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"Then he will pay well." "Umanuh will see the gifts now." "The gifts cannot be shown now. They are packed away. When Makkay has looked on the man Umanuh shall look on the gifts." Another eye duel between the chief and McKay. As before, the captain's eye proved the harder. "Umanuh will think of the matter. Night comes. The man hunted by the Blackbeard is not here.
The old man now seemed somewhat uncertain of himself. The silent duel between McKay and Umanuh went on. At length the chief's eyes flickered a trifle. In a hissing whisper he said something. "The men of the Mayorunas never come to this country unless seeking something," the interpreter promptly spoke up. "What do they seek?" "Only that which Makkay seeks."
And let me tell you this, Capitao Makkay, whether you like it or not: Pedro and I would see this wild man and a million others like him in a hotter place than this before we would abandon fighting comrades." To which McKay, finding no adequate answer, made none whatever. Like a fleet manned by sightless sailors the line of boats blundered on through the blackness.
A pause. Umanuh gave no sign of life. McKay, straight and cold, met the unwinking stare of the chief with his own chill gray gaze. Between the two who spoke not was a testing of wills. "Makkay brings with him none of the Blackbeard warriors," pointed out the interpreter, who seemed to know his master's thought. "He comes with only the jungle men of light skins."
"It has come to the ears of Makkay," Lourenço informed the man of Umanuh, "that a man of the Blackbeards lives among the men of the Red Bones. Makkay would see that man." Again the interpreter awaited his master's voice before answering. "No man of the Blackbeards is among the men of Umanuh," he then denied. "If he is not among them he is near them," was Lourenço's certain reply.
"Umanuh, great chief, eater of his enemies, with fangs of the jaguar and wisdom of the great snake, awaits the greeting of the one-whose-hair grows-from-his-mouth," droned the old mouthpiece of the chief. "Makkay, leader of the fighting men of the Blackbeards, whose voice is the thunder and whose hand spits lightning and death, gives greeting to Umanuh," responded Lourenço in a like droning tone.
"Makkay needs none of his own warriors when he comes in peace. If he came in war the terrible Blackbeards with him would cause the whole forest to fly apart in smoke and flame. Since he walks in peace to visit his friend Umanuh, of whose wisdom he has heard, he brings only his friends the Mayorunas, who are friends also to the men of the Red Bones." Another pause.
"If that man is found the blackbeard will pay for him?" "There are gifts of friendship for Umanuh," Lourenço nodded. "The Blackbeard leader will pay more than the other Blackbeard?" Lourenço almost blinked. What other Blackbeard? The Raposa himself? But the Brazilian repressed his bewilderment. "Makkay will first see the man to make sure he is the Blackbeard whom Makkay wants," he dodged.
He turned and carried the commands to the tribesmen. "Makkay wishes Umanuh peaceful rest," said Lourenço. With which he flicked his eyes toward the door. McKay, with stiff stride, stalked out. Lourenço followed. Both felt the snake eyes of the cadaverous chief dwelling on their backs.
"He has been seen both by other Blackbeards and by the Mayorunas. I, too, have seen him. He bears on his bones the sign that his mind is out of his skull. His eyes are green and his hair touched with white. Umanuh and his men know well that I speak true." The pause this time was longer than before. "There was such a man, but he is gone." "Then Makkay asks his friend Umanuh to find that one.
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