r. He threw back the door which opened
under the veranda, made a sign to Torres to follow him, and they
advanced toward the center of the jangada, where the family were
assembled.

Benito, Manoel, and all of them, under a feeling of deep anxiety, had
risen. They could see that the bearing of Torres was still menacing, and
that the fire of anger still shone in his eyes.

In extraordinary contrast, Joam Garral was master of himself, and almost
smiling.

Both of them stopped before Yaquita and her people. Not one dared to say
a word to them.

It was Torres who, in a hollow voice, and with his customary impudence,
broke the painful silence.

"For the last time, Joam Garral," he said, "I ask you for a last reply!"

"And here is my reply."

And addressing his wife:

"Yaquita," he said, "peculiar circumstances oblige me to alter what we
have formerly decided as to the marriage of Minha and Manoel."

"At last!" exclaimed Torres.

Joam Garral, without answering him, shot at the adventurer a glance of
the deepest scorn.

But at the words Manoel had felt his heart beat as if it would break.
The girl arose, ashy pale, as if she would seek shelter by the side of
her mother. Yaquita opened her arms to protect, to defend her.

"Father," said Benito, who had placed himself between Joam Garral and
Torres, "what were you going to say?"

"I was going to say," answered Joam Garral, raising his voice, "that to
wait for our arrival in Para for the wedding of Minha and Manoel is
to wait too long. The marriage will take place here, not later than
to-morrow, on the jangada, with the aid of Padre Passanha, if, after a
conversation I am about to have with Manoel, he agrees with me to defer
it no longer."

"Ah, father, father!" exclaimed the young man.

"Wait a little before you call me so, Manoel," replied Joam, in a tone
of unspeakable suffering.

Here Torres, with crossed arms, gave the whole family a look of
inconceivable insolence.

"So that is you last word?" said he, extending his hand toward Joam
Garral.

"No, that is not my last word."

"What is it, then?"

"This, Torres. I am master here. You will be off, if you please, and
even if you do not please, and leave the jangada at this very instant!"

"Yes, this instant!" exclaimed Benito, "or I will throw you overboard."

Torres shrugged his shoulders.

"No threats," he said; "they are of no use. It suits me also to land,
and without delay. But you will remembe