omething there, for if they shot me, one fact was certain, and that was
that they would never see their happy homes again.

Two of the men turned away in order to go after game, but the man X
levelled his rifle at my head and demanded his money, as he wished to
leave at once. The contract I had with him was different from that I had
with the other men. I had agreed to pay him on reaching the nearest point
of civilization, where I would let him loose again. I therefore said that
I would most certainly pay him the very minute he had fulfilled his
contract.

I paid no more attention to his threat, although I heard the click of the
hammer of his rifle being cocked. I told him to get some wood to make a
fire, as I wished to make myself a cup of chocolate.

In unpacking some of my instruments I had made a great discovery--a box
of chocolate, which had strayed into a package by mistake.

X seemed undecided whether to shoot or not. I made no attempt to take the
rifle out of his hand, as that would have been fatal. After a few moments
he sat down on a rock a few yards away, his rifle resting on his knees
and pointing in my direction, while I myself collected some small pieces
of wood and proceeded to make the fire.

[Illustration: Artificial Canal made by Author and his Men in order
to take their Canoe along where the river was Impassable.]

Filippe the negro, who had his eye on the box of chocolate, came and
helped to blow the flame. We got some water and boiled it in a large tin
cup. While we were doing that I heard rifles being fired in the
forest, and presently Antonio returned with some fine _jacu_
(_Penelope cristata_) he had shot.

The entire morning of August 12th was absolutely wasted, owing to the
conduct of my men. Even after they had had a good meal, not a particle of
which they offered me--not that I asked them for it--they were still in a
riotous mood.

As was my habit when I had anything to eat, I always shared it in equal
parts with them: when the chocolate was ready--notwithstanding their
behaviour--I asked them for their cups, and each one received his share
of that delicious beverage. As usual also, I sorted out that day the
customary allowance of tobacco to each man, which I had been fortunate
enough to save in our accidents.

When I offered the chocolate to Alcides, he handed his cup to Filippe to
bring to me, and when it was handed back to him he flung it away saying
he would prefer to die rather