savage beast that had sprung on me, not to rend, but to rescue
from death; for we know that even cruel savage brutes and evil
men have at times sweet, beneficent impulses, during which they
act in a way contrary to their natures, like passive agents of
some higher power. It was a continual pain to travel in my weak
condition, and the patience of my Indians was severely taxed; but
they did not forsake me; and at last the entire distance, which I
conjectured to be about sixty-five leagues, was accomplished; and
at the end I was actually stronger and better in every way than
at the start. From this time my progress towards complete
recovery was rapid. The air, with or without any medicinal
virtue blown from the cinchona trees in the far-off Andean
forest, was tonic; and when I took my walks on the hillside above
the Indian village, or later when able to climb to the summits,
the world as seen from those wild Queneveta mountains had a
largeness and varied glory of scenery peculiarly refreshing and
delightful to the soul.

With the Maquiritari tribe I passed some weeks, and the sweet
sensations of returning health made me happy for a time; but such
sensations seldom outlast convalescence. I was no sooner well
again than I began to feel a restless spirit stirring in me. The
monotony of savage life in this place became intolerable. After
my long listless period the reaction had come, and I wished only
for action, adventure--no matter how dangerous; and for new
scenes, new faces, new dialects. In the end I conceived the idea
of going on to the Casiquiare river, where I would find a few
small settlements, and perhaps obtain help from the authorities
there which would enable me to reach the Rio Negro. For it was
now in my mind to follow that river to the Amazons, and so down