“bellbird” along with Urubu’s nickname of “vulture.” But Kamuka kept a very serious face as he replied.

“It is Urubu. Look, Senhor. I show you why.”

He pointed to a white-feathered bird that formed a tiny spot on the high branch of a tree.

“There is real campanero,” declared Kamuka. “He is saying nothing. He would answer if he heard real call.”

Mr. Brewster studied the bellbird through a pair of binoculars and promptly agreed with Kamuka. He handed the glasses to Biff, who noted that the bird, which was something like a waxwing, but larger, had an appendage that extended from its forehead and draped down over its bill. This ornament, jet-black in color, was starred with tiny tufts of feathers. Mr. Brewster called it a caruncle and explained that it was commonly seen on various species of tropical birds noted for their ringing cries.

But this bellbird remained silent, even when the distant anvil sound clanged anew.

“Urubu is signaling for Luiz,” declared Mr. Brewster. “He may wait an hour or so and try again. When Serbot finally decides that we have moved on, he will think that Luiz is taking us the long way. We should get a good head start, right now.”

The safari pressed forward at a quick pace which was maintained most of the day. The going was not as hard as Biff had anticipated. Luiz’s talk of a tough trail had been a sham, so that the party would be willing to take the long route.

Even some of the streams they encountered were already bridged with fallen trees, making crossing easy. After one such crossing, Jacome suggested stopping to eat. Mr. Brewster opened some canned goods, but most of the bearers preferred bowls of coarse cereal, made from the manioc or cassava plant. This formed their chief diet.

Jacome gnawed on a large bone of left-over tapir meat. When he had finished half of the meat, he suddenly tossed the bone into the stream. Instantly, the water flashed with silvery streaks in the shape of long, sleek fish that fought for the bone and tore the remaining meat to shreds.

“Piranha,” grunted Jacome. “They rip anybody who goes in water. If we chop away tree, Urubu will have to stop to build new bridge to get across.”

“Serbot might suspect something,” objected Mr. Brewster. “If they guess that we are on the same 

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