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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..86c0b99 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51538 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51538) diff --git a/old/51538-0.txt b/old/51538-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 90f2997..0000000 --- a/old/51538-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5637 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery, by Andy Adams - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery - A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure - -Author: Andy Adams - -Release Date: March 23, 2016 [EBook #51538] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -[Illustration: “_Biff, come this way! Quick!_”] - - A BIFF BREWSTER - MYSTERY ADVENTURE - - - - - BRAZILIAN - GOLD MINE - MYSTERY - - - [Illustration: Compass] - - By ANDY ADAMS - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS - NEW YORK - - © GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1960 - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - Contents - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I Up the Amazon 1 - II The Clutching Hand 8 - III The Hidden Boathouse 16 - IV The Safari Starts 25 - V The Spotted Terror 40 - VI Into the Quicksand 50 - VII The Deadly Coils 58 - VIII A Traitor Strikes 67 - IX The Shrunken Heads 76 - X Trapped by the Head-Hunters 85 - XI A Sudden Surprise 95 - XII Between Two Fires 103 - XIII The River of Death 110 - XIV The Devil’s Gateway 119 - XV Fabulous El Dorado 128 - XVI Surrounded! 137 - XVII The Man of Gold 147 - XVIII Urubu Again 156 - XIX Partners in Crime 164 - XX The Tables Turn 173 - - - - - BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY - - - - - CHAPTER I - Up the Amazon - - -“Guard this letter as you would your life!” - -Mr. Stannart spoke in a low, tense tone as he glanced around the waiting -room at Idlewild Airport. Biff Brewster felt a sudden surge of -excitement when he took the envelope that the gray-haired man handed -him. - -The envelope was tightly sealed, and it was addressed to Biff’s father, -Thomas Brewster, at the Hotel Jacares in Manaus, Brazil. In the upper -corner was the return address of the Ajax Mining Corporation in New York -City. Gregg Stannart was the president of the company, and Mr. Brewster -was its chief field engineer. - -“Since you are flying to Brazil to join your father,” Mr. Stannart -continued, “I decided to have you deliver this letter personally, rather -than take the risk of its falling into the wrong hands.” - -He paused, gave Biff a keen, steady glance, and asked, “Did your father -tell you why he was going to the headwaters of the Amazon River?” - -“He wrote that he was going on a jungle safari,” replied Biff, “and he -invited me to fly to Brazil and join him, as a birthday present.” - -Biff was thinking back to his birthday party at the Brewster home in -Indianapolis less than a week ago. His mother had brought in a cake with -sixteen lighted candles that Biff had blown out with a single puff, to -the delight of the twins, Ted and Monica, who were five years younger -than Biff. But the big surprise was when Biff’s mother had given him the -birthday letter from his dad. - -Next had come the excitement of packing, when it dawned on Biff that -nearly all his birthday presents were clothes and equipment he could use -on a tropical trip. Then Biff had flown to New York where Mr. Stannart -had met him to put him on the plane for Brazil. - -“Your father is bound on a highly important and secret mission for our -company,” Mr. Stannart confided now. “He is going far up the Rio Negro, -which joins the Amazon just below the city of Manaus. The party -_supposedly_ will be looking for sites for rubber plantations.” - -Mr. Stannart paused, then said solemnly, “Your father will be looking -for gold—a fabulous gold mine about which we have secret information. -But here in New York,” he went on, “we have just discovered that there -has been a leak in that information. We have learned that certain people -would do anything to stop your father and get to the mine first. Even -now, he may be in danger.” - -“But Dad didn’t say anything about it—” - -“Because he doesn’t know about it. He may change his mind about letting -you accompany him after you give him this letter. It will tell him all -he needs to know.” - -Biff put the letter deep down into his coat pocket. Mr. Stannart nodded -approvingly. - -“Be careful what you say to strangers,” he warned Biff, “and above all, -guard that letter!” - -It was nearly time for the departure of Biff’s plane. Mr. Stannart -explained that it would take him to Belem, the capital city of the -Brazilian state of Para, not far from the mouth of the Amazon. There, -Biff would change to a plane for Manaus, a thousand miles up the great -river. - -Mr. Stannart studied the other passengers who were waiting to board the -plane. He said to Biff in parting, in a low but confident tone: - -“You won’t have any trouble on this flight. But be careful after you -leave Belem!” - -The long trip south did prove uneventful. During daylight, the plane was -over the Atlantic Ocean, and darkness had settled when it reached the -coast of Brazil. Biff landed in Belem at dawn, so it wasn’t until he had -changed to the plane for Manaus that he gained his first view of the -Brazilian jungle. - -He saw it from a seat beside the window as the plane climbed above -Belem; a vast, solid mass of billowing green that looked ready to -swallow the city that spread below. Then the jungle ended, and the plane -was flying over a huge expanse of brownish water streaked with waves of -white. This was the Amazon River, stretching as far as the eye could -see. - -A smooth voice purred from beside Biff’s shoulder: - -“It looks more like an ocean than a river, doesn’t it?” - -Biff turned to meet the gaze of the smiling man sitting beside him whose -eyes looked sharp even through his dark-green glasses. The large lenses -gave an olive hue to the sleek, oval face that narrowed to a pointed -chin. - -“_O Rio Mar_,” the smiling man continued. “That is what Brazilians call -the Amazon. It means ‘The River Sea’ in Portuguese. Do you understand -the language?” - -“A little,” replied Biff, “but I know Spanish better.” He was about to -add that he had learned both from his father. Then, remembering Mr. -Stannart’s warning to be careful when he talked to strangers, Biff -stated simply but truthfully: - -“I have been studying Spanish in school.” - -“You will need to speak Portuguese,” the man declared, “if you are -stopping off anywhere between Belem and Manaus.” He paused inquiringly. -Then, getting no response, he added, “If you go farther up the Amazon or -any of its tributaries, you will need to know the dialects of Indian -tribes as well.” - -The stranger’s easy, persuasive tone almost caused Biff to remark that -he was going on beyond Manaus. But he caught himself in time and said -nothing. - -“You may have to talk fast, too,” Biff’s fellow passenger continued. -“Those tribes are often dangerous. You are sure to find head-hunters -among them.” - -This time, Biff asked a question. - -“Have you been among the head-hunters, sir?” - -The stranger’s smile widened. “My name is Serbot, Nicholas Serbot. And -yours?” - -“Bruce Brewster. My friends call me Biff.” - -Nicholas Serbot inclined his head politely. “No, I have never been among -the head-hunters, Biff. I come to Manaus occasionally to do business for -some European concerns that I represent. Mostly in rubber.” - -“My dad is in Manaus,” Biff volunteered. “I’m meeting him there.” - -“Perhaps he will take you on a jungle safari. They organize such trips -in Manaus.” - -“That sounds great!” exclaimed Biff. “I’ll mention it to Dad!” - -“Tell him to inquire at the Hotel Amazonas,” suggested Serbot. -“Meanwhile”—he leaned toward Biff as he spoke—“you may find the scene -below quite interesting.” - -They had reached the head of the Para River, the principal mouth of the -Amazon, sixty miles above Belem. The plane was thrumming over a gigantic -carpet of thickly tufted green, furrowed by a maze of irregular streams. - -“The region of the Thousand Islands,” Serbot explained. “Those channels -that twist through the solid jungle are called the Narrows. They come -from the main course of the Amazon, and most of them are deep enough to -be navigable.” - -Below, Biff saw an ocean-going freighter working up through a watery -passage. It looked like a toy boat from this altitude, and occasionally -it was swallowed by the thick foliage that jutted over the channel, only -to emerge from the green arcade. - -Soon the boat was far behind, and Biff watched the narrow channels widen -and merge into a limitless, white-capped sea—the great Amazon itself. -Serbot’s purring voice, and the steady drone of the plane’s motors had a -lulling effect. Biff’s eyes closed to avoid the glare of the tropical -sun; soon he was asleep. He dreamed that he was back at Idlewild, with -Mr. Stannart’s voice repeating: - -“Guard this letter as you would your life! Guard this letter....” - -In the dream, invisible fingers seemed to be plucking the precious -envelope, drawing it up and out of Biff’s pocket. With a sudden start, -Biff awoke and shot his own hand to his pocket, where it met the crinkle -of paper. - -The dream had been realistic in one respect. As he dozed, Biff must have -kept slumping down into his seat, causing the envelope to work upward -every time he hunched his shoulders. A few inches more and it would have -fallen from his pocket. - -Or was that the answer? What if those phantom fingers had been real -instead of mere figments of a dream! - -As he thrust the envelope far down into his inside pocket and buttoned -his coat for safer keeping, Biff Brewster shot a suspicious glance -toward his companion of the plane trip, the smooth-spoken man who called -himself Nicholas Serbot. - - - - - CHAPTER II - The Clutching Hand - - -Biff was wide awake now, the drone of the plane growing louder in his -ears. With it, his suspicions of Serbot faded. The smiling man was -leaning back in his seat, his own eyes closed as if in sleep. His hands -were folded loosely across his stomach. - -For the first time, Biff saw why Serbot wore that constant smile. The -left side of his mouth was curled to match the right, which was drawn -upward by a scar that began at the corner of his lips and became -increasingly jagged until it ended beside his right eyebrow. - -Before, the large rims and green tint of the sun glasses had helped to -hide the scar; but Serbot had removed them before he went to sleep. Now, -as Biff studied him, Serbot opened his eyes slowly and gave Biff a -sleepy glance. Realizing that Biff had observed the scar, Serbot raised -his right hand and traced it lightly with his forefinger. - -“A decoration I received during World War Two,” he commented, “while I -was working with the French Underground. A Nazi spy tried to give me -this—” Graphically, Serbot swept his hand across his throat—“but I -managed to save my neck. I received this instead.” - -Serbot clenched his left fist as though it contained a weapon. He -grabbed his left wrist with his right hand and shook his head. - -“If anyone attacks you with a knife or gun, don’t try to stop him that -way,” he said. “It won’t work fast enough, as I found out. Hit his wrist -like this”—Serbot opened his right hand, bent it backward, and drove it -against his left wrist—“with the heel of your hand, upward and outward. -Try it.” - -Biff practiced the action a few times and apparently won Serbot’s -approval, for the smiling man added: - -“That not only will stop him, it will jar the weapon from his grasp, -enabling you to snatch it all in the same move.” - -Serbot demonstrated that, too. Then, noting that some of the other -passengers were beginning to look their way, Serbot changed the subject -abruptly. Leaning toward Biff, he began pointing out more sights from -the window, as the plane followed the north bank of the river. - -There, the jungle had opened into widespread grazing lands, studded by a -range of low, flat-topped mountains. Perched on one summit was a little -town that Serbot said was called Monte Alegre. Then they were far out -over the river again, and the Amazon once more resembled a choppy, -yellow sea, until the order came to “Fasten safety belts!” The plane was -coming to a landing at Santarém on the south bank. - -Serbot pointed out to Biff the wide Tapajóz River which disgorged a huge -flood into the turbulent Amazon, splotching the yellow tide with long -streaks of green that looked like wash from the jungle and shone with -emerald brilliance in the noonday sun. - -The plane roared off again, and at Obidos, eighty miles farther -upstream, the Amazon narrowed to a single deep channel only a mile and a -quarter wide with the walls of solid forests fringing both bluffs. -Later, the river widened again, and Serbot indicated small settlements -built on high stilts in clearings back from the bank. - -“Those show you how high the river rises,” Serbot told Biff. “Often it -overflows its banks for many miles on both sides. Some of the native -villages are so far off in the jungle that they can only be reached when -the Amazon is in flood.” - -Between pointing out these interesting scenes, Serbot talked -occasionally of his war experiences, and Biff, wide awake and alert ever -since his morning nap, was enjoying the trip more and more. He realized -that he was gaining a slight preview of