In Far Bolivia: A Story of a Strange Wild Land Read online

  Produced by Al Haines.

  Cover]

  "BRAWN ... DASHED ON TO THE RESCUE"]

  In Far Bolivia

  A Story of a Strange Wild Land

  BY

  DR. GORDON STABLES, R.N.

  Author of "'Twixt School and College" "The Hermit Hunter of the Wilds"

  "The Naval Cadet" "Kidnapped by Cannibals" &c.

  _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. FINNEMORE, R.I._

  BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED

  LONDON GLASGOW DUBLIN BOMBAY

  1901

  TO

  MARIE CONNOR LEIGHTON

  (NOVELIST AND CRITIC)

  THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED

  EVERY KINDLY WISH

  BY

  THE AUTHOR

  PREFACE

  Every book should tell its own story without the aid of "preface" or"introduction". But as in this tale I have broken fresh ground, it isbut right and just to my reader, as well as to myself, to mentionprefatorially that, as far as descriptions go, both of the natives andthe scenery of Bolivia and the mighty Amazon, my story is strictlyaccurate.

  I trust that Chapter XXIII, giving facts about social life in La Paz andBolivia, with an account of that most marvellous of all sheets of freshwater in the known world, Lake Titicaca, will be found of generalinterest.

  But vast stretches of this strange wild land of Bolivia are a closedbook to the world, for they have never yet been explored; nor do we knowaught of the tribes of savages who dwell therein, as far removed fromcivilization and from the benign influence of Christianity as if theywere inhabitants of another planet. I have ventured to send my heroesto this land of the great unknown, and have at the same time endeavouredto avoid everything that might border on sensationalism.

  In conclusion, my boys, if spared I hope to take you out with me againto Bolivia in another book, and together we may have stranger adventuresthan any I have yet told.

  THE AUTHOR.

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  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I--ON THE BANKS OF THE GREAT AMAZON CHAPTER II--STRANGE ADVENTURES IN THE FOREST--LOST! CHAPTER III--BURNLEY HALL, OLD AND NEW CHAPTER IV--AWAY DOWN THE RIVER CHAPTER V--A DAY IN THE FOREST WILDS CHAPTER VI--"NOT ONE SINGLE DROP OF BLOOD SHED" CHAPTER VII--"A COLD HAND SEEMED TO CLUTCH HER HEART" CHAPTER VIII--FIERCELY AND WILDLY BOTH SIDES FOUGHT CHAPTER IX--THAT TREE IN THE FOREST GLADE CHAPTER X--BENEE MAKES A STRANGE DISCOVERY CHAPTER XI--ALL ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS CHAPTER XII--BENEE ENTRENCHED--SAVAGE REVELS IN THE FOREST CHAPTER XIII--THE MARCH TO THE LOVELESS LAND CHAPTER XIV--THE HOME OF THE CANNIBAL--BENEE'S ROMANCE CHAPTER XV--SHOOKS-GEE'S STORY--A CANNIBAL QUEEN CHAPTER XVI--ON THE BANKS OF A BEAUTIFUL RIVER CHAPTER XVII--BILL AND HIS BOATS CHAPTER XVIII--AS IF STRUCK BY A DUM-DUM BULLET CHAPTER XIX--STRUGGLING ONWARDS UP-STREAM CHAPTER XX--THE PAGAN PAYNEES WERE THIRSTING FOR BLOOD CHAPTER XXI--THE FOREST IS SHEETED IN FLAMES CHAPTER XXII--EVENINGS BY THE CAMP FIRE CHAPTER XXIII--A MARVELLOUS LAKE IN A MARVELLOUS LAND--LA PAZ CHAPTER XXIV--BENEE'S STORY--THE YOUNG CANNIBAL QUEEN CHAPTER XXV--BENEE'S MOTHER TO THE FRONT CHAPTER XXVI--THE PALE-FACE QUEEN HAS FLED CHAPTER XXVII--THE FIGHT AT THE FORT CHAPTER XXVIII--THE DREAM AND THE TERROR! CHAPTER XXIX--EASTWARD HO! FOR MERRIE ENGLAND

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  ILLUSTRATIONS

  "Brawn ... dashed on to the rescue" . . . . . . _Frontispiece_

  "Brawn sprang at once upon his man"

  "She ... held her at arm's-length"

  "Fire low, lads ... don't waste a shot!"

  IN FAR BOLIVIA