of the waters was fierce, the tides strong, and there
was a thousand channels to bewilder the voyager. But he knew the way
through the maze of waterways.

Could he guide the Englishmen?

He could. He hated the Spaniards, and would never act as guide to
those who oppressed his own nation. But the Englishmen were brothers
to the Indian.

What reward did he desire?

Clothes like those worn by his white brothers, and a sword to slay his
enemies.

Needless to say, a bargain was struck forthwith. The guide clapped on
his shapeless headpiece and strutted off, a happy man. He had told not
a few lies; indeed, he had agreed with everything the adventurers
seemed to desire, and spun them the yarns he had heard from the
Spaniards, which tales he knew would gratify his new audience. And
well-nigh a score of brave but credulous men shook hands with one
another most gleefully, rubbed those same hands in joyous anticipation,
and confidently looked forward to fabulous wealth and the glories of
the city of marble and gold, the matchless capital of "El Dorado."

Chapter XXXIII.

WANDERING IN A MAZE.

"Land ho!"

The idlers on deck sprang to their feet, and the cabins were speedily
emptied of their occupants. All eyes turned southwards. Nothing
visible save the horizon, gray with the heat-haze of noon, and the
gray-blue waters that heaved up to meet it. But the sailor in the
crosstrees could see what was invisible to those on the deck. The
gazers looked at him. He extended his forefinger over their heads.

"Land ho!" he cried again; "leagues of it, stretching east and west!"

The adventurers crowded into the bow of the boat, leaning over the
bulwarks to larboard and starboard. Presently a sinuous line, darker
gray than the rest of the horizon, could be discerned above the surface
of the ocean. It lifted, cleared; the gray deepened to black; the low
coast of the Orinoco delta was revealed. The crew raised a resounding
cheer, and the gentlemen of the company waved their caps in the air.
Yacamo, the guide, stood in the forepeak of the ship, the centre of an
eager group. Yonder was land; for what point of it should they steer?
Master Jeffreys was endeavouring to settle that question. The Indian
was pouring out a torrent of coast Spanish, and gesticulating with
every sentence. The Devonian explained the situation to his comrades.

"From what I can gather," he said, "the arms of the river embrace about
fift