the Brazilian jungle that might -prove helpful when he and his father set out on the safari that was -actually to be a gold hunt. But he was careful to avoid answering any -direct questions that Serbot put to him. - -It was late afternoon when Serbot indicated a great, dark swirl of water -that merged with the muddy Amazon, marking the mouth of another huge -tributary. - -“The black water of the Rio Negro,” defined Serbot. “From here it is -only ten miles up to Manaus.” - -Soon, the plane landed at the Manaus airport, and a few minutes later, -Biff was being welcomed by his father, a tall, rugged man with dark hair -and tanned, square-jawed face, an older counterpart of Biff himself, -except for the boy’s blond hair. But when Biff looked around for Mr. -Serbot, hoping to introduce him to Mr. Brewster, he found to his -surprise that his companion of the plane trip had already gone. - -Biff and his dad talked about the family and everything at home while -they were picking up Biff’s luggage. Mr. Brewster then led the way to a -jeep that he had parked outside the airport. Before they started their -drive into the city, Biff drew the sealed envelope from his pocket and -handed it to his father with the comment: - -“Dad, this is from Mr. Stannart. He told me to guard it carefully, that -it is very important.” - -Mr. Brewster tore open the envelope, and Biff watched his expression -change as he read the letter. His lips set tightly above his firm jaw, -Mr. Brewster thrust the letter into his own pocket; then he started the -jeep. Keeping a sharp eye along the rough road, he asked: - -“Did Mr. Stannart mention what was in the letter?” - -“In a way, he did,” rejoined Biff. “He said we were supposed to be going -with a rubber-hunting expedition, but that actually we would be looking -for gold—” - -“You didn’t mention that to anyone, did you?” interrupted Mr. Brewster -anxiously. “I mean, while you were on the plane?” - -“I only talked to a man named Mr. Serbot,” returned Biff, “and I even -played dumb when he suggested that you take me on a safari. He said we -could make arrangements at the Hotel Amazonas.” - -Biff saw his father’s taut expression change to one of relief. Mr. -Brewster spurted the jeep over a watery stretch of road with the -comment: - -“These jeeps have to be real puddle jumpers. You never know how deep -some of the mud holes are.” - -The road improved as they swung into the city. It was then that Mr. -Brewster asked: - -“Did Mr. Stannart tell you that there might be serious danger, now that -other persons are after the mine?” - -“Yes, he said you must be warned.” - -“I suppose that is why he let you come,” mused Mr. Brewster. “Frankly, I -feel he made a mistake, and I should send you straight home. However, if -we keep far enough ahead of trouble, it may not catch up with us.” - -Mr. Brewster ended with a reassuring smile. - -“I’ll tell you the story from the start,” he said. “During World War -Two, two prospectors, Lew Kirby and Joe Nara, gave up hunting gold and -diamonds down in the state of Minas Geraes and came up the Amazon to -help gather rubber. They put their profits into food and supplies and -kept going north to look for a fabled land of gold—a land called El -Dorado.” - -“El Dorado! We learned about him in American History!” Biff exclaimed. -“It sounded crazier than science fiction. Wasn’t El Dorado supposed to -be a king who came out of a lake with his body all covered with gold?” - -“Originally, yes,” returned Mr. Brewster. “Then the story became a -legend of a golden city and finally a golden land. The Spaniards looked -for it, and so did Sir Walter Raleigh.” - -“But nobody ever found it!” - -“Nobody except Lew Kirby and Joe Nara.” - -Sure that his father was joking, Biff expected a chuckle to follow. But -Mr. Brewster was very serious. - -“They uncovered a fabulous Inca mine,” resumed Mr. Brewster. “It was too -far and too difficult to bring the gold down the Amazon. So they worked -their way to the Orinoco River, which brought them out through -Venezuela. - -“Kirby sent Nara back to the mine and then returned to Minas Geraes, -hoping to find someone to help finance the claim. But people either -didn’t believe his story, or they were the sort he wouldn’t trust. But -he trusted me and I believed him—when he gave me these.” - -Mr. Brewster brought out of his pocket some small samples of ore that -fairly glistened with gold. Biff had learned enough regarding mining and -minerals from his dad to recognize the value of these specimens. In an -awed tone Biff asked: - -“Is there much of this in the mine, Dad?” - -“A whole mountain full,” replied Mr. Brewster, “from what Lew Kirby told -me—before he died.” - -The jeep was rolling smoothly now along a boulevard lined with fig -trees, all neatly trimmed to a mushroom shape. But the story of the -fabled gold mine interested Biff more than the sights of Manaus. - -“Lew gave me a map,” continued Mr. Brewster, “showing the route that he -followed to reach the headwaters of the Orinoco, though it does not give -the exact location of the mine. To learn that, we must find Joe Nara. I -hope that no one else finds him first.” - -“Like the persons mentioned in Mr. Stannart’s letter?” - -“That’s right, Biff. Despite Mr. Stannart’s constant urging, the -directors of the Ajax Corporation have been painfully slow in providing -funds for our trip. Meanwhile, Mr. Stannart says in his letter, certain -foreign interests have learned of the mine and have moved into the -picture. They may be the sort who will stop at nothing to get that -mine!” - -Before Biff could ask more questions, the jeep pulled up beside a -modest, low-built structure that bore the sign: HOTEL JACARES. Looking -about, Biff was surprised to see that it was growing dark and that the -street lamps were already aglow. - -“Night falls swiftly here in the tropics,” explained Mr. Brewster, as -they went through the hotel lobby and up the stairs to the second floor. -“That is why I lost no time coming from the airport. The driving is -difficult after dark.” - -Mr. Brewster unlocked the door of his room, turned on the light, then -halted in amazement. The place was strewn with clothes from his -suitcases. Sheets had been ripped from beds and mattresses cut open. -Papers were scattered everywhere. - -In a corner was a framed mirror hanging above a washstand. Mr. Brewster -hurried over, took down the mirror, and laid it on a table beside a -closet door. He pried away the backing of the mirror and brought out a -sheet of paper that had been hidden there. - -“This is what they were after!” he exclaimed. “The one thing they -couldn’t find! Kirby’s map!” - -As Mr. Brewster spoke, the closet door was opening slowly, but it was -behind his shoulder and he didn’t see it. From the crack slid a long, -bare human arm, and a hand reached for the prize that Mr. Brewster -flourished. Frantically, Biff shouted: - -“Dad! Look out!” - - - - - CHAPTER III - The Hidden Boathouse - - -Mr. Brewster swung about at Biff’s warning, an instant too late. The -hand had already clutched the map and was snatching it from his grasp. -The map tore apart, leaving only a corner in Mr. Brewster’s hand. - -Quickly, Biff’s father dove for the closet door, intending to slam it -and trap the occupant, map and all. But the man in the closet moved -swiftly, too. He flung the door wide, and its edge swept past Mr. -Brewster’s fingers as the man dived under his arm. Biff, crouched low, -was about to stop the intruder with a football tackle when Mr. Brewster -overtook the fugitive, applied a powerful arm-hold, and brought him full -about. - -Biff saw that the struggling man’s face was masked behind a large, -knotted bandanna handkerchief, and that his rough, baggy clothes -disguised his height and weight. As he twisted in Mr. Brewster’s grasp, -the man managed to thrust his hand into the folds of his jacket and whip -out a revolver. Coming about, he aimed point-blank at Mr. Brewster. - -Biff’s father dropped away a split second before the revolver barked, -its muzzle tonguing flame inches above his head. Then, before the masked -man could fire again, Mr. Brewster wheeled about, grabbed a small table -with both hands, and flung it bodily at his masked foe. - -The man darted out of the way, only to find Biff blocking his escape. -Biff heard a snarl from behind the bandanna, and saw the glint of the -gun barrel as the man swung the weapon with a savage, downward stroke. -Instinctively, Biff shot his own hand upward, using the trick that -Serbot had shown him on the plane that very day. - -The heel of Biff’s hand caught the man’s wrist, driving it outward. The -impact jolted the gun from his hand, but the weapon scaled toward the -side of the room and clattered near the bottom of the wall, where Mr. -Brewster sprang across and scooped it from the floor, practically on the -rebound. - -The masked man hadn’t tried to retrieve the gun. Instead, he dashed -through the doorway to the hall, still clutching the stolen map. Biff -raced after him, with Mr. Brewster close behind. They might have -overtaken the fugitive if he had gone down the stairway to the lobby, -but instead he chose a shorter route to a large open window at the other -end of the hall. There, he leaped a low railing, carrying a loose screen -with him. When Biff reached the window and looked down into the dark, -the man had vanished in the thick mesh of tropical foliage that had -broken his fall. - -“No use trying to go after him,” decided Mr. Brewster ruefully. “We -don’t even know the direction he has taken. The hotel clerk will have -heard the shot. We’ll let him report the incident to the police. They’ll -figure it was just a sneak thief.” - -“But what about the map?” Biff inquired anxiously. “How will you find -the route to the Orinoco without it?” - -“I still have the corner that shows the mine itself,” declared Mr. -Brewster, holding it for Biff to see. “And Joe Nara would have to guide -us there anyway.” - -Biff’s father frowned. “We _may_ have trouble getting through to the -Orinoco, if someone tries to block our way. But from there on, it should -be smooth sailing. Mr. Stannart says in his letter that he will bring -his yacht to meet us on our way back, and will sign the agreement with -Nara, then and there.” - -Returning to their room, Biff and his father met the manager of the -hotel hastening up the stairs. Mr. Brewster told him briefly that they -had surprised a sneak thief in their room, and handed over the -intruder’s revolver. With profuse apologies, the manager departed after -Mr. Brewster refused his offer to have the room put in order. - -When they were alone, Biff’s father said, “It was neat, the way you -disarmed that fellow. Where did you learn that trick?” - -“From Mr. Serbot,” replied Biff, “the man I met on the plane coming from -Belem.” - -While they were repacking Mr. Brewster’s bags and clearing up the room, -Biff told his father about the things they had discussed on the plane. -Mr. Brewster listened intently, then asked: - -“Did you tell Serbot that I was stopping at this hotel?” - -“Positively not,” returned Biff. “He couldn’t possibly have learned -it—unless—” - -“Unless what?” - -“Unless he saw the envelope,” exclaimed Biff in a hollow tone. “It -nearly worked out of my pocket while I was asleep. Mr. Serbot _might_ -have drawn it out that far. When I looked at him, though, he was asleep, -with his hands folded.” - -“Playing innocent, perhaps. Did he seem to make a habit of folding his -hands?” - -“No, that was the only time I saw them folded. Dad”—Biff’s tone became -worried—“do you think Mr. Serbot read the address on the envelope and -phoned someone from the airport, and told them to come up here?” - -“I wouldn’t be surprised,” his father asserted grimly. “The envelope has -the return address of the Ajax Mining Corporation, and that would -identify us to anyone who is trying to beat us to the El Dorado mine. -But let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.” - -Mr. Brewster had finished packing his bags. He picked them up and nodded -for Biff to bring his, too. - -“We’ll send these out to the airport,” Mr. Brewster declared. “There’s a -plane going up the Rio Negro at dawn, and our luggage can go on it. We -may take that plane, or perhaps a later one. We’ll see.” - -They made arrangements with the hotel porter to handle the baggage. -After that, Mr. Brewster decided that they should go out for dinner so -Biff could see the city. Once on the lighted streets of Manaus, Biff -realized how futile it would be to look for the baggily clad man who had -stolen the map. Dozens of workmen who passed them were dressed in -similar attire, even to a bandanna worn as a neckerchief. - -The gay life of the tropical city impressed Biff. There were brilliantly -lighted downtown cafés, and Mr. Brewster chose one where they were -served half a dozen courses of tasty, highly seasoned food, finishing -with ice cream that Biff thought was the best he had ever eaten. He had -just swallowed the last spoonful when he suddenly exclaimed: - -“Look, Dad! Those two men sitting at that table in the corner! One of -them is Mr. Serbot!” - -Mr. Brewster had no difficulty in picking out Serbot from Biff’s earlier -description, though the scar on the smiling man’s cheek was scarcely -visible in the soft light of the café. Serbot’s companion was shorter -and chunkier, with a broad face, quick, narrow eyes, and straight lips. - -“Introduce me on the way out,” Mr. Brewster told Biff. “I would like to -size up that pair.” - -A few minutes