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Updated: May 29, 2025
In the winter it flies off to the warm regions of eastern Peru, so Isoro told us. "I am afraid that it will not live in captivity," he remarked. "Shall I kill it for you, senora?" "Oh no! no!" exclaimed Ellen. "On no account. If I cannot make a pet of it, I would not keep it even as an unwilling captive. Pray, let it go at once." Isoro let the bird perch on his finger.
Isoro said he had therefore no fear of being ill-treated by any of the natives he might encounter. As soon as breakfast was over, while John and Domingos remained at the hut, assisting Ellen and Maria to overhaul and re-arrange our goods, Arthur and I strolled out to try and shoot some birds. We had not gone far when we heard, at a little distance off, some loud, shrill, yelping cries.
I shall have by-and-by to recount another adventure with pumas of a far more terrific character; so will say no more about them at present, except that we found the flesh very white, and much like veal. We spent three days at the encampment. At length one evening Don Jose declared his intention of setting forth himself with Isoro.
As soon as Don Jose had gone, Isoro set out according to his directions to find some natives. We were still, it will be remembered, within Peruvian territory; and although but slight communication was kept up with the natives of the scattered villages, yet the Spaniards had for some years past made their power felt, as the Incas had done in former ages, even in these remote districts.
Now we saw the stern of the leading canoe lifted up, and it appeared as if her bows were going under. I could not refrain from uttering a shriek of horror. Isoro and the Indians remained calm, just guiding our canoe. John's canoe disappeared. On we went, expecting the same fate which I dreaded had overtaken her. An instant afterwards we saw her again gliding on calmly.
We reached the edge of a deep ravine, which appeared to bar our further progress. Don Jose, however, without making any remark, continued climbing on along it; and at length I saw what appeared to be a rope stretched across the chasm. "Hasten, master! hasten!" I heard Isoro cry out: I knew enough of the Quichua language to understand him.
Don Jose and his faithful Isoro returned at length to Ecuador, when peace was once more established in that long distracted province; and the cacique wrote whenever an opportunity occurred for sending a letter down the Amazon. Senhor Pimento and his family after a time returned to their estate, and we never failed to pay them a visit when we went up the river.
Isoro told us that the Indians were unable to proceed further, and that after this we should find the navigation tolerably easy. The sand-bank, he said, was frequented by turtles, and they hoped to be able to supply us and themselves with a good store of eggs, and to catch also some turtles.
We were very sorry to hear of Don Jose's intention of leaving us, as we had hoped that he intended to accompany us till we could overtake our father, though we were greatly obliged to him for his proposal of allowing Isoro to remain with us. Once more, the clouds clearing away, we proceeded on our journey.
"A puma has carried off one of the hogs," said John, who appeared with his gun ready for action. "Where has it gone?" I asked. "That is what we are going to ascertain," he answered. We set out with Don Jose, Isoro, and several of the Indians, the latter armed only with their spears.
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