Afloat in the forest, or, A voyage among the tree-tops . ertainthe cause of his disquietude. He made no inquiry; buthe could tell by the behavior of the Indian that therewas trouble on his mind. At intervals he elevated hishead above the water, and looked back over his shoulder,as if seeking behind him for the cause of his anxiety. Asthey swam on farther, Mundays countenance lost nothing ofits anxious cast, while his turnings and backward glancesbecame more frequent. Trevannion also looked back, thoughonly to ascertain the meaning of the tapuyos could see nothing to account for i
Afloat in the forest, or, A voyage among the tree-tops . ertainthe cause of his disquietude. He made no inquiry; buthe could tell by the behavior of the Indian that therewas trouble on his mind. At intervals he elevated hishead above the water, and looked back over his shoulder,as if seeking behind him for the cause of his anxiety. Asthey swam on farther, Mundays countenance lost nothing ofits anxious cast, while his turnings and backward glancesbecame more frequent. Trevannion also looked back, thoughonly to ascertain the meaning of the tapuyos could see nothing to account for it, — nothing but thetree-tops from which they had parted, and these every momentbecoming less conspicuous. Though the patron did not perceiveit, this was just what was causing the tapuyos apprehensivelooks. The sinking of the trees was the very thing thatwas producing his despondency. Stimulated less by curiosity than alarm, Trevannion couldkeep silent no longer. Why do you look back, Munday ? he inquired. Is there any danger in that direction ? Have. THE GUIDE ABANDONED. 145 you a fear that we shall he followed ? I can see nothing ex-cept the tree-tops, and them scarcely at this moment. Thats the danger. We shall soon lose sight of them alto-gether ; and then — What then ? Then — I confess, patron, I am puzzled. I did not thinkof it hefore we took to the water. O, I see what you mean. Youve heen hitherto guidingour course by the trees from which we parted. When the}are no longer in view we shall havenothing to steer by? It is true. The Great Spirit only can guide us then ! The Mundurucii evidently felt more than chagrin that hehad expressed himself so confidently about their being ableto cross the lagoon. He had only taken into considerationthe circumstance of their being able to swim, without everthinking of the chance of their losing the way. The treessinking gradually to the horizon first admonished him; andas he continued to swim farther into the clear water, hebecam
Size: 1321px × 1891px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookpublisherbostonticknorandfi
