Lost in the Wilds of Brazil Read online

  LOST IN THE WILDS OF BRAZIL

  by

  JAMES FOSTER

  The Saalfield Publishing CompanyAkron, Ohio New York

  Copyright, MCMXXXIIIThe Saalfield Publishing Company

  Printed in the United States of America

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  THE EXPLORATION SERIES BY JAMES FOSTER LOST IN THE WILDS OF BRAZIL CAPTURED BY THE ARABS SECRETS OF THE ANDES THE FOREST OF MYSTERY

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  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I A Startling Discovery 1 II Firebugs at Work 12 III Valuable Information 19 IV The Treacherous Crook 30 V A Worth-while Offer 42 VI Off for the Wilds of Brazil 49 VII New York-And On 58 VIII The Beginning of Trouble 62 IX A Daring Rescue 71 X In the Heart of the Jungle 83 XI On the Alert 93 XII A Fearful Sight 98 XIII The Death Struggle 107 XIV The Deserted Village 126 XV Danger at Hand 122 XVI A Thrilling Encounter 132 XVII Terrible Peccaries 140 XVIII A Nightmare Experience 150 XIX The Call for Help 157 XX Fighting Against Heavy Odds 165 XXI Magnificent Country 174 XXII Lost in the Wilds of Brazil 180 XXIII Terrible Cries of Savages 188 XXIV The Hideous Village 199 XXV Reunion at Last 210 XXVI The Terrible Battle 227 XXVII Human Heads Still Dripping! 232 XXVIII The Forced Get-away 238

  CHAPTER I

  A Startling Discovery

  "Look here, Joe. There's something stirring. I know the signs. Ourdads wouldn't keep together constantly, studying maps and readingbooks and making frequent trips to the museum, for nothing. It----"

  "You're right, Bob. They certainly must have something important inmind. And I have an idea as to what it is."

  "Another expedition into the unknown," cut in Bob Holton, in tonesthat implied certainty.

  "But where, do you suppose?" asked Joe Lewis, his brown eyes sparklingwith interest.

  "More than I know," the other youth replied. "Could be any place. Butwherever it is, I'll bet they've been there before. They just travelfrom one end of this little old world to another in search of birdsand reptiles and animals, and they always find them."

  "And always will," added Joe with strong conviction. "Why," he wenton, becoming even more absorbed, "do you remember the time they wentto Africa in search of a white rhinoceros?"

  "Yes. Looked high and low for several months, and finally got oneafter all hopes had been abandoned. Oh, it takes them to do it. Justlet the curator mention the things wanted, and if it's at allpossible, our dads will get them. All specimens are alike to----"

  He was interrupted by the sound of footsteps from the side of thehouse and turned to see who the person might be. While he is lookingexpectantly, it might be well to tell who the boys were, and what hadbeen their experiences up to the time this story opens.

  Bob was a big fellow, strong and muscular, and endowed with theability to do the right thing at the right time. He was one of thestar players on the high school football team. Everyone liked him--hewas so straightforward and sympathizing and trustworthy.

  Joe was of medium size, with almost black eyes and a naturally darkcomplexion. He was lighter and less robust than his friend, but waspossessed of fierce courage and bravery. He never started a thingwithout finishing it.

  Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis, fathers of the youths, were notednaturalists and collectors of specimens for museums and zoos. They hadbeen nearly everywhere and always welcomed any hint that might startthem on a new trip into the unknown. The two men had met several yearsbefore at a convention of scientists, and took a great liking to eachother. As they both lived in Washington, D. C., they agreed to worktogether in behalf of a large museum, and Mr. Lewis made an attempt topurchase the residence next to that of his friend. He was at lastsuccessful in acquiring it, and then began the warm friendship betweenthe two youths, Bob and Joe.

  The boys were together much of their time and got along excellently,following in their fathers' footsteps as much as possible by takinghikes into the woods to study nature. Fresh with the vigor of youth,they were having a grand time together, but would have had a stillgreater one had they been permitted to accompany the men on thevarious scientific expeditions.

  "You're only freshmen," Mr. Holton had told them, about three yearsbefore. "Wait till you're juniors or seniors, and then perhaps we willconsider taking you along."

  Now the boys were in their senior year, or would be when school openedthe coming fall, and were eagerly anticipating the future.

  "If they'd only make a trip this summer," said Joe, shortly afterschool had closed. "Then we might----"

  Let us return to the boys, as they cast glances at the side of thehouse. The sound of footsteps grew louder, and the next moment Bob'sfather came into view.

  "Hello, Dad."

  "Hello, Mr. Holton."

  The naturalist returned the greetings and then made his way to a porchseat. Several moments he spent in lighting a cigar. Then he turned tothe youths.

  "What's all this praise you've been giving Mr. Lewis and me for ourscientific work?" he asked, trying hard to suppress a smile.

  The young men grinned. They had not suspected this.

  "You got it right," returned Joe. "You two have done as much for themuseum as anyone else in this old U. S. And that's as straight as alion's tail when he's about to charge."

  Mr. Holton laughed unbelievingly.

  "I know your game," he chuckled. "You're paving the way to accompanyus on that Brazilian trip we're about to take. Right?"

  Bob and Joe jumped to their feet in wild excitement. A trip to Brazil!Think of that! Then their supposition was correct. Something wasstirring after all.

  Mr. Holton guessed their thoughts and broke the short period ofsuspense.

  "It's an expedition to the jungles of the Amazon," he explained, asthe boys seated themselves and listened with breathless interest."Going to get specimens of fauna for the museum. In addition, we wishto make a study of several wild Indian tribes there. It's a trip I'vealways wished to take, but, strange to say, I've never had theopportunity. You boys probably know that this region is one of theleast-known on the face of the globe. It has the world's heaviestforests, some of the most savage of people, and a wide variety ofbirds and beasts."