later, Biff’s father was shaking hands with Serbot, who -immediately introduced his stocky companion. - -“This is Senhor Armandeo,” stated Serbot. “Pepito Armandeo, known as -Grande Pepito, or Big Pepito, as you would call him in English. He is a -famous wrestler.” Smoothly, Serbot changed the subject. “You have a very -intelligent son, Senhor Brewster. I enjoyed my trip with him. You are -interested in rubber, Senhor?” - -“What else,” asked Mr. Brewster, “would bring me to Manaus?” - -Serbot’s response was a noticeable increase of his perpetual smile. He -bowed as he made the parting comment: - -“Perhaps we have mutual interests, Senhor.” - -Outside the café, Mr. Brewster spoke reflectively. - -“Perhaps Serbot and I do have mutual interests,” he said. “In something -bigger than rubber. Something like gold.” - -They climbed into the jeep, and Mr. Brewster drove past the Amazonas -Theater, the magnificent opera house that had been built when Manaus was -a boom town in the jungle. Mr. Brewster mentioned that to Biff as they -went by; but Biff realized that his father was thinking of something -else. Finally, he said: - -“I am not surprised that you suspected Serbot. He strikes me as being -very shrewd. I am doubtful of his friend, Big Pepito, too.” - -“Then maybe Serbot sent Pepito to steal the map!” - -“Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly, Biff.” Mr. Brewster smiled as he -spoke. “I still can’t understand how Serbot could have learned so much. -Nobody knew my plans except Mr. Stannart.” - -“What about the directors of the Ajax Company, Dad?” - -“Once they agreed, they gave Stannart full say. Our dealings were -confidential. Stannart sent me funds to buy safari equipment which I -shipped here to Manaus ahead of me.” - -“Mr. Serbot talked about safaris on the plane trip.” - -“So you told me, Biff.” Mr. Brewster frowned. “I’m beginning to think -that somebody found out about our plans here in Manaus. Pepito, for -instance, could have learned of the safari shipments and sent word to -Serbot. But Hal Whitman should have suspected something and informed -me.” - -“Hal Whitman? Who is he, Dad?” - -“The man who received the shipments here. He assembled them secretly in -a boathouse a few miles up the river. Later, he loaded all the supplies -and took them far up the river to an old landing above Santa Isabel. He -is waiting there for us to join him.” - -Mr. Brewster halted the car at an intersection and pondered for a few -moments. Then he said: - -“Somebody could have snooped around that boathouse after Whitman left. -They might have learned where the shipments came from and perhaps gained -some link between Whitman and myself. If we go out there, we might pick -up some clue ourselves. It’s worth a try.” - -Mr. Brewster headed for the outskirts of the city. The road became -rougher, and he was handling the jeep in its best puddle-jumping style -as he added: - -“Maybe some spies are still around the boathouse, trying to learn what -else they can. In that case, we can surprise them. If the boathouse is -empty, we can wait inside it and see if anyone shows up later.” - -As the jeep swung beneath an arch of trees, Biff was startled by what -looked like human figures jumping from bough to bough in the glow of the -moonlight. Mr. Brewster laughed. - -“Just monkeys. Don’t let them worry you. There is the boathouse. You can -see our headlights reflected in its windows.” - -Mr. Brewster cut off the headlights as he spoke, but oddly, the -reflection persisted for a few moments more. Biff thought it was his -imagination, but his father decided otherwise. - -“Someone is moving around inside with a flashlight,” he whispered. “The -boathouse is on pontoons to allow for the rise and fall of the river. If -we reach the gangplank first, we can trap them before they come ashore.” - -Silently Biff and his father slipped out of the jeep and crept forward -beneath overhanging boughs that Biff could hear creak above him. - -This time, he was thinking about people in the boathouse, not monkeys in -the trees. He was watching for a flashlight instead of looking up into -the moonlight. That proved to be a bad mistake. - -Two living human figures dropped from the branches like massive rubber -balls, one taking Biff as a target, the other landing squarely on Mr. -Brewster. In their hands, these silent, shadowy attackers carried thin -ropes that they looped around the necks of their victims as they -flattened them. - -Biff heard his father give a short, gurgling cry. Then Biff was gasping -as the cord tightened around his own neck. Next, his captor clapped a -cloth to his face, and Biff was stifled by a strong, pungent odor that -completely overpowered him. His head seemed to burst with stabs of -flashing light that turned to utter blackness as his senses left him. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - The Safari Starts - - -_Thrumm—thrumm—thrumm—thrumm—_ - -As Biff awakened, the steady sound made him think that he was back on -the plane above the Amazon. He opened his eyes expecting to see the -yellow sea far below. - -Instead, he saw black water streaming past the side of a boat, churning -white as it scudded back into the distance. When he turned his head, he -saw his father beside him. - -They were propped against some boxes near the front of a long cabin -cruiser, which had a permanent top stretched like a canopy over its -large, open cockpit, making it ideal for tropical travel. But there was -nothing ideal about Biff’s present plight. - -Biff’s hands were bound in back of him by a rough cord that chafed his -wrists. His ankles, too, were tightly tied. At a glance, Biff saw that -his father was in a similar situation. The thin, tough rope around Mr. -Brewster’s ankles looked like a tropical vine. - -Biff tried to speak, but he found his lips too dry, his throat too -parched. He caught a warning headshake from his father, and following -the direction of Mr. Brewster’s gaze, Biff saw two chunky men, clad in -baggy, sleeveless shirts and old khaki trousers cut off at the knees. - -The pair were standing guard like patient watchdogs, looking for any -move from the captives. They had black, straight hair and coppery skin; -those features, plus their stony, immobile expressions marked them as -Indians from the headwaters of the river, which, from its blackish -color, could only be the Rio Negro. - -One Indian spoke in a guttural dialect, and a shrill voice responded -from up ahead: - -“So they’re awake now? Good! Igo, you take the wheel.” - -One Indian moved forward. Moments later, a scrawny man with a crafty, -wizened face beneath a shock of whitish hair, stepped into sight. To the -other Indian, he piped: - -“Ubi, you stay here. You help me watch.” - -Then, tilting his head in birdlike fashion, the white-haired man studied -the prisoners and demanded: - -“What were you two doing around that boathouse?” - -Mr. Brewster kept his lips tightly closed, his eyes staring straight -back toward the frothy wake from the cruiser’s propeller. Biff, too, -ignored the question. - -“Maybe you’d talk if I gave you a drink of water,” the scrawny man -suggested, “and maybe I ought to toss you in that big drink out -there”—he gestured toward the river—“and let you try to swim ashore. You -wouldn’t get far, tied like that.” - -The stolid silence of the Brewsters annoyed the white-haired man. His -voice rose to a still higher pitch: - -“I mean it, every word of it! I’ll find a way to make you talk, as sure -as my name is Joe Nara!” - -Biff almost gulped the name, “Joe Nara!” before he caught himself. Then -he heard his father speak calmly in reply. - -“If you are really Joe Nara,” stated Mr. Brewster, “I’ll tell you all -you want to know. Only I don’t believe that you are Joe Nara.” - -Oddly, the wizened man’s anger faded. His own tone became even as he -asked, “And why wouldn’t I be Joe Nara?” - -“Joe Nara is a husky chap,” returned Mr. Brewster, “with dark hair, a -bit gray, but not white. He’s tough, but he doesn’t get angry and -excited. He has too good a sense of humor.” - -Biff saw a twinkle in the wizened man’s eyes. The scrawny face relaxed -in a genuine smile. In a soft, faraway tone, he asked, “And who told you -all that?” - -“Joe Nara’s partner, Lew Kirby, before he died.” - -“So Lew is dead. I was afraid of that.” - -As he spoke, the wizened man’s expression became very sorrowful. He -gestured to Ubi, and the Indian cut the crude ropes that bound the -prisoners. - -“I _am_ Joe Nara,” the white-haired man said. “I’ve grown a lot older in -the years since I saw Lew Kirby last. Kind of lost my sense of humor, -too, living upriver with nobody but Indians to talk to. What’s your -name?” - -“Tom Brewster. And this is my son Biff.” - -Mr. Brewster extended his own hand, palm up. Old Joe Nara slapped his -own hand palm downward, meeting Mr. Brewster’s with a solid whack, -followed by a tight grip to which Mr. Brewster responded firmly. - -“That’s how Lew and I always shook hands,” declared Nara. “I guess you -and Lew were friends all right, or he wouldn’t have shown you that -grip.” - -Ubi was bringing gourds of water. Nara waited until Biff and his father -had slaked their thirst. Then, with a chuckle, the white-haired man -remarked: - -“I guess Lew must have told you about the time he and I went to Lake -Titicaca down in Peru to look for Inca gold?” - -“No, Kirby never told me that,” returned Mr. Brewster, “because you -never went there. He said you planned the trip but gave it up. You came -up this way instead.” - -“And where would we have found gold near the headwaters of the Rio -Negro?” - -“I can tell you in two words: El Dorado.” - -That convinced Joe Nara. He opened a door beneath the short forward deck -and revealed a compact kitchen galley. He heated up a pot of _feijoada_, -a Brazilian dish of black beans cooked with dried meat. With it he -served bowls of _mandioca_, a mush made from the pulp of the _cassava_. - -Simple though the fare was, it tasted so good that Biff eagerly accepted -the second helping that Nara offered him. - -“I was really hungry,” said Biff. “I feel as though I had been asleep -for hours.” - -“You were,” returned Nara. “That stuff you inhaled is a secret Indian -brew that acts like chloroform. Gives you an appetite, though, when you -do wake up.” - -“And just why,” asked Mr. Brewster dryly, “did you happen to try the -stuff out on us?” - -“I’ll tell you why,” asserted Nara. “Every now and then, I come down -from the mine with Igo and Ubi to buy supplies. Whatever I buy, I pay -for with these.” - -From his pocket, Nara brought some small nuggets of pure gold which -clinked heavily when he trickled them from one hand to the other. - -“People have been trying to trail me back up to the mine,” continued -Nara, “so I bought this boat, the _Xanadu_, from a rubber outfit that -had gone broke. I decided to come downriver to see who was spying on me. -Before I even got to Santa Isabel, I saw a crew unloading supplies at an -old abandoned camp.” - -“Whitman’s crew!” exclaimed Mr. Brewster. “I sent them up the Rio Negro -to wait for me, so I could start on a safari to find your mine.” - -Nara gave an understanding chuckle. - -“I had Igo and Ubi talk to the natives,” Nara said. “They learned that -the expedition had started from a boathouse outside of Manaus. So I came -all the way down the river to look into it. We were watching the -boathouse when you came along.” - -“So you thought we were enemies—” - -“Not exactly enemies,” corrected Nara. “Just suspicious characters. -After Igo and Ubi grabbed you, I decided to bring you along. Now that -you’ve explained yourselves, I’ll turn around and take you back down to -Manaus if you want.” - -“Now that we’ve started upriver,” decided Mr. Brewster, “there is no -need to go back. We sent our luggage on to Santa Isabel by air, and we -intended to take a plane ourselves. But now we may as well keep on with -you.” - -All that day, the _Xanadu_ sped swiftly up the Rio Negro. Biff took his -turn at the wheel and was pleased by the way the cruiser handled. At -intervals, the river became so thick with islands that it reminded Biff -of the famous Narrows that he had seen from the air above the lower -Amazon. But here on the Rio Negro, the channels were shallow as well as -twisty. Still, Biff found no difficulty in guiding the sleek craft -through the maze. - -“The _Xanadu_ was built to order for this river,” Nara told Biff. -“That’s why I bought her. Be careful, though, when we reach that island -dead ahead. The channel appears to split there—” - -[Illustration: _The_ Xanadu _thrummed upriver_] - -As Nara spoke, the palm-fringed island vanished. The whole sky had -opened in one tremendous downpour. Biff couldn’t believe that it was -only rain. He thought for the moment that the _Xanadu_ had come beneath -a tremendous waterfall. Adding to the illusion was the sudden rise of -steam from the heated jungle that flanked the channel. Instantly, the -speeding cruiser was shrouded in a mist that swelled above it. - -“Swing her about!” shrilled Nara. “Our only chance is to turn downstream -before the flood hits us!” - -Mr. Brewster stepped up and took the wheel. Instead of taking Nara’s -advice, he sped the boat straight upstream, picking his course in an -amazing fashion. Somehow, he must have gauged the exact position of the -threatening island, for he veered past it. New channels seemed to open -with each swerve of the cruiser’s bow. - -Biff’s father had seen Navy service in the South Pacific and was -familiar with jungle waterways