But it was necessary to wait awhile for Tucu and Lourenco to tell
Monitaya the tale of what had taken place; for the chief demanded
immediate and full details, and not until he had them would he return to
his _maloca_ and his hammock throne. By that time the little moon was
again ruler of the sky and the keen hunger of the voyagers had grown
ravenous. Followed by the rescued and the rescuers, he then stalked into
the tribal house and to his usual place, where he commanded that food be
brought.

On the ground, directly in front of the chief's hammock, sat a gaunt,
painted Indian around whose neck was a stout noose, the other end of the
cord being held by a muscular savage whose skull-smashing club was
gripped loosely in his other fist. As the whites reached them the noosed
man's face cracked in a grin.

"Greetings, senores," said the voice of Jose. "You will pardon me for
remaining seated, yes? The man behind me is itching for an excuse to
crush my head."

"Jose!" exclaimed both Knowlton and McKay. Though Tim had said Jose was
"tied like a dog," they had not thought to find the expression literal
truth. The sight angered them and they turned to Lourenco.

"Tell Monitaya we want this man freed!" McKay snapped. At his peremptory
tone the cannibal chieftain looked oddly at him, and when Lourenco
translated the demand--though in a more diplomatic manner--he scowled.
But he gave the clubman the word and the rope was lifted from the
prisoner's neck.

"_Gracias, amigos_," he bowed. "If I still remain seated, it is because
I am very weary--and I have not eaten since yesterday."

His thin face and his projecting ribs not only corroborated his simple
announcement, but indicated that for more than one day his food and rest
had been almost _nil_. Naked, painted, minus his fierce mustache and
flamboyant headkerchief, he appeared a far different man than the
domineering _puntero_ of a short time back. But his bold black eyes, his
reckless grin, and his mocking tone proved him the same swashbuckling
Jose, undaunted by hunger, exhaustion, or his position as prisoner of
man eaters whose enmity was implacable.

"Well, you're going to eat now, or we'll know why not!" vowed Knowlton.
"We understand that you brought a warning to Monitaya. Is this his way
of treating men who risk their lives to befriend him?"

Jose shrugged.

"Once an enemy, always an enemy. That is their rule. And do not think
that I traveled the bush and thre