Part 16 (2/2)
Tihed
”Ahat's the use o' trying to educate you guys?”
”You sed a ,” Pedro grinned
Tiarette, then squatted and joined the others in their frugal breakfast of coffee and _chibeh_--a handful of farinha ourd When it was finished McKay, who never sgested:
”Guess we'd better plan our can We didn't take time yesterday In case we find no trace of the Raposa at the place where you fello hihtfully, stared into the fire
”There will be tih to decide that, Capitao, after we have visited that place,” he said, slowly ”Still, perhaps it is best to ed at any ti flaarette stub into it, he continued:
”If I were going alone to find a o first to the Mayorunas and work through them to make sure of a friendly reception by the other people I would--”
”Why, that's the very thing Schwandorf suggested!”
”Yes? I have not heard what he said Tell me”
McKay did so Lourenco smiled
”Sometimes, Capitao, the devil puts into the hands of ainst himself So it is now That _Allemao_, Schwandorf, never expected you to reach the people you seek, but the plan is good
It would not be good if you followed it exactly as he laid it out, but things have changed; and what you could not do with Peruvian companions, or alone, you perhaps can do with us I will show you
”It happens that I have been twice a in a certain _ain Perhaps you know that those people live in scattered _malocas_, each ruled by its own chief--”
”Yes, we know about that”
”Good Noent to any _ht be killed at once But at that _maloca_ of which I speak I a men, for I once led them on a raid into Peru So they will remember me--”
”What's that?” Knowlton interrupted, in amazement ”You led a cannibal tribe on the warpath?”
”Just so, senhor It is a long story, but these are the facts:
”There was in Peru a gang of killers, robbers--and worse--who called themselves the Peccaries They raided one of the coronel's ca except myself and one other, and used us two as slaves and beasts of burden
”The other e myself on those foul outlaws There was much rubber of the coronel's, worth much money at that ti hold in the hills of Peru, they caet out that rubber
”On that return journey I tried to kill the leader, as called El Amarillo--yellow-skinned I failed, and he hadin tor slowly
See Here are the marks”
All three of the Americans had noticed on the previous day that each of Lourenco's hands was disfigured by a scar which looked as if a spike had been driven through Now he held those hands forward for their inspection Then he pulled off his loose shi+rt and rolled up his trousers They saw other scars in the big muscles before the arhs and calves
”The dirty Hun!” Tirated