is own heart is known to Suba and his chiefs. It is known
also to the chief Monitaya, and to his chiefs, and to his men also. The
white man is bold. And now his own boldness shall be his death.

"'Since the white man has said he goes to visit the chief Monitaya, and
since by some demon's power the white man has saved the life of Yuara,
who is a man of Suba, the men of Suba will allow him to go in peace from
this place. But Suba will see that he and his companions go to Monitaya,
who will know how to deal with his visitors. The men of Suba will take
the strangers at once to the canoes and carry them to Monitaya.

"'If the white man of the black beard and the black mind thought the men
of the jungle blind to the foulness he would do here, he is a fool. It
is useless for him or his men to lie and say they know not what Suba
means. Let him look into his own heart and he will know well.

"'Suba has spoken.'

"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 Lourenco stalked
after the Indians, and his comrades followed with stiff dignity.

Outside, the savages picked up the rifles and packs and carried them to
the creek, where small canoes lay. The five strangers were allowed to
crowd themselves together in a four-man canoe, but their guns and packs
were distributed among four other dugouts, into which armed paddlers
entered. Other Indians brought provisions to the outgoing craft. In a
very short time the leading canoe started off downstream, followed by
the boat of the white men, behind which the other craft pressed close
and vigilant.

They swung in among the trees, and the _maloca_ of Suba was blotted out.

CHAPTER XVI.

BLACKBEARD

"Well," said Knowlton, after a period of silent paddling, "we have met
the enemy and we are his'n. No harm done so far, though, and if old man
Calisaya, or whatever his name is, wants to act nasty we can send him
and a few others along the road to glory with our gats. We'll travel the
same road, of course, but we'll take company with us."

"_Si_, senhor," Pedro agreed. "And besides your pistols we still have
our machetes. Yet I believe Lourenco's words to the chief Monitaya will
make all well. But I cannot help wondering--" He glanced at McKay.

"I'm wondering, too, Pedro," said the captain. "It's