rom
place to place, and more particularly by scamps who have no fixed
address for very long. My advice to you would be to say as little as
possible about the business which you have in hand, but get into
conversation with men who have lived long in the country.'

'I tried that sort of thing on the steamer coming out,' said Peter;
'but we didn't get very much information. The whole thing, you see, is
a very old story.'

'This man Purvis, whom you are travelling with,' said Sir John, 'is the
sort of person who might help you. He knows the country intimately, as
far as I can gather, and depend upon it he hears more gossip on board
his boat than is ever heard anywhere else in the whole country. Chance
dislikes the man, but he may be useful.'

'He looks rather a worm,' said Peter.

'It is generally worms who turn king's evidence,' said Sir John, with a
laugh at his own joke, and then added quickly, 'I don't speak
personally, of course. Your captain is not exactly one's idea of an
old sea-dog, but he is a gentle, intelligent little man.'

'Ross said something about there being trouble on his estancia,' said
Peter. 'I don't know what it was all about.'

'He must have some difficult men to manage up there,' replied Sir John.
'There is always more or less trouble amongst these mixed nationalities
out here. But that need not affect you, of course.'

'No,' said Peter. 'My cue seems to be to gossip like an old woman with
every one I come across.'

'And to say as little as you can yourself,' concluded Sir John. 'The
man who speaks very little and hears a great deal is always in a strong
position.'

'Although an uninteresting beast to meet,' Peter remarked in
parenthesis.

And then, as the voyage was about to begin, the two friends bade each
other good-bye.

The steamer trip up the shallow river was thoroughly enjoyable, in
spite of the amazing bad food which the travellers had to eat, and the
ever-present smell of pigs and hides. The vegetation of the river-bank
was beautiful in the extreme, and the smells on board the boat were
often counteracted by the exquisite scents which were wafted from the
shore. Mimosa-trees, air-plants, and every sort of creeper gave an
almost tropical appearance to the low woods through which the river ran.

Purvis proved himself an agreeable companion in a timid, mild way. He
pointed out his own estancia house by the river-bank, and invited Peter
and Sir Nigel to come and stay