Part 17 (1/2)

”That was not all, Senhor Tim They also put fire ants on me, which bit so cruelly that I nearly lostto have more sport with me when they came back with the rubber But after they lefta tapir's track found me and took me down from the tree

”Now the Peccaries before this had stolen so thes--I saw one of those women brutally ed to tell the two hunters I could lead thee They carried me to their _maloca_--I could not walk--and told their chief what I had said The chief caused uided the savages to the outlaw caht that followed every Peccary was killed except their leader Now that cannibal chief has not forgotten me--”

”Wait a minute,” protested Knowlton ”Did that Peccary leader escape?”

”No He was kept alive until a big herd of peccaries wasof the Peccaries,' he was nailed to a tree, as I had been, and told to s tore him into ribbons with their tusks”

Cal at hione down his back

”Ugh!” muttered Knowlton

”So now,” Lourenco resuain--he ht before now--he es cannot be relied on with much certainty

But if any of the Mayorunas will help us, he will It is worth trying”

”And if he is not friendly--” Knowlton paused

”We do not come back,” Pedro finished ”Have you a better plan?”

All shook their heads

”Laurenco's idea is excellent,” said McKay ”I was thinking along the sah I did not know he had any such friendly relations with a chief That makes it all the more advisable to try it, unless we find the Raposa first We, of course, will not land at the place where Schwandorf told us to go ashore, seven days from here”

”By no means,” Lourenco concurred ”In five days we leave the river and travel along the _ygarape_ If we go to the _maloca_ it will be fro to travel The others also went about the work of breaking camp By the time the canoes were loaded the mists had lifted and the river lay open and eloom still lay thick and the forest life yelped, howled, clattered, and wailed But out on the water it was broad day, and far overhead sounded the harsh cries of unseen parrots flying two by two in the sunlight above the matted branches The world of the pathless tropic wilderness, ever dying, ever living, was about its daily business The five invaders were about theirs

As the paddlers dipped, however, Knowlton held back

”Say, Rod, we didn't tell these fellows about Schwandorf's Indian Hold up a second, men”

While all rested on their paddles he spoke of the er dispatched from Nazareth Pedro and Lourenco contemplated the river, then frowned

”That may be of ie everything for us We saw a lone Indian go past the coronel's place, traveling fast, three days before you caive much to knohere he is now and ord he carries A short , you say We shall keep watch for such a man Perhaps we may meet him”

Wherein he predictedout and the paddlers settled into the steady stroke to which they were growing accusto their speed to that of the Americans, who had not yet attained the muscular ease of habitual canoemen The her and hotter, the silence of approaching noon crept over the jungle on either side Then, as the time drew near when they would land for a , Pedro pointed ahead

Up out of the bush on the Peruvian shore rose a vulture It flapped sullenly away as if disappointed The bushn, paid no attention to the bird's flight, but

”Let us cross, co is there, we can eat”

But so was there All saw it before they landed--the stern of a small, speedy canoe almost concealed in a narrow rift at the botto slope were the prints of bare feet

And Pedro, scanning the tracks narrowly after he and the others reached shore, asserted, ”These were not made to-day”