had already started in her pursuit.

"Let her alone, for Heaven's sake!" shouted Amyas, who, he scarce knew
why, shrank from the thought of seeing those graceful limbs struggling
in the seamen's grasp.

She turned again, and in another minute her gaudy plumes had vanished
among the dark forest stems, as swiftly as if she had been a passing
bird.

All stood thunderstruck at this unexpected end to the conference.

At last Amyas spoke--

"There's no use in standing here idle, gentlemen. Staring after her
won't bring her back. After all, I'm glad she's gone."

But Ayacanora did not return; and ten days more went on in continual
toil at the canoes without any news of her from the hunters. Amyas, by
the bye, had strictly bidden these last not to follow the girl, not even
to speak to her, if they came across her in their wanderings. He was
shrewd enough to guess that the only way to cure her sulkiness was to
out-sulk her; but there was no sign of her presence in any direction;
and the canoes being finished at last, the gold, and such provisions as
they could collect, were placed on board, and one evening the party
prepared for their fresh voyage.

They determined to travel as much as possible by night, for fear of
discovery, especially in the neighborhood of the few Spanish settlements
which were then scattered along the banks of the main stream. These,
however, the negroes knew, so that there was no fear of coming on them
unawares; and as for falling asleep in their night journeys, "Nobody,"
the negroes said, "ever slept on the Magdalena; the mosquitoes took too
good care of that." Which fact Amyas and his crew verified afterwards as
thoroughly as wretched men could do.

The sun had sunk; the night had all but fallen; the men were all on
board; Amyas in command of one canoe, Cary of the other. The Indians
were grouped on the bank, watching the party with their listless stare,
and with them the young guide, who preferred remaining among the
Indians, and was made supremely happy by the present of a Spanish sword
and an English ax; while, in the midst, the old hermit, with tears in
his eyes, prayed God's blessing on them.

"I owe to you, noble cavaliers, new peace, new labor, I may say, new
life. May God be with you, and teach you to use your gold and your
swords better than I used mine."

The adventurers waved their hands to him.

"Give way, men," cried Amyas; and as he spoke the paddles dashed into
the water, to