as well as tropical storms. As a -Lieutenant, Junior Grade, he had been trained specially for jungle -fighting and had won medals for bravery, finally leaving the service as -a Lieutenant Commander. - -“It’s better to buck the current,” Mr. Brewster declared, “than to let -it carry us into something we can’t avoid.” - -Igo and Ubi were releasing curtains from beneath the permanent top, -giving the cruiser’s interior the effect of a long, narrow tent, -completely sheltered from the terrific downpour, which like many -tropical rains, was coming straight downward. - -Some of the narrow channels were flooding rapidly, and there, big logs -and branches occasionally met the cruiser’s rounded prow, only to glance -aside as Mr. Brewster deftly turned the wheel. They reached a wider -channel where a headland bulked suddenly in midstream; but it proved to -be a small floating island, composed of small palm trees sprouting from -a mass of soil and undergrowth that had come loose from an overhanging -bank. - -Biff could hear the chatter of monkeys and the screech of birds as the -passing branches scraped the hanging canvas on the cruiser’s side. Then -the tiny islet and its excited living freight had drifted far -downstream. Still Mr. Brewster kept steadily to his course, staring -upstream through the cruiser’s rainswept windshield. - -Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the rain ended, revealing a new maze -of channels that could be found only by looking for gaps among the tree -branches, so high had the water risen in this sunken area. Cutting the -speed, Mr. Brewster navigated the openings gingerly. That brought a -chuckle from Joe Nara. - -“Kind of lucky, weren’t you?” he remarked. - -“Yes, I was rather lucky,” acknowledged Mr. Brewster. “Like you and Lew -Kirby, when you stumbled onto that mine of yours.” - -“We were more than lucky,” retorted Nara. “We were smart. Didn’t Lew -tell you how we doped it out?” - -“He said you ran into a tribe of Indians who were guarding a mountain -that they claimed was sacred.” - -“That’s right. Wai Wai Indians. Igo and Ubi are members of the tribe.” -Nara gestured toward the stolid pair who now were rolling up the canvas -curtains. “What else did Lew say?” - -“He said you convinced the Indians that you were a powerful witch -doctor, so they led you to the lost mine.” - -“From the tricks I showed them,” chuckled Nara, “they thought I was El -Dorado the Original, and that the mine belonged to me and Lew. You know -the story of the man who turned all golden? Well, I proved it could be -done.” - -Biff was hoping that Nara would give more details on that subject, when -suddenly, the white-haired man demanded: - -“Did Lew give you a map to locate the mine?” - -“Not exactly,” replied Mr. Brewster. “He gave me one showing a route -from the mine to some waterways which he said led to the Orinoco River. -That was all.” - -“That was enough. It proved there was a short way out.” - -“Yes, but I still have to go over the actual route to make sure that -gold ore could be transported by it, down the Orinoco.” - -“Do you have the map with you now?” - -“Only part of it.” - -From deep in his pocket, Mr. Brewster produced the torn corner from -Kirby’s map. - -“A prowler stole the rest from my hotel room,” he explained. “I managed -to hold on to the part that shows the mine.” - -Joe Nara stroked his chin in worried fashion. - -“If somebody showed me the rest of the map,” he commented, “I might have -to believe them if they said they knew Lew Kirby, too.” - -“I thought of that,” returned Mr. Brewster calmly, “and I would be glad -if such a person should appear. It would be a case of a thief trapping -himself.” - -Joe Nara nodded as though he agreed; but he immediately dropped the -subject of the map and the mine as well. - -During the next few days, the _Xanadu_ thrummed upriver, keeping to -broad channels instead of short-cuts between islands. This simplified -the handling of the cruiser during brief but heavy rainstorms. Biff -noted that after each rain the air soon became as humid as before. It -was hot at night as well as in the daytime, and while one member of the -group piloted the cruiser under the bright tropical moon, the others -slept in the ample cockpit; never in the tiny forward cabin. - -One evening when Nara was at the wheel, Biff and his father were seated -near the stern, far enough away for Biff to ask: - -“Do you think Joe Nara doubts your story, Dad?” - -“About the map being stolen?” returned Mr. Brewster. “He might be -wondering about it. After all, I could have torn the corner from a map -that belonged to someone else.” - -“But you gave him Kirby’s hand grip and when you mentioned ‘El Dorado’ -it was like a password.” - -“I could have learned those from some other person. Nara has to be -cautious, with a gold mine at stake. I think he trusts me but wants to -sound me out. Watch him, and you’ll see he is suspicious of everything.” - -Biff noted that as the trip continued, Nara insisted upon giving other -river craft a wide berth. When occasional airplanes flew high above, -Nara always leaned out from beneath the canopy to study them -suspiciously, but the planes apparently took no notice of the boat -below. - -After the cruiser had passed Santa Isabel, Biff was taking his turn at -the wheel when Nara approached and remarked: - -“Pretty soon we’ll drop you and your dad at the old rubber camp where -your friend Whitman is waiting for you.” - -“Aren’t you going to join us on the safari?” - -“Not there,” returned Nara. “I’m taking the _Xanadu_ on to Sao Gabriel, -to see if we can buck the rapids and reach the upper river.” - -Mr. Brewster had been close enough to hear Nara’s comment. Now, he put -the query: - -“Then where will we meet you, Joe?” - -“At Piedra Del Cucuy,” Nara replied. “You can see it for miles, a big -rock rising from the forest, where Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia all -meet up. By the time you arrive there, we will know if it is safe to go -on.” - -“Why wouldn’t it be safe?” asked Biff. - -“Because of the Macus, the head-hunters who raid the river settlements.” -Nara turned to his two Indians and said: “Tell them about the Macus.” - -“Macu very bad,” stated Igo. - -“Macu kill for head,” added Ubi. - -At last the _Xanadu_ reached an old, dilapidated landing, where half a -dozen men stood beside some huts on the high bank. Mr. Brewster -indicated one man who was wearing khaki shorts, white shirt, and pith -helmet. - -“That’s Whitman,” said Mr. Brewster. “He’s too far away to hail him.” He -brought out a leather case containing a flat metal mirror and handed it -to Biff. - -“Whitman understands Morse,” Mr. Brewster said. “Signal him to send out -a boat for us, Biff.” - -Biff turned the mirror toward the sun, then slanted it in Whitman’s -direction. Covering the mirror with his hand, he flashed the message in -dots and dashes: S-E-N-D B-O-A-T. - -Whitman pointed to a canoe on the shore. Biff watched two figures hurry -down and clamber into the craft, a small figure at the bow, a big one in -the stern. They paddled out to the waiting cruiser and swung alongside. -The man in the stern, a husky, barrel-chested native, furnished a broad, -friendly smile. - -“Me Jacome,” he announced. - -The bow paddler was an Indian boy about Biff’s age and size. He was -wearing faded blue denim trousers, ragged at the knees, and a shirt that -matched it in color and tattered sleeves. He reached up to grab the -cruiser’s side, adding, “I’m Kamuka.” - -Biff extended his own hand and responded, “I’m Biff.” In that unexpected -handshake, the two boys established an immediate friendship. They -grinned at each other as Biff helped Kamuka swing the canoe about so -that Jacome could hold the stern alongside. - -As soon as Biff and his father stepped into the canoe the _Xanadu_ sped -off like a startled creature. Joe Nara at the wheel, waved good-by, -while Igo and Ubi simply stared back like a pair of reversed -figureheads. Jacome and Kamuka did fast work with their paddles to -prevent the canoe from tipping in the cruiser’s swell. Then they headed -toward the dock. - -Kamuka looked over his shoulder and said to Biff, “I like the way you -send message. You show me how?” - -Biff nodded. “I’ll show you how.” - -During the short paddle, Mr. Brewster talked to Jacome in Portuguese and -Biff, listening closely, understood most of what was said. Mr. Brewster -asked about the luggage and was told that it had arrived by air. Also, -he wanted to know if the safari was ready to start. Jacome told him yes, -that they had been waiting for him to arrive. - -When they reached the shore, Hal Whitman was still up by the huts -engaged with the natives in an excited conversation. Mr. Brewster -started in that direction, and Biff was about to follow when a hand -plucked his sleeve. It was Kamuka, with the request: - -“You spell message now?” - -“All right,” agreed Biff. He produced the mirror, caught the sun’s -glint, and focused it on the wall of a hut perhaps a hundred feet away. -“Now, watch—” - -Biff halted abruptly. A burly native, wearing baggy white shirt and -trousers, with a red bandanna tied about his head, had joined the -argument and was pushing Mr. Whitman back into the hut. - -“Urubu!” exclaimed Kamuka. “He make trouble!” - -Whitman came from the hut with a shotgun and gestured for the native, -Urubu, to be on his way. Instead, Urubu grabbed for the gun and snatched -it from Whitman’s grasp, tripping him at the same time. Mr. Brewster was -starting forward on the run, but he was too far away to help Whitman. - -Urubu raised the gun butt to drive it down on Whitman’s head. Biff could -see the savage look on Urubu’s face. Kamuka gripped Biff’s arm. The -native boy’s voice was breathless: - -“Somebody must help Mr. Whitman! Quick!” - - - - - CHAPTER V - The Spotted Terror - - -That jog from Kamuka’s hand gave Biff a sudden idea. Biff was holding -the mirror so it threw a big spot of sunlight on the hut wall. The spot -wavered when Kamuka jogged Biff’s arm, and Urubu was only a dozen feet -from the corner of the hut. - -Biff changed the mirror’s angle just a slight degree, spotting the light -square in Urubu’s eyes. That reflected glint of the sun was enough. -Urubu dropped back, flinging his arm upward to shield his vision. Mr. -Whitman came to his feet and grappled for the shotgun. A few seconds -later, Mr. Brewster had pitched into the struggle. - -They disarmed Urubu, who stood by glaring sullenly. Biff and Kamuka -approached the group, and Jacome, who had pulled the canoe on shore, -came up behind them. - -“You know what the name Urubu means, Biff?” Kamuka asked. - -Biff shook his head. - -“It means vulture,” the Indian boy said. - -A chuckle came from Jacome. “A good name for Urubu. He is like one -vulture!” - -At close range, Urubu looked the part. He had a profile like a -buzzard’s. He stood by, a sullen look on his face, as Mr. Whitman told -Mr. Brewster: - -“I turned down Urubu as a guide because he lied to me. He said he had -guided safaris for the past five years, when part of that time he was in -jail. Then he told our porters that I lied to them—” - -“You did,” put in Urubu. “You said that Senhor Brewster would arrive -three days ago. Instead he has arrived only now—as you can see.” - -Urubu repeated those remarks to the native bearers in a mixture of -Portuguese and Indian dialect. He was dumfounded when Mr. Brewster spoke -to them in the same manner. Mr. Brewster’s words brought a murmur of -approval. - -“They want to be paid for the days they waited,” Mr. Brewster told Mr. -Whitman. “I said we would pay them, and they are satisfied. Do you need -Urubu as a guide?” - -“I should say not!” - -“Then we can send him away again.” - -That was unnecessary. When Mr. Brewster turned to speak to Urubu, the -troublemaker was gone. He had made a quick departure by the nearest -jungle path. Mr. Whitman promptly called for Luiz, the new guide, to -step forward, and a small, bowing native came from the group of bearers. - -Since it was not yet noon, Mr. Brewster ordered Luiz to get everything -ready for an immediate start. Soon the native bearers, more than a dozen -in number, were hoisting their packs and other equipment. Meanwhile, -Biff was present at a last-minute conference between his father and Hal -Whitman. - -“We’ll follow our original plan,” stated Mr. Brewster. “If we strike off -to the northwest and follow the regular trails, we will appear to be -looking for _balata_ like any other rubber-hunting expedition.” - -Biff knew that the term _balata_ referred both to the rubber tree and -its juice. He watched Hal Whitman mop perspiration from his forehead. -Whitman’s worry seemed to vanish with that process. - -“We will be following the long side of a triangle,” Biff’s father -continued, “while Joe Nara is going around by the Rio Negro, turning -north after he passes Sao Gabriel. But we now know exactly where to meet -him. That will be at Piedra Del Cucuy.” - -“That’s better than floundering around the headwaters of the Rio Negro,” -Whitman agreed. “I was afraid we would be on a wild goose chase, trying -to find him there. It’s lucky that you met up with Nara.” - -“Let’s say that Nara met up with us,” Mr. Brewster chuckled. “We’ll meet -again at Piedra Del Cucuy, provided Nara dodges those head-hunters. -Since the rapids will delay him, we should reach the great rock as soon -as Nara does.” - -“I’ll talk to Luiz and see if he knows the best route—” - -“Not yet!” warned Mr. Brewster. “Wait until we are deep in the