It was an exciting moment.  The Portuguese led, pressing forward with marvellous agility and with the air of a man who is following a familiar track.  We followed in straggling order, for the way was rough, merely allowing two men to walk abreast.  Dense foliage enclosed us on either side, and, save for the noise of the men’s footsteps, and the occasional crackle of dry underwood, not a sound either of man or beast broke the stillness of the forest.