ly during the night--the minimum temperature
was 48 deg. Fahr., with a high, cutting wind. Yet we were at a low elevation,
merely 750 ft. above the sea level. There were, as usual, moans and
groans all night, more toothache and rheumatic pains and bones aching in
the morning. The discontent among my men had reached a trying point. They
worried me continuously to such an extent--indeed, as never in my life I
had been worried before--that I was within an ace of breaking my vow of
never losing my patience and calm. In my long experience of exploring I
have always had to deal with the most troublesome types of men
imaginable, but never with any quite so unpleasant as those I had in
Brazil.

When, the next morning, I ordered them to pack the animals in order to
proceed on our journey, there was an unpleasant scene approaching mutiny.
They knocked things about and refused to go on. Then they sat, rifles in
hand, a little way off, grumbling and grunting, with vicious expressions
upon their faces. They were going to do wonderful things--they were
indeed! I overheard them. One man came forward--the spokesman. The men
claimed their money up to date since the last payment made to them--only
a fortnight before. They all wished to go.

"Certainly," was my immediate reply. Without a moment's hesitation they
were each handed over their full pay, and without giving the slightest
attention to them, Alcides, who had remained faithful, and I--poor
Filippe had been dragged against himself into the plot--collected all the
animals and packed them. Without one look or word--as if they had not
existed--I started off the troop of animals and got on my saddle to
depart last. With the corner of my eye I kept a watch on them--as with
men of that kind the chief danger was when you had your back turned.

I had gone only a few yards when I heard some one sobbing behind my mule.
As I turned round, the two outstretched hands of Filippe were handing me
back the sum of money I had paid a few moments before. He was begging me
to keep it safely for him. Then two more hands urged me to take back for
safe keeping the wages they had just received. The faces of the owners of
those hands were too comic for words: the cheeks shining with abundant
tears that streamed down, the eyes red and swollen, the mouths stretched
in nervous strain from ear to ear. Behind came two more men, looking as
mournful as if they were being led to execution.

They all begged to be