jungle, -with no chance of any spies being about, before we even mention Piedra -Del Cucuy. Do you understand?” - -The final query was meant for Biff as well as Mr. Whitman. Biff nodded, -then went to join Kamuka, who was waiting to help him get his pack on -his back. That done, they fell into the procession as it started out. - -The first few miles gave Biff the false impression that a jungle trek -was easy. The trail was smooth, well-trodden by multitudes of natives -who had scoured the back country in search of _balata_. But as paths -diverged, they became rougher. - -Biff began stumbling over big roots that crossed the path, and when he -kept his eyes turned down to watch for them, he lost sight of the -bearers ahead of him and had trouble getting into line behind them. -Once, Biff lost the trail entirely, and Kamuka overtook him just as he -was blundering squarely into a fallen tree. - -The obstacle was at shoulder level, and Kamuka, sighting the bearers -taking a turn in the path beyond, suggested: “We climb over. Take short -way back to trail.” - -Biff pressed aside some projecting branches as he clambered across the -tree trunk, pack and all. His hands became sticky with some clinging -substance. - -“Spider web. Thick here,” Kamuka said. He helped Biff brush away the -fine-spun threads, and pointed into the sunlight that filtered through -the jungle foliage. - -[Illustration: _Kamuka cleared the branches with hard, expert slashes_] - -Glistening between the tree branches were the largest, thickest spider -webs that Biff had ever seen. There were multitudes of them, forming -what at first glance seemed an impassible barrier. - -Kamuka settled that problem by clearing away the obstructing branches -with hard, expert slashes of his machete, taking the webs with them. - -The trail had become so irregular that the bearers frequently had to -hack their way through the thick growth. Kamuka did the same, and Biff -tried to copy the Indian youth’s smooth style. Kamuka handled his -machete easily, despite the pack that he carried. But with Biff, the -pack shifted at every swing, and its straps cut into his back and -shoulders. - -Big Jacome was doing most of the trail blazing, with Kamuka close behind -him. Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman did their share, while urging the -bearers to take their turns at the work. All responded willingly, with -the exception of the guide, Luiz, who was lagging behind. - -“What’s holding you back, Luiz?” Whitman demanded. “Why don’t you get up -ahead and take a hand at cutting the trail?” - -“You pay others to cut trail, Senhor,” returned Luiz. “You pay me to be -guide. _Nao?_” - -Biff’s father overheard the argument and provided a prompt solution. - -“Since you are the guide,” he told Luiz, “suppose you show us the trail. -Possibly we have lost it. You lead; we will follow.” - -Mr. Brewster spoke in the Brazilian dialect that the bearers understood. -Their solemn faces broadened at the expense of Luiz. Angrily, the -undersized guide shouldered his way to the head of the line and began -hacking at the brush with Jacome. Biff caught up with Kamuka, who had -waited while Luiz went by. - -“You see his face?” asked Kamuka. “Luiz is very mad. He does not like -hard work.” - -The glower that Luiz gave over his shoulder proved that Kamuka’s opinion -was correct. The keen-eyed Indian boy was quick to note that Biff’s face -also wore a pained expression, but for a different reason. -Understandingly, Kamuka said: - -“You have trouble with pack. I fix it.” - -Expertly, he adjusted the straps to the fraction of an inch. From then -on, the pack seemed to fit to Biff’s back, giving him no more aches. -What amazed Biff, though, was the fact that Kamuka’s pack had no straps, -but was laced to his back by crude ropes made from jungle vines. Yet it -seemed to adjust itself to every move that Kamuka made. - -Soon, the going became easier underfoot, and the path was free of -obstacles. It was no longer necessary to hack through the jungle growth. - -“Luiz bring us back to better trail,” Kamuka confided to Biff. “Less -work for Luiz.” - -It was less work for Biff, too, though he didn’t say so. He was pleased -because his father had handled the situation so neatly. Biff noted the -happy grins on the faces of the bearers every time Mr. Brewster moved -back and forth among them. Biff grinned, too, when his dad came by and -gave him an encouraging whack on the pack which now seemed molded to -Biff’s body. - -“It takes a few days to get into the swing of a safari,” Mr. Brewster -stated, “so don’t be discouraged. Even the native bearers are struggling -a bit, though they won’t admit it. We’ll call it a day as soon as we -reach a suitable campsite.” - -About an hour later, the safari halted. Gratefully, the bearers eased -their packs to the ground and began to set up camp at Whitman’s -direction, on a high bank above a jungle stream. The insects were -bothersome, as they had been at intervals along the route, but the -expedition was equipped to meet that problem. The packs contained -netting for the sleeping hammocks, as well as insect repellent. - -The chief feature of the campsite was its closeness to a water hole. -Luiz approved this, making a great show of his official title of guide. -Biff, glad to be free of his pack, eagerly volunteered to help Kamuka -bring up pails of water from the stream below. Halfway down, Kamuka -hissed for a quick halt. - -“We go back up quick,” he said to Biff. “We tell Senhor Brewster we see -tapir at water hole.” - -Kamuka pointed out a pair of curious dark brown animals, with clumsy, -bulky bodies, stocky legs, and long-snouted heads. The creatures were -feeding on the leaves of young trees and appeared somewhat tame. Kamuka -took no chance on frightening them away, however, as he beckoned Biff up -the path. - -Mr. Brewster promptly picked up a loaded rifle and accompanied the boys -down the path. The tapirs were already lumbering into the brush when -Biff’s father took quick but accurate aim on one of the animals and -fired. - -One tapir dropped in its tracks, while its companion crashed madly into -the jungle. The boys rushed down to the bank and found that the tapir -was shot squarely through the head. When Mr. Brewster joined them, he -smiled. - -“That’s the only way to shoot a tapir,” he declared. “Otherwise, they -blunder into the jungle wounded, and you can never find them. They have -thick hides like a hippopotamus. In fact, they belong to the same -family.” - -That night, the members of the safari feasted on tapir steaks, which -they broiled on the prongs of long, forked sticks. Later, they went to -sleep around the same campfire. All day, Biff had listened to the -chatter of monkeys and the screech of birds. Now, howls of jungle -animals seemed tuned to the heavy basso chorus of frogs from the stream -below. - -But despite that, Biff was soon sound asleep, the crackle of the -campfire blending with his last waking moments. Some hours later, he -woke up suddenly. The jungle concert had ended, and the flames had -settled to a low, subdued flicker. Somebody should have tended the fire, -Biff thought. He recalled his father discussing that point with Luiz -shortly after they had finished dinner. Biff rolled from his hammock and -groped toward some logs that lay beside the fire. There, he halted at -sight of what appeared to be two live coals, glinting from a big log. - -Biff pulled back his hand just in time, as the log came alive with a -snarl. Biff realized that he had encountered some prowling beast of -prey. He raised the alarm with a loud shout: - -“Dad! There’s something here by the fire—” - -Before Biff could complete the sentence, he saw that the creature was a -huge jungle cat, its tawny yellow coat spotted black. Already, it was -poising for a spring. Biff, caught unarmed, was confronted by an -attacking jaguar, one of the jungle’s most ferocious killers. - -Biff heard an answering call from his father. Then, before Mr. Brewster -could have possibly found time to grab his gun, the jaguar sprang! - - - - - CHAPTER VI - Into the Quicksand - - -Biff flung his arms upward, as he tried to duck away. It was a hopeless -effort, for nothing could have saved him from those fierce claws, once -the jaguar reached him. What stopped the springing jungle cat was -another figure, small but chunky, that came flying out of the darkness, -feet first. - -It was Kamuka. The Indian boy had grabbed a long liana vine hanging like -a rope from a tree beside his high hammock. All in one motion, he had -swung himself across the jaguar’s path just in time to ram the -creature’s shoulder in mid-air and veer the big cat toward the fire. - -That gave Biff time enough to roll the other way, and Kamuka, as he -struck the ground, promptly squirmed about to dive off into the -darkness. The scene was momentarily illuminated by a shower of sparks -raised by the jaguar when it struck the fringe of the embers. With more -of a yowl than a snarl, the big cat cleared the fire at a single bound -and took off into the jungle. - -Mr. Brewster had his gun by then, but with so many figures bouncing in -the vague firelight, he couldn’t risk a shot. By the time Biff and -Kamuka were out of the way, Jacome had come on the scene, swinging a big -club. Mr. Brewster had to wait until he was out of the path of aim, -before firing into the jungle. - -By then, Mr. Brewster might as well have fired blank shots. The jaguar -had vanished completely in darkness. Jacome threw some logs on the fire, -and as the flames took hold, he commented: - -“The tapir tiger—that is what we call the jaguar. A good name for him. -Look there and you see why!” - -Jacome indicated a chunk of cooked tapir meat, hanging from a tree -branch near the fire. The smell of its favorite food had evidently drawn -the “tapir tiger” in from the jungle. But that did not fully satisfy Mr. -Brewster. - -“Jaguars frequently kill and eat tapirs,” Biff’s father declared, “but -they also shy away from campfires. I gave orders that this fire should -be tended all night. Who neglected his duty?” - -The final words were addressed to Luiz, who had just joined the group. -The guide shrugged and gestured to some of the native bearers who were -coming sleepily from their hammocks. They stared dumbly at Luiz, until -Mr. Brewster queried them sharply in their dialect, getting headshakes -from all. - -“I will give the orders direct from now on,” Mr. Brewster told Luiz -bluntly, “and I intend to see that they are carried out.” He looked up, -noted the faint glimmer of daybreak through the high leaves, and added, -“It is after dawn. Let’s break camp and start on our way.” - -Biff expressed his thanks to Kamuka while the Indian boy was helping him -prepare his pack. - -“If you hadn’t hopped to help me the way you did,” asserted Biff, “I -would be just a chunk of tapir meat, or something a lot like it. I’ll -remember what you did for me, Kamuka.” - -“That is good,” rejoined Kamuka solemnly. “I help you. You help me. That -is the way in the jungle.” - -Biff felt that he was getting the knack of jungle ways during that day’s -trek, but he was due for new surprises. As they hacked a path through a -thick growth of brush, he heard a sound that was sharply distinct from -the screeches of the vivid parrots and macaws that continually scolded -from the trees. - -It was exactly like a hammer striking an anvil or some other chunk of -solid metal. It came from well back in the jungle, and after it was -repeated, Biff said to Kamuka: - -“Hear that! There must be a village back there in the jungle!” - -Kamuka laughed as the clanging sound came again. - -“_El campanero_,” he defined. “That is what some people call it. Others -call it the bellbird.” - -“You mean it’s only a bird?” - -As if in answer, the sharp note was repeated with methodical precision, -and Biff recognized that it had a quality that could be mistaken for a -bell rather than the clank of hammer on anvil. Biff kept looking for the -bird itself until Kamuka noticed it and told him: - -“Bellbird very hard to find. He may be far away when you think he is -close by.” - -Other creatures were closer at hand. From up ahead, Jacome turned and -pointed to the path. He called something in his native tongue, and Biff -watched the bearers take quick sidesteps. Then Kamuka was nudging Biff -with his elbow and pointing out the reason. - -A procession of ants was moving along the trail as though keeping pace -with the safari. The insects were carrying thin green slivers that -wobbled above their bodies. Biff saw that those were tiny fragments of -leaves that the ants had gathered and evidently were going to store for -food. - -“Umbrella ants,” defined Kamuka. “Be careful or they crawl up your leg -instead of along path. Umbrella ants can bite—hard!” - -From the way the ants had chopped the leaves they carried, Biff took -Kamuka at his word. He played hopscotch with the insects until they -veered off the trail. The going became easy again, except that the -atmosphere of the jungle was growing more humid. Even the chatter of the -birds and monkeys was silenced in the sultry calm. - -Then came a sudden rain as torrential as the big downpour that they had -encountered on the Rio Negro. With the jungle steam rising about them, -it was a case of groping along the trail, which soon became ankle deep -with water. As he sloshed through the muck, Biff told Kamuka: - -“Those ants are smarter than we are. They must have known this was -coming and carried their own umbrellas.” - -Kamuka