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Updated: June 10, 2025
The hatchet-face in turn shouted something to the men behind. Slowly they drew apart into two groups. "You are the leader, Capitao," suggested Lourenço. Promptly McKay marched forward, head up, eyes front, face bleak. The rest followed, Tucu falling in behind McKay when the captain passed him.
Lourenço shook his head again, this time in vehement denial, and began to talk. But Suba, rising with surprising agility for a man of his weight, stopped him imperiously and spoke with finality. Slowly the Brazilian nodded and turned to his captain. "I do not understand this, Capitao.
Though the seeming mendicant limped slightly, his superior stature enabled him to keep pace with the officer. The pair neither lagged nor hesitated. The officer knocked loudly on a small door inset in the big gates. After some delay it was opened. A sentry challenged. "Capitão San Benavides," announced the officer, and the man stood to attention.
"Once a capitao, always a capitao," the Brazilian insisted. Then he hinted: "If the capitao and his friends wish to call upon the superintendente they will find him in the intendencia, the blue building beyond the hotel. It will soon be closed for the day." The tall American's keen gray eyes roved down the street to the weather-beaten house whose peeling walls once might have been blue.
Then, turning to the captain, the Brazilian added: "Capitao, we now have reached the point to talk business. Have you any presents? And is it your wish to give them now or later?" "I have a few things. But I'll give them later if at all. This chief is hostile. Tell him what we're here for and see how he acts."
He only inhaled a long puff from his cigarette and looked across the water at the hairpin-shaped town. "What about that visiting trip of yours to-night?" McKay asked. "I wish to see what is in that house with the barred door, Capitao. When I am curious about such a matter Lourenço always becomes curious, too, so I shall have to take him with me.
These men do not understand our words, but we cannot tell what they may see in our faces. Now speak harshly, as if I had been insolent." McKay did. He thundered at the young bushman as if about to do him bodily injury. Pedro retreated a step, as if taken aback by the storm he had unleashed. When McKay stopped he replied: "Excellent, Capitao. Now I go to start work on the tambo."
Somewhat to his surprise, Tucu and a couple of the other men now gave Rand a more friendly look. Soon afterward Tucu passed Lourenço, who talked with him a few minutes. Catching the Brazilian's eye, the captain motioned him nearer and asked for any news. "Tucu says, Capitao, that most of these girls are from malocas other than that of Monitaya, though some of Monitaya's women also are here.
"We four will take it in turn," he agreed. "Lourenço Pedro you I. Three-hour tours." "Pardon, Capitao," interposed Pedro. "It would be well to change that. You two senhores take the first two watches." "Why?" frowned McKay. "Because Lourenço and I wish to go visiting. We are much smitten with the charms of the ladies here."
"The word was, 'No," answered Lourenço. "Monitaya asked those two crippled men, 'Is this the man? As you saw, they looked at the capitao, giving no attention to the rest of us. Then they said, 'No. You will remember that the capitao was the one whom Suba also picked upon. As soon as Monitaya finishes talking with those men I shall ask him what all this means."
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