  "Great!" blurted out Joe in a strange, animated tone. "How wonderfulit would be! Away out in the wildest of Brazilian wilds, seeingstrange and astonishing things--things that only a very few have theopportunity of seeing."

  "It's my idea of adventure," declared Bob, taking up where his friendhad left off. "Why can't you arrange to take us with you?"

  The scientist eyed the young men intently with an expression ofsympathy.

  "Then you want to go that badly?" he asked, and then his eyes fell. Hehad been young himself once. How often had he visualized this verymission! How many times had he tramped through the heavy Westernwoods, imagining himself in a great tropical forest, with itsmysteries, thrills, and tragedies! If those longings could only havebeen satisfied when they were strongest!

  For over a minute Mr. Holton stared thoughtfully at the floor. Then,with twinkling eyes, he glanced up at the boys.

  "What would you give to go with us
?" he asked, his face brightening.

  "What!" cried Bob, with a look that combined delight withbewilderment. "You mean that we can go?"

  "Not exactly," was the reply. "I just asked you what you'd give togo."

  "Everything!" blurted out Joe. "Everything we've got--and then some.Oh, do take us, Mr. Holton," he went on more pleadingly. "We're oldenough by now to take care of ourselves."

  "I'd like to have you," the naturalist said. "And so would yourfather. But your mothers----" Here he stopped. It was unnecessary tocontinue. The youths understood.

  "But I'm sure they'll consent," Bob said, with a certainty that he wasfar from feeling. "Especially if they know you are willing to haveus."

  "Of course there's a possibility," the man assured them. "But Iwouldn't be too sure of it. You know how they are. Unwilling to havetheir sons take any unnecessary risks. Well, perhaps they're right,"he went on, tapping the chair thoughtfully. "Perhaps it isn't best totax good fortune too much. You boys are young and have a great futurebefore you. What if anything should happen----"

  "But, Dad," Bob pleaded, "nothing will happen. We'd be with you andMr. Lewis--and anyone else who would be along. Nothing has happened toyou so far. You've always come back O.K."

  "We've had some narrow escapes, though," with a shaking of the head."Fever, wild beasts, savages, hurricanes--there's no limit to thenumber of tragedies that may befall an expedition into the unknown.But then," his tones became more lively, "you boys want to go with usregardless of these dangers, and if I must say so, I believe you'dmake a good showing. I'll talk the matter over with Mr. Lewis and yourmothers and let you know later how things look."

  "Fine!" cried Bob, overwhelmed with joy. "Now tell us some more aboutthis mission. What section of Amazonia do you intend to explore?"

  "The lower middle," was the response. "We intend to follow the Amazonto the Purus River, where we'll branch off and travel by native canoesfor approximately five hundred miles."

  Joe gave a long whistle.

  "Five hundred miles by canoe!" he gasped, almost unbelievingly. "Seemsalmost impossible. How can you take food enough along?"

  "Does seem sort of absurd. But we'll manage it. And we expect to liveon game and fish to a certain extent. Everything will have to be timedto a dot. We won't dare stay any longer than our food supply lasts.When that begins to get low, back to civilization we'll go."

  "How long do you expect to be gone?" Bob asked.

  "We--ll, perhaps three or four months. We want to get as much done aspossible. You see," he explained, "as I said before, our stay islimited to the supply of provisions we have with us. If it werepossible to carry enough, I would like to spend at least six monthsthere. What a wonderful opportunity to study primitive man in hiseveryday life."

  "Should think it would be rather dangerous," remarked Joe. "He mightobject and study you instead. Headhunters, I mean."

  "It's a chance we have to take," was the reply. "But after all, if wetreat them kindly there is little danger. Human nature is much thesame all over the globe."

  "I'll trust you to come out all right," Bob said.

  "We hope to," the scientist returned. "And we also hope to addgreatly to the world's knowledge of Brazil and its animalinhabitants."

  "At present that isn't very much, is it?" Joe asked.

  "You can't exactly say that," Mr. Holton answered, "for a large amountis known about different sections that have been more or lessfrequented by civilized man. But when you refer to the deeper, moreinaccessible regions, then it's different. Of course there have beennumerous expeditions sent out to explore these unknown sections, buteven now there is a large and interesting field open to thescientist."

  "Well," said Bob, after a short silence, "I only hope that Joe and Imay go with you."

  "We'll see about it," his father replied. "But I can assure you thatconsent from your mothers will not come without considerable---- Well!Look who's here. Come on the porch and sit down, Ben." He referred toJoe's father, Mr. Lewis, who, as usual, was to be his intimatecompanion during their stay in Brazil.

  Mr. Lewis was a man of medium height, with sparkling blue eyes and acomplexion that was extremely bronzed.

  "Hello, friends," he greeted, seating himself and wiping theperspiration from his brow. "I suppose," he said to Mr. Holton,"you've been telling the boys about our coming expedition to SouthAmerica. Right?"

  "Right!" echoed Bob. "And not only that, but Joe and I are going withyou."

  "What's that!" Mr. Lewis cried in surprise.

  "Yes," Bob's father returned, "they've put in their request to be apart of the expedition. What do you think of it?"

  "Well--a--I hardly know. How do you think their mothers will look atit?"

  Mr. Holton shook his head.

  "Impossible to say," he answered. "But we can all guess. Still, if wesee fit to take the boys along, we can put the matter before them.They may consent after considerable pleading."

  "Hurrah!" cried Joe, in tones of gratitude. "And I'm sure----"

  He stopped suddenly and sniffed the air sharply.

  "There's something burning," he said quietly, and then moved aroundthe house.

  The next instant he was back, pale-faced and panic-stricken.

  "Our garage is on fire!" he cried. "It's all ablaze!"