. Our search for a wilderness; an account of two ornithological expeditions to Venezuela and to British Guiana . and uncer-tainly after the cramped position in which we had beencompelled to sit for so many hours. At last Marciano held high his lantern and we saw toweringbefore us a huge white cross. Instinctively we all pausedreverently. Whatever ones faith may be, it is impossible tocome thus upon the symbol of a great and ancient church,standing in the midst of a vast and primeval wilderness,without a feeling of awe and reverence. There in the teem-ing ceaseless life of the wilderness was th
. Our search for a wilderness; an account of two ornithological expeditions to Venezuela and to British Guiana . and uncer-tainly after the cramped position in which we had beencompelled to sit for so many hours. At last Marciano held high his lantern and we saw toweringbefore us a huge white cross. Instinctively we all pausedreverently. Whatever ones faith may be, it is impossible tocome thus upon the symbol of a great and ancient church,standing in the midst of a vast and primeval wilderness,without a feeling of awe and reverence. There in the teem-ing ceaseless life of the wilderness was the mystery ofcreation: and there stood the white cross, a symbol of mansattempt to solve the tremendous problem of creation andimmortality. 226 OUR SEARCH FOR A WILDERNESS. The light revealed a crude little church with an adjoiningbuilding standing behind the cross. To this other buildingthe Indians led us. We knocked gently, then harder, thenpounded. No response! Half a dozen dogs gathered andhowled mournfully. At last finding a side door ajar, weentered a spacious room, part dining-room, part school-room,. Fig. (h- A Vista of the Biara. with a loom and a half-finished Indian hammock in one cor-ner. We called and shouted, we pounded on the floor andwalls, and at last from the distance — upstairs — came ;manswering roar. Down to us came the jolliest priest we everhope to meet. Two strange men and women had invadedhis castle at midnight, routing him out of well-earned rest,and yet his welcome was as warm as though we were expected THROUGH THE COASTAL WILDERNESS. 227 friends. Our jovial host furnished us with lights, and gaveus permission to sling our hammocks from the rafters of thegreat school-room. About one oclock in the morning werolled into our swinging couches completely tired out. Butsleep was not to be had at once. An ominous gritting squeakwas heard, then another, and our faces were softly fanned byinvisible wings. Vampires! came the exclamation fromthe furthermost h
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