It required much coaxing on the part of the mayorong to reconcile the mule to the novel eccentricities of its rider, but in the course of the forenoon he seemed to enter into the humor of his direction with unusual zest. When fully reconciled to the swaying of the doctor’s net, with the sharp turns and checks to which he was subjected in the chase of insects, the Bamboyles left them to the full sway of their own moods. Fortunately the saddle was well adapted to secure the safety of its occupant. As they were crossing the opening of a glade, when the day was well advanced, a splendid specimen of the pampa _Nyctaloide_ hovered over the cavalada long enough to attract the doctor’s attention, then floated away, leisurely, over the plain. In a moment the insect-hunter’s net was in hand and, before he could be checked with warning caution, was under full headway in pursuit, and, when fully engaged in following the doublings of his quarry, he became deaf to the mayorong’s calls. Feeling secure in being able to keep within hail of the boat, the erratic movements of the doctor had been a source of amusement to the Bamboyles, but as the distance was narrowing between the foot-hills and the river, and withal hummocky, his danger increased. Still he was armed, and little fear was entertained for his safety, for while within call his mule could be brought back with a whistle. As he still kept heedlessly on, the mayorong sent a party of young men to bring him back. They had scarcely started, when a shrill shout from the mayorong urged them on, he and Mr. Dow following at full speed. The cause of these movements was a pursuing Indian close in the wake of the doctor. Unheedful of the danger, the doctor and his mule—who seemed to enjoy the novelty of the chase with his rider’s gusto—neared the foot-hills, where a band of Indians were seen watching the strange scene. His frantic gesticulations had undoubtedly impressed them with the belief that he was bestraught with madness; a condition held in especial reverence by aboriginals,—as they continued to regard the movements of the Indian in pursuit with negligent indifference; indeed, from his frequent hesitations, when within the cast of a spear, he seemed to be subject to the restraining influence of the same fear. The mayorong, who had allowed Mr. Dow to overtake him, had twice discharged his rifle in hopes that the report would apprise the doctor of his danger, so that he might use his pistol. But these offensive demonstrations only aggravated his danger, for the band of Indians moved rapidly forward for the rescue of their scout; he at the same time, warned by the rifle reports, cast a calculating glance backward to determine the extent of his own danger. At this juncture the butterfly rose and doubled just without the range of the distracted enthusiast’s net, then coquetted backward and forward with all the instinctive blandishments of its human type, showing as