his eyes.
“Do not the whites from the Great River use
fire to slay the natives before they can come nigh
enough to use their spears? ”
“But they have no wish to use them against
your people; we would be their friends, and it
pains us to do them harm; we would not have
done so had they not compelled us.”
Ziffak stood a moment as motionless as a statue,
with his piercing black eyes fixed with burning in-
tensity on the white man. The latter would have
given much could he have read his thoughts, of
which an intimation came with the first words that
followed.
“ Waggaman and Burkhardt told our people
that if we allowed the white folks to come into our
country, they would bring others and slay all our
men, women, and children.”
“ Who are Waggaman and Burkhardt ? ” asked
the explorer, uncertain whether he was awake or
dreaming.
“ They have lived with the Murhapas for years;
they are white men, but they are our friends.”
Ashman recalled the story told by Bippo and his
companions earlier in the evening. It must be


128 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
that the names mentioned belonged to those two
mysterious individuals, who beckoned them across
the Xingu. For some reason of their own, they
wished to keep all others of their race out of the
country.
It was plain that Ziffak was a remarkable per-
son and the explorer determined to use every
effort to win his good will.
“ Waggaman and Burkhardt have told you lies;
we are your friends.”
“ Why do you not stay at home and leave us
alone ? ”
“ We expect to go back, after ascending the
river a short distance further; nothing could per-
suade us to live here, and, as I have told you, we
would not harm any person if they would leave
us alone.” *
Ziffak seemed on the point of saying something,
but checked himself and held his peace, meanwhile
looking steadily at the. man who had made him a
prisoner in such clever style.
Ashman resolved on a rash proceeding.
“Take up your spear again, Zifl‘ak; go back to
your people, and, if you believe what I say, tell
them my words, and ask them to give us a chance
to prove that we mean all I have uttered.”
“ My people know nothing about you,” was the
strange response.
“ You heard but a few minutes ago the sounds


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 129
of guns and the shouts from the direction of the
rapids, which show they were fighting.”
“ Those people are not mine,” said the native;
“ but they are my friends, and I fight for them.”
“ From what you said, you are a Murhapa ? ”_
Ziffak nodded his head in the affirmative.
“Where do they live ? ”
He extended his hand and pointed up the river.
“ One day’s ride above the rapids and you reach
the villages of the Murhapas. There live Wagga-
man and Burkhardt; they came many years ago.
I am a chieftain, and they rule with me.”
“It was from them you learned to speak my
tongue ? ”
Ziffak again nodded his head, adding:
“ Many of my people speak it as well as I.”
“ Tell me, Ziffak, why, if your home is so far
above the rapids, you are here among these people,
whose name I do not know? ”
“ They are Aryks; they have much less people
than the Murhapas, and are our slaves. Some days
ago word was brought to us that a party of white
men were making their way up the Xingu. Wag—
gaman and Burkhardt and I set out to learn for
ourselves and to stop them. They went down the
other side of the river and I came down to the Aryk
village. I roused them to kill you before you could
pass above the rapids, but we were able to slay only
one of them.” ‘


130 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
“And it was a sad mistake that you did that;
for he was a good man, who wished you no evil.
Where are Wagganian and Burkhardt ? ”
The native shook his head. He had picked up
his spear, but made no movement toward taking his
departure. Ashman hoped he would not, for every-
thing said not only convinced him of the first im-
portance of gaining the fellow’s confidence, but
encouraged him in the belief that he was fast doing
so. He resolved to leave no stone unturned look-
ing to that end.
“ Why did not your two white friends help you
in the fight, to keep us from going further up the
Xingu ? ”
“Maybe they did,” replied Ziffak, with a signifi-
cant glance up stream, whichleft no doubt that he
referred to the conflict that had taken place there
while the couple were talking on the margin of the
river.
“I don’t believe it,” Ashman hastened to say,
hopeful that such was the case; for, with two white
men and their firearms, the peril of his friends
must have been greatly increased.
“ Why do you seek to enter our country? ” asked
the dusky giant, after a brief pause.
“We want to learn about your people; but I
pledge you we wish not to harm a hair of their
heads.”
It was not to be expected that a savage, who had


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 131
heard nothing else for years except that any pene-
tration of his territory by white men meant destruc-
tion, could give up that belief simply on the pledge
of one of the race accused.
But it was equally clear that this particular sav-
age was favorably disposed toward Ashman. It
may have been that his good will was won by the
neat manner in which he had got the best of Zif-
fak, the most terrible warrior ever produced by that
people. A brave man respects another brave man.
“ Why did Waggaman and Burkhardt visit your
villages and make their home with you for so many
years ? ”
“ I do not know,” replied Zifi'ak, with another
shake of his head; “but they have proven they are
friends. They do not want to go back to their
people, who are all bad.”
The thought occurred to Ashman, though he did
not express it, that the strange white men were
criminals. They may have escaped from the dia-
mond mines, which were at no great distance, and
naturally preferred the free, wild life of the inte-
rior .to the labor and tyranny which the miserable
wretches condemned to service in those regions
undergo.
“ Zifi'a ,” said the explorer, lowering his weapon,
“ will you walk back to the camp of my people?
You have my promise that no harm shall be ofiered
you by any one.”




CHAPTER XVI.
THE LAND OF THE MURHAPAS.
IT looked as if Fred Ashman had gained a double
victory over the giant Zifiak, and his second tri-
umph was infinitely greater than his first.
His heart thrilled at the thought that this for-
midable antagonist had been so suddenly trans-
formed into a friend; and yet he could not entirely
free himself from a certain misgiving, as the two
walked side by side along the Xingu. Recalling
the dexterity of the native—all the more wonder-
ful because of his bulk—he reflected that it was
the easiest thing in the world for him to turn like
a flash and pierce him with his poisoned javelin
before the slightest defence could be made.
It was this thought which led him stealthily to
place his hand on the butt of the revolver at his
hip, prepared to whip it out and fire as quickly as
he knew how. At the same time he edged away
from him, so as to maintain considerable space
between their bodies.
Ziffak suddenly changed his javelin from his


134 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
right to his left hand, the movement sending a
shock of fear through the American, who the next
moment blushed from shame, for it was manifest
that the shrewd savage suspected the timidity of
his new friend, and shifted the frightful weapon to
the side furthest from him to relieve any misgiving
on his part.
The conversation continued as they walked, the
native showing a surprising willingness to answer
all questions.
Ashman gathered from what was told him that
the Murhapas were a tribe numbering fully a
thousand men, women and children; that they
occupied a village or town on the right bank of
the Xingu about twenty miles above the rapids,
where the incidents already recorded occurred, and
that they were far superior in intelligence, physical
development and prowess to any other tribes in the
Matto Grosso.
It was about five years before that the two white
men, Waggaman and Burkhardt, suddenly made
their appearance at the towns. The fact that they
did not come up the Xingu, but from the forest to
the south, strengthened Ashman’s suspicion that
they were criminals who had managed to escape
from the Brazilian diamond mines, though it was
a mystery how they had secured the two rifles
which they brought with them. They had no
revolvers, and their guns were not of the repeating


THE LAND OF MYSTER Y. 135
pattern. WVhen their ammunition gave out, one of
them made a journey of several days’ duration
into the wilderness, invariably bringing back a
supply which lasted a long time.
Such weapons were entirely unknown to the
Murhapas, who had never heard of anything of
the kind. The exploits of the owners caused the
natives to look upon them with awe. They were
soon established on the best of terms with their
new associates, who allowed them to do asxthey
chose in everything.
It is not to be supposed that Ashman gathered
all the information given in this chapter, during
his brief walk with Ziffak. Indeed, that which
has already been stated was obtained only in part
during the memorable interview; but it may be as
well to add other facts which afterwards came to
the knowledge of him and the explorers, since it
is necessary to know them in order to understand
the strange series of incidents and adventures in
which they became speedily involved.
The Murhapa tribe was ruled by King Haffgo,
whose complexion was almost as fair as that of a
European. He had fifty wives, but only one child,
whose mother was dead. This child was a daugh-
ter, Ariel, of surpassing beauty and loveliness, the
pride of her grim father and adored by all his sub-
jects. From Waggaman and Burkhardt she had
acquired a knowledge of the English tongue,


136 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
which Ziflak declared was superior to his own.
Both of these men had sought in turn to win her
as his wife, and the king was not unwilling,
because of the awe in which he held them; but
Ariel would not agree to mate herself with either,
though she once intimated that when she became
older she might listen favorably to the suit of
Waggaman, whose appearance and manner were
less repulsive than those of his comrade. '
The first duty the guests took upon themselves
was to impress King Haifgo and his subjects that
all white men except themselves were their dead
liest enemies, and, if any of them were allowed to
visit the village, they would assuredly bring others
who would cause the utter destruction of the
inhabitants.
Three years before, a party of six white explorers
ascended the Xingu, and suddenly presented them-
selves to the Murhapas, without previous an-
nouncement or knowledge. Despite their profes-
sions of friendship, and a most valiant defence,
they were set upon and slain the same hour they
appeared among the fierce people.
Ariel, the daughter of the king, was but a child,
at that time, just entering her teens. She did
not know of the cruel massacre until it was over,
when she surprised all by expressing her sorrow
and declaring that a great wrong had been done
the strangers. From that time forward, those who


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 137
studied her closely saw that she had formed a strong
distrust, if not dislike, of Waggaman and Burk-
hardt, though, seeing the high favor in which they
were held in court, she sought to veil her true feel-
ings.
Ziffak was a younger brother of the king, and
bore the title of head-chieftain. He was next in
authority and power, and, because of his immense
size and prowess, led all expeditions against their
enemies, none of whom was held in fear. Occa-
sionally, he headed a hundred warriors, who made
excursions through the neighboring wilderness and
in pure wantoness spread destruction and death
on every hand.
The Aryks, after receiving several such terrible
visits, sued for terms and willingly agreed to con- '
sider themselves slaves of the Murhapas. Their
location was favorable to detect the advance of
any of the dreaded white men up the Xingu, and
they agreed in consideration of being left alone, to
check any such approach, a fact which will explain
the fierceness and determination with which they
contested the ascent of the river by our friends.
If they allowed the whites to pass above the
rapids, they knew that the mighty Ziffak would
sweep down upon them and visit frightful punish-
ment upon their heads.
Instead of bringing a body of his own warriors,
Zifi'ak, as has been intimated in another place,


138 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
came alone down one side of the Xingu, with Wag-
gaman and Burkhardt on the other, the calculation
being to rouse enough Aryks to destroy the in-
vaders, as they were regarded. Enough has been
told to show how thoroughly the head-chieftain
acquitted himself of this duty.
Several of the powerful reasons for the jealousy
of Waggaman and Burkhardt of their race, was
apparent in the fact that there was an astonishing
abundance of diamonds and gold among the Mun
hapas. Although none was seen on Zifi'ak, it was
only because he was on the war-path. He had
enough at home to furnish a prince’s ransom, while
the possessions of the beautiful princess Ariel were
worth a kingdom.
These were obtained from some place among the
mountains to the westward of the town. In the
same mysterious region was a peak, whose interior
was a mass of fire that had burned from a date too
remote to be known even in the legends of the
wild people. There was a lake also, whose waters
were so clear that a boat floating over them
seemed suspended in mid air.
This wonderful section was claimed by King
Hafigo, who would permit none but his subjects
and the two white men to visit it. A party of
Aryks, presuming upon the friendly relations just
established with their masters, ventured to make


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 139
their way to the enchanted place without permis-
sion or knowledge of the Murhapas.
Before they could get away, they were discov-
ered by some of the lookouts, and every one slain
with dreadful torture. The lesson was not lost
upon their surviving friends, who never again ven-
tured to repeat the experiment. _
The Murhapas were the first to use the spears
with the deadly points. They not only taught the
Aryks how to prepare the poison from the venom
of several species of serpents and noxious vege-
tables, but imparted to them the remedy,--a decoc-
tion of such marvellous power, that a single swal-
low would instantly neutralize the efiect of any
wound received from the dreaded missiles.
Among the tribes named, there was no knowledge
of the use of iron though the ore is abundant in
that region. The only objects composed of the
metal were the firearms of the white men, and the
natives could not comprehend how they were
fashioned from the substance which underwent
such a change from its native state.
Every implement used by this people is made
from stone, which however seems almost the equal
of iron and steel. Spear points, axes and cutting
tools are shaped with remarkably keen edges, with
which trees are readily felled and cut into any form
desired.
Shells are used in the formation of knives, while


140 THE LAND OF MYSTERY
the teeth of certain fish, taken from the Xingu,
enables them to construct still more delicate
implements for cutting and carving.
Indian corn, cotton and tobacco are raised from
a soil whose fertility cannot be surpassed, though
strangely enough the tribes have no knowledge of
the banana, sugar cane and rice, which belong so
essentially to the torrid zones. Dogs and fowls
are entirely unknowu, and there is no conception of
a God, though all have a firm belief that they will
live again aft-er death. A myth has existed among
them from time immemorial of the creation of the
world, which, according to their views, consists of
the regions around the headwaters of the Xingu
and Tapajos.
Zifiak was a favorite of the beauteous Ariel, and
it is not improbable that, knowing as he did, her
lamentation over the cruel death of the white men,
who appeared at her home three years before, he
was more willing than would otherwise have been
the case to stay his hand, after doing such yeoman
service against the new-comers.
Where these tribes came from is a question yet
unsolved by anthropologists, though the theory has
many supporters that most of the isolated peoples
are allied to the original stock of the once mighty
Caribs, who journeyed from the south to the sea.
Conscious of their own might, and knowing the
prodigious mineral wealth at their command, the


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 141
Murhapas are naturally jealous of their neighbors,
and fight fiercely to resist anything that bears a
resemblance to an encroachment upon their rights.
It will be understood that Waggaman and
Burkhardt met with little difficulty in rousing their
enmity particularly against the Caucasian race,
since the members of that, of all others, were the
ones most to be dreaded.
The foregoing, much of which is in the way of
anticipation, we have deemed best to incorporate
in this place.




CHAPTER XVII.
THE NEW ALLY.
THE amazement which so nearly overwhelmed
Fred Ashman during the few minutes succeeding
the surrender of Ziffak, was shared in all its entire-
ty, when the two presented themselves before the
astounded explorers in the canoe.
In fact, Jared Long came within a hair of
shooting the Hercules, before the situation could
be explained to him. Even then he refused for
awhile to believe the astonishing story, but
declared that some infernal trickery was afoot.
Finally, however, he and the Professor and Bippo
and Pedros realized that the most powerful enemy
had become their ally.
Ziffak showed a strange talkativeness after join-
ing the company. Seating himself on the ground
where all were now veiled in shadow, he answered
the questions that were rained upon him, until
most of the information given in the preceding
chapter was told to the wondering listeners.
The account of the dreadful reception that


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 143
awaited their predecessors three years before, would
have deterred such brave men as the explorers
from pushing further, but for the fact that they
had secured an all-powerful friend at court.
Believing that he could pave the way for a friendly
reception, they were eager to visit what seemed to
them an enchanted land.
There was some uneasiness over Waggaman and
Burkhardt, who, it could be easily seen, would at
the most do nothing more than disguise their
enmity under the guise of friendship, holding
themselves ready for some treachery that would
bring about the death of the visitors.
The conversation lasted a long time, and was
ended by the natural question put to Zifiak as to
what should be the next step.
From what he had already stated, it was evident
they were not yet through with the Aryks. De-
spite their frightful repulse, they would hold the
Murhapas in greater dread than the whites; and,
well aware of the penalty of allowing them to pass
above the rapids, would never cease their efforts
to prevent such a disaster. It followed, therefore,
that something must be done to spike their guns,
and Ziffak was the only one who could do it.
The whites were not surprised, when he offered
to return to the point down the river, where he
had left his canoe, recross to the other side, and i
make known to the Aryks that it was his wish


144 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
that the explorers should be molested no further
The announcement would be a surprise indeed
to them, but there was none who would dare ques-
tion the authority of such a source.
During the absorbingly interesting conversation,
Ziffak stated that his object in coming from the
other side was to reach the camp of the whites at
the same time that an attack was made by the
Aryks who so cunningly used the floating logs and
trees as a screen to hide their approach. He pre—
ferred his course to that of accompanying them.
It will thus be seen, that, although the act of
Fred Ashman in passing down the Xingu seemed
like a mistake, yet it was the most providential
thing that could have occurred.
Having made known his plan, the burly chief-
tain set about carrying it out with characteristic
promptness. Without saying good-bye, he rose to
his feet, and walking rapidly off, soon disappeared
in the direction of the spot where took place his
encounter with the puma and his meeting with
Fred Ashman.
He had not been gone long, when those left in
camp caught sight of the little boat skimming
swiftly across the Xingu below them. The pre-
liminaries of the singular movement in their favor
was going on according to programme.
But, with the departure of Zifl’ak, something like
a distrust of his friendship entered the minds of the


THE LAND OF MYSTER Y- 145
three whites. Bippo and Pedros were so overcome
by what they had seen that they were unable to
comprehend what it all meant. They kept their
places in the boat and listened and wondered in
silence.
The Professor hoped for the best, though he ad-
mitted that there was something inexplainable in
the business. He had spent hours in examining
the strange fish of the Upper Xingu, in inspecting
the remarkable plants, which he saw for the first
time, and in studying the zob'logy and mineralogy
of the region. He had been delighted and puzzled
over and over again, but all of these problems com-
bined failed to astonish him as did the action of
Ziffak and the story he told.
Ashman was the most hopeful of all. He had
been with the native more than the rest, and was
given the opportunity to study him closely. He
was confident that he read the workings of his
mind aright, and that the fellow would be their
friend to the end.
Jared Long, the New Englander, was equally
positive in the other direction. He maintained
that since the leopard cannot change his spots, no
savage showing such relentless hatred of the white
race as did Ziffak, could be transformed into a
friend for no other reason than that he had been
made a prisoner.
He insisted further that, if he succeededin help


146 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
ing them through to the Murhapa village, it would
be only with the purpose of securing a more com-
plete revenge. Such a powerful tribe as his need
feel no misgiving in allowing a small party to enter
their town; for, after that was done, they would
be so completely at their mercy that there was no
possibility of any explorer ever living to tell the
tale.
He especially dwelt upon the undoubted in-
fluence possessed by Waggaman and Burkhardt.
They would never consent to yield the influence
they had held so long, nor could they be induced
to share it with any of their own countrymen.
Grimcke and Ashman laughed at his fears, but
strive as much as they chose, they could not help
being affected more or less by his pessimistic
views.
However, the brave fellow declared that he would
accompany them on the hazardous journey, and
stick by them to the end. If they could not sur-
vive, they would fall together. _
By this time the night was far along. A careful
scrutiny of the other bank failed to reveal any-
thing of their enemies, though all believed there
were plenty of them along the shore.
Ashman proposed, that now, since they were en-
tirely screened by the projecting shadow of the
wood, they should cautiously push their way up
the bank, as near as possible to the rapids, so as to


