hardly possible
that these people know why we're here, and hardly likely that they have
any interest in the Raposa. Lord knows I've nothing else up my sleeve.
It's a riddle to me."

It remained a riddle to the rest, for no explanation could be gleaned
from the Mayorunas. At the first halt, which did not come until nearly
sundown, the Americans discovered that one of the men in the fore canoe
was Yuara, who had been lying in the bottom of the craft and sleeping
all the afternoon. From him Lourenco attempted to get information as to
the reason for Suba's enmity--but in vain. The tall fellow spoke not a
word in reply, and his face remained unreadable.

Camp was made, and by Yuara's direction the packs of the adventurers
were restored to them. The rifles, however, remained under guard of
savages appointed by the subchief's son. When the night meal was out of
the way nothing remained but to seek hammocks and sleep, for further
attempts at conversation by Lourenco met with the same silent rebuff
from every cannibal addressed. None showed active hostility by either
look or manner, but it was plain that between wild and civilized men
stood a wall--a wall not too high for the jungle dwellers to leap over
in deadly action if occasion should be given. Wherefore the whites held
themselves aloof, said little, and slept early.

"I am glad Yuara is with us," Lourenco said. "As he promised, he does
not forget what was done for him. He will keep this band in control, and
unless I am much mistaken he will tell Monitaya all he knows of us,
which surely will not do us any harm. At any rate, we can sleep in
safety to-night. And since it does no good to puzzle about what is gone
by or to worry about what has not yet to come to pass, let us sleep
now."

"Ho-hum!" yawned Tim. "Renzo, ye spill more solid sense to the square
inch than any feller I seen in a long time. We're here because we're
here; to-day's dead and to-morrer ain't born yet, and li'l' Timmy Ryan
hits the hay right now. Night, gents."

So, surrounded by man eaters, the trailers of the Raposa slept far more
securely than on any night down the river when their companions had been
supposedly civilized Peruvians. Whether a watch was kept by their guards
during the night they neither knew nor cared, since they had no
intention of attempting escape.

They awoke to find the men of Suba diminished in number by half. Yuara,
deigning to speak for the first time since leaving the _m