gueiro_, which I put on before
entering the house. The _seringueiro_ was kindness itself to me, most
thoughtful and hospitable. He prepared some food for us at once. That was
a day of joy and sadness combined. I found that all my men were safe, but
that they had abandoned all my baggage and all my collections in the
forest. They believed that I had been assassinated by Indians or that I
had died of starvation.

Alcides cried like a child for some time. He and the others were ill with
fever. Those men I had left in charge of my baggage at the camp in the
forest had remained at that camp for seven days after my departure.
Believing that I was never coming back, three of them had abandoned
everything there, and even their companion Antonio, who was in a dying
condition and was unable to walk. They had proceeded quickly to the
Tapajoz, where they had found plenty to eat. Two or three days later
Antonio had become better; he had shot some monkeys and birds, and had
been able to keep alive. Had it not been for the kind-hearted
_seringueiro_, Albuquerque, who had started out to rescue Antonio, the
poor devil would have certainly died there, abandoned by everybody.

I heard stories that day which pained me a great deal. When my men
believed that I was lost in the forest the man X had proposed to his
companions to follow the _picada_ I had cut in order to find my body and
rob me of all the money which he knew I carried.

"If he is alive," he had said to his companions, "we will cut his throat
once for all, and we will divide the money amongst ourselves."

It was with some difficulty that Alcides had prevented him from smashing
all my baggage open, as he wished to divide the contents with his
companions. Alcides was an honest man. He had stood up against that
rascal. After a severe fight it had been decided that the baggage should
be left intact in the forest until such authorities as could be sent up
from the Fiscal Agency could visit the spot and take charge of my things.

It was then that I understood why the man X was now ashamed to face me,
and did not come to greet me after I had nearly sacrificed my life to
save him and his companions.

Albuquerque, the _seringueiro_, had also been considerate enough to lift
my baggage upon stones and then cover it up with palm leaves, so that it
should be preserved as much as possible from moisture and ants. During
the month they had been back on the Tapajoz the man X had once taken