[11] See Mr. Barrington Brown's 'Canoe and Camp Life Among the Indians of British Guiana,' p. 71. He says these animals hunt in packs of as many as a hundred or more. It was hours before the din died down; and then, just when the tired travellers were falling asleep, the most appalling, human-like cries broke forth, sounding first quite close at hand, and then dying away in a long-drawn wail or shriek. Again the new-comers started up in alarm; but Templemore, smiling feebly, bade them take no notice. "It is only the 'lost souls'," said he.[12] [12] See foot-note, Chapter V., p. 52. "The 'lost souls'!" exclaimed Kingsford. "What can you mean?" He began to think the other must be raving. "I know no more than you do," was Templemore's reply. "So the Indians account for those sounds, and that is all I can tell you. Since I have been here they have serenaded me thus every night--even sometimes by day--and at times I have thought all the 'lost souls' from the Infernal Regions must have been let loose for my especial entertainment--or to frighten me to death or drive me mad--I know not which. I really think, if I had not had the company of this faithful beast--she always roars back defiance at them--I _should_ have gone mad." Towards morning the sounds ceased, and sleep became possible for two or three hours. But when, at daylight, the Indians rose and ventured out, they found the great snake had been almost completely devoured. Only some bones and a few bits of skin were left. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE END. Templemore was carried, with much difficulty, to 'Monella Lodge,' where an attack of fever supervened, and it was nearly two weeks before the doctor pronounced him out of danger. Carenna came over from her village to nurse him, and tended him as devotedly as she had Leonard. In the height of the fever he raved constantly of the great devil-tree, of gigantic serpents, of Monella, and of 'lost souls'; and, mixed up with all, were a number of names strange to those who listened to him; for he had been too ill when found in the cavern to give more than a brief idea of the adventures he had passed through. While he lay upon his bed of sickness, anxious friends watched from the mountain top for tidings of his fate, but received no intelligible answers to their signals; for none of those now with Templemore knew how to reply to them. Thus it was not till he was convalescent and well enough to be taken out into the open air, that any interchange of messages became possible. Those below, looking up, day after day had seen little flashes of light, of which they could make nothing; but now Templemore explained their meaning. A search in the cabin brought to light the mirror Monella had thoughtfully packed up and hidden carefully away; and Templemore was thus able at last to open communication with his Roraima friends. His first signalled message to them brought back the reply:--