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They roared, 'To the boats! to the boats! The captain endeavoured to bring them to their senses; he and I and the mate, and Joam Barros, the boatswain a Portuguese went among them pistols in hand, entreating, cursing, threatening. 'Think of the plunder in this hold! Will you abandon it without an effort to save it? What think you are your chances for life in open boats in this sea?
And, turning toward Manoel, "Heaven help us!" he said to him; "we shall see if truth will come down to the earth from Above." The chief of the police made a sign to his men, who advanced to secure Joam Garral. "But speak, father!" shouted Benito, mad with despair; "say one word, and we shall contest even by force this horrible mistake of which you are the victim!"
The first day passed capitally; breakfast, dinner, siesta, walks, all took place as if Joam Garral and his people were still in the comfortable fazenda of Iquitos.
Quick, restless, coaxing, and lazy, she could do what she pleased in the house. As for servants they were of two kinds Indians, of whom there were about a hundred, employed always for the works of the fazenda, and blacks to about double the number, who were not yet free, but whose children were not born slaves. Joam Garral had herein preceded the Brazilian government.
"In that case, sirs," replied Torres, "I am under an obligation to you both, as well to you, Mr. Manoel, as to you, Mr. "Benito Garral," replied Manoel. The captain of the woods required great command over himself to avoid giving a jump when he heard this name, and more especially when the young man obligingly continued: "My father, Joam Garral, has his farm about three miles from here.
"I am happy, sir, to be able to oblige you," replied Joam. "Thank you," said Torres, who at the moment of putting forth his hand kept it back in spite of himself. "We shall be off at daybreak to-morrow," added Joam Garral, "so you had better get your things on board." "Oh, that will not take me long!" answered Torres; "there is only myself and nothing else!"
A moment afterward the family, with the exception of Joam, went ashore. The jangada was able to approach near enough to the bank for the landing to take place without much trouble. A staircase, in a miserable state, cut in the cliff, allowed the visitors to arrive on the crest of the plateau.
Torres was careful to let no suspicion of his past life escape him, nor of the profession that he had followed till within the last two months, and no one would have thought that the jangada had given refuge to an old captain of the woods. Joam Garral did not wish to mar the service he was rendering by questions of too pressing a nature.
Yaquita, his daughter, had, in this silent young man, so gentle to others, so stern to himself, recognized the sterling qualities which her father had done. She was in love with him, but though on his side Joam had not remained insensible to the merits and the beauty of this excellent girl, he was too proud and reserved to dream of asking her to marry him.
And Joam Dacosta rose from beneath the blow which had so unexpectedly struck him. It was not only his own honor which was in question, but the honor of all who belonged to him.
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