ey. The tall warrior arose after his chief, emphasizing all that his
lord had said.

The chiefs of the tribe did not reply at once, but held a brief
consultation apart. They were not inclined to accept the white men at
their visitor's valuation, nor were they prepared to take up arms
against such wonderful beings without very serious cause. From the
chief's own showing they had treated him in a brotherly spirit at
first. Other native tribes had, apparently, fraternized with the
strangers, and had got considerable advantage thereby. As regards the
city of gold, the chiefs had never heard of the place themselves,
although they had occasional dealings with peoples who dwelt near the
head waters of the great river. But the white strangers were wise, and
knew things that the gods had not told to other men. Maybe the city
really existed. If the white men wanted to get there, why should any
man hinder them? And it was all very well for their visitor to pretend
that he had no fear of the thunder weapons. Why had all his people
fled at the sound of them?

The chieftain tried to explain, and again urged his points with a
number of fresh arguments. But the council was against him; they
refused to run their heads into unknown and fearful dangers by opposing
a wonderful race that showed no disposition to interfere with them.
And so the council ended.

From the cliff that guarded the outlet from the small valley into the
gorge a keen-eyed native, gazing intently eastwards towards the greater
valley, might have made out a point of yellow light about three leagues
away in a bee-line. The light was on the bank of the affluent of the
Orinoco, and came from the camp fire of the adventurers. There also a
council was being held, and the question for decision was the momentous
one whether the quest for the golden city should be abandoned as
hopeless. According to the Spanish papers and general rumour the
expedition should now be in touch with superior, light-coloured races,
and a civilization rivalling that of the ancient empires of Assyria or
Babylon for wealth and luxury. The way to Manoa should be as plain and
well-known as the way to Rome or Venice. Yet all around were frowning
mountains and dense forests, the homes of fierce birds and beasts, and
the haunts of savage, warlike tribes. A thousand miles nearer the
ocean the natives talked glibly and circumstantially enough about the
"Gilded One" and his wonderful city.