friend. I would make the Mayoruna chief as friendly to me as possible. I
might even take a Mayoruna woman for a time--some of them are handsome,
and such a step would make me almost a Mayoruna myself in their eyes.
Then I would persuade the chief to send messengers to the Red Bones with
word of me and a request that I be allowed to visit their settlement.
The request, coming from the Mayoruna chief, probably would be granted.
I would then go in with a bodyguard of Mayorunas, do my business, and
come out via the Mayoruna route."

A thoughtful silence ensued. Bottle necks clinked against the cups.

"Something in that idea," conceded Knowlton. "A good deal in it. Barring
the woman part, of course."

"Ay," spoke McKay, his tone casual as ever. "When you came out what
would you do with your woman, _mein Herr_?"

Schwandorf, tongue loosened a bit by his kuemmel, chuckled.

"Ho-ho! The woman? Leave her, of course, when she had served my purpose.
Why bother about a woman here and there?"

"I see." McKay's face, indistinct in the gloom, was unreadable, but his
tone had a caustic edge.

Schwandorf laughed again. "You are fresh from the woman-worshiping
United States and you disapprove. But this is the jungle, and all is
different. '_Cada terra com seu uso_,' as these Brazilians say--each
land with its own ways. Perhaps when you have met the Mayoruna women,
looked on their handsome faces and shapely forms--they wear no clothing,
by the way--you will change your ideas. More than one man along this
border has risked his life to win one of those women. But that rests
with you. And now if you will excuse me, gentlemen, I have an engagement
with a man at the other end of town."

"Certainly. We are indebted to you for your interest."

"It is nothing. Remember that I strongly advise you not to go. But if
you will go, I shall gladly do whatever lies in my power to aid you in
preparing for the trip. Do not hesitate to call on me."

He passed into the house, returning almost at once.

"By the way," he added, "one of you has the room next mine?"

"I have it," said Knowlton.

"Yes. Are you a good sleeper? I sometimes snore most atrociously, I am
told. So perhaps--"

"Don't worry. I can sleep in the middle of a bombardment."

"You are fortunate. Good evening, gentlemen."

When he was gone they sat for a time smoking, sipping now and then at
their highballs. At length McKay said, "Humph!"

"Amen. Pretty square sort of chap