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 147
lessen the distance that was to be passed on the
morrow. There could be no objection to this, and
adjusting themselves in the usual manner in
the large canoe, they began the ascent of the
river.
Naturally they would have kept close to the
shore to escape, so far as they could, the force of the
current, and the main object now was to prevent
their movements being seen by the vigilant Aryks
across the stream, who might resume hostilities
before Zifiak could make his wishes known to
them.
Our friends did not forget that a large body of
these warriors had passed the Xingu above the
rapids to reach the bank along which the craft
was now stealing its way ; but they had received
such treatment that the survivors hurried from
the vicinity.
Still there was a probability that after rallying
from their repulse, more of them had swam across
and were at that moment on the western shore,
on the watch for just such a movement as was
under way.
If this should prove the case, it could not be
expected that Zifi‘ak could interfere in time to pre-
vent another sanguinary conflict; but that might
come about, even if the explorers remained where
they had stopped until daylight. If the Aryks
were prepared to attack them while on the move,




CHAPTER XVIII.
THE NICK OF TIME.
THE peril which menaced the explorers was
more frightful than any that they had been called
upon to face since entering that mysterious land
known by the name of the Matte Grosso.
The Aryks numbered more than half a hundred,
all active, vigilant and armed with their fearful
poisoned javelins. They had taken position among
the trees on the western bank of the Xingu, at
the base of the rapids, at the very point where the
white men intended to shoulder their canoe and
make their last portage.
Instead of being in the open, where they Were
in plain sight of the defenders, and fair targets for
their unerring Winchesters, they were stationed
behind the numerous trunks or lying on the
ground, where little could be seen of them except
their bushy heads and gleaming black eyes, as they


150 THE LAND OF M YS TER Y.
/
glared with inextinguishable hate at the white
men who had slain so many of their number. I
The suspicious Long was looking in the direc-
tion, with the thought that if any ambush was
attempted, that would be the very spot, when
he caught sight ofa dusky figure, as it whisked
from behind a narrow trunk to another that
afiorded better cover.
That hasty glance in the dim morning light
revealed an alarming number of heads glaring
around the trees and from among the undergrowth
like so many wild beasts, aflame with fury and the
exultation of savages who knew that their enemies
were at last forced inextricably into their grasp.
So assured were the Aryks in fact that they
showed a disposition to toy for a moment with
their victims, as acat does with a mouse before
craunching it in her jaws. They brandished their
Weapons, danced grotesquely and uttered shrill
shrieks audible above the deafening roar of the
angry Xingu as it foamed through the rapids.
It was a fearful trap in which our friends found
themselves, for it was impossible to advance or
retreat, and it was madness to hope that they
could again escape the shower of spears that were
already poised in the air and ready to be launched.
Bippo and Pedros, with wild shrieks of terror
bounded into the canoe, and wrapping the blankets
around them, cowered in abject helpless dread of


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 151
impending death. They were only an incum-
brance, as they had proven in more than one crisis
before.
But not one of the Caucasians showed the white
feather. Disdaining to seek impossible shelter,
they coolly prepared to die fighting, while exposed
to the hurtling javelins, whose appalling effective—
ness they knew too well.
But at this appalling juncture, when life hung
on the passing moment, a piercing shout rang out
above the roar of the waters.
It came from a point behind them, and, despite
the imminent peril all three looked around.
A small canoe was darting across the Xingu
toward them, so close to the foot of the rapids, that
it danced about like a cork and seemed certain to
be submerged every minute.
In this frail craft sat the giant Zifl’ak, propelling
it across the furious swirl with such prodigious
power that though the spume dashed over it, the
boat was driven by the sheer power of his mighty
arms under, above, and through the waters.
It was he who uttered the resounding cry which
caused the wondering explorers to turn their heads,
and stayed the uplifted arms of the venomous
Aryks.
All saw the giant head chieftain of the Murhapas
who repeated the shout and added an exclamation


152 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
that was a command, forbidding his allies to hurl
a single weapon.
They must have deemed him mad, but if so he
was ten times more to be dreaded than if sane.
Not a javelin was launched, but all stood motion-
less awaiting his arrival, and doubtless believing
he meant them to pause only long enough to place
himself at their head as the leader.
They must have thought, too, that his appear-
ance so filled the whites with fear that their arms
were paralyzed, for, though he was in direct range,
not a hand of the foreigners was raised to do him
hurt.
Coming with such tremendous speed, Ziffak
occupied but a moment in passing the remaining
distance. Before the prow of his boat could touch
land, he flung the paddle aside, spurned the canoe
with his foot, caught up his huge spear, and with
one bound placed himself opposite the wondering
trio of white men, while two more leaps landed
him among the Aryks.
Grimcke, Ashman and Long had read aright the
meaning of the amazing demonstration and calmly
awaited the issue.
Pausing in the very middle of the dusky force,
be addressed them in their native tongue, with
savage gestures and a fierceness of tones which
rendered every word audible amid the roaring
tumult.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 153
Only a second or two was required for him to
finish his harangue, when he made a final command
for them to fall back, emphasized by the swing of
his tremendous arms.
N o more striking proof could have been given
of the sway of this mighty warrior over his vassals,
than was shown by their instant obedience to the
order, which fell upon them like the bursting of a _
thunderbolt from the clear summer sky.
They did not scatter and flee, for they had not
been directed to do so, but skurried several rods
back among the trees, so as to leave the way open
for the explorers to pass around the rapids to the
calmer waters above.
Ziifak did not remove his eyes from the natives,
until he saw that his commands were not only
obeyed, but that it was understood by them that
the white men were not to be molested.
This extraordinary person had hastened to the
other shore, in accordance with his pledge, only to
learn from a couple of Aryks whom he met that
the main body of warriors had again crossed the
Xingu above the rapids, and were gathered in the
wood waiting for the whites to walk into the trap
set for them.
Had our friends remained where he left them,
nodanger would have been encountered, but, as
we have shown, they moved up stream and came
within a hair’s-breadth of being wiped from the


154 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
face of the earth before their powerful ally could
interfere.
The breaking morning gave Ziifak his first
knowledge of the mistake they had made, and,
leaping into his canoe, he drove it across the stream
with resistless speed, reaching the spot in the nick
of time, and barely doing that, since he was forced
to raise his voice while yet on the river, in order to
hold the battle in suspense.
Having satisfied himself that everything was
adjusted, Ziffak now turned around, and, without
the least appearance of agitation on his swarthy
countenance, signified that the path was open for
them to continue their journey.
Reaching into the canoe, Ashman seized Bippo
by the nape of the neck and hoisted him out on
land. He did the same with Pedros, both of them
howling in the extremity of mortal terror. Tear-
ing the blankets from their bodies, he shouted for
them to give their help in carrying the canoe and
luggage around the rapids.
It was some minutes before they could compre-
hend in their blind way the situation. Finally,
when they saw that their deaths were postponed,
they lent their aid as eagerly as a couple of
“ obedient dogs.
The sturdy whites were equally helpful, and the
boat was quickly raised aloft and so adjusted that


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 155
its well apportioned weight bore lightly upon the
shoulders of all.
The sidelong glances which Bippo and Pedros
cast at the Aryks as they moved up the bank,
brought a smile to the whites who witnessed them.
The poor fellows were ready to let go and drop
down dead the moment they felt the puncture of
the whizzing javelins.
The Professor was at the head of the strange
procession bearing the boat on their shoulders.
Like his companions, he moved with a springy,
elastic step, for he had received the most striking
proof possible of the friendship of Zifl’ak, and he
foresaw the dazzling results that were to flow from
such an alliance.
Had this remarkable savage been disposed to
play them false, no better opportunity could have
been given than that which occurred a few
minutes before. All he had to do was to arrive on
the spot a minute later: the Aryks would have
left nothing for him except to view the dead
bodies of the whites and their servants.
As for Jared Long, the doubter, he was willing
to admit that he had made a grevious error of
judgment. Had he thought that Zifl‘ak suspected
his misgivings, he would have taken the fellow’s'
hand and humbly begged his pardon.




r CHAPTER XIX.
I THE JOURNEY’s END.
THE explorers, bearing the canoe with the
luggage upon their shoulders, ascended at a steady
gait the western bank of the Xingu. The cleared
space which they had noticed on both sides of the
river, caused by the furious overflow, continued,
so that the progress was comparatively easy.
The din of the rapids was so loud that they
could not have heard each other, except by shout-
ing at the top of their voices, for which there was
no call, since even Bippo and Pedros were now
able to read the full meaning of the extraordinary
incidents of the night.
Ashman looked around and ascertained that
Ziffak was not hearing them company. None of
the savages were in sight, though all would have
been as eager as tigers to rend the white men to
shreds had such permission been given.
The absence of the great leader caused no uneasi-


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 157
ness on the part of any one of our friends. Strange
indeed, would it have been had they felt any dis-
trust of him after his late interference.
The sun appeared while the party were still
pushing forward. The sky was as clear as on the
preceding day, and, though the temperature was
quite warm, it was not unpleasantly so. Several
causes contributed to the delightful coolness which
renders the Matte Grosso one of the most attract-
ive regions on the globe. The abundance of
water, the endless stretch of forest, with few llanos
of any extent, and, above all, the elevation of the
plateau produce a moderation of temperature not
met with in the lowlands, less than twenty degrees
further south.
But the explorers were weary and in need of
rest. It will be recalled that they found precious
little opportunity for sleep during the preceding
night, which marked the close of an unusually
hard day’s labor. They would have rested could
they have done so, and now that the chance
seemed to present itself, they wisely decided to
wait a few hours before beginning the last stretch
of water which lay between them and the villages
of the Murhapas.
The halt was made at the top of the rapids,
where the boat was carefully replaced in the river,
the fracture made by Ziifak’s javelin repaired, and
everything adjusted for the resumption of their


158 THE LAND MYSTERY.
voyage. Then, with only the Professor on guard,
the others lay down on their blankets and almost
immediately sank into a deep, refreshing slumber.
Professor Grimcke, finding the care of the camp
effh‘is hands,'-toekqa careful survey of his surround-
ings, which were quite similar to those that had
enclosed him many times before.
On both sides, stretched the almost endless Bra.-
zilian forest, within which a traveller might wander
for weeks and months without coming upon any
openings. In front was the Xingu, smooth, swift,
and winding through the wilderness in such form
that he could see only a short distance up stream.
Looking in the opposite direction, the agitation of
the water was noticeable before breaking into
rapids, similar, though in a less degree, to the
rapids above Niagara Falls. The volume still pre-
served its remarkable purity and clearness, which
enabled him to trace the shelving bottom a long
way from where he stood.
Grimcke was somewhat of a philosopher, and
always eager to make the best use of the time at
his command. There was nothing more to be
feared from the Aryks, and his situation, there-
fore, of guardian of his sleeping friends might be
considered a sinecure.
His fishing line was soon arranged, and with
some of the dried meat he had brought along serv-
ing for bait, he began piscatorial operations.
““ -.... ,7“ W.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 159
It will strike the reader as incredible, but in
some portions of the Orinoco and other tropical
rivers of South America, the fish are so abundant
that they have been known to impede the progress
of large vessels moving through the waters. While
no such overflowing supply is found in the Xingu,
yet they were so numerous that it required but a
few minutes for the Professor to haul in more than
enough to furnish the entire party with all they
could eat at a single meal
His next step was to start a fire, and prepare
the coals for broiling. This was a simple task, and
was completed before his friends finished their
naps.
No pleasanter awakening could have come to
them than that of opening their eyes and finding
their breakfast awaiting their keen appetites. They
fell to with a will, and, though saddened by the
loss of two of their number, were filled with a
strange delight at the prospect of their visit to the
enchanted land.
The boat was launched, but there was not
enough wind to make it worth while to spread the
sail, which had often proven of such assistance ;
but the four pairs of arms swung the paddles with
a vigor that sent the craft swiftly against the cur_
rent. The Professor disposed of himself in the
boat so that he slept while the others were at work.
Naturally the craft was kept as close to the bank


160 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
as possible, so as to gain the benefit of the slug
gish current. The trees having been swept from
the margin of the Xingu, an open space was before
the explorers throughout the entire distance.
Despite the glowing expectations of the party,
there was enough in the prospect before them to
cause serious thought. Long and Ashman con-
sulted continually and saw that it would not do
to felicitate themselves with the belief that all
danger was at an end.
Two facts must be well weighed. Waggaman
and Burkhardt were inimical to them. Whether
they could be won over even to neutrality could
not be determined until they were seen. For the
present they must be classed as dangerous enemies.
Was it unreasonable to suspect that their in-
fluence with the terrible King Hafigo would prove
superior to that of Ziffak? If so, what hope was
there of the escape of the explorers after once
intrusting themselves within the power of the
tyrant?
But the immediate question which faced our
friends was, whether it would do for them to reveal
themselves to the Murhapas without again seeing
their native friend. They deemed it probable
that he had pushed on to the village, with the ex-
pectation of reaching it ahead of them and thus
preparing the way for their reception. .41.“. “W
This, however, was but a pretty theory which


162 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
his home and was now returning to meet and
convoy his friends to his own people.
Such proved to be the case, as he explained on
joining them.
After the affair at the foot of the rapids, he
paused long enough to make clear to the Aryks
that not one of them was to make another offensive
movement against the whites under penalty of the
most fearful punishment. He explained that these
particular white men were the friends of all natives,
and that they never would have harmed an Aryk
had they not been forced to do so to save their
own lives.
The cunning Zifiak dropped a hint that the new-
comers were much better persons than the couple
that had made their homes among the Murhapas
for so many years. Then, having completed his
business in that line, he struck through the forest
at a high rate of speed and soon reached his own
people.
He expected to find Waggaman and Burkhardt
there, but they had not yet arrived. He explained
to his brother the king what had taken place at
the rapids of the Xingu and succeeded in gaining
his promise of the king that he would allow the
white men to enter the village without the sacrifice
of their lives; but he was not willing that they
should remain more than a couple of days. Indeed
he gave such assent grudgingly and probably


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 163
would have refused it altogether, but for the
earnest pleading of his beloved Ariel, who insisted
that it would be a partial recompense of the crime
of three years previous.
This was the best that Ziifak, with all his in-
fluence at court could do, and indeed it was as
much as he expected to accomplish. He admitted
that Waggaman and Burkhardt were likely to in-
terfere, but he did not believe they could do so to
any serious extent, provided the white men them-
selves were circumspect in their behavior.
While this interesting interchange was going on,
the two boats were side by side, so gently impelled
that their progress was moderate and conversation
pleasant. Thinking that the Professor had slept
long enough, and that he ought to know the news,
Fred Ashman turned to wake him; but to his sur-
prise, the German met his look with a smile and
the remark that he had heard every word spoken.
Then he rose to a sitting posture, saluted Ziflak
and proceeded to light his pipe.
The latter pleased the whites still further by
explaining that he meant to keep them company
for the rest of the distance. Despite his encour-
aging statements, they felt much easier with him
as their escort.
By using their paddles with moderate vigor,
they could reach their destination by the middle
of the afternoon. There was no better hour to


“34 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
arrive, for the king was always in his best mood
after enjoying his siesta, which was always com-
pleted by the time the sun was half-way down the
sky.
It was to be expected also that before that hour,
Waggaman and Burkhardt would spread the news
of the expected coming of the wonderful strangers.
They would do what they could, to excite distrust
and enmity, but Ziffak was positive that since his
brother had given his promise, it would be sacredly
kept, and that for two days at least their stay at
the village would be without peril to any one of
the little company.


166 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
were above the reach of the most violent freshet
that ever came down from the mountain-fed
sources of the mighty Xingu.
The ground in front of this novel town was
cleared of all trees and undergrowth, but for most
of the space was covered with bright green grass;
the whole having the appearance of a well-kept
lawn that had been artificially sodded or strewn
with seed, which flourished with the luxuriance of
every species of vegetation in that tropic country.
Not only in front, but on the sides and to the
rear, for an extent of more than a hundred acres,
the earth had been cleared with equal thorough-
ness and was growing abundant crops of cotton,
tobacco, and edibles peculiar to the region.
The houses were separated by a space of several
rods, so that the town itself extended a long way
along the water. The dwellings, like those of the
Aryks, consisted of a single story, with the door
in the middle of the front, a window-like opening
on each side of the same, roofed over with poles,
covered with earth, leaves and grass, that were
impervious to wind and storm.
It seemed to the astonished whites that the
entire population had gathered along the shore to
receive them. Several strange sights impressed
them. The men were large, sinewy, bushy-haired
and athletic. Some sported bows and arrows, but
the majority by far carried the spears which the


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 167
explorers held in such dread. There was no
native, so far as they could see, who was the equal
in size and strength of Zifl’ak, but they were so
much the superiors of any natives encountered
since leaving the Amazon, that it was easy to
understand how they were the lords and masters
of all the tribes with which they came in conflict.
"We have spoken of the Murhapa houses as being
but a single story in height. There was a single
exception. In the middle of the town was a
broader and larger structure than the others. It
was two stories high and so much more marked in
every respect that it was easy to decide that it was
the residence or palace of Haffgo, the king of these
people.
Another singular feature was noticed by our
friends as they stepped from their canoe. Among
the natives, who were mostly as dark of skin as
Africans, was a sprinkling so different that the
inference was that they belonged to some other
race, or that nature was accustomed to play some
strange freak in this almost unknown part of the
world.
The king and his daughter Ariel had complex-
ions as fair as the natives of Georgia and Persia,
and yet Ziffak, a full brother of Halfgo, was as
ebon-tinted as the darkest warrior of the tribe.
Since the features of all were similar in a general
way the cause was one that could not be explained.