interpreted that to Jacome, who laughed and passed it along to -the bearers. The rain stopped suddenly at last, but although the heat -returned again, the path remained soggy underfoot. Luiz, it seemed, had -lost the trail during the rain and was marching the safari into a jungle -swamp. - -Mr. Brewster called a halt. It was not just a matter of getting back on -the trail; he wanted the best trail. For the first time, Biff heard his -father mention “Piedra Del Cucuy” to Luiz, who nodded that he -understood. - -“We go to Piedra Del Cucuy,” assured Luiz. “That is easy, now I know. I -show you the best way.” - -Biff’s clothes were dry by now except for his shoes and socks, which -felt as if they were filled with lead weights as the march was resumed. -Luiz soon took the safari out of the swampy land to a dry path, but at -times, he showed hesitancy at places where the trail divided. Always, he -came finally to a definite decision, but Jacome began to eye him -suspiciously. - -“We all hear Senhor Brewster say we go to Piedra Del Cucuy,” Jacome -confided to Biff and Kamuka. “Now we know we go there, Luiz is afraid to -take us on wrong trail. Some of us go to Piedra Del Cucuy before this. -We may remember way if Luiz ‘forget’ it.” - -A little later, Biff fell in stride alongside his dad and told him what -Jacome had said. - -“I think there’s no question but that Luiz is trying to delay us,” -declared Mr. Brewster. “The only puzzle is his purpose. He may simply be -hoping to make more money by keeping us longer on the hike. Or he may -have deliberately stalled us in order to learn our exact destination. -That is why I told him. Now, I am forcing him to show his hand.” - -Mr. Brewster’s tactics paid off by mid-afternoon. The ringing cry of the -bellbird had begun again in the deep jungle, and Biff was still hoping -for a sight of the elusive _campanero_, when Luiz led the safari on a -short side trail that terminated in a clearing. There Luiz announced, -“We camp here tonight.” - -“We could still go on a few miles farther,” objected Mr. Brewster. “In -fact, we might stop almost anywhere on the trail.” - -“Plenty of water here,” argued Luiz. “Maybe not in other places.” - -Jacome overheard that. The big man supplied a grim but knowing grin as -he muttered his own opinion to the boys. - -“Maybe and maybe not,” said Jacome. “In wet season, we find water -everywhere; in dry season, no. But we came through big rain today, like -wet season.” - -After brief deliberation, Mr. Brewster gave Luiz the nod. - -“We need water,” he agreed, “and perhaps we are too tired to go on much -farther today. We will make camp here.” - -Hardly had they unloaded their packs before Kamuka suggested to Biff, -“Come with me. Maybe we find bellbird.” - -They started along a twisty jungle path in the general direction of the -distant metallic sound. Kamuka was moving so hurriedly that they were -out of sight of camp before Biff caught up with him and reminded him, -“They may want to send us for water, back at camp—” - -“That can wait,” put in Kamuka. “We find bird first.” - -“But you told me before that there was no use looking for the bellbird, -that the sound might be far away.” - -“I know. But this is not real bellbird. Listen.” - -Biff listened. The sharp note came clear again, from exactly the same -direction. Biff could detect no difference between it and the anvil -chorus of earlier in the day. But Kamuka could. - -“Somebody is hitting metal with hammer,” the Indian boy insisted. “We -look for them. We find them—if we hurry.” - -Kamuka waved his arm for Biff to follow, as he started a quick jog along -the jungle path, hoping to reach the source of the well-faked bird call -before the sounds ceased. Straight ahead, low tree branches formed a -thick green arch, darkening the path between two low banks that were -vivid with colorful flowers. - -Mostly, they were magnificent orchids that thrived on dampness as well -as heat, but Biff was unaware of that. Kamuka, though schooled in jungle -knowledge, ignored the flowers in his haste. He had turned his head to -see if Biff had responded to his call, when suddenly, the green -carpeting of the path gave way beneath his weight. - -A moment later, Kamuka was waist deep in slimy ooze, squirming, twisting -about to grab at bushes on the solid ground that he had left. The tufts -of grass that he clutched simply pulled loose from the soft earth. With -each quickly repeated snatch, he had still less chance of gaining a -hold, for he was sinking to his armpits as he panted: - -“Look out, Biff! Don’t come close! Quicksand!” - - - - - CHAPTER VII - The Deadly Coils - - -Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging -from the mire, was frantically waving him back. Biff felt the soft bank -giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, -knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend. - -Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now. That -gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was -still a question. There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it -would be too flimsy. A tree branch would be better, but the only boughs -strong enough to support a person’s weight were those that overhung the -mire itself. - -Biff couldn’t wrench those branches loose from their trunks in time to -save Kamuka. In fact, to push anything out from the bank looked like a -hopeless plan. The best way to help would be by a pull straight up. Biff -realized that, when he saw Kamuka look up toward the lowest bough, six -feet or more above his head. - -[Illustration: _Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him_] - -If only Kamuka could reach that far! - -That thought gave Biff the answer. Skirting the quicksand, he climbed -one of the trees and started working out on its lowest thick branch, -hand over hand, toward the spot where Kamuka, now nearly shoulder-deep -in the muck, still looked up hopefully. - -So far, Biff had been worrying whether the bough would prove strong -enough. Now he was wishing that it would bend more. Biff was dangling -near Kamuka, but not quite above him; and it was impossible for the -Indian boy to shift his position in the quicksand. But Biff was able to -do the next best thing. - -Locking his hands over the thick branch, Biff began a pendulum swing, -out and back—out and back—bringing his ankles closer to Kamuka’s reach. -Kamuka made one clutch and missed, but on the next swing Biff -practically placed his ankle in the Indian boy’s grasp. - -Kamuka caught Biff’s other ankle in the same fashion, and Biff, slanting -a glance downward, saw the other boy’s face smiling grimly from between -those upstretched arms. Kamuka’s voice came calmly. “Hold tight, Biff. I -will pull up slowly.” - -Now Biff was glad that the bough was a stout one, for he could feel it -give under Kamuka’s added weight. Biff tried to work himself higher by -bending his arms and turning them along the branch, so that he could use -his hands to grip his opposite wrists. - -That helped at first, but Kamuka’s weight kept increasing as he emerged -gradually from the ooze, and the strain made Biff’s shoulders feel as if -they would pull from their sockets. But by then, Kamuka had worked clear -of the quicksand’s suction. He caught Biff’s belt with one hand; then -the other. Next, he was clamping Biff’s shoulder and finally the tree -branch. - -The strain lessened then, with both boys dangling from the bough. -Practically side by side, they made a hand-over-hand trip toward the -tree trunk and dropped to solid ground. There they sat a moment, panting -and rubbing their shoulders as they looked at each other, a bit -bewildered by their short but strenuous adventure. - -From the distance came that clear metallic note that they had heard -before. Kamuka looked at Biff. - -“We still go find it—maybe?” - -“All right, Kamuka. Let’s go find it.” - -They skirted the quicksand and took the path that Kamuka had missed in -his hurry. It divided into lesser paths, but they continued to pick a -course in the general direction of the clanging sound. - -“Somebody use that for a signal,” declared Kamuka. “When we find it, you -will see that I am right—” - -“You _are_ right,” Biff whispered. “Look there!” - -A figure had cut into the path well ahead of them and was continuing on. -Softly, Kamuka whispered the name: “Luiz!” - -The boys were fortunate. Luiz hadn’t spotted them. Evidently, the guide -had left the camp by another path and had followed a roundabout course -to reach his present goal. Luiz, judging by the eager expression on his -scheming face, was also following the call of the false bellbird. -Cautiously, the boys took up Luiz’s trail until he reached a clearing. -There, they sidled into a patch of jungle and spread the foliage just -enough to view the open space in front of them. - -A big man was sitting on a camp stool beside a tent. In front of him was -a small anvil, and he gave it a ringing stroke with a hammer as the boys -watched. Kamuka was the first to recognize the hawkish face that turned -in Luiz’s direction as the guide approached. - -Kamuka whispered, “Urubu!” - -Biff had scarcely noticed Urubu. Instead, he was staring in total -amazement at two other men who had come from the tent. - -“One of those men is Nicholas Serbot,” he told Kamuka. “The other is his -sidekick, Big Pepito. But they were in Manaus, the night we left there. -How did they get here?” - -“Airplane come upriver ahead of you,” replied Kamuka. “Stop at _maloca_ -near rubber camp.” - -By _maloca_ Kamuka meant a native village some distance back from the -Rio Negro. Quickly, Biff exclaimed: - -“That’s where they met Urubu! They must have paid him to make trouble -for us!” - -Kamuka gave a chuckle. “Look like they pay Luiz, too.” - -Urubu was introducing Luiz to Serbot and Pepito. In the background were -several native bearers, apparently under orders to keep their distance. -Serbot and Pepito were watching them to make sure they did. Biff took -advantage of that. - -“We can move up closer,” he told Kamuka. “Maybe close enough to hear -what they are saying.” - -Kamuka silently agreed, for he crawled along with Biff until they -reached the very fringe of the thinner brush, only a dozen yards from -where the four men stood. There, Kamuka whispered, “This far enough.” - -The grass here was tall and studded with brilliant flowers and shrubs -that had cropped up since the brush was thinned. By keeping almost flat -on their stomachs, the boys remained completely hidden. Most of the -discussion was in Portuguese, with a sprinkling of dialect, so between -them Biff and Kamuka were able to understand most of what was said. - -“I come for money, Senhor,” Luiz told Serbot. “Like Urubu said you would -give me if I delay safari.” - -“You will get your money later,” promised Serbot. “You can’t spend it -here in the jungle anyway. If you even showed it, Brewster and Whitman -would wonder where it came from.” - -Luiz started to babble an objection, only to have Urubu interrupt him. - -“You have only done half your job, Luiz,” Urubu reminded him. “You gave -our safari time to catch up with yours. Now you must see that we have -time to get ahead.” - -“For that,” injected Luiz, “I should be paid double.” - -“You will be,” agreed Serbot, “if you can tell us where Brewster intends -to go, so we can get there ahead of him.” - -Biff saw Luiz’s teeth gleam in a knowing smile. The small guide spoke in -dialect to Urubu, who made a prompt reply. Kamuka understood the talk -and whispered to Biff: - -“Luiz says he can tell them what they want to know. He asks Urubu if he -can trust them. Urubu says yes.” - -By then, Luiz had turned to Serbot. Biff’s heart sank as he heard Luiz -triumphantly announce: - -“They go to Piedra Del Cucuy!” - -“The big boundary rock!” exclaimed Serbot. “That must have been Nara’s -boat that took Brewster and the boy up the river. Now, they probably -plan to meet Nara there.” He turned to Urubu. “Can you get us to Piedra -Del Cucuy first?” he demanded. - -“Easily,” assured Urubu, “if Luiz takes them the long way.” - -“Maybe I should leave them,” put in Luiz, “and come with you. Then they -will have no guide and will not find the way at all.” - -“That would be all right,” decided Serbot, “but learn what else you can -first. Did Brewster mention the name Nara?” - -“_Nao_, Senhor.” - -“Did he say anything about a map?” - -“_Nao_, Senhor.” - -“Find out what you can about both. If you can get word to us, good. If -Brewster becomes suspicious, join us. But your big job is to delay their -safari. Use whatever way seems best.” - -That ended the parley, except for parting words from Urubu to Luiz, -which greatly interested the listening boys. - -“Tomorrow, I signal before we start.” Urubu gestured toward the hammer -and anvil. “If you do not come to join us, we will know you are staying -with the safari—to guide them the long way.” - -Urubu and Luiz were turning in the direction of the spot where the boys -lay hidden. Biff whispered to Kamuka: - -“Let’s crawl out of here fast—” - -“Stay still!” Kamuka’s interruption came as a warning hiss. “Do not -move—not one inch!” - -Biff let his eyes turn in the direction of Kamuka’s stare. Despite the -intense heat of the jungle, Biff could actually feel himself freeze. -Coming straight toward them through the tall grass was the head of a -huge snake! - -Behind it, the grass rippled from the slithering coils that followed. -Fully twenty feet in length, the gigantic creature could only be an -anaconda, greatest of all boa constrictors. - -To be caught within those crushing coils would mean sure death! - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - A Traitor Strikes - - -“Do not move—not one inch!” - -Kamuka repeated that warning as the snake’s long body slid slowly past. -Whether or not the creature was in search of other prey, to move would -be to attract it. Biff realized that from Kamuka’s tone as well as his -words. - -Gradually, the sliding coils slackened speed. It was Biff who spoke now, -his own voice strained, but low: - -“It’s turning now, Kamuka. It may be coming back.” - -“Maybe, but stay still. One move, you are gone.” - -Despite himself, Biff raised his head, only slightly, but enough to look -beyond the long, hoselike body that was still gliding by. Aloud, Biff -groaned: - -“There is Luiz—coming straight toward us—” - -Biff threw up his arms to ward off the great boa’s tail as it lashed -past. Looking up, he saw the snake’s huge mouth yawning toward him. Biff -shut his eyes, thinking there was no hope now. Then a wild scream came -from just ahead. - -Biff and Kamuka bobbed up from the grass and saw what had happened. The -anaconda, on the rove for prey, had lashed out for the first moving -thing that approached it—Luiz. Caught in the snake’s coils, the guide -was shouting: - -“Urubu! _Ajudo! Ajudo!