er the country beyond them. Their bodies were tattooed or
painted all over in curious devices, and their heads were decked with
war-plumes, while each of them had a musket resting on his arm, as if
ready for immediate use. Our first impulse was to retreat, hoping that
we had not been seen; but their quick eyes had caught sight of us. They
beckoned to us to approach.

"They must have had intercourse with white men, or they would not have
those muskets," observed Arthur. "Perhaps they may prove to be
friends."

To escape them, I saw, would be impossible. I therefore agreed with
Arthur that the best way was to go forward at once in a frank manner and
try to win their confidence. We climbed the hill, therefore, and as we
get up to where they were waiting for us, put out our hands and shook
theirs. They were accustomed, apparently, to the European style of
greeting. They addressed us, and seemed to be inquiring whence we had
come. We explained as well as we could by signs--pointing in the
direction of the Andes, and then showing how we had glided down in the
canoe. While they were speaking, I thought I detected a few words which
sounded like Spanish; and listening more attentively, I found that the
eldest of the two was speaking the _lingua geral_--a corrupt Portuguese,
mixed with Indian words, generally used throughout the whole length of
the Amazon. It was so like the language Naro and his Indians had
employed when speaking to us, that I could make out, with a little
difficulty, what was said. I understood the elder Indian to say that he
was a friend of the whites; and that, as Arthur had supposed, he had
obtained the muskets from them. Finding the natives so friendly, I
invited them to our camp. They shook their heads, and pointed to the
north-west, letting us understand that they were about to start away on
an expedition against an enemy in that direction; but that, on their
return, they would without fail come to visit us. They signified that
if we would accompany them to their village, we should be hospitably
received. When speaking of the enemy, they uttered the word "Majeronas"
two or three times.

"Those must be the people you think attacked your father," observed
Arthur. "If he and your family are prisoners, they may be the means of
releasing them."

"I am afraid the Majeronas are too fierce and savage to make prisoners,"
I answered. "We might accompany these Indians and avenge their death,
i