CHAPTER VII "To-morrow we Disappear into the Unknown"

andduringthistimetheriverslowlyrisesuntilitattainsaheightofnearlyfortyfeetaboveitslow-watermark.Itfloodsthebanks,extendsingreatlagoonsoveramonstrouswasteofcountry,andformsahugedistrict,calledlocallytheGapo,whichisforthemostparttoomarshyforfoot-travelandtooshallowforboating.AboutJunethewatersbegintofall,andareattheirlowestatOctoberorNovember.Thusourexpeditionwasatthetimeofthedryseason,whenthegreatriveranditstributariesweremoreorlessinanormalcondition. Thecurrentoftheriverisaslightone,thedropbeingnotgreaterthaneightinchesinamile.Nostreamcouldbemoreconvenientfornavigation,sincetheprevailingwindissouth-east,andsailingboatsmaymakeacontinuousprogresstothePeruvianfrontier,droppingdownagainwiththecurrent.InourowncasetheexcellentenginesoftheEsmeraldacoulddisregardthesluggishflowofthestream,andwemadeasrapidprogressasifwewerenavigatingastagnantlake.Forthreedayswesteamednorth-westwardsupastreamwhichevenhere,athousandmilesfromitsmouth,wasstillsoenormousthatfromitscenterthetwobanksweremereshadowsuponthedistantskyline.OnthefourthdayafterleavingManaosweturnedintoatributarywhichatitsmouthwaslittlesmallerthanthemainstream.Itnarrowedrapidly,however,andaftertwomoredays'steamingwereachedanIndianvillage,wheretheProfessorinsistedthatweshouldland,andthattheEsmeraldashouldbesentbacktoManaos.Weshouldsooncomeuponrapids,heexplained,whichwouldmakeitsfurtheruseimpossible.Headdedprivatelythatwewerenowapproachingthedooroftheunknowncountry,andthatthefewerwhomwetookintoourconfidencethebetteritwouldbe.Tothisendalsohemadeeachofusgiveourwordofhonorthatwewouldpublishorsaynothingwhichwouldgiveanyexactclueastothewhereaboutsofourtravels,whiletheservantswereallsolemnlysworntothesameeffect.ItisforthisreasonthatIamcompelledtobevagueinmynarrative,andIwouldwarnmyreadersthatinanymapordiagramwhichImaygivetherelationofplacestoeachothermaybecorrect,butthepointsofthecompassarecarefullyconfused,sothatinnowaycanitbetakenasanactualguidetothecountry.ProfessorChallenger'sreasonsforsecrecymaybevalidornot,butwehadnochoicebuttoadoptthem,forhewaspreparedtoabandonthewholeexpeditionratherthanmodifytheconditionsuponwhichhewouldguideus. ItwasAugust2ndwhenwesnappedourlastlinkwiththeouterworldbybiddingfarewelltotheEsmeralda.Sincethenfourdayshavepassed,duringwhichwehaveengagedtwolargecanoesfromtheIndians,madeofsolightamaterial(skinsoverabambooframework)thatweshouldbeabletocarrythemroundanyobstacle.Thesewehaveloadedwithalloureffects,andhaveengagedtwoadditionalIndianstohelpusinthenavigation.Iunderstandthattheyaretheverytwo—AtacaandIpetubyname—whoaccompaniedProfessorChallengeruponhispreviousjourney.Theyappearedtobeterrifiedattheprospectofrepeatingit,butthechiefhaspatriarchalpowersinthesecountries,andifthebargainisgoodinhiseyestheclansmanhaslittlechoiceinthematter. Soto-morrowwedisappearintotheunknown.ThisaccountIamtransmittingdowntheriverbycanoe,anditmaybeourlastwordtothosewhoareinterestedinourfate.Ihave,accordingtoourarrangement,addressedittoyou,mydearMr.McArdle,andIleaveittoyourdiscretiontodelete,alter,ordowhatyoulikewithit.FromtheassuranceofProfessorChallenger'smanner—andinspiteofthecontinuedscepticismofProfessorSummerlee—Ihavenodoubtthatourleaderwillmakegoodhisstatement,andthatwearereallyontheeveofsomemostremarkableexperiences.