“Niver a taste,” continued Barney.  “Ye see, if that was to happen, I would then know that it was all a drame.  I’ve more than wance expected to wake up since I comed into furrin parts; the only thing that kapes me in doubt about it is the baccy.”

“How so, Barney?”

“Why, bekase it tastes so rael, good luck to it! that I can’t git myself to think it’s only a drame.  Jist look, now,” he continued, in the same tone of voice; “if it wasn’t a drame, how could I see sich a thing as that standin’ on the rock over there?”

Martin glanced towards the spot pointed out by his friend, and immediately started up with surprise.

“Hallo!  Barney, that’s no dream, I’ll vouch for it.  He’s an Indian, and a very ugly one too, I declare.  I say, old fellow, do you know what sort of savage that is?”

“Not know,” answered the trader, glancing uneasily at the stranger.

“He might have the dacency to put on more close, anyhow,” muttered Barney, as he gazed inquiringly at the savage.

The being who had thus appeared so suddenly before the travellers belonged to one of the numerous tribes of Indians inhabiting the country near the head-waters of some of the chief tributaries of the Amazon.  He was almost entirely naked, having merely a scanty covering on his loins; and carried a small quiver full of arrows at his back, and what appeared to be a long spear in his hand.  His figure was strongly but not well formed; and his face, which was of a dark copper hue, was disfigured in a most remarkable manner.  A mass of coarse black hair formed the only covering to his head.  His cheeks were painted with curious marks of jet black.  But the most remarkable points about him were the huge pieces of wood which formed ornaments in his ears and under lip.  They were round and flat like the wooden wheel of a toy-cart, about half an inch thick, and larger than an old-fashioned watch.  These were fitted into enormous slits made in the ears and under lip, and the latter projected more than two inches from his mouth!  Indeed, the cut that had been made to receive this ornament was so large that the lip had been almost cut off altogether, and merely hung by each corner of his mouth!  The aspect of the man was very hideous, and it was by no means improved when, having recovered from his surprise at unexpectedly encountering strangers, he opened his mouth to the full extent and uttered a savage yell.

The cry was answered immediately.  In a few minutes a troop of upwards of thirty savages sprang from the woods, and, ascending the rock on which their comrade stood, gazed down on the travellers in surprise, and, by their movements, seemed to be making hasty preparations for an attack.