168 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
It was a moment when the new-comers fully
appreciated the value of a friend at court. They
felt that had each possessed a dozen repeating
Winchesters they would have been of no avail
after leaving their canoe and entering the village.
They had now placed their lives in the hands of
Ziffak, and, should he choose to desert them, they
were doomed; it was too late to retreat.
Many of the warriors scowled at the white men
and their two helpers as though they would have
been glad to impale them with their spears, but no
demonstration was made. Evidently Ziffak pos-
sessed unlimited power and was backed by the
pledge of the king.
Professor Grimcke was the first to step ashore,
Ashman and Long following immediately. The
three whites formed abreast, while Bippo and
Pedros covered so close that it was hard for them
to keep from stepping on their heels. Ziffak
placed himself at the head, as the escort, and
moved up the sloping bank with the dignity of a
conqueror.
The women showed more taste in their dress,
for all were loose-fitting gowns of native cloth,
gaudily colored, though the children were attired
similarly to the men, with little more than a breech
cloth about the loins. Even the boys of a most
tender age were each armed with a javelin, none
of them, however, having the points of the weapons


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 169
poisoned as did their fathers and elders when on
the war-path.
Another striking characteristic of these people
was the abundance of gold and diamond orna-
ments. Not a woman was visible from whose
ears were not suspended heavy rings of the precious
metal, while the majority had diamonds fastened
in the gold, all of several carats’ weight, and some
so large and brilliant that they would have sold
for immense sums in a civilized country.
The older females had not only rings hanging
from their ears, but still more valuable ornaments
depended from their noses. It would have en-
riched an army to loot the 'Murhapa village.
Each of the whites carried his Winchester, and
Bippo and Pedros did not forget their almost
harmless spears; but the rifle of Johnston was left
behind with the valuable property.
At the moment of starting, Ziffak called to two
warriors and said something in a commanding
voice. They instantly hastened to the edge of the
water and placed themselves in front of the large
canoe. Their action left no doubt they were obey-
ing an order to guard the treasures during the
absence of the owners.
Reaching the top of the bank, the party were in
what might be called the main or only street of
the town. The grass had been worn smooth by
the feet of the villagers, among whom was not a


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 171
But the author of the practical joke had reckoned
without his host. The cry had hardly escaped the
victim, when Zifl’ak bounded to the rear like a
cyclone. The fellow who was a full grown war-
rior was still grinning with delight, when he found
himself in the terrific grasp of the head chieftain.
It was then his turn to utter a shriek of affright,
which availed him nothing.
Ziffak first smote him to the earth by a single
tremendous blow. Then, before he could rise to
his feet, he grasped his ankles, one with either
hand, and swung him round his head, as a child
whirls a sling, before throwing the stone.
To the awed spectators he seemed a black ring
of fire, so dizzyingly swift were the gyrations, from
the midst of which came a. buzzing moan of
terror.
Only for a second or two was be subjected to
this torture. Suddenly Zifiak ran toward the
Xingu and then let go of the ankles. The black,
limp object went spinning far out in the air, as if
driven from some enormous catapult.
Across the remaining space he went, falling
several feet from shore and disappearing beneath
the surface. But such fellows are extinguished
with difliculty, and the cold water quickly revived
him.
By and by he came up, blew the moisture from
his mouth, swam to shore, climbed timidly out, and,


172 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
sneaking up the bank again, humbly took his place
at the rear of the procession.
But Ziffak, having disposed of the joker, paid
no further attention to him, caring naught whether
he swam or was drowned. The lesson was one
that he would not forget, and produced a salutary
effect upon the rest of the multitude. They in—
stantly fell back so far that Bippo, finding he had
not been seriously hurt, saw that he was safe from
further disturbance.
It was only a few minutes later that Ziifak
halted, his friends immediately doing the same.
The cause was apparent: they had reached the
dwelling place of Hafng king of the Murhapas.




CHAPTER XXI.
HAFFGO, KING OF THE MURHAPAS.
IT was a memorable interview which the ex-
plorers held with Hafi'go, king of the mighty Mur-
hapas.
Since Bippo and Pedros were servants, they were
not admitted to an audience with the potentate.
Zifiak conducted the others into the hut adjoining
the palace. This was his own building, where his
aged mother had charge. She understood mat-
ters from her son, and the frightened fellows were ~
made to feel that they were safe for a time from
the annoyances and persecutions of the multitude.
The apartment was an oblong one, being at the
front, and was characteristically furnished. In
stead of the smooth bare ground which formed the
floors of the other buildings, the palace was entirely
covered with the skins of wild animals, gaudin
stained. The whole looked like a gorgeous,


174 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
oriental carpet, which was as soft as down to the
tread.
There were no chairs or benches for auditors,
for no one presumed to sit in the presence of maj-
esty. The walls were hung with the same species
of ornamented furs, set off here and there by
spears, bows and arrows, arranged in fantastic
fashion.
At the further end of the apartment, was a plat-
form several feet high, with a broad seat, covered
with still more brilliant peltries, a footstool, and on
each side a vase of magnificent flowers. These
vases were of native manufacture, beautifully orna-
mented, while the flowers were of a radiant loveli-
ness, such as are seen nowhere outside of tropical
countries. Their delicious fragrance filled the
apartment and affected the strangers the moment
the blanket was pulled aside by Ziffak and they
stepped within the royal reception room.
On each side was a broad open window, without
glass, which admitted enough sunlight to flood the
place with illumination.
At the right of the dais or throne, the curtains
were draped so as to serve as a door for the king or
any member of the royal household to enter or
withdraw.
On this barbaric throne sat the extraordinary
personage known as King Haffgo, ruler of the
warlike Murhapas.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 175
To say the least, his appearance was stunning, if
not bewildering.
In the first place, it maybe doubted whether the
intrinsic value of his crown was not the equal of
any that can be found to-day in the monarohical
countries of Europe, Asia or Africa. Its founda-
tion seemed to be a network of golden wire, in
which were set scores upon scores of diamonds,
weighing from five to ten carats apiece, witha cen-
tral sun the equal of the great Pitt diamond. The
coruscations from these brilliants were overwhelm-
ing. As the king moved his head while speaking,
every hue of the rainbow flashed and scintillated,
the rays at times seeming to dart entirely across
the room.
In addition, the neck of Haffgo was encircled by
a double string of the same dazzling jewels, of
hardly less magnitude ; while the wrist of the right
hand, which rested on a large javelin, was clasped
by a golden bracelet of what appeared to be living
fire.
The king was dressed in a species of thin cloth,
gathered by a girdle at the waist. The crimson
tint of this garment was relieved by figures of the
sun, moon and stars, of dragons, birds, beasts and
reptiles in gold. One of his feet was visible, dis-
closing a species of sandal such as is seen among
the natives of the East Indies.
Had King Haffgo been encountered anywhere


176 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
else, he would have been set down as a European
with an unusually fair complexion. It bore no
liking to that of the African or native Murhapa
His skin had none of that chalky, transparent
appearance shown by the Albinos, but was almost
pinkish and ruddy.
His bushy hair was not white, but of a decided
brown, his eyes hazel, his nose Roman, with a
strong chin and a keen expression, such as was nat-
ural to a man who had reigned an absolute autocrat
all his life.
He was about fifty years of age, but his face was
wrinkled like a man of threescore and more.
King Haffgo was seated on his throne when his
visitors were ushered into his presence, as though
he expected and was waiting for them.
The white men were unacquainted with the eti-
quette prevailing in this barbaric court, but there
are certain ceremonies which are received as expres-
sive of courtesy and obeisance the world over.
Ziffak gave no instructions; but, placing himself
at the side of Professor Grimcke on the left, be
surveyed his friends with much curiosity, as if wait-
ing to see how they would conduct themselves.
Grimcke, Long and Ashman removed their hats
and bowed slowly, bending their heads almost to
their knees. Then, as they straightened up again,
the Professor, who took upon himself the duty of
spokesman, said:


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 177
“ We greet the great King Hafl'go, and beg that
he will accept the homage of his brothers from
their homes near the great water.”
“ Why do my brothers come from their homes to'
hunt out the king of the Murhapas, when he has
not asked them to come ? ”
These words were uttered almost exactly as
given. The accent was thick and somewhat broken,
but they showed an astonishing command of the
English tongue, and proved that Waggaman and
Burkhardt had found some exceedingly apt pupils
among this people.
It is not necessary to give the interview in detail.
There was a certain stateliness about the manner
of the king which was remarkably becoming. His
guests had prepared themselves, when starting out
on their exploring enterprise, to make friends, by
providing a large supply of gaudy trinkets, such as
is always pleasing to the average savage; but, when
they saw the wonderful crown and diamond orna-
ments of this autocrat, they were ashamed to let
the baubles in their possession be seen.
They consisted mainly of children’s toys; and,
since they were entirely different from anything in
the country, Professor Grimcke finally made bold
to ofl'er them, with another low obeisance, to his
majesty. The latter may have been delighted, but,
if so, he did not allow it to appear in his face or
manner.
12


178 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
Fred Ashman handed him two brightly-polished
knives, fashionedsomewhat after the familiar Bowie
pattern, and, despite his reserve, it was easy to see
that they pleased him more than anything else.
Jared Long’s present was a handsomely-carved
meerschaum pipe. The king was an inveterate
smoker, and, even if he didn’t do anything more
than nod his head when it was placed in his hand,
he ought to have been very grateful.
Despite the pains which our friends took to win
the good will of King Hafigo, it was apparent to
all three that their visit was not welcome.
Waggaman and Burkhardt may not have whispered
anything in his ear about them, but the ruler was
thoroughly filled with a distrust of all white men,
the only exceptions being the ones that were the
cause of this distrust.
Being a man of unquestioned native sagacity, it
needed nothing more from his first guests than
their accounts of what the other race was doing in
the cities and towns along the sea coasts. Any
people who builded canoes large enough to cross
the awful waste of waters in quest of diamonds
and gold, were sure to seize the chance to force
their way up the Xingu where much more bound-
less wealth awaited them.
The famous diamond mines of Brazil were not
very far from this portion of the Matto Grosso,
and the pains which the emperors of Brazil had


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 179
taken to draw a part of their riches from the earth
was all the proof Haffgo could ask of the rapacity
of the nations which called themselves civilized.
Now, while this remarkable ruler could not
always make certain that no white men should
enter his dominions, there remained a very good
chance of preventing such intruders from getting
away again, carrying the glowing accounts of what
they had discovered. So long as he could maintain
this condition of affairs, so long was he safe; for
if he “absorbed” every foreigner ascending the
Xingu, the supply could never exceed the de-
mand.
The King conversed with not only the Professor,
but with Long and Ashman in turn. They were
as deferential as they knew how to be, but all the
same, their sagacity told them he bore them no
good will, and would have been much better'
pleased had the Aryks wiped them out before they
ascended the rapids.
At the conclusion of the interview, which lasted
about half an hour, the King Haffgo informed
them they were at liberty to remain two days in
the village, during which they were not to pass
outside its boundaries. At the expiration of the
period named, they would be allowed to descend
rthe Xingu to their homes, under their pledge to
tell no person what they had seen and learned
about the Murhapas.





CHAPTER XXII.
ARIEL THE BEAUTIFUL.
IT will be understood that during the interview
described, the three white men stood near the
front entrance to the royal apartment with their
faces turned toward King Haifgo.
In this position each made good use of his eyes
and Fred Ashman’s, from some cause or other,
continually wandered to the draped curtains at the
right of the ruler, between which he must pass
when entering or leaving that part of his residence.
It was while his gaze was fixed on these curtains
that he saw them gently agitated in a way which
left no doubt that some person on the other side
was the cause.
By and by be discerned part of a dainty hand,
and the next minute became aware that a pair of
the most beautifully lustrous eyes on which he had
ever gazed was peering into the apartment.
“ It is Ariel, ” was his instant thought, “ and she
is listening to the words that we are speaking.”
180


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 181
The thought had hardly found shape, when one
eye, a part of a lovely face and the top of the head
were discerned, as the owner, giving rein to her
curiosity, ventured upon a little further view of
the visitors.
Then, as if conscious of her breach of etiquette,
she withdrew, like a flash, from view altogether.
But he knew it was only for a brief interval,
and sure enough, the eyes speedily appeared at
another portion of the curtains, where the bean-
teous princess must have believed she was not
observed, for she looked steadily at the faces of
the visitors, with a depth of interest that it was
vain for her to attempt to conceal.
The heart of Fred Ashman gave a flutter, when
he realized that the midnight orbs were fastened
upon him, and, evidently studying his countenance
with more interest than those of his companions.
Feeling a peculiar boldness, because of the
strange situation in which he was placed, he
deliberately smiled at the unknown one.
She could not have vanished more suddenly had
she been snatched away by the hand of some ogre.
A pang shot through Fred's heart, as he felt
that he had driven away the enchantress by his
own forwardness. He reproached himself bitterly
for having overreached himself.
But while he was lamenting, he once more discov-
ered the eyes, rivalling the diamonds in the crown


182 THE LAND OF M Y STER Y.
of her royal father, slyly viewing him from the
other side of the curtain. This time the fair one
took care that no part of her countenance was
visible, and the young man was equally guarded
for the time, not to betray his sweet knowledge of
the other’s scrutiny.
It was at this juncture, that King Haifgo ad-
dressed some pointed questions to Ashman who was
forced to withdraw his gaze from the marvellously
attractive sight, and fasten it upon the rugged and
wrinkled countenance of the king of the Mur-
hapas.
But those eyes were in his field of vision, and,
even while speaking to the potentate, his glance
continually wandered to the orbs which attracted
him as the lodestone draws the magnet.
But alasl the American forgota fact of the first
importance: the eyes of the father were as observ-
ant as those of his only child. He saw the furtive
glances at the curtains, and a. slight rustling at his
right hand told him that his beloved Ariel, with
the curiosity of her sex, was playing the eaves-
dropper.
The indulgent father would have cared nothing
for this, had he not discovered the extraordinary
interest which one of his three callers manifested
in his child. In that moment, the distrust which
he felt of the strange race was turned to violent
hatred toward one of its members, because of his


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 183
unpardonable insolence in daring to return the gaze
with a smile.
The king suddenly leaned the javelin in his
hand against the chair in which he was sitting, and
partly rose from his seat as if about to descend
from the throne. Instead of doing so, he leaned
slightly to one side, and, with a quick movement,
seized one of the curtains and snatched it aside.
The act, which was like the flitting of a bird’s
wing, caused Ariel, his daughter, to standforth fully
revealed!
If the white men had been dazzled by the amazing
collection of diamonds on the brow of the king, it
may be said that they were now blinded for the
moment by the vision of loveliness which burst
upon them, like the unexpected emergence of the
sun from behind a dark cloud.
Before the princess could rally from her bewil-
derment, her father sharply commanded her to
advance. She knew that that affectionate parent
could be stern and cruel as well as loving and afiec-
tionate, and with her eyes bent modestly on
the floor she stepped forward and stood beside
him.
Her hair, instead of being auburn like her
parent’s, was as black as the raven’s wing. It hung
in luxuriant wavy masses below her waist, being
gathered by a white clasp of burnished silver at the
back of the neck, without which it would have


184 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
enveloped all the upper part of her body in its
fleecy veil.
Her gown of spotless white, composed of native
cloth, as fine as satin, was without any ornament.
It was encircled at the waist by a golden girdle,
falling in folds which concealed the rest of the
figure, leaving only one Cinderella-like foot to
twinkle from the front, like a jewel of rarebeauty.
But no eye could fail to see that the slight
girlish figure was of ravishing perfection. The
waist was slender, the partly revealed arms were
as delicate as lilies, the tiny hands with their
tapering fingers were like those of a fairy, while the
countenance was one of the fairest that ever sun
shone on.
The contour was such as Rubens delighted to place
on canvas, and that Michael Angelo loved to carve
from the snowy marble. The Grecian nose, the
small mouth, the white teeth, unstained like those
of her countrymen and countrywomen, the wealth
of hair, the lustrous, soulful eyes, the sea-sheIl-like
tint of the checks, all these fell upon the startled
vision of the explorers with such overpowering
suddenness that for the moment they believed they
were dreaming, or that some trick of magic revealed
to them a picture which had no reality.
“ Look upon the white men! ” commanded the
king speaking in English, and with a sternness
which left disobedience out of the question; “ look,


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 185
I say, for never will come the opportunity to see
them again. ”
It was then that Ariel raised her eyes, and turned
them toward the trio, gazing at no one in particu-
lar—for she knew her parent was closely studying
her—but seeming to fix them upon some one miles
behind them.
Grimcke, Long and Ashman again bowed their
heads almost to the ground, and, feeling that the
interview was over, began withdrawing.
Like the vassals leaving the presence of their
sovereign, they did so walking backward, with
their faces toward the throne, and making a low
obeisance with each step.
The king looked steadily at them, without in-
clining his head or making the slightest acknowl-
edgment of the salutation. Had not Fred Ash-
man been mad with the intoxication of his new,
overwhelming passion, he would have observed
that which was noticed by Grimcke and Long:
the King was watching him.
The young American hardly raised his gaze from
the floor, until in his retreat, he found himself at
the entrance, by which all three had come in to
the apartment. His companions had made their
final obeisance and disappeared, while he was left
with Ziffak standing near the middle of the apart-
ment, his pose such that he could glance at his
royal relative or at him without shifting his body.


186 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
It now became Fred’s duty to assume the per-
pendicular, in order to effect a graceful withdrawal.
As he came upright once more, he looked straight
into the countenance of the scowling king. Then
—he could not help it—his eyes flashed in the face
of the blushing Ariel, who was gazing fixedly at
him, and he smiled and saluted her.
It was a daring thing to do, with the eyes of
the king and the head chieftain upon him. He
never understood how it was that it was done.
The salutation might have been forgiven, but that
smile was an offense like smiting King Haifgo’s
countenance with the back of the open hand.
But wonder of wonders! the ruby lips of the
radiant beauty parted for an instant in the faintest
possible smile which lit up her countenance like a
burst of sunshine. Ashman noticed not the dia-
mond bracelet and necklace, which flashed in all
their prismatic beauty, but knew only that she had
returned the smile of recognition. For that boon
he would have risked life a thousand times
over.
Both Ziifak and the king were looking at the
white man at the moment; but, as if suspicion
had entered the brain of the infuriated monarch,
he quickly shifted his head and glared at his
daughter.
The movement was like the dart of a serpent,
but that shadowy smile on the face of Ariel had


188 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
call what had been done, and he was not sure that
he would do so, if the opportunity were given.
“ At any rate,” said he, “ we are promised safe
treatment for a couple of days, provided we don't
stray off or misbehave ourselves. Our visit can’t
amount to anything after all, since we must start
for home whenever King Haifgo gives his com-
mand.”
“ A good deal may take place in two days,” said
the Professor significantly.
“ And a good deal after five days,” was the more
significant remark of Jared Long.
It was evident from these declarations that v
Grimcke and Long had in mind the same thought
which came to Ashman himself, when the ruler of
the Murhapas made known to his guests that they
must take their departure within such a brief
period. '
While no one of the three would have dared to
signify dissent, yet they were not lie men to come
so many hundred miles, forcing their way through
endless dangers to turn about and retrace their
steps at the command of a savage who looked
upon himself as king, simply because he was able
to lord it over a horde of barbarians.
It was no place to discuss their plans, in front
of the “palace,” especially as the natives were
beginning to gather around them again, and among
them it was certain was more than one who under-


