there not, that the devil takes care of his own?"
grinned Jose. "It would be sad if this man should yet live and escape.
See! What is that tall Red Bone doing over yonder?"

Pedro followed his pointing finger. He saw no such Red Bone as Jose had
mentioned. But when he looked back at Schwandorf he noticed something
that made him glance quickly at Jose once more.

"Ah yes, Senor Schwandorf is truly dead," the Peruvian added, wiping his
machete carelessly on one bare leg. "Whether or not the devil takes care
of his own, as I was saying, there is no doubt that _el Aleman_ now is
with the devil. So, since we can do nothing for him, let us look after
the two North American senores."

Pedro, with a grim smile, turned with him toward the tribal houses.
There was nothing else for them to do, for the Mayorunas now were
dispatching the last survivors of the attacking force. Before the pair
entered the low doorway a long, triumphant yell burst from the hoarse
throats of the men of Monitaya. Of all the Red Bones who had swept in
such ghoulish glee into that clearing not one now remained alive.

At that shout of victory and the entrance of the men to whose
precautions and prowess they owed so much, the women flocked again into
the center of the _maloca_ and the children dived out through the
tunnels to behold the battlefield. Though bullets and arrows had come
through the doorway, those inside had escaped all injury by hugging the
protective earth embankment or taking refuge in the vacant shafts under
the walls. Now the older women, experienced in treatment of wounds,
busied themselves with the white warriors, while the younger ones
fetched water and pieces of isca--a natural styptic made by ants--or
made up pads of poultices of healing herbs.

Tim, who had expected to play surgeon with his crude knowledge of first
aid, found himself not only relieved of his job, but being bathed and
plastered with the others. He, Jose, Pedro, Lourenco, and even Rand were
gashed by thrusts from broken spear hafts, bleeding from open bites,
ripped by glancing sweeps of tooth-set clubs, bruised by fierce
blows--minor injuries all, but such as might easily have resulted in
blood poisoning unless given prompt attention. Later on they were to be
thankful for those ministrations, but now they tolerated them only
because they could do nothing for the captain and the lieutenant.

McKay and Knowlton were under the direct and capable treatment of the
wiv