CHAPTER XVI
A Thrilling Encounter
Protruding from a tree bough not ten feet away was a long, sinistersnake, its evil eyes glistening in what little sunlight penetrated thedense jungle. Whether it was poisonous Joe did not know, but he knewthat even though it were not it would be dangerous to the extreme.
As cautiously as possible he nudged his companions, and then thenaturalists held their rifles tighter. Here, only a short distanceaway, was a jararaca, one of the most poisonous of Brazilianreptiles--a snake that often was known to take the aggressive.
For a moment there was silence--an ominous silence that ended in ablood-curdling hiss.
Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis raised their rifles and took long and carefulaim. Bob followed suit, although he was not sure that his aim would betrue.
Then, just as the snake prepared to strike, the men firedsimultaneously, and Bob pulled the trigger a second later.
In such a crisis it was necessary that their bullets take effect, andthey did.
The reptile's head was shattered into a horrible pulp that was all butsickening, and the great body lashed about in pain. For severalminutes the movements continued; then, as life faded out, the snakebecame less active, finally stretching out into one last mass.
"Whew!" breathed Bob, relaxing for the first time. "That was someencounter."
Mr. Holton nodded in affirmation.
"If we had been stung by those terrible fangs it would have been thelast of us," he said, casting a resentful look in that direction.
"The venom is extremely powerful," remarked Mr. Lewis, wiping theperspiration from his brow. "It is yellow in color, and takes effectalmost immediately. The nervous system becomes paralyzed in a veryshort time."
"A pleasant way to die--I don't think," muttered Joe, shrugging hisshoulders.
They made a wide circle about the reptile's body and started on thereturn journey.
"I'd like to have it as a specimen," remarked Mr. Lewis, referring tothe jararaca. "But in its shattered condition it would not be worththe taking."
The hunters rested awhile under the shade of a large hardwood tree,whose branches extended out over a great distance. Then Mr. Holtontook up his belongings, and the others did the same.
Gradually the jungle became less dense, and at last they came to thevillage, where they were given a hearty greeting by the Indians, whowere glad to see the hunters back in the village. They found ProfessorBigelow in the hut, his hands flying over the keys of the typewriter.
At first he did not notice them, thinking they were Indians, butfinally he lifted his gaze.
"What kind of luck did you have?" he inquired absently.
The others hesitated a moment at the professor's almost unconsciousquestion. It was evident that the anthropologist was becoming deeplyabsorbed in this work of observing the daily life of the little-knownIndians. Then, with a wink at the others, Mr. Holton decided on apreposterous answer to see how the professor would take it.
"We brought down two tigers and an elephant," he said, in as sobertones as he could summon.
"Hmm. Well, that's fine"--the typewriter still clicked rapidly. "Isuppose you'll have them skinned at once?"
Bob and Joe could not help breaking out in laughter, and thenaturalists joined them. Professor Bigelow looked up in surprise.
"I must confess I wish I could see something humorous," he said,stopping his writing for a moment and looking at his companions inwonder.
The others were laughing all the harder now, and poor ProfessorBigelow was bewildered beyond words. Only an explanation would satisfyhim.
As soon as Mr. Holton could regain his breath he hastened to assurethe professor that it was nothing about his person that caused thelaugh, but only his intense scientific enthusiasm. He joined in themerriment also when the joke was told.
"That's one on me," he said mirthfully. "I guess I was too deeplyengrossed in this manuscript."
The remainder of that day was spent rather idly, for, hot as it hadpreviously been, it seemed to grow all the more stifling. Bobremarked that he did not feel like doing anything but loafing, and theothers were none different.
The next day Bob, Joe, and their fathers again started out on acollecting trip and added many new specimens to the already largeassemblage. They brought in gorgeously colored macaws, screamers,woodpeckers, trumpeters, finfoots, waxbills, and many other birds.They shot many small animals, including a type of opossum, a largelizard, and an armadillo. It was indeed a large number of specimensthat the naturalists prepared that night.
"So far, everything is working out fine," smiled Mr. Lewis, as he putthe fauna up for exhibition.
Meanwhile the chief, Otari, was helping Professor Bigelow as best hecould and gave him several articles of daily use as a present, inreturn for which the professor gave the Indian beads and mirrors andother objects dear to all primitive people.
"I have enough material now to write several books," the professorsaid joyfully. "The museum certainly will welcome this information.And these articles that the chief gave me--well, they will tickle themuseum heads greatly."
Time tended to increase rather than lessen the number of dailyinterests to the explorers, and they found themselves living as in adream. The great tropical forest about them added an enchantment tothe work, and the simple, primitive people that they were living withcaused them to imagine themselves living in prehistoric times.
"It's great, Joe, old boy," said Bob, deeply stirred. "Who would haveever thought that away out here in the wilderness it would be possibleto come across things so interesting?"
"Yet," said Joe, "I suppose they wouldn't be interesting to everyone."
One day, when the party had been at the Indian village nearly a week,Bob and Joe asked permission to go into the forest and try their luckat getting specimens.
"All right," Mr. Holton replied. "But don't get too far away."
Bob picked out a rifle and Joe a small shotgun, and after partingwords with their elders they made for the jungle.
The trail was one that they had never taken, and it was consequentlynecessary to be doubly careful to pick the right branch. But they hadlittle difficulty, as the main path was much wider than the branches.
In no time they were engulfed by the jungle, which was here eventhicker than they had previously found it. Monkeys were more numerousin the tree boughs, and they peered doubtfully at the white hunterswho had invaded their land.
Joe raised his shotgun and brought several down, intent upon leavingthem at the spot until they would return to the village.
"So far, so good," remarked Bob. "Wonder what else we'll come across?"
"Time will tell," Joe replied.
On and on they trekked, keeping a sharp lookout on all sides. Once Boblost his footing and went sprawling on the ground.
"Better be more careful," warned Joe.
Suddenly there came a loud snort, and the youths were on the alert atthe instant.
Gripping their guns tightly, they stopped and waited.
Again it came, and the next minute they caught sight of a wild pig, orpeccary, rustling the tall grass not far away.
"Keep still," whispered Bob, raising his rifle. "Maybe I can get him.Then we can have meat--and his hide as a specimen."
Several moments Bob spent in taking careful aim. Then he pulled thetrigger.
Bang! Oink! Oink! Silence.
"Hurrah!" cried Joe. "Killed him dead as a doornail. Now to gethis----"
He stopped suddenly as he caught sight of something that froze himwith horror. Not fifty feet down the path rushed a drove of peccariesnumbering at least twenty.