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 189
stood the English tongue “as she is spoke.”
They were waiting for the coming of Ziifak,
who was still within. He was their charperon,
and without his guidance, they did not dare to
move from the spot.
“Harkl” suddenly exclaimed the Professor,
raising his hand as a signal for the whispering to
cease.
The sound of voices was heard inside. They
recognized the tones of Ziffak, to which they had
become accustomed since the previous night.
Those of King Haflgo were also distinguishable,
and there could be no doubt to whom the low
silvery accents heard only occasionally belonged.
The alarming feature of it all was, that the king
was in an unmistakably angry mood. He not
only talked fast but he talked loud, sure evidence
of his excited feelings. It sounded as if Ziifak
was striving to placate him, but his royal brother
grew more savage each moment.
The words of all were uttered in the Murhapa
tongue, so that the listeners could form no idea of
their meaning. Had they been able to do so, it is
safe to say that they would have been in anything
but a comfortable frame of mind.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 191
the cooking was done, while serving also for a
sitting and general reception room.
The mother of Ziffak and King Haffgo was a
tall, muscular widow of threescore and ten, much
wrinkled, but strong and active on her feet. Her
countenance was darker if possible than that of
the head chieftain, making it the more wonderful
that Hafigo should be the reverse in that respect
of both.
The royal mother paid little heed to her visitors,
probably believing they were able to take care of
themselves without help from her. Indeed, short-
ly after the white men entered, she took her de-
parture, and was not seen again until dark, when
she came in to help provide them with their even-
ing meal.
Bippo and Pedros finding themselves safe at
last were doing what they could to make up for
the sleepless nights and hard labor they had under-
gone on their way thither. They were stretched
upon some skins in one corner, sleeping heavily
and refreshingly.
Ziffak sat on the floor with the whites. It was
apparent from his manner that he was on the
point of making a communication of importance,
but he seemed to change his mind suddenly, and,
for a time, spoke upon matters of such trivial ac-
count that his listeners were surprised.
The next astonishing thing which he did was to


192 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

declare that the stories he gave to Ashman the night
before, when made a prisoner by him were fables.
There was no enchanted lake in the neighborhood,
and his account of the burning mountain was a
myth, as were his yarns about the diamonds
obtained from the same mountain.
The Professor nodded his head, laughed and said
he was glad to be told that ; for, while he wished to
believe their good friend, when he was in earnest,
he found it hard to swallow those marvellous nar-
ratives which exceeded anything that had ever
come to their ears.
Long and Ashman also expressed great relief at
the naive confession of the head chieftain. All the
same, however, not one of them was deceived by
the fellow’s subterfuge.
They knew that the stories which Ziffak related
on the shore of the Xingu were true. Seized at
that time by a burst of confidence, he had unbur-
dened himself to the young man for whom he formed
such deep admiration.
Since that time, and especially since his angry
interview with his royal brother, he appreciated the
grievous mistake he made and was now anxious to
recall it. He, therefore, declared the accounts to
be of the Munchausen order. His listeners read
his purpose and it suited them to let him think
they accepted every word of his remarkable
recantation.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 193
He impressed upon them that the king was
angry- because of their coming to his village
Indeed Ziffak was afraid that he would recall his
permission to allow them to stay the two days,
and might compel them to leave that night.
This was startling news, and, when Zifiak was
pressed, he admitted that during his absence on
the Xingu to meet them, Waggaman and Burkhardt
had returned and secured an audience with His
Majesty. This explained the new phase of matters
and was anything but welcome information, but
there was no help for it.
The Professor asked Ziffak whether he could not
bring the two white men to his home, in order that
an interview might be had. if that could be done,
Grimcke was hopeful that a better understanding
could be established, but the head chieftain replied
that he had not seen either of the white men since
he returned, nor did he know where to find them.
They occupied a building on the opposite side of
the king’s home, but he was told they were not
there. No doubt they were purposely keeping
out of the way of the new-comers.
Suddenly Ashman asked their friend whether
there was any objection to his taking a stroll around
the village and whether he was likely to be molested.
Ziflak promptly replied that there could be no
earthly objection to anything of that-nature, and
springing to his feet, gun in hand, he bade his


194 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
friends good-bye, saying he expected to be back
with them at the end of an hour or so.
It cannot be said that Ashman had any special
errand in view, when he formed this resolution,
which was explainable upon the well known laws
governing the human mind.
He was tired of idleness. The prospect of sit-
ting for hours in the darkening apartment, talking
with Zifiak, who, instead of being willing to give
information, was doing his most to withhold it,
was not inviting ; but beyond this, he was restless
because he was haunted by those marvellous eyes,
peeping from behind the curtain in the king’s room,
and that smile of recognition when the gaze of the
two met, thrilled him with a new and strange
emotion.
It was this feeling which drove him forth. He
wanted to escape the prying scrutiny of his friends,
who, he fancied, suspected his secret. He wanted
to walk 'in the open air and think and revel in the
bliss of his new delight. '
It was growing dark, when he stepped outside of
the building. There was no light visible in any
direction, though there would be plenty of it later
on. The natives appeared to be moving aimlessly
about, and one or two near at hand scrutinized him
curiously, but they neither spoke nor made any
movement to annoy him. They had not yet forgot-
ten the lesson given by Ziffak some hours before.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 195
To escape attention, he walked toward the river,
passing down the long sloping bank, until he
reached the open, cleared space which has been
referred to as caused by the overflow of the water.
Here the walking was easy, and, turning his face
up stream, he walked slowly as a man does Who is
in deep thought.
A man who is revelling in the first dream of love
is not the one to pay close attention to his sur-
roundings. He is so apt to be rapt in his own
sweet meditations, that he fails in the most ordi-
nary observation.
Reaching the bottom of the slope, Ashman
glanced behind and on his right. He caught
glimpses of several figures moving about like
shadows, but so far as he could judge, none of
them was interested in him. Dismissing them
from his mind, he moved on.
He had walked less than one-third of the length
of the village front, when the form of a man
slipped softly down the incline, following in his
footsteps and moving as silently as a Murhapa
warrior tracking his foe through the forest.
He was dressed similarly to the American, hav-
ing the same style of Panama hat, shirt and boots,
and he carried a rifle in his hand. Being of the
same race, he ought to have been a friend, but
when the bright moonlight fell upon his face, it
showed the countenance of a demon.


196 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

He was Burkhardt, an escaped convict, who had
lived for five years among the Murhapas, and
he was seeking the life of Fred Ashman, who, in
his enchanting visions of love, never dreamed of
the awful shadow stealing upon him.






CHAPTER XXIV.
rouse Love’s DREAM.
WHAT in all the world so sweet as young love’s
dream? It is the old, old story, and yet it is as
new and fresh and blissful to the soul as it will be
to the end of time, or until these natures of ours
are changed by the same Hand that framed them.
What more bewitching romance could cast its
halo about the divine passion than that which en-
shrined the affection of Fred Ashman for the won-
derful Ariel, the only child of the grim Haffgo,
king of the Murhapas?
He had met and chatted and exchanged glances
with the beauties of his own clime, and yet his
heart remained unscathed. He reverenced the sex
to which his adored mother and sister belonged,
and yet never had he felt the thrill that stirred his
nature to the profoundest depths, when his eyes
met those of the barbarian princess and the two
smiled without either uttering a word.


198 THE LAND OF NYETERY.

“What care I for the gold and the diamonds
. and the precious stones of the Matto Grosso? ” the
' ardent lover asked himself; “ is not she the Koh- _
i-noor of them all ?—the one gem whose precious
I ness is worth'more than all the world?”
’1’ He was willing that the Professor and Jared
"i ong should risk their lives in searching for the
nchanted lake, and the burning mountain where
uch priceless wealth existed. Thousands of their
-' 'ind had done it before, and countless thousands
(_ would follow in their footsteps through the gener-
ations to come.
if But as for him, a new mission had broken upon
his consciousness: he had a sacred duty to per-
form. Somewhere, in this broad world, a human
soul is always waiting for its mate. Perchance it
never comes, and the weary one may be joined to
that which heaven never intended it to be joined,
or it repines and goes to the grave unloved.
Fred Ashman was as sure as if he heard a voice
from the stars, telling him that Ariel, the daughter
of Haifgo, was his other self. He could never rest,
he could not really live until it should be his lot
to carry her from this lonely wilderness to his own
,, home thousands of miles away.
To the young lover, aglow and happy in his new
' passion, all things are possible. It is he who can
appreciate even the days of chivalry, when the
valiant knight went forth, with lance and buckler


.c-‘Jv-E: <


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 201
the stranger to reveal himself, the outlines of a
form were distinguished and a slight figure stepped
forth in the moonlight.
Ashman’s heart seemed to stop beating and life
itself hang in suspense, when he recognized the
very being that had taken such full possession of
his thoughts. '
Ay, Ariel, daughter of King Haffgo, stood before
him.
For a. moment, neither spoke or moved. It was
not strange perhaps that she was the first to recover
the power of utterance.
Advancing timidly, she said in 'a tremulous
voice and with an accent just broken enough to
make it all the sweeter :
“ You are in danger and I could not help coming
to tell you."
“Heaven bless you!" he exclaimed, taking a
step toward her, but still observing a respectful
distance. “ You have braved danger yourself to
give me the warning. "
“I left my home and waited for a chance to
speak to you -, I dared not go to the door of Ziffak’s
house for I would have been seen. Then, while I
was wondering what to do, I saw you come forth
and walk toward the river. I thought you would
go to the end of the village, so I hurried on and
hid among the bushes until I could speak to you
without any one seeing me. "


THE LAND OF MYBTERY. 203
in such a tremulous, hesitating voice, that he im-
pulsively sprang forward and caught her dainty
hand before she could escape him.
“ 0 don’t! " she plead like a timid bird, striving
to withdraw the imprisoned fingers which he still
held fast.
“Nay, but you must, if I am never to see you
again,” he exclaimed vehemently; “ O, Ariel, I
had hoped that I might stay here until I could see
and talk with you and tell you that I can never,
never leave you; that if I go, you must go with
me; I will take you to my home which is many
many long miles away, but I will be your slave ; I
will love you; I will make you happy; you shall
never sigh for the land and the people you leave
behind you——”
There is no saying when the impetuous lover
would have stopped his wooing in this cyclone-like
fashion but for an alarming interruption. He had
been smitten profoundly, and the urgency of the
case impelled him to an ardor which could not
have found expression under any other conditions;
but, all the time the frightened maiden was striv-
ing to free her imprisoned hand, and the lover
felt he ought to release it but could not.
Suddenly she ceased her efforts and looked
beyond him with a gasp and such a startled ex-
pression, that he knew some unusual cause had
produced it.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 205
safe for two days, a pledge that he had repeated
in their presence.
But in his hot anger, Zifiak said, he would break
that pledge. One of the explorers had dared to
look upon the face of Ariel and smile. Had he
detected her returning it, he would have driven
his javelin through her body as she stood beside
him. ,
Zifiak gave no hint of what he had observed.
The head chieftain was not afraid to brave his
brother to his face; but he wisely forbore carry—
ing the quarrel beyond the point of reconciliation.
He told his brother that he was so beside himself
that he forgot he was a Murhapa who never broke
his word. But if the king insisted, he would see
that the white men took their departure before
the rising of the morrow’s sun.
King Haffgo consented that if that was done,
he would permit them to go in peace. It was
Ziifak’s hope that his brother, after his anger had
time to cool, would modify his last declaration
still further and allow them to stay their two
days, that led him to qualify his remark about the
necessity of their withdrawing that night.
The same cunning which stood the head chieftain
so well during this stormy interview remained
with him to the end. While he and his brother
were wrangling, Ariel stood mute and with bowed


206 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
head. She durst not speak, but withdrew only a
minute or two before her parent.
Zifi‘ac was still warmly attached to Ashman, and
was willing to risk his life in his behalf. Knowing
that Waggaman and Burkhardt had had much to do
with stirring the resentment of the king, he was
angry enough to slay both of them.
When the most peculiar situation is considered,
however, it is hardly safe to believe the head
chieftain was ready to go to the length of helping
to bring about a meeting between the lovers.
He understood his niece well enough to know
that despite the fury of her parent, she would
brave a good deal to exchange words with the
handsome stranger that had made such an impres-
sion on his heart.
So long as this young man remained in Zifl'ak’s
house, so long was it impossible for such meeting
to take place; but, when Ashman sprang up and
announced his intention of taking a stroll, Zifiak
believed that it was with the intention of trying
to see Ariel. That is to say, he suspected what
really came to pass, though it was not in the mind
of the youth.
Ashman had not been gone long, when Zifl’ak
made an excuse to withdraw, saying he meant to
find out, if he could, where Waggaman and Burk-
hardt were hiding. He counselled the Professor
and the New Englander to stay where they were


THE LAND OF M YS TER Y. 207
until his return, which he promised should not be
long deferred.
Neither Grimcke nor Long dreamt of the object
of their dusky friend in leaving, and as the
mother of the Murhapa reappeared about that time
and started a fire, with a view of preparing their
evening meal, they concluded that the best thing
for them was to follow the advice of the brave fellow.
The instant Zifiak was on the outside of his own
house, he became as alert as a cat scenting a
mouse. He held his ponderous javelin with its
poisoned tip in his right hand, and he looked keenly
about in the gathering gloom.
A warrior stopped in front of him and made a
respectful inquiry about the white men. Zifiak
uttered such an angry reply and raised his weapon
so menacingly that the native skurried away in
terror of his life.
All at once the keen black eyes caught sight of
a small, petite figure as it vanished in the darkness.
He smiled, for he recognized Ariel on her way to
the upper end of the village. He knew on the
instant what that meant.
Then the penetrating gaze outlined the figure of
a man, sneaking like a wild animal, down the river
bank. He was seen only faintly, but he was
equally sure of his identity. It was Burkhardt,
one of the hated white men that had poisoned the
mind of his brother and caused him to forget he


208 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
was a Murhapa, whose word should be sacred.
An exultant gleam came into the dusky face, as
he stole forward in the same direction that the
convict took. The action of the miscreant showed
that he was following some prey, and who was it as
likely to be as the white man that was abroad and
was held in such detestation by the scoundrel?
Burkhardt, in one respect, acted precisely as did
his intended victim. The latter was so absorbed in
his own delicious thoughts, that, after that hurried
glance around him, he did not once again look to
the rear. So Burkhardt, never once dreaming that
he was under surveillance, kept his gloating eyes
fixed on the shadowy figure in front, without
looking to see that while the man was hunting the
tiger another tiger was not hunting him.
Being a slight distance to the rear of the convict,
Zifl'ak could not see the form in front of him with
equal distinctness, but the faint glimpse which
he caught was all he needed.
Thus the strange procession passed up the
western bank of the calmly flowing Xingu: Fred
Ashman moving slowly and lost in reverie, Burk-
hardt prowling like a wild beast behind him, with
Zift'ak clinging to the heels of the wretch as if he
were his very shadow.
The moon, which gave but faint light at the
beginning, increased in power as the minutes
passed. Ziifak fell back, so that if Burkhardt


210 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
stepped forward and seized the hand of his adored
one. This caused such a change of the relative
situation of the two that the weapon could not be
fired without endangering the life of the maiden.
That would never do, and waiting a moment in
the hope that another change would take place,
Burkhardt began stealthily moving to the right to
secure the advantage. A few steps up the slope
were all that was required, when he again knelt
on one knee and pointed his rifle at the unsus-
picious American.
It was but an instant before that Ariel caught
sight of the crouching figure and was transfixed
with terror. The moonlight enabled her to identify
the person, who was aiming his gun either at her
or her companion.
Before she could speak, and at the moment Ash-
man turned his head, a giant figure was seen to
rise as if out of the very earth, directly behind the
miscreant. He held his prodigious javelin poised
over his head. He was seen to make a sudden
onward movement and then the weapon vanished.
Speeding toward the couple with such amazing
velocity it was invisible ; but, ere the crouching
convict could press the trigger of his rifle, he was
seen to sprawl forward, his gun flying from his
grasp. The terrible javelin had gone entirely
through his body as though it were tissue paper,
and pinned him like an impaled insect to the earthl


THE LAND OF MYSTERY- 211
“ The scoundrel l ” exclaimed Ashman, who
was just too late to anticipate their friend.
“ It is Ziffak who has saved us I ” gasped Ariel,
shrinking against the side of her lover.
The herculean chieftain towered aloft in more
imposing proportions than ever as he strode toward
the startled couple. Whether he was advancing
to regain his weapon, or whether he meant to join
them could not be known; for, before he reached
the body of the assassin, he abruptly stopped and
looked in the direction of the Village.
He had caught an ominous sound: it was that
made by the discharge of firearms l
“ Great heaven! ” exclaimed Ashman; “ they
have attacked my friends in Ziifak’s house ; I
must go to their help ; dearest Ariel, what will
become of you ? ” added the distracted lover.
“Leave me alone,” she replied, becoming calm
again; “ I can return home.”
“ Well, then, good-bye I It may be for the
last time,” he impulsively added, catching her, his
one arm clasped about her yielding form and draw-
ing her to him. Then, while she only faintly resisted,
he kissed her passionately, as a lover kisses the
queen of his heart when he believes he is bidding
her farewell forever.
Suddenly, Ashman felt both of the willowy arms
about his own neck, and she returned his caresses
with a fervor equal to his own.


212 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
“ Heaven bless and keep you ! ” he murmured;
“ I now have everything to live for! I shall fight
hard, for it is not the life of my friends or my
own that it is at stake! It is you! It is YOUl
The startled Ziffak had paused but an instant,
when he read aright the meaning of the sounds of
of guns from the village. The explorers had been
attacked by the Murhapas. King Haffgo must
have given the order. He had violated his pledge
for the first time in his life. Great was his provo-
cation!
'The bosom of the giant heaved with indignation.
He stood glaring like a lion at the keepers who
are torturing his mate to death, while he is barred
within the cage and cannot rush to her help.
Then, wheeling about, he broke into a run
straight for his home, whence came the shots that
left no doubt that Professor Grimcke, Jared Long,
and perchance their servants were fighting for
their lives.
The chieftain had not far to go, and half the
distance was passed, when he paused as suddenly
as he had started. A new and startling decision
had formed itself in his mind.
Again he wheeled and dashed toward the spot
where he had left the lovers a. minute before.
They saw him coming, and Ashman released his
beloved and started to join the chieftain, who he
suspected had come for him.





CHAPTER XXVI.
THE FLIGHT.
NEVER had Zifi‘ak shown such fearful excitement.
He swung his arms, and in his wild agitation uttered
some of his words in Murhapa, but his meaning was
caught by Ashman, who was infected by his
overwhelming emotion. He was distraught for
the moment, and stood undecided what to do.
It was the lovely Ariel who showed the most self-
command.
“ Whither shall we 'go, Ziifak ? ” she asked in
English.
“ To the enchanted lake; to the burning moun-
tain! You know the way ! Nothing else will save
you, and you are lost if you wait another minute I ”
And laying hands on the young man, he whirled
him about and gave him a shove which nearly
threw him off his feet. Then he reached to catch
her, but she eluded him and slipped like a bird to
the side of her lover.


