midnight
All the party were speedily on foot . Isoro and Domingos came rushing forward with their long poles to attack the monster ; while John , seizing his gun , fired at its head : The ball , however , glanced off its scaly coat . The reptile , finding itself disappointed of its expected feast , and that the odds were against it , retreated , and finally fell over with a loud plash into the stream . The incident warned us of the midnight visitors we might expect , and of the necessity of keeping a watch when sleeping near the river 's bank . The fire was made up afresh . We were all soon again asleep , with the exception of one of the men , who was directed by Don Jose to keep watch for the remainder of the night . The next morning our kind friend bade us farewell , and , accompanied by the bearers , took his way through the forest to the Andes .