Part 25 (2/2)
FEVER
In the _lowed all about the great roo birds or beasts which were placed before the tribal ruler for inspection and approval Fishermen armed with tridents or crude harpoons arrived with sizable trophies of their skill And at length two young bowlancing at this the chief added to his usual nod a feords of praise which rin with all their pointed teeth
Lourenco, squatting couar skin beside the lavishly decorated haue which probably dealt with his various experiences since his lastwith these people and which appeared to interest and aue and relief from tension, studied the interior of the place and watched the activities around them
As in the _maloca_ of Suba, the sledynor end
Yet, as the newcomers took time to observe it, they presently found that the confusion was only apparent and that there existed an efficient and orderly arrange froard of one another, really were arranged in triangles On the ground under the hanging beds lay woven grass uar; and in the space inclosed by each trio of hammocks burned a small fire The hammocks were the beds of men, the mats and furs the couches of women and children, and each fire was the focal point of the fale
Above the hammocks, from transverse poles, were suspended the weapons of thespears whose deadly points noere sheathed in thick scabbards of grass, the unpoisoned fish spears and harpoons Fro the quivers of arrows and darts and the small rubber-covered pouches wherein a little fresh poison was carried by warrior or hunter Thus both the ground and the air were utilized, and by the coeoods, was enabled to live in a co around the wide roo half circle of Indians who had stood outside, the two ex-officers estimated that in this tribal house and its telt seven hundred people
Tim and Pedro, less interested in the Mayoruna do the figuresabout in the reddish haze of smoke Most of them o Like the s and streaks on face and body; but, unlike the males, each wore a facial ornah the lower lip Froave the newbut well-grown girls who obviously were still unmated In fact, these last smiled openly at the lithe, handsoot ed if I crack a srinnin' Watch yourself, old-timer; they're tryin' to flirt with ye”
Pedro, aze to Tihed
”Do not fear,” he said ”My heart is still my own”
”Sarin jest the saers had spattered our brains all over the front yard awhile back But I wisht sohtie or somethin' to wear I been around some and I seen quite a lot, but I ain't used to bein' vaoo eyes the size of a plate o' fish balls I'm only a bashful country kid from N'Yawk”
”Live and learn,” chuckled Pedro ”And clothes really have nothing to do with uise, anyhow, specially ouys are lucky, I'll say; they 'ain't got to buy their wives no fur coats or silk stockin's or nothin' All the saht when I see these li'l owl-eyes givin' us the glad look I'd oughter stayed back in Reittin' all his pardners massacreed”
”Perhaps it would not be fatal, now that we are guests of the chief But it is best to take no chances”
”Safety first That's us Grin at one of 'eit sore because sheye know ye've started somethin'
without meanin' to Let's look at somethin' harmless--one o' them poisoned spears, f'r instance”
At that moment Monitaya and Lourenco both arose, the chief to inspect in person the progress of the arrangements for the feast, the bushman to return to his companions with additional news
”Monitaya tells irls in other ways than by thewoet urucu and genipapa, which they use to make the red and black body dyes, have disappeared So have several ent to the creeks for their daily baths Warriors who tried to trail them have found the footprints of a few irls had been taken away in canoes Even this tribe of Monitaya, which never has been attacked by night raiders because it is too strong, has not been safe froirls have been taken from here within the past two moons, and others have disappeared from other _malocas_”
”Hm! And Schwandorf hasn't been here recently,” said Knowlton
”No It ents hen he is not here, or else this is done without his knowledge I have told Monitaya what I know of Schwandorf, and he agrees that the women are taken as slaves I have also told him that e return down the river we shall see that Schwandorf troubles the Mayorunas no more”
”Excellent,” McKay approved ”Have you asked him about the Raposa?”