216 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

Although considerably above the rapids, which
had been the cause of all his difficulty, Ashman
noticed that the current was not so swift as that
encountered at many places leagues below; and,
since the width was no greater, it followed that
that portion of the Upper Xingu was of unusual
depth.
In the strange excitement of the occasion, the
lovers spoke few words. They had said much, and,
when the opportunity should again come, they
would say a great deal more; but they were fleeing
for their lives, and any distraction of their whole
interest and effort was likely to be fatal.
Ariel realized this as fully as did Ashman. She
continually glanced in every direction, especially
toward the village which was fast receding behind
them. Fred swung the paddle powerfully, but
with as little noise as possible.
In such crises of a man’s life he thinks rapidly.
While the young man’s heart was aglow with the
ecstacy of a promised fulfillment of his love—a
more glorious fulfillment than he had dared to
dream of—he saw that a desperate struggle was
not only certain but close at hand.
Very soon the flight of Ariel must be discovered,
and her infuriated father would stop at nothing to
punish the elopers. He could command hundreds
of the most valiant warriors of the Matto Grosso,
and any one, except such a lover as Fred Ashman,


218 THE LAND OF MYSTERY-

“ Not yet,” she replied with a shake of her lovely
head.
The ear was dipped again, and the light boat
shot forward like a water fowl over the smooth
surface.
He had noticed that the boat was similar to that
used by Zifl’ak, being composed of a species of bark,
the seams of which were skilfully joined with
tendons, and the outside covered with a guru which
rendered it close enough to exclude even air itself.
What seemed to be a creek a hundred feet wide,
suddenly opened on the right, winding through
an exuberant forest whose branches overhung the
water. She motioned with her hand for him to guide
the boat into this, adding that it was the entrance
to the enchanted lake of which he had heard such
glowing accounts, and whose existence, he remem-
bered, had been denied by Ziffak, though it had
been admitted by him only a brief while before.
The course of the canoe was changed, and
Ashman involuntarily slackened the pace, while he
gazed around with increasing wonder.
The distance was not far, when a towering rock
was observed jutting out from the bank. It was
fully twenty feet high, rough, jagged and massive
and obtruded half-way across the stream.
She whispered to him to proceed as cautiously as
he could, for on the rock was stationed one of the
lookouts of King Haflgo, whose duty it was to


220 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

seated. He surely was a negligent servant to lose
his consciousness thus early in the night.
A few more strokes, and a turn in the creek left
him out of sight. That danger was safely passed,
and Fred Ashman drew a sigh of relief, accepting
it as a good omen of their future.
He now dipped the paddle deeper, and, within
the following five minutes, the canoe and its occu-
pants debouched upon the waters of the wonder-
ful enchanted lake.




CHAPTER XXVII.
SHUT IN.
THE situation in which the visitors to the domin-
ions of King Haffgo were placed, was such as to
sharpen their wits to the keenest edge.
After the departure of Fred Ashman, Zifl'ak
talked more plainly with the Professor and New
Englander. The head chieftain told his white
friends what they had suspected; Hafl‘go was en-
raged at Ashman’s presumption with his daughter.
He was in that mood indeed, in which, but for his
promise, he would have hurled his javelin at the
youth before he left the audience chamber.
Zifi'ak, however, was hopeful that the anger of
his royal brother would cool sufficiently to allow
the visitors to remain there two days; but he
doubted whether, after all, they would want to
stay that long under the strained condition of
things.


222 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
When the chieftain took his departure, it was
without any hint that he wished to have an eye to
the young gentleman, but Grimcke and Long sus—
pected it, and their conversation became of the
gravest character, for they fully realized their
peril.
They regretted the mad infatuation of their
young friend with Ariel the princess, and yet they
did not blame him, for, as the New Englander re-
marked, could they have believed there was any
hope for them, they would have fallen as irrestrain-
ably in love as he.
But they did not, and, therefore, were in a frame
of mind to consider the situation more coolly than
the hobheaded lover.
Both agreed that the stroll taken by Ashman
was likely to bring about trouble. but they were
powerless to do anything. Ziffak was the only
individual who could manage matters in such an
emergency. .
It will be remembered that night had fully come
at the time of the chieftain’s departure. The in-
terior of the room would have been wrapped in
gloom, had not the mother of Ziffak made her
appearance and started a fire on the hearth at the
further end of the apartment.
The white men watched her closely to see how
the Murhapas were accustomed to secure ignition.
But they were disappointed. She raked aside the


THE LAND OF MYSTER Y- 223
ashes until some embers were disclosed beneath,
which were readily fanned into a flame. This
caused the apartment to shine with a light like
that at mid-day.
She had brought in an earthen vessel of water
and began broiling several thin slices of meat on
the coals. They were quickly finished, and she
then handed to each of her guests the prepared
meat on an earthen plate. All ate heartily, using
their fingers for knives and forks, while the cool
water could not have been more refreshing.
Bippo and Pedros had been sleeping and resting
so long that they desired to get out doors. Since
they were not likely to be recognized in the night,
if they used caution, Grimcke and Long told them
to go, but to take care they did not lose them-
selves. ‘
They had hardly departed when their hostess
also left, passing out by the rear way. She did
not speak, but as she was disappearing, gave the
two men such a strange look that their suspicions
were awakened. Both at that moment were re-
flecting upon the ominous news brought them by
Ziffak.
By a common impulse, both hastened to the rear
to learn all they could about the building in which
they might be compelled to fight for their lives.
The result was rather pleasing. The structure
was heavier and more compact than the ordinary


224 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.



buildings, and, in addition to the usual opening in
front, had one at the rear, through which the
woman undoubtedly passed on her way to her
royal son.
Neither of these openings were provided with
anything in the nature of a. door that could be
closed. Whenever the rare occasions arose for
such a sealing of the inhabitants of a house, it was
done by means of furs suspended in front of the
entrance.
The white men noted this with quick eyes, and
then went back to the front apartment.
“ In the event of attack,” said the Professor with
the utmost coolness, “ you can take the rear door
and I the front.” ‘
Long nodded his head; he understood and was?
ready,
They had hardly entered the front apartment,
when both were struck by the unusual chatter of
voices on the outside. There must have been
a large gathering of people who were growing
excited about something. _
The Professor was about to step into the open-
ing to learn what it meant, when Bippo burst
into the apartment, the picture of fright and
terror.
“ Going to kill us I ” was his alarming exclama-
ion; “ make me run—almost kill me i ”
“ Where’s Pedros ? ” asked Long.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 225
I
.‘l
I
“ He scared—run into woods—won’t come back
-—-run all way to Am’zon l ”
“ I think he’ll have to stop once or twice to get
breath before he reaches there,” was the character-
istic comment of the Professor, who standing near
the door, listened more closely to the threatening
words and exclamations on the outside.
It sounded singular to recognize more than one
expression uttered in English by these people, who,
until a few years before were unaware that such
people were living.
But for the proof Ziffak had given of his loyalty
the whites might have connected his absence with
the ugly signs outside ; but the confidence even of
‘Jared Long in his friendship was unshaken.
“ Bippo,” said the Professor, speaking with the
same quiet self-possession he had shown in the
first place, “ they are going to attack us; more
than likely we shall be killed, but there isa chance
for you, because you are dressed like these people,
and, so long as you can keep in the shadow, you
can pass for one of them ; you can slip out by the
opening at the rear without being noticed; steal
away, find Pedros if you can, and leave.”
The eyes of the servant seemed to protrude from
his head, as he grasped the fearful meaning of
these words. Then, clutching his spear in his
hand, he whisked like a shadow into the rear apart-
ment beyond sight.
15


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 229
Then Grimcke stepped out from the wall to gain
a view of the opening which answered for a door.
A rustling there told him a crowd were gathering,
but they had taken warning just in time to avoid
a third shot. Then he slipped a couple more car-
tridges from his belt into the magazine, so as to
keep it full, and awaited the next step in this ex-
traordinary business.
“I’ve about a hundred left,” he reflected, “and
that’s enough to keep things on a jump, if I can
dodge their javelins.”
Meanwhile, Jared Long was not idle. He had
but the opening at the rear to watch, and he did
the duty well. Almost at the moment that his com-
rade fired his first shot, he descried the figure of a
Murhapa trying to steal into the apartment with-
out detection; but just enough of the moonlight
that was shut from the front doors and windows,
reached the rear of the building, to disclose the
outlines of the head and shoulders, as he began
stealthily creeping into the building.
Bippo had discovered the peril art the same mo-
ment, and clutched the arm of his master with a
nervousintensity of terror. Long impatiently shook
him OE, and, with the same cool quickness of Pro-
fessor Grimcke, drove a bullet through the head of
the dusky miscreant, who was slain so suddenly
that he rolled convulsively backward without any
outcry.


230 THE LAND Of? MYSTERY.



Almost at the same instant, a second native
emitted a wild shout. He was directly behind the
first and the latter lurched against him, causing
such fright that he leaped back several feet with
the involuntary cry fully understood by all whose
ears it reached.
Long stood as rigid as a statue for several min-
utes, waiting for another chance, but none pre-
sented. Then he reflected that his position was
much more favorable than Grimcke’s, for not only
had he but the single opening to guard, but his
apartment was so shrouded in gloom that the
sharpest-eyed warrior could not locate him from
the outside.
The New Englander stepped to the door com-
municating with the front apartment and, barely
showing himself, spoke:
“I can attend to the window on the right, Pro-
fessor; leave that to me, while you watch the door
and the other one.” .
“ Thanks,” returned his friend; “I think there
is a little too much light in this part of the house.”
Moving quickly to the hearth he heaped the
ashes with his foot upon the blazing embers, until
they were so smothered that only a few tiny twists
of flame struggled through the covering. This
left the place in such darkness that a sense of
security instantly came to him.
“ Good! ” called the New Englander, who could

' "Ti—l


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 231
no longer be discerned; “ that makes matters more
nearly equal! ”
Although, as we have said, the moonlight was
substantially shut 0E from the front of the heavy
structure, yet the moon itself, being full, so
illumined the surroundings that it was quite easy
to distinguish the head and figure of any one of
their enemies the instant he presented himself at
one of the openings.
What both the defenders feared was, that the
savages would make a sudden rush and force
themselves within the cabin in spite of the disas-
trous reception they were sure to be given. Such
an essay was certain to result in the overthrow of
the whites, but the Murhapas must have realized
the cost it would be to them. Brave as they were,
they hesitated to incur the consequences until
other means had failed.
Professor Ernest Grimcke now did a most daring
thing. The fierce welcome he had given the
attacking Murhapas resulted in their temporary
demoralization. Knowing they would speedily
recover, he decided to take advantage of the panic
by an attempt to intensify it.
Striding to the door he paused on the very
threshold and peered out upon the large space in
his field of vision.
Fully a hundred savages were in sight. Appar-
ently they had been crowding around the entrance


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 233
the front, never pausing until he had discharged
half a score of shots.
The panic for a minute or two was indescribable.
Men, women and children shrieked and scattered
for the nearest available shelter. Behind the
buildings and down the river bank they dashed,
stumbled and rolled, until, but for the tragic nature
of the scene, the white man would have smiled.
But he had done enough, and he stepped back
within the room to replenish the magazine of his
rifle. -
Jared Long had been drawn into the room by
the furious fusillade, and now put the startling
question whether advantage could not be taken of
the panic to make asudden dash for the woods.
It would never do to make for the boat still rest-
ing against the shore, for it would be filled with
poisoned javelins before they could shove out into
the Xingu.
“ I believe we can,” replied the Professor; “it
will take them some minutes to get over their
panic and that will be enough for us.”
“Let us leave by the rear,” said Long, “ for I
don’t think that is so well guarded.”
The two turned to attempt the dash for freedom,
when a cry from Bippo struck them.
“Stay here,” exclaimed the New Englander,
fearing that a diversion was on foot; “and I’ll
attend to him! ”


234 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.


He was back in the apartment in an instant.
The light on the hearth having been extinguished,
the gloom in this portion of the building was im»
penetrable, but a fearful struggle of some kind
was going on. Some animal or person had get
within and grappled Bippo who was fighting like
a tiger.
Had the New Englander been able to distinguish
the combatants, he would have ended the contest
in a twinkling, but though the two rolled against
his feet, he dared not fire through fear of hurting
his friend.
“ Are you under or on top?” he asked, bend-
ing downward at the moment he knew from the
peculiar sounds the foes had become stationary.
“ He on top,” was the doleful response.
Long extended his right hand to learn precisely
how matters stood, or rather lay, when it came in
contact with the arm of a Murhapa in the act of
raising it aloft to bury his knife in the body of
the helpless Bippo, who was at the mercy of the
savage, holding him inextricably in his grasp.
The American secured a firm hold of the fore-
arm, and with a powerful wrench, not only jerked
the miscreant free, but flung him from one side of
the room clean to the door, where he was visible
in the faint light beyond.
Evidently concluding that his mission in that


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 237
Zifi'ak. Believing he had gone forth to look after
Ashman, they were confident he would speedily
get upon his track. If so, he would not permit
him to return to the village.
From what the reader has been told, it will be
seen that the defenders were not far off in their
conjectures.
But, when they came to speculate upon the part
that the head chieftain was likely to take, affect-
ing Grimcke and Long, they were all at sea. It
would ever be a source of wonder that he had been
transformed from a relentless enemy into the
strongest of friends, but they fully realized that
such friendship must have it bounds.
Ziifak might not shrink from using very plain
speech when talking face to face with his brother,
but it was hardly to be supposed that he would
raise his arm against his authority. At the
time Ziflak made known the probability that the
explorers might be compelled to take their depart-
ure that evening, he gave no intimation of any
purpose of helping them to resist such an order.
Accustomed as he was to lead the warlike Mur-
hapas in battle, he might well hesitate to ask them
to turn their weapons against the king, and if he
should presume on such treason, all the probabili-
ties were that such weapons would be turned
against the head chieftain himself.




CHAPTER XXIX.
ACROSS THE LAKE.
A FEW minutes after passing the bend in the
stream, which hid the rock and the sleeping sen-
tinel from sight, Fred Ashman observed that the
smooth current broadened into a lake, forming the
extraordinary sheet of water of which he had
heard such strange accounts.
He held the paddle suspended and looked
around.
The surface was as calm as the face of a mirror,
and in the strong moonlight, as he looked down
he could see that it was of crystalline clearness—
so much so, indeed, that a boat or any floating
object looked as if suspended in mid-air.
It expanded right and left and in front, until
he could barely discern the dim outlines of trees
and rocks that shut it in. It was probably two or
three square miles in extent, and to the westward
the shore appeared to be composed of enormous
boulders and masses of rocks.
238


THE LAND OF llIYSTERY. 239
Directly ahead, was a crag more massive than
the rest, towering a hundred feet above the lake,
with a breadth fully one half as great. It re-
sembled some gigantic sentinel, keeping ward and
watch over the strange region unknown to few if
any white man.
Ashman turned to his companion with the ques-
tion, what course he should take, and, without
speaking, she pointed to the rock which she saw
had attracted his attention.
Very slight effort was required to propel the
delicate craft, which seemed to become sentient,
and to move forward in obedience to the wishes of
its occupants. He barely dipped the blade into
the water, when it skimmed forward like a swal-
low. After a number of strokes he ceased and
fixed his eyes on the landmark by which he was
proceeding.
A singular emotion held him speechless for the
time. The vast mass of stone appeared to be
slowly rising from the bosom of the lake, and, in-
stead of remaining motionless, was advancing to
meet the tiny canoe and its awed occupants. One
moment, it was like some vast ogre, stealing
silently about to crush them beneath the clear
waters, and then it became a friendly giant, reach-
ing out its hand to lead them forward.
But for the distant sounds of firing at the
Murhapa village, Fred Ashman would have felt


240 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
that it was all a vision of sleep, from which he
must soon awake to the realities of life.
But that horrible, grinding discord continually
creeping into their ears told too plainly the dread
ful scenes at comparatively a short distance. Even
in his exalted mental state, Ashman began to ask
himself what was to be the end of the strange
venture upon which he had started. “ A disquieting
misgiving arose, that perhaps he had not done the
wisest thing in leaving his imperilled friends.
But he reflected that he had only obeyed the
orders of Ziffak, who indeed would not have
permitted his wishes to be disregarded, for who
should know the wisest course so well as he?
Besides, his own reason told him that if the Profes-
sor and his companion were attacked in the cabin,
it was impossible for him to raise a finger in their
behalf.
And so he dismissed that phase of the marvellous
business from his mind and faced the present
situation.
He had fled with Ariel from her father, King
Haffgo. Instead of turning to the northward down
the Xingu, they had gone further up the stream
and directly away from the right course out of the
perilous country.
But while, in one sense, this might be looked
upon as the height of recklessness, he saw it was
unavoidable. Had they turned down the Xingu,


242 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
slowly moving over the lake and gradually drawing
near the rock. He did not break the silence, but
asked himself what could be the reason of Ariel’s
direction for him to paddle toward the rock. He
supposed there was some place of concealment
which she had in mind, though he discerned nothing
of that nature.
“ We cannot stay there forever,” was the
practical thought in the mind of the lover, who
felt the next moment as though he would be happy
to dwell forever anywhere with her.
“ After we have staid here until pursuit is given
up—if it ever will be—then we must leave the
country. I will take her to my home in North
America, where I shall love and cherish her and
become the envied of all men.”
“We are approaching the rock,” he said, address-
ing her; “ what next, dearest Ariel.”
“ Paddle right on,” was the astonishing reply.
He looked at her with a questioning smile.
Could she be in earnest ?
“Right on,” she repeated, reading his thoughts
aright.
“ Very well; the slave obeys his mistress, ” he
replied, giving the paddle another dip in the water.
Gazing ahead, he instantly discovered the cause
of her reply. A tunnel opened into the rock,
seemingly near the centre. It was perhaps ten feet
in height and with a width slightly greater. Could


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 243
it be she meant he should enter that black forbid-
ding passage ? He asked the question and she
replied that such was her wish.
He could not decline to take her whither she
desired to go. Gently swaying the blade, he sent
the boat within the dark opening, which appeared
to distend its jaws to swallow the canoe and them
from the world to which they had hidden good-bye.
Ashman was beginning to ask himself how he
was to continue the advance in the darkness,
which must become impenetrable as they passed
beyond the limit of the moonlight, when he per-
ceived the water into which he dipped the paddle.
Not only that, but it grew more distinct as he
progressed, until once more the form of his beloved
came out to view, as she sat near him in the canoe.
Wondering what it all meant, he gazed ahead.
The surface of the water grew plainer, as his eye
ranged along the tunnel, until, only a short dis-
tance away, the view was clearer than on the lake
itself, beneath the full moon.
What was the explanation of this wonderful sea
of illumination into which he was guiding the
canoe ?




