"Martain Rattler" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ballantyne R.M)

incident, and he felt none of his usual inclination to regard all that he saw in
the Brazilian forests with a comical eye. The danger they had escaped was too
real and terrible, and their almost unarmed condition too serious, to be lightly
esteemed. For the next hour or two he continued to walk by Martin's side, either
In total silence or in earnest, grave conversation; but by degrees these
feelings wore off, and his buoyant spirits gradually returned.
The country over which they had passed during the day was of a mingled
character. At one time they traversed a portion of dark forest, heavy and choked
up with the dense and gigantic foliage peculiar to those countries that lie near
the equator; then they emerged from this upon what to their eyes seemed most
beautiful scenery - mingled plain and woodland - where the excessive brilliancy
and beauty of the tropical vegetation was brought to perfection by exposure to
the light of the blue sky and the warm rays of the sun. In such lovely spots
they travelled more slowly and rested more frequently, enjoying to the full the
sight of the gaily coloured birds and insects that fluttered busily around them,
and the delicious perfume of the flowers that decked the ground and clambered up
the trees. At other times they came to plains, or Campos as they are termed,
where there were no trees at all, and few shrubs, and there the grass was burnt
brown and dry by the sun. Over such they hurried as quickly as they could; and
fortunately, where they chanced to travel, such places were neither numerous nor
extensive, although in some districts of Brazil there are Campos hundreds of
miles in extent.
A small stream meandered through the forest, and enabled them to refresh
themselves frequently, which was very fortunate; for the heat, especially
towards noon, became extremely intense, and they could not have existed without
water. So great indeed was the heat about mid-day that, by mutual consent, they
resolved to seek the cool shade of a spreading tree and try to sleep if
possible. At this time they learned, to their surprise, that all animated nature
did likewise, and sought repose at noon. God had implanted in the breast of
every bird and insect in that mighty forest an instinct which taught it to rest
and find refreshment during the excessive heat of mid-day; so that, during the
space of two or three hours, not a thing with life was seen, and not a sound was
heard. Even the troublesome mosquitoes, so active at all other times, day and
night, were silent now. The change was very great and striking, and difficult
for those who have not observed it to comprehend. All the forenoon, screams, and
cries, and croaks, and grunts, and whistles ring out through the woods
incessantly; while, if you listen attentively, you hear the low, deep, and
never-ending buzz and hum of millions upon millions of insects that dance in the
air and creep on every leaf and blade upon the ground. About noon all this is
hushed. The hot rays of the sun beat perpendicularly down upon what seems a vast
untenanted solitude, and not a single chirp breaks the death-like stillness of
the great forest, with the solitary exception of the metallic note of the
uruponga or bell-bird, which seems to mount guard when all the rest of the world
has gone to sleep. As the afternoon approaches they all wake up, refreshed by
their siesta, active and lively as fairies, and ready for another spell of work
and another deep-toned noisy chorus.
The country through which our adventurers travelled, as evening approached,
became gradually more hilly, and their march consequently more toilsome. They
were just about to give up all thought of proceeding farther that night when, on
reaching the summit of a little hill, they beheld a bright red light shining at