Little Rosa did not need to retreat overboard in this ignominious manner. She was in the shade, under a tiny toldo of broad leaves of a Pothos plant, which, growing parasitically upon one of the trees, had been plucked the day before, and spread between two buttresses of the dead-wood. Her cousin had constructed this miniature arbour, and proud did he appear to see his little sylph reclining under its shade.
The tapuyo, accustomed to an Amazonian sun, did not require to keep cool by submerging himself; and as for the negro, he would scarce have been discommoded by an atmosphere indicated by the highest figure on the thermometer. These two men, though born on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, were alike types of a tropical existence, and equally disregarded the fervour of a tropic sun.
Suddenly the four, who had fallen a little astern, were seen making towards the log; and by the terror depicted on their countenances, as well as their quick, irregular strokes, it was evident something in the water had caused them serious alarm. What could it all mean? It was of no use to ask the swimmers themselves. They were as ignorant of what was alarming them as their companions upon the log; they only knew that something was biting them about the legs and feet; but what it was they had not the slightest idea. It might be an insect, it might be a water-snake, or other amphibious reptile; but whatever it was, they could tell that its teeth were sharp as needles, and scored their flesh like fish-hooks.
It was not till they had gained footing upon the log, and their legs were seen covered with lacerations, and streaming with fresh blood, that they ascertained the sort of enemy that had been attacking them. Had the water been clear, they might have discovered it long before; but discoloured as it was, they could not see beneath the surface far enough to make out the character of their secret assailants. But the tapuyo well understood the signs, and, as soon as his eye rested upon them, his perplexity disappeared; and, with an exclamation that rather betokened relief, he pronounced the simple phrase, Only piranhas !
Chapter Seventy Three The Piranhas
They belong to the great tribe of the Salmonidae , of which there are many varieties in the different Amazonian rivers, all very voracious, and ready to bite at anything that may be thrown into the water. They often attack bathers, putting them to flight; and a swimmer who should unfortunately be surrounded by them, when far from the shore or a boat, would have the greatest difficulty to escape the fearful
The piteous appeals of his pet could not be resisted. Scrambling along the log he reached the projecting point, and peeped over. Almost in the same instant he recoiled with a shriek; and, calling on his patron saint, retreated to the place where he had left his companions. On his retreat Munday set out to explore the place whence he had fled, and, on reaching it, craned his neck over the end of the dead-wood, and looked below. A single glance seemed to satisfy him; and, drawing back with as much fear as the man who had preceded him, he exclaimed in a terrified shriek, Santos Dios ! tis the Spirit of the Waters!
Chapter Seventy Five The Spirit of the Waters
Mai dAgoaMunday gave an emphatic nod, but said no word, being partly awed into silence and partly lost in meditating some plan of escape from this new peril.
What did you see, Tom? continued Trevannion, addressing himself to the Irishman, in hopes of receiving some explanation from that quarter.
Be Sant Pathrick! yer honour, I cant tell yez what it was. It was something like a head with a round shinin neck to it, just peepin up out av the wather. I saw a pair av eyes, I didnt stay for any more, for them eyes was enough to scare the sowl out av me. They were glittherin like two burnin coals! Munday calls it the spirit av the wathers. It looks more like the spirit av darkness!
The Mai dAgoa , uncle, interposed the young Paraense, speaking in a suppressed voice. The Mother of the Waters ! Its only an Indian superstition, founded on the great water serpent, the anaconda. No doubt its one of these he and Tom have seen swimming about under the butt-end of the log. If it be still there I shall have a look at it myself.
The youth was proceeding towards the spot so hastily vacated by Munday and Tom, when the former, seizing him by the arm, arrested his progress. For your life, young master, dont go there! Stay where you are. It may not come forth, or may not crawl up to this place. I tell you it is the Spirit of the Waters!
Nonsense, Munday; theres no such thing as a spirit of the waters. If there were, it would be of no use our trying to hide from it. What youve seen is an anaconda. I know these water-boas well enough, have seen them scores of times among the islands at the mouth of the Amazon. I have no fear of them. Their bite is not poisonous, and, unless this is a very large one, theres not much danger. Let me have a look!