world, which, according to their
views, consists of the regions around the headwaters of the Xingu and
Tapajos.

Ziffak was a favorite of the beauteous Ariel, and it is not improbable
that, knowing as he did, her lamentation over the cruel death of the
white men, who appeared at her home three years before, he was more
willing than would otherwise have been the case to stay his hand, after
doing such yeoman service against the new-comers.

Where these tribes came from is a question yet unsolved by
anthropologists, though the theory has many supporters that most of the
isolated peoples are allied to the original stock of the once mighty
Caribs, who journeyed from the south to the sea.

Conscious of their own might, and knowing the prodigious mineral wealth
at their command, the Murhapas are naturally jealous of their
neighbors, and fight fiercely to resist anything that bears a
resemblance to an encroachment upon their rights.

It will be understood that Waggaman and Burkhardt met with little
difficulty in rousing their enmity particularly against the Caucasian
race, since the members of that, of all others, were the ones most to
be dreaded.

The foregoing, much of which is in the way of anticipation, we have
deemed best to incorporate in this place.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE NEW ALLY.

The amazement which so nearly overwhelmed Fred Ashman during the few
minutes succeeding the surrender of Ziffak, was shared in all its
entirety, when the two presented themselves before the astounded
explorers in the canoe.

In fact, Jared Long came within a hair of shooting the Hercules, before
the situation could be explained to him. Even then he refused for
awhile to believe the astonishing story, but declared that some
infernal trickery was afoot. Finally, however, he and the Professor
and Bippo and Pedros realized that the most powerful enemy had become
their ally.

Ziffak showed a strange talkativeness after joining the company.
Seating himself on the ground where all were now veiled in shadow, he
answered the questions that were rained upon him, until most of the
information given in the preceding chapter was told to the wondering
listeners.

The account of the dreadful reception that awaited their predecessors
three years before, would have deterred such brave men as the explorers
from pushing further, but for the fact that they had secured an
all-powerful friend at court. Believing that he could pave the way f