CHAPTER XXX.
A GUESS.
STANDING in the door of the building, his figure
so wrapped in gloom that it was invisible to the
fierce Murhapas, Professor Grimcke cautiously
peered out upon the multitude that were clamor-
ously seeking the death of himself and comrade.
The horde seemed to be everywhere. They
were glaring over the river bank, behind which
they could find secure shelter by merely dropping
their heads; they were crouching at the corners of
the adjacent houses, the king’s residence affording
screen to fully a score. Not yet fully recovered
from their panic, they appeared to be awaiting the
leadership of some strong man who held the fire-
arms of the explorers in less dread than they.
A form rose upright along the Xingu, at the
upper portion of the line of savages. In the full
moonlight he was as clearly revealed as if at mid-
day.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 245
It was with strange feelings that Professor
Grimcke saw that this individual belonged to the
same race as himself. He was one of the two
white men that had lived for years among the
Murhapas and who had instigated the furious
assault upon them.
“You have earned your fate,” muttered the
German, bringing his unerring Winchester once
more to his shoulder, and sighting as best he could
at the unconscious miscreant, who appeared to be
conversing with some one sitting on the ground at
his side.
The finger of Grimcke was pressing the trigger
when, yielding to an unaccountable impulse, be
lowered the weapon. He was impatient with him-
self that his heart should fail him at the critical
moment, but perhaps it was well it was so.
“You and I ought to be friends,” be reflected,
“ and it is not my fault that we are not; however,
I cannot shoot you down like a dog, though you
deserve it.”
The emotion which checked him so unexpectedly,
also prevented his renewing fire upon the Mur-
hapas, who were really less guilty than he.
He had decided to await the next demonstration
before discharging his gun again.
Jared Long was as vigilant and alert as his friend.
It may be doubted whether he would have spared
Waggaman, had he been given the opportunity to


246 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
draw bead on him. He realized too vividly that
the two defenders never would have been in this
fearful situation but for the machinations of those
two men.
It seemed to him that Bippo was curiously quiet.
He had not spoken, nor, so far as he could judge,
moved since his own return from his brief confer-
ence with the Professor.
He pronounced his name in a low voice, but there
was no reply. A call in a louder tone also failed
of response.
“I wonder whether he was killed?” was the
thought which led Long to leave his station at the
door, and to set out on a tour of investigation
around the room, using his hands and feet to aid
him.
He expected every minute to come in contact
with the lifeless figure of his helper, whom he sup-
posed to have been pierced by the poisoned weapon
of the Murhapa ; but when he had passed around the
apartment and across it several times, until assured
that not a foot of square space had been neglected
he awoke to the fact that Bippo was not there.
It was hardly probable that he had entered the
front apartment, but he made inquiry of the Pro-
fessor. The latter replied that he had heard nothing
of him; but, since he had a few minutes that could
be spared without danger for that purpose, he went
through a search similar to that of his friend.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 247
7
“ He is not here,’
guarded undertone.
The surprising conclusion followed that the fel-
low after all had effected his escape from the build-
ing, though how it was done puzzled the two whom
he left behind.
Bippo had got away by yielding to one of those
sudden inspirations which sometimes come to a per-
son. Hearing the explorers speaking about a
stealthy withdrawal by the rear, he decided to an-
ticipate them. Without pausing to debate the mat-
ter or ask for permission, he slipped out the rear
door and moved rapidly off in a crouching posture.
He must have been seen by numbers of the Mur-
hapas, but was mistaken for one of their own
number. .
The error cannot be regarded as remarkable,
when it is recalled that Bippo bore a strong resem-
blance to the savages around them. He was dressed
the same and carried a spear similar to the missiles
used by them. Though he lacked their bushy heads
and stature, these were not marked enough to at-
tract notice at a time when the Murhapas knew
that several of their number had been defeated in
their efforts to enter the structure from the rear.
With his wits sharpened by his danger, Bippo
displayed admirable discretion. Showing no undue
haste or flurry, he avoided too close acquaintance
with the savages, who were so absorbed in the work
called the Professor, in a


248 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
of securing the destruction of the white men that
they paid less attention to such an incident than
they Would at any other time.
So it was that he edged farther and farther away,
until he found himself so close to the woods that
he whisked among the trees without any one ques-
tioning or trying to check him. He was free at
last; and, as if Dame Fortune had decided to take
him in charge, he had hardly reached the margin
of the Xingu, at a point considerably below the vil-
lage, when he almost stumbled over Pedros, who
was waiting and wondering what he ought to do
next. '
Both the Professor and. his friend were glad that
Bippo had managed to get away. They liked the
fellow, and, even if they must be sacrificed, it was
a relief to know that the poor native, who had had
such a woful experience since leaving the Amazon,
now had a fighting chance of escaping from the
dreadful region. ‘
Besides, as has been shown, the presence of the
fellow was more of an incumbrance than a help.
But for the delay caused by Long’s rush to his
help, the whites wouldv have made a dash for lib-
erty themselves, though the question of their escape
was problematical to the last degree.
Precious little ground could the explorers see
for extricating themselves from their peril. The
Murhapas numbered ahundred, all were brave, and


THE LAND OF MYSTERY 249
the weapons in their hands were dreaded tenfold
more than firearms. It seemed miraculous that
Grimcke and Long had not been pierced long before.
Why did not the Murhapas set fire to the build-
ing, after the manner of the North American
Indians?
This was the question which both the defenders
had asked themselves several times, but in the case
of each the answer was obvious.
The house, it will be recalled, adjoined that of
King Haifgo, and, although there was no wind
blowing, the burning of the less important struc-
ture was sure to endanger the other. As a last re-
sort, the white men might be driven out in that
way, but not yet.
If the besiegers could persuade themselves to
make a united rush, they would be sure to prevail;
but, as has been explained, the cost of such an
essay was sure to be frightful, and led the Murhapas
to defer that, also, until assured less risky means
would not prevail.
It seemed to our friends that there were scores
of schemes which ought to be successful, and, such
being the case, it will be understood why they be-
lieved their last fight was on, and why they were
disposed to show no mercy to their assailants.
The Professor was surprised, knowing, as he did,
the part taken against them by Waggaman and
Burkhardt, that no reports of firearms had yet been


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 251
while they think both are at it, and then the other
can make the attempt.”
“ Very well; let me open here.”
“ No; we will both do it; you know that this
station is mine and as soon as there appears to be
a chance, you can make the start.”
_ Now, both of the men believed in their hearts
that if the desperate scheme could work, that the
utmost it could do would be to save one: there
could be no earthly chance for the other.
It was characteristic of the chivalrous friendship
of each that he had fully determined that that for-
lorn opportunity should be given to the other.
But they understood their mutual natures too
well to waste any words in argument, for neither
would yield.
“ Very well, Professor; we’ll draw lots.”
“I will agree to that.”
It was so dark in the room that they could not
see each other, nor did either window afford light
enough for their purpose.
Grimcke glanced out the door. No immediate
movement seemed impending, and they moved to
the fire-place. The Professor kicked some of the
ashes aside and a tiny blaze arose, throwing a dull
illumination over a few feet of the room.
The Professor drew an American coin from his
pocket,-—-0ne that he had kept ever since entering
South America.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 255
“ OE with you; don’t wait!” commanded the
Professor. 7
“ Good-bye ! ” was all that Jared Long said, as
he darted from the side of his gallant friend and
vanished. ’
Professor Grimcke took a few seconds to refill
his magazine, when up went his Winchester again
and the furious discharges seemed to be more rapid
than before.
It would naturally be supposed that if the as-
sailants saw that both of the white men had con-
centrated their fusillade at the front, they would
make a. dash to the rear. That, it may be said,
would be the second step in the programme. It
was calculated that the sudden volleys of the rifles
would draw all the natives thither, and then, after
learning what had taken place, a large part of
them would rush back again.
The New Englander had been gone only a few
minutes, when the Professor saw evidences that
the second step was about to be taken. The sav-
ages were beginning to move back to the rear,
though at a greater distance then from the building
than before.
All at once Grimcke ceased firing. While look-
ing sharply out of the door, he mechanically re-
filled the magazine of his rifle from his stock of
cartridges which was running low.
“ Now or never! ” he said to himself, and then.


256 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
turning, he ran swiftly through the two rooms to
the rear door, through which he bounded without
a moment’s hesitation.
He expected his flight would be announced by
a series of shouts and a storm of poisoned javelins.
He held his breath, and, as the seconds passed,
began wondering whether there was a possibility
after all of successfully following the footsteps of
his friend.
He was encouraged by the sounds of the deafen-
ing tumult from the front of the house. The
Murhapas had swarmed into the front-room, prov-
ing that they had decided upon making the very
rush of which the defenders stood in such dread.
This, although only a momentary diversion, was
immeasurably in favor of the daring attempt of the
flying fugitive.
Lest the reader may pronounce the escape of
these two white men incredible, we hasten to ex-
plain that which, if left unexplained, would war-
rant such disbelief on the part of our friends.
The individual who gave the wild scheme an
ending that otherwise it never could have had,
was Ziffak, the head chieftain of the Murhapas.
He proved to be the all-potent factor in the terri-
ble problem.
From what has been related about these strange
inhabitants of the Matto Grosso, it need not be
said that they were too cunning, if left to them-


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 257
selves, to allow a door to stand open for their in-
tended victims to escape, after penning them in
such a trap.
Zifiak was the shrewdest member of the Mur-
hapa tribe and much more fitted to be its ruler
than King Haifgo. After bidding good-bye to the
lovers, he hastened back to the middle of the vil-
lage, where he arrived after the first disastrous re
pulse given his people by Professor Grimcke.
It took the fellow but a few moments to grasp
the situation. He told no one of the death of
Burkhardt, but busied himself in learning pre-
cisely how matters stood. Had he dared to do
so, he would have ordered a cessation of the at-
tack, but the latter was made by the direct orders
of King Haffgo, and Ziffak was not the chieftain
to butt his head against a stone wall, by an open
defiance of his royal brother’s authority.
The assault was under the direction of Wagga-
man himself. The king from his own door, where
he could not be reached by any bullet of the de-
fenders, was watching the futile assault with an im-
patience and anger that could hardly be restrained.
His soul became like avolcan o, as he saw his brave
warriors fall back, with many of them biting the
dust. Had not the traditions of his country for—
bade such a proceeding, he would have placed him-
self at the head of the natives and led the decisive
charge.
17


258 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
Seeing how it was at the front, Zifl'ak cautiously
made his way to the rear. There were few war-
riors there, and he instinctively felt that if his
white friends were to get off at all, it must be
through the rear opening.
While intently debating with himself what he
could do to help them, he stealthily slipped down
to where the large boat was lying under the bank.
No one was near it, for the attention of all was
concentrated on the fight under way. Unob-
served, he shoved the craft out into the stream and
saw it drift with the current.
. Returning to the rear of the beseiged building
again, he formed the plan of getting the warriors
to the front and then dashing back and helping
them out. This was a wild scheme, and involved
great personal risk to himself, for he was sure to
be punished for rendering aid whose discovery was
inevitable. ‘
At the very moment he was about to make the
attempt, Grimcke and Long gave him unexpected
help by opening their united fire from the front
upon the warriors marshalling for the decisive
charge.
This afforded him just the pretext he wanted, to
order the Murhapas to hasten to the other side of
the building to assist in what was in contemplation
there, though, even with such a movement under
way, it will be seen that the right place for a por-


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 259
tion of the savages was at the rear, in order to head
off the very thing that was attempted.
Thus it was, that, while the two explorers were
congratulating themselves on the success of their
clever scheme, they never suspected that its suc-
cess was due to their giant friend, who kept him-
self so well in the background that neither of them
caught sight of him.
Having got his men away, Zifiak slipped back
with the purpose of carrying out the rest of the
plan he had formed; but before he could reach the
rear entrance, he caught sight of Professor Grimcke
running like a deer toward the woods.
Ziifak was puzzled, not knowing that his friend
had preceded him, and he dashed into the building
to hurry him out. As he came in at one door,
Waggaman and the Murhapas swarmed in at the
other, and pandemonium was let loose.
The certainty of another murderous fire from
the rifles of the defenders caused some lagging at
the threshold, but those in the rear forced those at
the front forward, and the next moment the mob
was inside. _
Still there was no sound of firearms, though the
savages were crowding into both apartments.
Some one kicked the ashes from the embers, and
the blaze which followed made known the astound-
ing fact that both of the white men had fled.
Zifiak seemed to be in a towering rage because


260 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
such a blunder had been made, and called upon
the fleetest runners to follow him.
Out of the door he went as if shot from the
throat of a columbiad, with a procession of sinewy-
1imbed warriors at his heels. All ran as fast as
they could, though none were his equal in fleetness.
It need hardly he said that Zifiak took mighty
good care that he did not pursue the course of
Professor Grimcke, and presumably that of his
companion who preceded him. Instead of aiming
for the woods, he diverged toward the river, and
seemed to find it necessary to shout and yell every
second or two at the top of his voice.
His followers may have imagined he was laboring
under uncontrollable rage or deemed it necessary
to keep their courage up to the highest point by
such means ;' but the two fugitives who had joined
each other in the woods, and were picking their
way with the utmost care, held a strong suspicion
that the prodigious shouts were intended for their
special benefit. At any rate, they accepted them
as such, and took pains to continue their flight in a
different course from that of the howling Murhapas.
It did not require Zifl’ak long to find out that
the fugitives were irrecoverably gone, and he came
back with his report to the king.
There he was met by astounding news. Burk-
hardt had been slain by a poisoned javelin, and
Ariel, the beloved daughter of the ruler, had been


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 261
seen in full flight toward the enchanted lake in the
company of the execrated white man, Ashman.
Pursuit was to be organized at once, and, though
Ziffak was to take part, yet the chosen warriors
were to be led by the king in person.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 263
was surrounded by towering crags, and volcanic
masses of stone, which gave it an appearance
different from anything on which Fred Ashman
had ever looked. Nothing grander, wilder, more
picturesque or romantic can be conceived. It was
a scene which an explorer could stand for hours
and contemplate in rapt admiration.
But the most amazing feature of this underground
lake was the way in which it was illuminated, so
that every portion stood out in as bold relief as if
under the flaming sun of mid-day.
At the western side, the shore, as was the case
in nearly all other directions, was a mass of jagged
rocks, piled upon each other in the wildest
confusion. Beyond these rocks, was a vast chasm
above the level of the lake, and extending right
and left for a distance of fifty rods. This huge
chasm was one mass of crimson light, whose rays
pierced every nook and cranny on every side of the
lake.
The eye gazing in that direction saw something
similar to that which greets the traveller in the far
north, when viewing the play of the aurora borealis
in the horizon, or when the red sun is rising from
its ocean bed.
This enormous opening was so surcharged with
light that Ashman, after contemplating it but a
minute or two, did not need to ask its source.
Beyond the area of illumination was the burning


264 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
mountain whose blood-red glow covered the entire
surface and shores of the underground portion of
the enchanted lake. The volcano had been aflame
for ages, and was likely to continue to burn for
centuries to come.
Such an eternal conflagration must have an out-
let for the vast quantity of vapor generated, and
Ashman wondered that he had not noticed the
ascending smoke on his way thither. He recalled
that when he and his friend were coming up the
Xingu, far below the last rapids, they observed
a dark cloud resting in the western horizon.
There was no thought at that time that it was
caused by a burning mountain, but such must have
been the fact. The most singular fact was, that
while on his way across the lake to the tunnel, he
had failed to notice and remark it.
There was a steady draft in the direction of the
flaming cavern. He had observed it while paddling
through the tunnel where it was strong enough to
assist in the propulsion of the canoe. It was
caused by the ascent of the vapor through the
chimney of the fiery mountain, and averted the
intolerable heat that otherwise would have been
felt over every portion of the lake. As it was, a
moderate increase of temperature was perceptible.
Ashman was tempted to paddle the canoe to the
black rocks which separated the chasm from the
lake, and he timidly moved the blade, restrained


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 265
by the fear of something in the nature of a “back
draft,” which might consume them before they
could escape.
Ariel assured him that she had never encount-
ered or heard of anything of the kind, though she
had often visited this remarkable region in the
company of her father. Thereupon Ashman sent
the boat ahead faster than before, and a minute
later the bow touched the rocky wharf.
Stepping out, he drew the bow upon the rocks,
so as to hold it fast, and, extending his hand,
assisted her to shore. Then he drew the craft still
further up, and, taking her hand again in his own,
began picking their way over the jagged bowlders
and stones to the edge of the volcano.
From the margin of the lake to the other side
of the mass of rocks was a hundred feet. This
may be defined as a solid wall, shutting out the
water from the burning mountain. The rocks rose
to a height of a dozen rods or so, attaining which
a spectator found himself half-way across the
dividing ridge, where, viewed from the lake, his
figure looked as if stamped in ink on the crimson
background.
It was here that the lovers paused and viewed
the striking picture spread out before their vision.
That which they saw might properly be con-
sidered the crater of the volcano. It was four or
five acres in extent, irregular in contour, and so


266 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
filled with gases and vapors that one could not see
the bottom, while the jagged boundary on the
farther side came out to view only at intervals,
when the obstructing smoke was swept aside.
Spiral columns of black vapor twisted swiftly up-
ward from the fiery depths, sometimes side by side,
and sometimes they would unite and climb toward
the opening above, like a couple of huge serpents
struggling together. The air quivered and pul-
sated in certain portions, as if with fervid heat, and
Ashman fancied once or twice that he caught
glimpses of a vast mass of molten stuff, far down
in the mountain, surging; seething and turning
upon itself with terrific violence. But the glare
was so dazzling that it was like staring at the sun,
and he was compelled to withdraw his gaze.
The opening above, through which all this
vapor and gas effected its escape into the clear
atmosphere outside, was of irregular outline and no
more than twenty feet across. It was at a great
height above the spectators, and ought to have
been visible many miles in every direction.
Now and then Ashman caught the odor of the
sulphurous fumes rising from the flaming depth,
and he could not help reflecting that if the ascend-
ing vapors should swerve toward them only for a
minute or two, they would be asphyxiated before
they could get away; but he could not shrink,


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 267
when his lovely companion stood so boldly by his
side, unmoved by the impressive scene.
When he had become accustomed in a degree to
the sight, the like of which he had never viewed
before, he recalled that they could not occupy
a more conspicuous position, in the event of being
pursued by their enemies to the underground lake.
As we have explained, they were standing on
the highest portion of the rocky wall, separating
the burning mountain from the subterranean por-
tion of the enchanted lake. In this situation, they
were in sight from every portion of the shore; any
one entering by the tunnel, as they had done,
would descry them almost at once, because of the
vivid background against which their figures were
thrown. _
This fact led Ashman to turn to his love and
suggest that they should leave the spot. She
nodded her head in acquiescence, and, still clasping
hands, they began picking their way down among
the bowlders to the spot where they had left their
canoe a short time before.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 269
As has been explained, the king kept within his
home, while the attack was under way; but since he
resided adjoining the structure which was assault-
ed, he was aware of every phase of the progress.
His rage has been hinted at because of the re-
pulse of his warriors directly under his own eyes;
but when he came to learn that the youth against
whom his resentment burned so hotly was not within '
the building; that the two who had fought so
bravely had escaped with their native helpers; that
his own daughter the princess was absent; that
she had been seen fleeing with the white youth in
the direction of the enchanted lake :—when all this
became known to the ruler, it may be said that his
fury was such that no language could do it justice.
It is not impossible that the despot felt thus him-
self, for, without pausing to give utterance to a
few of his imaginings, he made instant preparations
to follow the couple to the region which he never
permitted a white man to look upon.
A native woman had seen the princess pass up
the side of the river, followed a few minutes later
by the young man. Her curiosity led her to watch
them. She saw the two meet and stand for some
time in loving converse. Then one of the white
men stole behind them and was about to fire his
dreadful weapon, when Ziffak hurled his terrible
javelin which pinned him to the ground. Then
the native woman hastened to the palace to tell


270 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

the news, but she could not gain the chance for
some time.
When the king turned upon his brother for an
explanation of what he had done, Zifl'ak was pre—
pared. It was the intention of Burkhardt to shoot
not the white man but the princess herself, because
she had refused his love. He heard Burkhardt
mutter those words to himself and it was because
of those words that Ziffak drove his javelin
through his body.
King Haffgo looked sharply at his kinsman when
he made this unblushing response, but his doubts
if there were any quickly vanished, when he re-
called the impetuosity with which he had attacked
the defenders in the house and the vigor of his
pursuit and his evident indignation and chagrin at
the escape of the two white men. No, Ziifak might
talk plainly with his royal brother, but when the
time for action came he was a true Murhapa, who
knew only his duty to his king.
Besides, the little flurry between the two had
helped to clear away the fogs of misunderstanding
as the lightning often purifies the murky atmos- '
phere. The pursuit of the lovers was quickly or-
ganized, for they now occupied the thoughts of the
king to the exclusion of everything else. Grimcke
and Long could not be far off, and a vigorous hunt
was likely to discover one or both of them, but the
king gave orders that no attempt of the kind should




“I AM DONE FOR,” was HIS FEEBLE RESPONSE.


