yoruna men allow no trifling with
their women; that any alien man attempting to embrace one of them would
be killed. But it is true. If you should succeed in establishing
friendly relations with the men--which is not at all likely--you would
forfeit all friendship, and your lives as well, by the slightest
dalliance with any of the women.

"He told you that more than one man has risked his life to win a
Mayoruna woman? That is true. But he gave you a false impression as to
the way in which the risk was incurred. He did not tell you that
Peruvian _caucheros_ have sometimes raided small isolated _melocas_ of
the Mayorunas, shooting down the men and carrying off the girls to be
victims of their bestial lust. He did not tell you that for this reason
any Peruvian is considered their enemy and is killed without mercy
wherever found. Yet he tried to send you with Peruvian guides into their
country. He knew the Peruvians would be killed on sight--and you with
them."

CHAPTER IX.

FIDDLERS THREE

Black looks passed among the men as the duplicity of Schwandorf lay
plain before their eyes. Tim growled. Jose hissed curses. The coronel
whirled to him.

"Jose! What was his object in trying to destroy you and your crew? You
have been his man. You know much about him. He wanted to stop your
mouth, yes? Dead men tell no tales."

The _puntero's_ eyes glittered. For a moment the others thought he was
about to reveal important secrets. Then his face changed.

"I know no reason why we should be killed," he declared.

"I do not believe you," the coronel declared, bluntly.

Jose shrugged, calmly drank the coronel's wine, lighted the coronel's
cigar, leaned back in the coronel's chair, and eyed the coronel with
imperturbable insolence.

"See here, Jose," demanded McKay, "you've had something up your sleeve
all along. Now come clean! What is it?"

Jose puffed airily at the cigar, saying nothing.

"What orders did Schwandorf give you?"

This time the reply came readily enough.

"To take you twenty-four days up the river and put you ashore. To
prevent any trouble before that time."

"Ah! And after that?"

"Nothing. At least, nothing to me. What may have been said to the other
men I do not know. Schwandorf came to me last, after he had picked all
the others."

"And what do you know about Schwandorf?"

"What is between me and Schwandorf will be settled between me and
Schwandorf. My duty to you senores lies only in ha