_” - -Urubu took one quick look and relayed the call for help. Serbot and -Pepito came from the tent, saw what was happening, and dashed back for -their guns. Biff didn’t wait to watch what followed. He grabbed Kamuka’s -arm and exclaimed, “Let’s go!” - -They went. Behind them, they heard a burst of gunfire. Those first shots -must have wounded the anaconda or frightened it away, for the next -volley whistled through the foliage as Biff and Kamuka dived into the -jungle. The boys found their path and raced along it until the shooting -dwindled far behind them. - -Breathless, they slackened their pace to a walk and talked over what had -happened. In a worried tone, Biff said: - -“They must have seen us or they wouldn’t have fired after us. I hope -they didn’t know who we were.” - -“More likely,” observed Kamuka seriously, “I think they don’t know what -we were.” - -“You mean they mistook us for some jungle animals?” - -“Why not? We were gone quick—_pouf_! Maybe we were gone quicker than -_sucuria_.” - -By “sucuria” Kamuka meant the anaconda. He was referring to the giant -water boa by its more popular Brazilian name. Kamuka’s comment brought a -smile from Biff. - -“I wonder if they shot the anaconda,” he speculated, “or whether it -managed to get away.” - -“Perhaps Luiz will tell us,” rejoined Kamuka, grinning, “when he gets -back to our camp.” - -“If Luiz ever gets back there at all!” - -The boys lost no time in getting back to camp themselves. There, they -told Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman all that had happened. - -“Serbot must have learned a lot from somebody down in Minas Geraes,” -decided Mr. Brewster, “though how, I can’t quite understand. I checked -everyone who had talked with Lew Kirby, and I felt sure he had confided -in me alone.” - -“And how did Serbot hear about Joe Nara?” queried Mr. Whitman. “There -have been rumors of head-hunters and abandoned rubber plantations off in -the jungle. But no talk of prospectors and gold mines—at least none that -reached me.” - -“There were rumors farther up the river,” Biff’s father said, “according -to what Nara told us. When Joe bought that cruiser and came down to -Manaus, he turned rumor into fact.” - -“Nara found out about us,” Hal Whitman pointed out, “so why shouldn’t -Serbot find out about Nara? Or about us, for that matter? We know now -where the leak came. Through Urubu.” - -Mr. Brewster weighed that statement, then slowly shook his head. - -“Urubu couldn’t have sent word to Serbot that fast,” he declared, then, -turning to Biff, he queried: “You are sure Serbot told Luiz to find out -what he could about Nara?” - -“Yes,” replied Biff, “and about the map, too.” - -“Then it wasn’t Serbot’s man who stole the map,” mused Mr. Brewster, -“unless he wants that missing corner that I still have. Or else—” - -Mr. Brewster interrupted himself, as sounds of excitement came from the -bearers, who were busy thatching palm leaves to form a shelter. Their -babble of dialect included the name “Luiz,” and a couple of the bearers -were running to help the guide as he came limping into camp. - -“Say nothing,” warned Mr. Brewster. “Just listen to what Luiz has to -tell us.” - -Luiz had plenty to tell when they formed a sympathetic group around him. - -“I look for water hole,” Luiz told them, “and I meet _una grande -sucuria_—one big anaconda! He grab me around my body, like this!” - -Graphically, Luiz gestured to indicate how the snake’s coils had -encircled his body. - -Biff and Kamuka kept straight, solemn faces as Luiz continued. - -“I pull my gun quick!” Luiz thrust his hand deep in his trouser pocket -and brought out a small revolver. “I fire quick, until the gun is -empty.” He clicked the trigger repeatedly; then broke open the revolver -and showed its empty chambers. “Still, anaconda hold me, until I draw -knife and stab him hard!” - -From a sheath at the back of his belt, Luiz whipped out a knife that -looked far more formidable than his puny gun. He gave fierce stabs at -the imaginary anaconda, his face gleaming with an ugly smile that was -more vicious than triumphant. Luiz looked like a small edition of Urubu, -whose ways he seemed to copy. - -“Big snake go off into jungle,” added Luiz, wiggling his hand ahead of -him to indicate the anaconda’s writhing course. “Hurt bad, I think. -Maybe it is dead by now. But the animals were still afraid of it. I hear -them run.” - -His sharp eyes darted from Biff to Kamuka, but neither boy changed -expression. Clumsily, Luiz pocketed the revolver with his left hand and -thrust the knife smoothly back into its sheath with his right. He rubbed -his side painfully, then beckoned to two of the natives and said, “We go -look for water hole again.” - -A short while later, the boys had a chance to exchange comments while -they were gathering palm fronds for the shelter. After making sure that -no one else was nearby, Kamuka confided: - -“Luiz had no gun at start of safari. Urubu must have given gun to him.” - -“To explain the shots if any of our party heard them!” exclaimed Biff. -“And did you see the way Luiz looked at us when he mentioned scared -animals? Maybe they glimpsed us going into the brush.” - -“Maybe,” agreed Kamuka. “I think they shoot anaconda, or big _sucuria_ -would not let Luiz go so easy.” - -“That’s another reason why Luiz claimed he shot it,” added Biff. “We -might come across the anaconda and find the bullet marks.” - -Shortly afterward, the boys found a chance to repeat those opinions to -Mr. Brewster, who added a few points that they had overlooked. - -“Luiz couldn’t possibly have brought the gun from his pocket, as he -claimed,” stated Mr. Brewster, “because the snake was already coiled -about his body. For that matter, he could not have drawn his knife, -either. - -“However, from the clumsy way he showed us the gun and put it back in -the wrong pocket, you could tell he had never handled it before. In -contrast, he was smooth and quick with his knife, which is obviously his -customary weapon.” - -One question still perplexed Biff. - -“That other camp is a good way off, Dad,” Biff said, “yet we heard the -anvil strokes before we started out. How come you didn’t hear the -gunfire later?” - -“Urubu may have made the first strokes closer by,” replied Mr. Brewster. -“The anvil sound is also sharper than a gunshot and should carry -farther. That is probably why they chose it as a signal. Kamuka did well -to detect it.” - -That evening, Biff was glad there had been time to build the thatched -shelter, for a tropical dew had begun to settle, almost as thick as a -dripping rain. It was less damp beneath the shelter, where Biff and -Kamuka had slung their hammocks. - -Mr. Brewster, however, had inflated a rubber mattress and had placed it -near the fire, stating that he would use a poncho to keep off the -moisture. From his hammock, Biff watched his dad arrange small logs and -palm stalks as spare fuel. As he closed his eyes, Biff could hear his -father talking to Luiz, who was standing close by. - -“I will watch the fire tonight,” announced Mr. Brewster. “You have been -hurt. You need rest more than I do.” - -“But, Senhor,” objected Luiz. “Suppose you fall asleep—” - -“I am sure to wake up at intervals. I always do. But you must get some -sleep, Luiz. We need you to guide us to Piedra Del Cucuy. You are sure -you know the way?” - -“Most certainly, Senhor. But it may take longer than you expect.” - -A pause—then Mr. Brewster asked bluntly, “Why?” - -“Because the shortest way is not the best way,” returned Luiz. “We might -meet floods, or streams where the piranha may attack us. They are very -dangerous fish, the piranha—” - -“I know,” interrupted Mr. Brewster impatiently, “but we have no time to -waste.” - -“You are meeting someone at Piedra Del Cucuy?” - -“Yes,” replied Mr. Brewster. “A man named—” He caught himself, then said -in a blunt tone: - -“I won’t know our plans until we get there. We will continue on up the -river. That is all that I can tell you.” - -“Don’t you have a map, Senhor?” - -Biff opened his eyes at Luiz’s question. He saw his father start to -reach into his inside pocket, then bring his hand out empty. Shaking his -head, Mr. Brewster said: - -“No, I have no map. Go get some sleep, Luiz. You will need it.” - -Biff glimpsed Luiz’s face as the sneaky guide turned from the firelight. -Beneath the hatbrim, Luiz wore that same ugly smile that showed his -satisfaction. Obviously, Luiz was planning his next move, probably for -tomorrow. - -When it came, his father would be ready for it, Biff felt sure. Soon -Biff drifted into a fitful sleep from which he awoke at intervals. -Sometimes he heard the crackle of the fire and decided that his father -must have thrown on a log and then gone back to sleep. For, each time, -Biff saw the figure of Mr. Brewster covered by the rubber poncho, near -the pile of logs that had become much smaller during the night. It must -have been the fourth or fifth awakening, when Biff saw someone move into -the firelight’s flicker. - -It was Luiz. He crept forward. Crouched above the quiet form, Luiz -thrust his hand downward as if to reach into the sleeper’s pocket. - -The figure under the poncho seemed to stir. Luiz recoiled quickly and -sped his hand to his hip. Before Biff could shout a warning, Luiz had -whipped out his long knife into sight and driven it straight down at the -helpless shape beneath him. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - The Shrunken Heads - - -Wildly, Biff tumbled from his hammock to the soggy ground. Coming to his -hands and knees, he started forward just as another figure sprang into -the firelight, too late to halt Luiz’s knife. The newcomer grabbed -Luiz’s shoulders and spun the little man full about. For a moment, Luiz -poised his blade as though planning to counter the attack. - -Instead, he uttered an unearthly shriek, as though he had seen a ghost. -Biff was startled, too, but his cry was a glad one. Etched against the -firelight, Biff saw his dad’s face looking down at Luiz. - -Tom Brewster himself was the man who had interrupted Luiz’s deadly work. -The figure under the poncho, Biff realized, must be a dummy. - -As the two men struggled for possession of the knife, they kicked the -dummy apart with their feet. Suddenly Luiz managed to wrench free and -dashed off into the jungle. - -Mr. Brewster didn’t bother to start after the terrified guide. But Hal -Whitman came rushing from the shelter waving a revolver. Mr. Whitman -fired a few wild shots in the direction that Luiz had taken. The -crackling of jungle plants came back like echoes, indicating that the -gunfire had spurred Luiz’s mad flight. - -“That’s enough, Hal,” laughed Mr. Brewster. “The fellow is so badly -scared he won’t stop running until he reaches Serbot’s camp.” - -“And the more he runs,” returned Mr. Whitman, “the more difficulty he -will have finding it in the dark. Well, if Luiz gets lost in the jungle, -he won’t talk to Serbot.” - -“I don’t think it matters much, Hal. Luiz has already told Serbot all he -knows.” - -“Except that we found out his game. Now he will tell that to Serbot, -too—if he finds him.” - -By the flickering firelight, Biff saw his father’s face take on a -troubled expression. - -“You’re right, Hal,” decided Mr. Brewster grimly. “I hadn’t thought of -that. It would be better to catch Luiz and take him along with us. It’s -probably too late now, but it may be worth a try.” Mr. Brewster turned -to Jacome. “Call Luiz, and see if he answers.” - -Jacome gave a long call: “Luiz! Luiz!” Faintly, like a faraway echo, a -voice responded: “_Ajudo! Ajudo!