apons of steel, burdening themselves
with queer weights on their backs, now invaded the wilderness which they
and their fathers had roamed untrammeled for centuries. The invaders in
turn studied the faces of the Mayorunas, of whom so many gruesome tales
were told. For long silent minutes primitive and civilized man probed
each other for signs of treachery--and found none.

Tim, forgetting the orders of the day, spoke out abruptly. At the gruff
jar of his voice the wild men started and raised their weapons.

"Say, are those guys cannibals? I was lookin' to see some ugly mutts
with underslung jaws and mops o' frizzy hair, like them Feejee Islanders
ye see pitchers of. Barrin' the paint, I've seen worse-lookin' fellers
than these back home."

With which he gave the savages a wide, unmistakably approving grin.

"Shut up!" muttered McKay.

Lourenco, unruffled, made instant capital of Tim's remarks.

"My comrade of the red hair," he said in the Indian tongue, "has never
before seen the mighty warriors of the Mayorunas, and is astonished to
find them such handsome men. He says his own countrymen are not so good
to look upon."

Slowly the menacing arrows sank. As the savages studied Tim's wholesome
grin and absorbed the broad flattery of Lourenco a slight smile passed
over their faces. They stood more at ease. The whites sensed at once
that, for a moment, at least, a friendly footing had been established,
and relaxed from their own tension.

Once more Lourenco spoke, motioning toward the farther distances. The
Indian who had first appeared now replied briefly. Two of the others
stepped back to their trees and lifted long, hollow tubes.

"What's them?" demanded Tim.

"Blowguns," Pedro answered. "They use them for small or thin-skinned
game. See, the two blowgun men carry also short darts in their quivers,
and small pouches of poison."

"Uh-huh. They like their poison a dang sight better 'n I do. Say, are
them guys goin' to march behind us? I don't want no poison needles
slipped into my back, accidental or other ways."

Two of the savages were walking toward the rear of the line. Knowlton,
exasperated, snapped out:

"They'll walk where they like, and you'll do well to give us more
marching and less mouth. You nearly spilled the beans just now, and if
Lourenco hadn't said something that pleased these fellows we all might
be in the soup this minute. Pipe down!"

"Aw, Looey, I only said these guys were good-lookin'.