Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-09-26
ARGUS
MISCELLANEOUS.
IN THE JUNaLEs OF BRAZIL.

giles of Brazil as two adventures
threw their knapsacks from their
backs, leaned their rifles against the
trunk of tree conveniently near,
and set about building a fire; not
only that they might prepare a
slight repast, but that the blaze
might render the scene more cheer
full, and also protect the hunters,
for such they were, from an UNI
expected attack of wild beasts.
IF the Indian is right in his con-
GESTURE, and | have made no mis-
take in my calculations, we should
be near the Francisco River" re-
marked the elder of the two men,
who was perhaps some forty years
of age, and whose every appearance
indicated that he had spent a large
portion of his time in communion
with the solitudes of nature.
II suppose, Sydney, that when we
reach the stream, you intend to fol-
low the current down aAoat, do you
not?"
Most of the way, Bertram, for
that will be by far our easiest mode
of travel. You had better discharge
one of the guns to let Doce know
we have made halt, that is, if he
is within hearing. Else he may
wander about in the forest until
midnight ere he finds us"
The young man addressed as
Bertram, who had just thrown n
little dry wood OH the fire, reached
for one of the weapons and fired its
contents into the air; the report
echoed among the lofty trees and
startled "a flock of parrots from their
nests in the branches overhead,
causing them to fly away, screech-
ing in the darkness.
"Phew. How that rings i'll ones
ears" observed Sydney, Surely,
if the native is within five miles of
our camp, he must have heard it.
Sydney Roberts and his younger
companion, Bertram Hazelton, were
two American naturalists, hunting
in the wilds of Brazil, in the in
terests of science. They had al
ready been some four weeks in the
forest, and the day OIL which we find
them they had despatched four men,
bers of their company to Victoria,
on the sea-coast, with a number of
specimens of the animal kingdom
which they had secured, and were
now pushing OH under the guidance
of Doce, a half-breed Indian, to the
northward, calculating to again
strike the Atlantic near the mouth
of the Francisco River.
The elder hunter was Just pre-
pairing to fill two tin cups with
smoking coffee, when the cracking
Of underbush was heard in the
woods near at hand.
There comes Doce, now," said
Sydney, putting down the coffee
pot and placing his right hand OIL
the butt of a revolver which he wore
in his belt, while Bertram reached
for the rifle-for although they
were almost sure of seeing the
swarthy face of the Indian peer at
them through the shrubbery, yet
they were too much experienced in
the wilderness to be caught I'M
prepared to defend themselves.
Imagine their surprise, however,
when an utter stranger to both
stepped out into the little circle of
light.
Their visitor halted as his eyes
rested on the two men, then he
lifted a hand, palm upward, which
is sign of amity the world over.
The sudden appearance of the
newcomer did not surprise our
friends more than did the costume
which the man wore, for his garb,
though soiled and worn somewhat,
was that belonging TO the priest
hood.
AS the naturalists gazed in aston
ishment at their visitor, the latter
stepped forward, muttered bene-
diction in the Portuguese tongue,
and then quietly seated himself be-
fore the fire. Partially recovering
his composure, Sydney Roberts
handed their singular guest dish
of coffee and hard biscuit, re-
marking as he did so:
I'VE are well met, my friend. =
But by what accident or freak of
fortune is one of your holy order
wanderer in the wilderness?"
The padre first took slight
draught of the refreshing beverage,
and then in a low, musical voice. he
replied in English: