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"Something is wrong, Capitao, but I do not know what it is. It will do no good to argue. Let us go at once." Suba snarled commands to the warriors. They trooped toward the door. Without another word or glance at the three chiefs Lourenço stalked after the Indians, and his comrades followed with stiff dignity.
Tucu intends to prevent trouble if he can; and often the best way to prevent trouble is to make the other man realize what may happen to him if he starts it. Also he has his orders from Monitaya to stay with us at all times, and he will follow that order even if you, Capitao, try to change it. Now we go together to the chief." He nodded to Tucu, who grunted to the Red Bone leader.
Halting before the big chief, he began talking as coolly as if there were not the least doubt of welcome for himself and those with him. Monitaya gave no sign of recognition, of friendliness, or of enmity. Proud, statuesque, he stood motionless, his deep eyes resting on those of the Brazilian. "Sultry weather," remarked McKay. "Just so, Capitao," agreed Pedro, narrow eyed.
Thereupon the wizened old fellow entered the chief's house. "That old man speaks the Mayoruna tongue quite well, Capitao," said Lourenço. "He says you and I shall enter and talk through his mouth with the chief. All others remain outside, and we must leave our rifles here." "All right. Glad we can leave Tucu out here to control these fellows. Here, Merry." He passed his rifle to Knowlton.
"He watched you for some time, and if you had not rushed at him he would have slipped away without attacking you, for he was alone and he saw your guns. But when you, Capitao, suddenly leaped at him he darted away, then stopped long enough to send an arrow at you. After that he dodged out of sight and ran to the camp of his three friends. He is there now, telling about you." "Great guns!
But both caught a glimpse of the leader's face and saw that he was the black-bearded man himself. "So you see, Capitao, why we have been near death. Suba and Monitaya both thought you were the man. We were lucky to escape alive from Suba, and still more lucky that hero were two men who knew the face of the blackbeard." "Schwandorf!" barked McKay. "Yes, Capitao, it must be the German "
Lourenço, nonplussed by the frigidity of the subchief where he had expected gratitude or at least hospitality, glanced questioningly at Yuara. But the young man stood mute, looking straight ahead. "The subchief says we shall enter and see the chief. We must leave our guns outside." "Don't like that," muttered McKay. "That subchief looks ugly." "But we must obey or provoke a fight, Capitao.
"There will be time enough to decide that, Capitao, after we have visited that place," he said, slowly. "Still, perhaps it is best to make some plan; it can be changed at any time." For a moment longer he looked at the dying flame.
What's done has to be done now or never." "Right!" McKay commended. "We'll have to save the women, of course. Question is how?" Lourenço answered at once. "My idea, Capitao, is this: We two will return. With us we will take Tucu. The three of us can handle those guards quietly. We must have Tucu, because the women do not know us and might balk at the last moment.
This run which we have just heard is always used first, and no message is sent until a reply is received." "Bush telegraph," nodded McKay. "First call your operator and then shoot the message in code. Pretty ingenious for a bunch of absolute savages." Lourenço turned to Yuara and asked a question. Yuara curtly replied. "He says, Capitao, that this is to tell Monitaya we come.
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