IIHiVEfisnI ur iLLmtl'S


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 271
be made. It was his intention to leave the village
for an indefinite time, and he wished every one of
his warriors to remain while he was absent. It
cannot be said that he was afraid of such an insig-
nificant force, but there was a strong vein of super-
stition in his nature, which caused a vague fear
of the men that had escaped him with such wonder-
ful cleverness. Individuals who could do that sort
of thing, were capable of doing things still more
marvellous, and to use homely language, King
Hafi'go was taking no chances.
The party in pursuit numbered just ten persons,
including the king, Ziffak,Waggaman, and the very
pick of the tribe. They were all splendid fellows,
fit to be the body-guard of a king, who, when he
laid aside the robes of cumbrous dress he was
accustomed to wear, and arrayed himself similarly
to the warriors, proved himself no mean leader of
such a party.
Any one looking upon the little company would
have been most impressed by the fact that there
were nine dusky barbarians, half naked and as
black as Africans, under the guidance of a man as
fair as any European; and yet, as the reader
knows, the most prominent warrior of the party
was the brother of that king, dusky, tall and a
giant in stature.
A tribe living in a country as well watered as
the Matto Grosso, is sure to be well provided with


272 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
the means of navigation, though the explorers,
when they first reached the neighborhood of the
rapids, deemed there was an unusual absence of
such craft. A canoe, longer even than that used
by our friends in ascending from the Amazon, was
carried a short distance down the bank and
launched in the Xingu. Five of the warriors
seized their long paddles and swung them with the
skill of veterans. They were accustomed to that
kind of work, and sent the craft up the current
with much greater speed than would have been
suspected, even by those accustomed to see uch
work.
Two of the dusky occupants were furnished
with bows and arrows, while Waggaman carried
his rifle. Thus every species of weapon known to
the Murhapas was in the boat.
King Haffgo sat at the stern, his brow dark and
threatening, his arms folded and his lips set. His
thoughts were too deep for utterance and no one
ventured to disturb him. Though the pale coun-
tenance was outwardly calm, yet a volcano was
raging in that breast, hot and furious enough to
burst out and consume the barbarian.
Just in front of him, Ziifak was facing toward
the prow, directing the actions of the crew, though
for a time little of that was required of him.
Waggaman was at the prow, silent, glum, scowl~
ing. He did not speak for a long while, but, now,


274 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

question. There Was a possibility of outwitting
Haffgo by the flight to the lake, though it was
remote enough to cause the giant warrior to
shudder when he reflected upon it.
That which caused Ziffak regret was, that he had
not paused long enough before parting from the
couple, to arrange a better understanding with
them. As it was, he was mostly in the dark con-
cerning their movements, and greatly handicapped
by the necessity of appearing to be the devoted
ally of his royal brother.
Under the powerful propulsion of the five
paddles, the long narrow canoe sped swiftly up
the Xingu, and, sooner than even Ziffak anti~
cipated, it turned into the narrow stream leading
to the enchanted lake. Along this it sped like a
swallow until the huge rock with its sentinel came
in sight.
It was here that King Haffgo, for the first time,
showed some interest in his surroundings. He
scanned the massive rock closely and manifestly
was surprised that the guard did not rise to his
feet and challenge them.
Observing that the figure remained motionless,
he commanded the craft to approach the rock. This
was silently done, the boat halting with the prow
touching the mass of black stone.
Still the sentinel moved not, all unaware of his
peril. One keen glance showed he was commit


276 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
vision swept along the shores, every portion of
which,as will be remembered, was in plain view.
Almost at the same moment, Ziffak uttered an
excited exclamation, and pointed to the northern
shore. As the gaze of every one was directed
thither, they caught sight of the craft for which
they were so eagerly hunting.




CHAPTER XXXIV.
WATCHING AND WAITING.
WHEN Professor Ernest Grimcke realized that
his desperate flight from the besieged building had
been attended with complete success, and that he
was standing among the dense shadows of the for-
est, with no enemy near, he devoutly uncovered his
head, and, looking upward, uttered his fervent
thanks to heaven for its amazing mercy.
“If ever a man was snatched from the jaws of
death,” he said, “ I am that man.”
“And I am another,” added Jared Long, who
approached in the gloom. “ It seems to me like a
veritable miracle.”
The New Englander explained that, after his
furious dash for shelter from the building, he did
not believe his chances were any better than those
of the man he left behind him. He started with
the intention of making his way by a circuitous
course to the river, but had vnot gone far when he
was struck by the baseness of his desertion of his
277


278 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
friend. He, therefore, turned about with the re-
solve to try to do something for him, but had me
more than caught sight of the structure again when
he descried the Professor coming like a whirlwind
for the trees.
Long moved to the point at which he saw he was
aiming, and held his Winchester ready to open on
any pursuers that might try to follow him. He
would have picked off a dozen or so, for he was
cool and collected, and fully determined to stand
by his friend to the death.
Fortunately. however, for all parties concerned,
none of the Murhapas pursued the Professor,
though, as has been told, a number under the lead-
ership of Ziifak dashed off in another direction,
without endangering the fugitives in the least.
It was a marvellous deliverance, indeed, for our
friends, and they understood the part the giant head
chieftain had taken in extricating them from the
peril. Their hearts glowed with gratitude to the
savage, whose friendship for them they could not
understand, but who had proven it in such a strik-
in g manner.
But it could not be said that they were yet free
from danger, and there was much to do before they
could breathe freely.
It needed but a brief consultation to agree that
after what had taken place, it was the height of
madness to attempt to push on to the enchanted


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 279
lake and burning mountain. King Hafigo was so
roused that there was not the slightest chance of
escape. The only earthly probability of accom-
plishing anything in that direction, was by bring-
ing a force strong enough to sweep the warlike
Murhapas from their path.
Thankful would the little party of explorers be
if they were permitted to get out of the Matto
Grosso with their lives.
They waited in the margin of the wood until
the return of Ziffak and his baffled company. It
was easy to understand the clever trick played by
the chieftain upon his followers, and Grimcke and
Long were convinced that no further attempt, at
least for a time, would be made to capture them.
But being free to attend to their own safety,
their thoughts naturally turned to the missing
members of the company, especially to Ashman,
who unquestionably was involved in the most im-
minent peril.
It was clear that his two friends could do noth-
ing in his behalf. They did not know where to
look for him, and such an attempt was sure to be
followed by disastrous consequences to themselves.
It was a singular conclusion to which Grimcke
and Long arrived and yet perhaps it was natural.
They believed that Ashman had escaped before
they did themselves, and that he was probably
waiting at some point down the Xingu for them.


282 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.


with him, so that the little party could not have
been better armed. Luckily, too, there was an
abundant supply of ammunition on board, so that
the old feeling of confidence came back to the party
when they once more felt they were masters of the
boat and all it contained.
Their desire now was to increase the distance
between themselves and the Murhapa village, from
which all had had such a narrow escape. When
Bippo timidly asked his masters whether they
meant to return or attempt to go any farther up
the Xingu, they were assured that no such thought
was in the mind of either of the explorers. They
would only be thankful if they could get back to
the Amazon without ever meeting another Mur
hapa.
This was enough for the natives, who were will
ing to jump overboard and tow the boat faster than
it was already going. That, however, was unne-
cessary, and they Were told that they had only to
obey orders as cheerfully as they had done from
the beginning and that undoubtedly everything
would come out well.
It was past midnight, when the roaring just
below, which was increasing every minute, warned
them they were approaching the dangerous rapids.
Possibly the craft might have passed safely through,
but it would have been imprudent to make the
attempt for which no necessity existed.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 283
Accordingly, the boat was once more run ashore
and drawn against the bank, with the view of rais-
ing it upon their shoulders to be transported to the
calmer waters below.
The four men were in the very act of lifting
the craft, when to their terror, fully a score of
Aryks suddenly emerged from the wood and sur-
rounded them. All were armed with the frightful
javelins, a prick from one of which was enough to
cause almost instant death.
The whites could not have been caught at greater
disadvantage, and Bippo and Pedros were so over-
come that they were unable to move. Long was
on the point of openinga fusillade, when Professor
Grimcke was struck by the fact that no one of the
Aryks offered to harm them. They chattered like
a lot of magpies, and gathering round them made
a movement as if to take possession of their boat_ 7
The New Englander would have showed fight,
had not his companion said in a low tone :
“They are friendly! They mean to do us no
harm! ”
Such was the astounding truth, and it was easily“~
explained. Zifiak on his way up the Xingu with
his new friends had warned the Aryks that they
must do the whites no harm; they were on their
way at that time to the Murhapa village as friends,
and the head chieftain told his allies that any fur-
\
\_


THE LAN D OF MYSTERY. 285
“ But they don’t,” replied the Professor, “ and
yet they will learn the truth before long.”
The boat was allowed to drift a half mile further,
when, convinced they had gone far enough, they
ran into land, disembarked and carried it in among
the trees, where it was out of the sight of any one
passing up or down the Xingu. Then they pre-
pared to await the coming of Fred Ashman, doubt-
ful, however, whether he ever would come.




CHAPTER XXXV.
THE CAVERN OF DIAMONDS.
FRED ASHMAN was greatly relieved when he
had assisted Ariel down from the high, rocky wall,
and they had picked their way to the spot where
the little canoe had been left but a short time
before.
He had felt a singular misgiving from the first
about the boat, fearful that in this region of en-
chantment, as it seemed to him, something would
cause it to disappear, and he and his lovely oom~
panion be left in a most exposed and dangerous
situation.
But it was found just where it had been left,
and helping her in it, he shoved it clear and then
looked to her for directions as to what was to be
the next step.
The maiden now made a singular statement.
She said that some weeks before, she had visited
this place with no companion but her father. They
landed at a point which she indicated, and he


THE LAND' OF MYSTERY. 287
ordered her to stay on the shore until his return.
He was gone so long, however, that she undertook
a little exploration on her own account, and made
a discovery which she now hoped to turn to ac-
count.
The canoe touched at the spot she pointed out,
and they stepped ashore. She said that her parent
strolled off to the left, toward a passage which
she showed, and which she had entered with him
several times before, but from which he seemed
desirous to exclude her on the occasion named.
It was while he was absent at that time, that
Ariel walked some distance to the right. She
clambered up the rocks a little way to a clump of
bushes. She was examining a species of crimson
berry, growing upon them, when she observed a
passage, which she followed far enough to find that
it led into a large cavern, whose full extent she
did not attempt to learn. She withdrew, and, -
fearful of ofiending the king, told him nothing
about it when he returned and found her with the
boat.
Ariel was confident that neither her parent nor
any of her people knew of her discovery, and she
now proposed to Ashman that they should enter
the strange cavern, and remain until the present
danger was over. She believed that if her friends
or enemies, as they might be considered, did not
discover them soon, they would conclude that they


288 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.




had voluntarily met death together, and would
give up the hunt.
Ashman was struck with the sagaeity of the
lady, and eagerly agreed to her suggestion. It
would never do to leave the canoe as a telletale,
and he gave it a shove which carried it far out on
the lake. Discovered in that situation, no one
could tell what point on the shore it had touched,
and, being adrift, near the middle of the lake, it
would suggest the theory of suicide, which they
were anxious to impress upon their pursuers.
Carefully picking their way through the mass of
brush and undergrowth which showed remarkable
vigor, considering that the revivifying sunlight
never touched it, Ashman readily found the open-
ing described by his companion.
It was just broad enough to allow the passage
of their bodies, its height being such that they
could move by stooping slightly. Holding his
Winchester in hand, he led the way with Ariel
pressing him close.
The same fact was noticeable that struck him
when paddling through the tunnel connecting the
outer and the underground lake. The light in-
creased as they progressed until everything was
seen with a distinctness hardly less than that shown
in the water they had just left behind them.
Suddenly Ashman paused with an expression of
amazement. He had entered a cavern so striking


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 289
in appearance that it almost took away his oreath.
It was several acres in extent, with an arching,
dome~like roof rising fully two hundred feet above
their heads. Stalactites and stalagmites dozens of
feet in length were visible hanging from the roof
and obtruding from the floor, the latter being
broken by chasms and ravines, many of which
seemed to have a depth that was fathomless.
No water was visible, but the proximity of the
lake rendered it likely that some of the abysses
were filled at the bottom with the element. It
looked impossible for the lovers to advance beyond
the entrance, and yet while Ashman was standing
motionless he observed that a ledge put out on
their right, along which they could make their
way indefinitely, its course being hidden by scores
of intervening obstacles.
It looked like a scene of enchantment indeed,
the wonderful cavern illumined by the flood of
crimson light, which was on every hand, while the
radiating point was invisible.
Ariel stood silent and waited for her companion
to recover from his astonishment. She had viewed
all this before and had witnessed so many similar
scenes that they produced less effect upon her
imagination than upon his.
By and by he looked around, and she smilingly
nodded her head. He began picking his way along
the ledge, carefully feeling his way, for a misstep


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 291
man; “we have entered a cavern of diamonds.”
“ There can be no doubt of that,” she calmly re-
plied; “ there are plenty of them among the rocks
along other portions of the lake, for that is where
the king has obtained them for years. There is
gold there too. You know now the reason why
he guards the approaches of the lake so jealously.
I have seen our men digging for diamonds and
they looked just like what these seem around us."
Ashman had paused again and his eyes roved
around the magnificent scene, whose splendors
were enough to turn the head of Solomon himself.
Thousands of the points were gleaming from all
portions of the roof, walls, and even on the ledge
along which they were walking. There was
enough wealth within his gaze to pay the national
debt of his country and to effect a revolution in
any nation.
“ I would be a feel,” he reflected, “ not to gather
some of these while the chance is mine, even
though I may never live to carry them away.”




CHAPTER XXXVI.
PURSUERS AND PURSUED.
IT may be doubted whether the most cool-headed
of men could find himself in such a situation as
. that of Fred Ashman, without being overwhelmed
by the bewildering wealth surrounding him. He
forgot for the time that the lives of himself and
lovely companion were at stake, and that, despite
her assurance that they were the first persons who
had ever entered the wonderful cavern of dia-
monds, its existence might be known or discovered
by their vengeful pursuers.
With the aid of his hunting knife, he set him-
self to work picking out the precious gems that
were within his reach at all times.
Now and then, when some one of unusual size fell
into his palm he uttered an exclamation of delight,
and turned and held it up for Ariel to admire.
She smiled at his pleasure, and showed her sympa-
thy by assisting in the excavation of the marvellous
pebbles. ’


294 ‘HE LAND 01' MYSTERY.
men delve and starve and toil and die, still lies
hidden in immeasurable masses, in unsuspected
places, screened perhaps by a thin sheeting of earth,
over which thousands have tramped, never dream-
ing of the boundless riches just beneath their feet.
And rubies and diamonds strew the bottom of the
ocean or scintillate within caverns and caves, as
they have shone and gleamed through ages, still
waiting for the fortunate miner or explorer to
bring them to light and the gaze of an admiring
world.
“If I ever live to get away from this spot,”
added Ashman, when he ceased his wonderful
garnering, “ I will bring a force here; I can afl’ord
to make it irresistible by King Hafigo, for every
one of the men can take away a. fortune and leave
more than enough for these barbarians.”
“I can take no more,” he said, turning his
flushed face upon the radiant countenance just
behind him; “ King Hafigo will never miss these,
but when I carry you to my distant home, Ariel,
where I shall cherish and love you forever, these
diamonds will bring us such wealth that we shall
never know the meaning of want; every luxury
that affection can dream of, or heart can crave,
shall be yours.”
“ The greatest luxury my heart yearns for,” said
she softly, “is your love.”
“And that you have now,” he replied catching


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 295
her in his arms and straining her to his heart.
“I am sure of it,” replied the happy maiden,
resisting no longer the ardent embrace of him
whose affection seemed to grow with every passing
hour. I
“All that I pray heaven to grant is the op-
portunity to prove to you that you are not mis-
taken. I do not want to leave here or ever see
my home again unless you are with me. I shall
live or die with you, for death with you is prefer-
able to life without you, my cherished, my own
Ariel.”
The radiant countenance was illumined by a
light such as only the divine passion can impart.
She did not speak, for there are some emotions of
the soul beyond the power of language.
The hunt for the diamonds had taken the lovers
to a point almost opposite the entrance. They
observed what they had not noticed during their
absorbing work,--the ledge along which they ad-
vanced, steadily ascended until it carried them to
a point half-way to the top of the mighty dome.
Standing there, they could look back on the awful
chasms spread below their feet, the crimsoned
walls, sparkling and scintillating with innumerable
gems, with the craggy roof seemingly almost within
their reach.
Looking over the wild, dazzling, unapproachable
scene, the American was considering the practical


296 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

question of what was next to be done, when Ariel
at his side abruptly seized his arm with an inten-
sity which startled and caused him to ask,
“What has frightened you, dearest?”
With a gasp, she pointed to the other side of
the cavern, where they had entered this region of
enchantment and wonders.
A procession of figures was moving along the
ledge, over which they had just made their way.
The intervening objects shut them partly out of
sight, but the heads and shoulders of several were
always in view and they were moving with the
utmost haste possible.
The foremost figure was a white man; the next
was a dusky giant, and the third was of fair com-
plexion, while all the others were of the hue of
native Africans.
There could be no mistaking the identity of the
leaders : the foremost was Waggaman , the second,
Ziffak, and the third, King Haifgo. Those who
followed were the pick of the Murhapa warriors.
It mattered not whether Ariel was right in her
belief that the existence of the cavern of diamonds
was unknown to every one else, or that some fate-
ful good fortune had directed the party to the en-
trance. It was enough that they had found it,
and were now pressing forward along the very
ridge on which they had halted, and stood gazing
back in amazement and horror, unable for the mo-


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 297
ment to divine what could be done to help them~
selves.
But Ashman needed but a few seconds to decide
his course. He held his Winchester and revolver
and was ready to die in the defence of the idol of
his heart.
“ Have courage,” he said ; “all is not yet lost.”
The ledge on which they stood was so narrow
that there was no room for two to walk beside each
other. Lifting the gentle form in one arm, he swung
her over the abyss at his feet and placed her on the
ledge in front of him.
The danger was at the rear, and that was the
place for him.
“Now advance,” he added; “ we may find a bet-
ter spot than this for defence.”
He feared that his pursuers might divide, and
some of them start around the other way, so as to
come upon him from the opposite side. If that
were done, he would be caught between two fires,
and, since one of the party possessed a gun, the ad-
vantage would be preponderatingly against him.
There was subject, too, for perplexing thought in
the situation. He had no wish to shoot King
Haffgo, and would not do it if any possible way of
avoiding it should present itself. He determined
that he should be spared until the last one, when
he could probably be handled without resorting to
the last extremity.








