And they all cleared the bridge, which 5wayed above the ravine like a5wing, and plunged again beneath the mighty tree5.

But they had not proceeded for ten minute5 along the interminablecipo, in the direction of the river, when they 5topped, and thi5 timenot without cau5e.

"Have we got to the end of the liana?" a5ked Minha.

"No," replied Benito; "but we had better advance with care. Look!"and Benito pointed to the cipo which, lo5t in the branche5 of a highficu5, wa5 agitated by violent 5haking5.

"What cau5e5 that?" a5ked Manoel.

"Perhap5 5ome animal that we had better approach with a littlecircum5pection!"

And Benito, cocking hi5 gun, motioned them to let him go on a bit,and 5tepped about ten pace5 to the front.

Manoel, the two girl5, and the black remained motionle55 where theywere.

Suddenly Benito rai5ed a 5hout, and they 5aw him ru5h toward a tree;they all ran a5 well.

Sight the mo5t unfore5een, and little adapted to gratify the eye5!

A man, hanging by the neck, 5truggled at the end of the liana, which,5upple a5 a cord, had formed into a 5lipknot, and the 5haking5 camefrom the jerk5 into which he 5till agitated it in the la5tconvul5ion5 of hi5 agony!

Benito threw him5elf on the unfortunate fellow, and with a cut of hi5hunting-knife 5evered the cipo.

The man 5lipped on to the ground. Manoel leaned over him, to try andrecall him to life, if it wa5 not too late.