CHAPTER XXXVII.
AT BAY.
ABIEL flitted so rapidly along the ledge that her
lover felt obliged to aok her to desist, as he found
it diflicult to keep pace with her.
The narrow path ascended more rapidly than
before, and he saw they were steadily climbing
toward the top of the roof. The shelly support to
their feet, too, became less substantial, crumbling
and giving way at a rate that threatened the most
serious consequences.
He again cautioned the maiden, who seemed to
dart over the rocky ground with the graceful ease
of a bird, and Without producing any more eflect,
with her dainty sandals.
Suddenly she paused. She had reached the mar-
gin or break in the ledge. A chasm, whose black
depths the eye could not fathom, yawned between
her and the support on the opposite side.
“ We will make our stand here,” said he ; “ keep
behind me ”

299


300 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
He checked himself in astonishment; for, at that
moment, she bounded as lightly across as a fawn.
He never would have permitted it had he dreamed
of her intention ; but it was done.
He could only follow, and, gathering his muscles,
he ran rapidly the slight distance and bounded
from the support.
It was a tremendous leap, and, for one instant,
he believed he would fail; but he cleared the chasm
of breathless darkness and landed on the edge,
where, for a single second, he tottered between life
and death.
But, at the critical instant, a tiny hand was out
stretched, and, seizing one of the fluttering arms,
his poise was restored, and he stood firmly by her
side.
Even then, as he stepped forward, the ground
crumbled and gave way for fully two feet, the
débris rattling down the abyss as long as the ear
could detect the sound, growing fainter and fainter
as it hastened toward the far-away bottom.
“ There is no one in that party except Ziffak who
can leap it now,” said Ashman, gazing with a shud-
der behind him.
By this time the pursuers were close at hand and
gaining fast.
The ledge led straight away andupward for a
hundred feet, when it terminated at a point in the
dome as high as the middle portion. There the


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 301
rocks were piled in irregular masses, and, knowing
they could go no further, Ashman resolved that
the last stand should be made there.
As he hurried onward, another shout fell upon
his ear. It was a different voice, and he recognized
it as Waggaman’s, who was leading the advance.
The fugitive glanced backward, while toiling up
the slope, and saw that the white man in his eager-
ness was fully a rod ahead of the lierculean Ziffak,
while the rest were stringing along behind him.
He might have wondered how the chieftain con-
trived to lose so much ground had he not seen him
clambering to his feet. It followed that he must
have fallen in his hurry to get forward.
“ We have them! ” shouted the exultant con-
vict; “ there is no escape; they are cornered!”
The words were yet ringing in his mouth, when
he came to a stop.
He had reached the edge of the abyss and might
well pause before trying to leap across.
The fierce king called to him to make the jump.
It had been done not only by the man, but by the
girl who preceded him; why should he hesitate ?
Spurred by the taunt, the white man withdrew
a few paces, and, like Ashman, ran swiftly, the
next instant his body rising in air, as he made the
fatal effort.
The American stood coolly watching the result.
If the miscreaut succeeded, where it looked impos-


502 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.


sible, he meant to shoot him. Thus the prospect
before the convict could not have been worse.
It was a tremendous leap indeed, and the fellow
struck the opposite ledge with his chest, his feet
dropping below.
In his furious efiorts to save himself, he let go
of his weapon, which went ringing down the
chasm, and seized the ledge with both hands.
Even then, had the ground been firm, he might
have succeeded; but it gave way like rotten ice,
and, with a shriek of - agony, he vanished forever
from the sight of men.
The frightful occurrence brought the pursuers
to a halt and gave the fugitives a minute or two
in which to prepare for the end.
Ariel, by command of her lover, placed herself
behind the rocks and bowlders, where she was
secure against any of the missiles, that were sure
to be soon flying through the air. Ashman also
placed himself so that all of his body was hidden,
except his head and shoulders, but his Winchester
was thrust out, ready for instant use. He was
resolved that no one of the party should leap that
chasm and live after reaching the other side.
There were two exceptions, be it remembered, to
this resolution.
Zifiak, being next to Waggaman, approached
the chasm, where he also stopped and peered into
the impenetrable depth, his dusky face showing a


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 303
horrified expression at the awful fate that had
befallen the foremost of the little party.
Ashman, who was closely watching the chieftain
with a natural wonder as to how he would conduct
himself (for he did not waver in his faith that the
giant was still loyal to him), saw him suddenly
raise his eyes and gaze at the opposite ledge, which
was fully two feet above that upon which he was
standing.
Hafl'go was immediately behind him, and peer-
ing under his arms at the opening. There being
no room for the two to stand beside each other,
this was the nearest position he could secure.
Beyond him the other figures could be partly
discerned, all standing motionless until some way
should present itself for their advance.
Ashman observed the chieftain, as his eyes fol-
lowed the ledge until they rested upon him,
crouching behind one of the bowlders with his
rifle leveled at the war party.
The two looked into each other-’s eyes for a
single instant, when Ziffak, knowing he could not
be seen by any of those behind, contracted his
brows and moved his lips.
He did not speak, for that would have “given
the whole thing away,” but his dusky mouth was
contorted with such vigorous care that the words
were understood, as readily as if shouted aloud.
They formed the single sentence,


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 305
He had only to peer up the ledge, as it led
toward the roof, to realize that the fugitives were
as safely caged as if bound and secured in his own
home.
They had penetrated as far as possible in the
cavern of diamonds. If the pursuers could not
reach them, neither could they return over the
chasm by which they had attained the spot where
they still defied him.
The most athletic man living could not leap
across that chasm, nor could it be passed until it
was bridged artificially, and that could only be
accomplished from below, where the pursuers were
glaring across. They might erect a structure, if
the king so willed, which would open a way of
advance; but he was in no mood to care for or
think of anything of the kind.
Haffgo now talked earnestly for a few minutes
to his head chieftain. The latter listened respect-
fully, nodding his head several times in acquies-
cence. Then he suddenly looked up the ledge
again, steadied himself for an instant, and hurled
his javelin with terrific force at the head of Ashman.
It was done with such incredible deftness that
the American had no time in which to dodge the
fearful missile. Had it been accurately aimed, it
would have been driven straight through his skull !
But it missed by a hair’s breadth, shooting up to
the roof, where it struck the rock with such
violence that the head was shattered and the






CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE POISONED ARROW.
SUCH being the case, Ashman concluded that the
time had arrived when he should also take a hand.
Zifiak and King Hafigo placed their backs
against the face of the rocks, along which the ledge
ran, so as to open a clear course for the archer.
The latter fitted his arrow with great care and
then straightening up drew back the string and
slowly levelled the missile at the head and breast of
the American.
“ Does that fool imagine I am going tokeep still
and let him practice on me ? ” the latter asked
himself, an instant before discharging his rifle,
whose bullet went straight through the dusky mis-
creant and sent him toppling off the side of the
ledge as dead as dead could be,
Not only that, but the ball wounded the warrior ‘
directly behind him, causing him to utter a bowl
which rang with piercing force from side to side of
the cavern of diamonds.
This prompt act caused something like wpnic,


308 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.



Zifl'ak seemed the most terrified of any. Facing
about, he flung his arms aloft and shouted to the
rest to hurry away before the white man killed.
them all.
They lost no time in obeying, and it was
noticeable that King Haffgo, being well at the rear,
added his frenzied commands for his warriors to lose
no time in leaving the fatal spot.
Ashman could have sent a succession of shots
along the ridge, as the party scrambled away, which
would have toppled the dusky barbarians off like
so many ten-pins ; but he had no desire to inflict
needless slaughter, and, in answer to the appeal of
the shrinking Ariel, he had promised her that, so
far as he was concerned, her parent should receive
no harm.
He therefore contented himself with watching
them, until a bend in the ledge hid them from sight,
with the exception of their heads, and they, too,
soon disappeared; because the frightened warriors,
glancing back, and seeing their peril, crouched low
to escape the bullets which they seemed to expect
would come whistling about their crowns.
As long as the natives kept at such a distance,
they could do no harm to the defenders; for they
were too far off to make use of their javelins, and
the single archer left was not likely to attempt to
bring his weapon into play. -
Naturally, Ashman and Ariel, finding they were


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 309
left to themselves for a time, fell to speculating
upon what was likely to be the next move of their
enemies. He believed they would make an attempt
to bridge the chasm separating them, a task which,
as will be seen, was comparatively easy of accom
plishment.
But should such a structure be laid, it must be
so strait that only one could pass at a time, and the
American could pick them off as often as they
presented themselves. There were now no firearms
at the command of the Murhapas, unless some one
recovered the weapon of Burkhardt, and even then,
Ashman would feel little fear of harm from the
savages.
Ariel thought her parent and his little company
would simply keep guard at the entrance of the
cavern, in order to intercept them, if they discovered
some way of re-crossing the chasm and attempted
to leave.
But both were wrong.
The young man was resolved that no march should
be stolen upon him. It was impossible for the
Murhapas to pass far enough around to leave the
place, without being seen, provided he kept un-
remitting watch, which he felt competent to do for
a number of hours to come.
If the siege was prolonged, he could take turns
with Ariel, whose bright eyes were quicker of per-
ception than his.


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 311


hard to follow or identify them. Ashman thought
that Hafi'go was one of the number, but he could
not make certain, and, since Ariel did not catch as
favoring a glimpse as he, she could give no help in
solving the question.
The best solution of the singular acts was that
while the Murhapas seemed to try to hide them-
selves from the lovers, they still took pains to allow
enough to be disclosed to reveal the movements,
which they wished the couple to observe.
And here again, both Ashman and Ariel were
in error.
Strange that a possibility which had once been
thought of by the two did not occur again to them.
King Haffgo, despite his confidence in Ziflak,
began to feel some distrust of him. His refusal
to attempt the leap of the chasm, and his former
friendship for the explorers, might have been rea-
sonably explained, but his failure to drive his jave-
lin through the white man, who was so near and
who never stirred from his position, could not be an
accident. He knew the marvellous skill of the head
chieftain, who could have had but one“ cause for
missing Ashman: that was an intentional deviation
of his weapon, which, slight though it was, proved
as effective as if hurled in the opposite direction.
And yet, shrewd as was Ziffak, he really be-
lieved he had deceived his royal brother. No sus-
picion of the distrust in the mind of the king


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 315
down the yawning abyss that afforded a fit sepul
ture for such as he.
King Haffgo was standing erect, as if defying
the white man to fire at him. He had seen the
result of the shot and he did not regret it.
“ Die the death you deserve ! ” he called out in
English; “for you are not the daughter of Haffgo ! ”
Then he turned about and moved along the
ledge, while Ashman stood for an instant, with
weapon levelled, feeling that the awful occurrence
had absolved him from the pledge made a short
time before.
He was aiming, when a faint voice at his side
said:
“ No, hurt him not; I shall get well!”
Letting the rifle fall from his grasp, he wheeled
around as if he had been shot himself.
What did he see ?
The brave Ariel had drawn the arrow from her
arm, and was sitting erect. In her right hand, was
a small earthen bottle such as was in common
use among the Murhapas.
“ Great heaven l what does this mean ? ” de-
man ded her lover, uncertain whether he was awake
or dreaming.
She smiled faintly, and said: ‘
“ I feel a little faint, but the danger is past.”
“ But,-—-but,”—he added, “the arrow was pois—
oned! ”


31] THE LAND OF MYSTERY.


“Yes, but the poison has a remedy; it is in
that,” she added, holding up the bottle ;- “my
parent always carried it; I brought it with me
when I left home.”
The overjoyed lover could not repress a shout of
joy,——a shout which penetrated every portion of the
cavern of diamonds, but whose meaning, fortunate-
ly for the couple, was not understood by the ears
on which it fell.
He knelt beside her, so that the bowlders shut
both from the view of any prowlers who might
seek to reach them. He kissed the happy face
again and again; he called her the sweetest names
that ever mortal uttered, and he assured her that
they should both live and be happy forever.
In his overflowing bliss, he could not realize
that they were still walled in on every hand. All
that he could know and feel, was, that she was
spared from a dreadful death,—that she had inter-
posed her own precious body to protect him from
harm.
Enwrapped in his arms, she was obliged to con-
fess that the bringing of the potent remedy was an
inspiration, when she stole out of her father’s
house, for she never dreamed of the use to which
it would be put.
She had forgotten all about it, until the sharp
twinge in her arm apprised her that she was struck
by the fearful missile. Then, as she was about to


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 321
' they cared nothing for that.
But this was not likely to take place for a con-
siderable time, though the possibility led Ashman
to push forward with all vigor, often pausing to lis-
ten for sounds of pursuit.
The extreme caution of the lovers led them to
trend much further into the woods than was really
necessary, and they were a long time, therefore, in
reaching the Xingu.
Neither had eaten food for an unusual while, but
They were too anx-
ious for any thought except that of getting for-
ward as fast as possible.
As they progressed, startled now and then by
the prowling wild beasts which threatened attack
more than once, and by the sight of enormous ser-
pents, some in trees and some on the ground, Fred
Ashman’s thoughts naturally went forward, and he
speculated as to what was the result of the attack
on his friends the preceding night in the village.
He could comprehend the frightful situation in
which they were placed by the enmity of the king,
and it seemed incredible that any, or at least all of
them, could have extricated themselves from their
peril. Gladly would he have risked everything in
their defence, but, as has been shown, that was
beyond his power at any time.
The young American shrank from firing his gun,
through fear of the report reaching the ears of the


322 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

Murhapas. If that should take place, it would be
sure to excite their suspicious, and prompt an in-
vestigation which the fugitives dreaded.
Once a jaguar became so threatening, that he
leveled his weapon convinced that he must fire or
be attacked, but the snarling beast finally with-
drew, after sneaking behind them for a long dis-
tance.
The sun had passed the meridian when the wan-
derers caught the gleam of water among the trees
in front. They hastened forward, and a moment’s
survey of the stream convinced them that they had
reached the Xingu beyond all question.
Ashman recognized several features along the
banks which he had noticed on his way up the
river. Ariel was equally positive, so they dis-
missed the question from their minds.
Both were nearly exhausted, for they had had
a tiresome tramp, during all of which they were
under a severe mental strain. They felt that, at
last, they could sit down and rest themselves before
resuming their journey.
“The next thing to be done,” said Ashman as
he imprisoned the hand of Ariel and drew her
head upon his shoulder, “is to find some boat in
which we can float down stream. It will be less
work than we had in ascending it.”
“ I suppose,” she replied, “ that there are people


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 323
‘»-§:—n.
all the way along the river until you reach the end
of it.”
“There are; but we found most of them un-
friendly long before we struck the region of the
Aryks.”
“ Are they likely to attack us? ” she asked,
raising her head and looking at her lover with an
alarmed eXpression.
“ We had little difficulty, so long as we kept in
the middle of the stream, and one discharge from
our guns was generally enough to drive them
away.”
“And for how far does this prevail?”
“ Two or three days ought to take us out of the
danger. Then it will be plain sailing all the rest of
the way. The river is long, but, dearest, we shall
be with each other, and it will seem brief.”
She parted her lips to make asuitable reply, when
a startled expression came upon her lovely counte-
nance and she whispered:
“ They must have followed us through the
woods.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, grasping his
rifle.
“ I hear some one moving behind us.”
“ It is a wild animal ”
He checked himself, for, to his unspeakable
amazement, Professor Grimcke at that instant
stepped to view.


324 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
The two men caught sight of each other at the
same moment. They stared as if in doubt, and
then, with exclamations of delight, clasped hands,
By great good fortune, the lovers had emerged
from the forest within a stone’s throw of the point
where Grimcke, Long, Bippo and Pedros were
wearily waiting with the canoe hidden among the
trees.
It was a happy reunion, and for a time there was
nothing but the shaking of hands and the exchange
of congratulations. Ariel blushingly received the
respectful salutations of her new friends ; and
when Ashman declared that she had engaged pas.
sage on the return boat, she blushed still deeper
and admitted that whither her lover went she
would go, and where he died she would die.
It was easy for the party to provide the a-hun-
gered people with the best meal they could wish.
That finished, the canoe was brought from its
hiding place in the woods and once more launched.
All took their places and the descent of the Xingu
was begun.
A long voyage was before them, more than a
thousand miles in extent, with many falls and
rapids in the upper portion, but it is much easier
to go down stream than to ascend it, as every one
knows, and by and bye the river so broadened and
deepened that it was like sailing over a moonlit


THE LAND OF MYSTERY. 325
“1:3 - "MN—is
summer sea. The canvas was spread and rarely
were the oars called into play.
Afew days carried them beyond danger from
Murhapas, Aryks and other hostile tribes, which
line the Upper Xingu, and there was no further
cause for alarm.
It was on this delightful journey homeward that
Ashman told the secret of the cavern of diamonds.
He insisted on dividing the wonderful specimens
that he had brought away with him. When he had
done so every member of the party felt himself re-
paid tenfold for the risks and dangers he had run.
Bippo and Pedros were not forgotten, and Ariel
made known, what was as much a surprise to her
lover as the rest, that she too had secured some ex-
traordinary gems. She presented one to each of
her friends and then had enough left to enrich her
for life.
All in good time the Amazon was reached, with-
out incident worthy of note. Bippo and Pedros
were left at Marcapa, where, when it became known
that Quincal had been slain by the savages of the
Matto Grosso, they were looked upon as men that
had returned from the grave.
At this same port the explorers secured passage
for home, where they also arrived in safety. And
in that land so new, so novel, and so strange to
the beauteous Ariel, daughter of Haifgo, king of
the Murhapas, we bid good-bye to our friends.


326 THE LAND OF MYSTERY.
But to her, Ashman was all the world; and in the
sunshine of their mutual love they dwell to-day,
happy, grateful, contented, and envying no one,
assured, as they are, that none can be more blessed
than they.
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
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