_” - -In the firelight, Biff and Kamuka exchanged startled glances. Both had -the same sudden thought, but it was Biff who exclaimed, “The quicksand! -Luiz must have taken the same path that we did this afternoon!” - -Jacome was calling “Luiz!” again, but this time there was no response. -Mr. Brewster gave the prompt order: - -“Bring lights and hurry!” - -From the way the path showed in the gleam of their flashlights, it was -plain that Luiz could have followed it rapidly in the dark, for it -formed the only opening through the brush. Biff and Kamuka, racing along -beside Jacome, were the first to reach the arch of trees above the -quicksand. - -They halted there, but saw no sign of a human figure in the muck. The -glare revealed nothing but floating water flowers until big Jacome -pointed out what appeared to be a lily pad. Biff exclaimed: - -“Luiz’s hat!” - -It was lying brim downward in the ooze, beyond the bough from which Biff -had rescued Kamuka. This time it was Kamuka who scrambled along the -branch and used a big stick that Jacome tossed him to prod the -quicksand, but with no result. - -From the bank, Mr. Brewster studied the scene grimly, noting that the -farther out Kamuka jabbed the stick, the easier and deeper it went. - -“That cry from Luiz was his last,” decided Mr. Brewster. “In his flight, -he must have plunged much farther than Kamuka did this afternoon. That -is why the quicksand swallowed him much faster.” - -From the bank, Jacome and other natives dragged the mire with stones -attached to long liana vines, but received no answering tugs from the -pulpy quicksand. When they pushed long sticks down into the mire, they -went completely out of sight, to stay. - -“There’s no reclaiming anything lost in those depths,” Biff’s father -said soberly. “That goes for Luiz, too.” - -When they returned to the campsite, Mr. Brewster dismantled the crude -dummy that he had placed beside the fire. It was formed from wads of -grass, palm stalks, and small logs, which had made it bulky enough to be -mistaken for a sleeping figure in the uncertain firelight. - -“After what you told me,” Mr. Brewster said to Biff and Kamuka, “I -decided to test Luiz. I did everything but mention Joe Nara by name. I -made this dummy figure so I could watch Luiz if he tried to steal the -map he had been told I carried. At the same time, I was guarding my life -against his treachery.” - -“But, Dad!” exclaimed Biff. “Serbot never told Luiz to kill you. He -simply told him to delay our safari.” - -“And to Luiz’s way of thinking,” declared Mr. Brewster, “the simplest -way of accomplishing that would be by killing me. Here in the jungle, -people think and act in very direct terms, particularly the natives.” - -Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman began a discussion of the next steps to be -taken. They agreed that the sooner the safari moved along, the better. -Mr. Brewster put a question to Jacome. - -“You have been to Piedra Del Cucuy before, Jacome. Could you find your -way there again?” - -“I think so, Senhor.” - -“Then you will be our guide as far as the big rock. Have the bearers -ready to move at dawn.” - -Daylight was tinting the vast canopy of jungle leaves when the safari -started back toward the main trail. The setting was somber at this early -hour, but the silence was soon broken by some scattered jungle cries. -Then, clear and sharp, came the metallic note of the bellbird. Mr. -Brewster waved the safari to a stop and said: - -“Listen.” - -The call was repeated. Mr. Brewster turned to Kamuka and asked: - -“What kind of bird is that? _Campanero_ or Urubu?” - -Biff smiled at the way his father used the term for “bellbird” along -with Urubu’s nickname of “vulture.” But Kamuka kept a very serious face -as he replied. - -“It is Urubu. Look, Senhor. I show you why.” - -He pointed to a white-feathered bird that formed a tiny spot on the high -branch of a tree. - -“There is real _campanero_,” declared Kamuka. “He is saying nothing. He -would answer if he heard real call.” - -Mr. Brewster studied the bellbird through a pair of binoculars and -promptly agreed with Kamuka. He handed the glasses to Biff, who noted -that the bird, which was something like a waxwing, but larger, had an -appendage that extended from its forehead and draped down over its bill. -This ornament, jet-black in color, was starred with tiny tufts of -feathers. Mr. Brewster called it a caruncle and explained that it was -commonly seen on various species of tropical birds noted for their -ringing cries. - -But this bellbird remained silent, even when the distant anvil sound -clanged anew. - -“Urubu is signaling for Luiz,” declared Mr. Brewster. “He may wait an -hour or so and try again. When Serbot finally decides that we have moved -on, he will think that Luiz is taking us the long way. We should get a -good head start, right now.” - -The safari pressed forward at a quick pace which was maintained most of -the day. The going was not as hard as Biff had anticipated. Luiz’s talk -of a tough trail had been a sham, so that the party would be willing to -take the long route. - -Even some of the streams they encountered were already bridged with -fallen trees, making crossing easy. After one such crossing, Jacome -suggested stopping to eat. Mr. Brewster opened some canned goods, but -most of the bearers preferred bowls of coarse cereal, made from the -manioc or cassava plant. This formed their chief diet. - -Jacome gnawed on a large bone of left-over tapir meat. When he had -finished half of the meat, he suddenly tossed the bone into the stream. -Instantly, the water flashed with silvery streaks in the shape of long, -sleek fish that fought for the bone and tore the remaining meat to -shreds. - -“Piranha,” grunted Jacome. “They rip anybody who goes in water. If we -chop away tree, Urubu will have to stop to build new bridge to get -across.” - -“Serbot might suspect something,” objected Mr. Brewster. “If they guess -that we are on the same trail _ahead_ of them, they will hurry. It is -better to let them think that they can take their time.” - -Jacome still found time to fish for piranha during the short rest. The -cannibal fish practically leaped from the water to take the bait. Jacome -took no chances with the sharp teeth that projected from their bulldog -jaws. He cut the lines and tossed the fish into a basket, hooks and all. -When the safari made camp at dusk, they cooked the piranha, and the fish -proved a tasty dinner, indeed. - -Mr. Brewster kept the safari at a steady pace during the next few days -in order to stay ahead of Serbot’s party. Jacome proved an excellent -guide, remembering every landmark along the trail. One afternoon, a rain -ended as they trudged beside the bank of a sluggish stream and Jacome -pointed into the distance with the comment: - -“Big rock. There.” - -It was Piedra Del Cucuy, a huge, stumpy shaft of granite, towering -hundreds of feet above the forest. The rock was streaked with tiny trees -that looked like sprinklings from the vast green vegetation that spread -beneath. Though the natural boundary marker was still a day’s march -away, the mere sight of it spurred on the safari. - -In the light of dawn, the big rock seemed much closer, and within a few -hours’ trek, even its cracks and furrows showed sharply. Trails began to -join, and suddenly the trees spread as the safari emerged upon a sandy -beach lapped by the black water of the Rio Negro. - -There wasn’t a sign of a boat nor of any habitation until Kamuka pointed -to a movement in the brush, a few hundred feet downstream. Mr. Brewster -stepped forward, spreading his arms with a wide sweep. - -“If it’s Joe Nara,” Mr. Brewster told Biff, “he will recognize us. If -not, be ready to get back to shelter!” - -Two figures bobbed into sight, and Biff recognized the squatty forms of -Igo and Ubi. They turned and gestured. A few moments later they were -joined by Joe Nara. All three came forward to meet the safari. Nara was -carrying a small package under his arm. - -The bearers were laying down their packs and other equipment when Nara -cried excitedly: - -“We hoped it would be you, Brewster, but we weren’t sure. The Macus have -been attacking villages up and down the river. Everywhere, we have heard -the cry: ‘Macu! Macu!’ until we—” - -“Hold it, Nara,” broke in Mr. Brewster. “We have more important things -to talk about first.” - -The native bearers were coming forward silently, and Biff realized that -they were drawn by that dreaded word, Macu. But Mr. Brewster wasn’t able -to hush Joe Nara. - -“What’s more important than Macu head-hunters?” the old man demanded. -“If you don’t believe me, Brewster, look at what I picked up downriver!” - -Before Mr. Brewster could stop him, Joe Nara ripped open the package -that he carried. Under the eyes of the native bearers who now were -crowding close about him, Nara brought out a pair of shrunken human -heads, triumphantly displaying one in each hand! - - - - - CHAPTER X - Trapped by the Head-hunters - - -From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been -done. The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and -ready to attack them. They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from -which the safari had come. Out of their excited chatter, Biff could -distinguish the words: - -“Macu here! We go home—quick!” - -Biff, meanwhile, was studying the shrunken heads in amazement. Reduced -to the size of baseballs, their human appearance was preserved in -miniature form. Cords closed the lips, and feathered ornaments hung from -the ears of these grotesque trophies. - -Though Biff had heard how head-hunters dealt with their victims, he had -thought of shrunken heads as curios rather than as something gruesome. -But here, on a tropical riverbank, where the deadly Macus might pop up -in person, the grisly trophies were fearful things indeed. - -When Biff looked from the tiny heads in Nara’s hands to the scared faces -of the clustered natives, he noted a striking similarity between them. -He knew that the natives saw it, too, each picturing himself as a -head-hunter’s prospective victim. Mr. Whitman and Jacome were trying to -quiet the wild babble but to no avail. Mr. Brewster gestured to the -shrunken heads and told Nara: - -“Put those away.” - -Old Joe wrapped the souvenirs with a chuckle, as though he relished the -confusion he had caused. Jacome approached and spoke solemnly to Mr. -Brewster. - -“It is no good,” Jacome said. “They want pay. They want to go back to -Santa Isabel—far away from Macu.” - -“What about you, Jacome?” inquired Mr. Brewster. “Do you want to go with -them?” - -“I want to go, yes,” admitted Jacome, “but I want more to stay with you. -So I stay.” - -Mr. Brewster turned to Kamuka. “And you, Kamuka?” - -“I stay with Biff.” - -“Good boy!” Biff clapped Kamuka on the shoulder. “I knew a couple of -little shrunken heads wouldn’t scare you.” - -“I have seen such heads before,” rejoined Kamuka calmly, “but always -heads of men. Never any head of a boy. So why should heads scare me?” - -Mr. Brewster paid off the bearers in Brazilian _cruzeiro_ notes, saying -he would give them double if they stayed with the safari, but there were -no takers. In English, Mr. Whitman undertoned the suggestion: - -“Keep talking to them. They still may stay.” - -“No, it must be voluntary,” returned Mr. Brewster, “as with Jacome and -Kamuka. Otherwise, they will desert us later.” - -The bearers hastily packed their few belongings, took a supply of food, -and started back along the trail. Mr. Brewster remarked to Joe Nara, -“Now I suppose we shall have to go upriver in the _Xanadu_.” - -“We can’t,” returned Nara. “We had to haul the cruiser up on shore below -the big rapids. The friendly natives who helped were the ones who told -us about the Macus and gave us the shrunken heads. We’ve come the rest -of the way in a canoe.” - -Nara paused and gestured down the riverbank. - -“We hid it there,” he added, “so we could wait for you.” - -“We have rubber boats in our equipment,” stated Mr. Brewster. “We can -inflate them for the trip upriver.” - -“But there are many more rapids,” objected Nara, “with no natives to -help you carry the boats past them. You will have to go overland by a -back trail.” - -“Where will we find new bearers?” - -“From a native village a mile or so in there.” Nara gestured to another -jungle path. “I’ll send Igo and Ubi along to introduce you.” - -Mr. Brewster delegated the task of hiring the bearers to Hal Whitman, -who left, accompanied by Jacome and Nara’s two Wai Wai Indians. Biff and -Kamuka took a swim in the safe water of the river. As they sat drying -themselves in the sun, the boys watched Nara describe the route to Mr. -Brewster. With a stick, old Joe drew a wiggly line in the sand and said: - -“This here is the Rio Negro. I keep going up it until I turn east on -another river.” Nara made a line that wiggled to the right. “I don’t -know its right name—if it has any—but the natives call it—” - -“Rio Del Muerte,” interposed Mr. Brewster. “The River of Death.” - -“Lew Kirby told you that, did he?” - -“Yes. That’s where he said I’d find you. Somewhere up the Rio Del -Muerte.” - -Nara showed a pleased smile at this new token of a bond between his -former partner, Lew Kirby, and Mr. Brewster. - -“Your trail will bring you to the Rio Del Muerte,” resumed Nara, “but -you will strike it many miles above the mine.” - -“How many miles above?” - -“I wouldn’t know. I have never gone by that route. But the native -bearers will know when they reach the Rio Del Muerte.” - -“And then?” - -“Then you follow it downstream until you meet me.” - -“Where will that be?” - -Nara eyed Mr. Brewster in quick, birdlike fashion, then decided to -answer the question. - -“At a split rock on the north bank,” stated Nara, “They call it La Porta -Del Diablo, or the Devil’s Gate. Come through the gateway and continue -up the ravine. It leads to El Dorado. I will meet you on the way.” - -Mr. Whitman and Jacome were coming from the jungle with a crew of -natives. Mr. Brewster spoke quickly to Nara. “Don’t show those shrunken -heads to these chaps!” - -This time old Joe kept his shrunken heads out of sight. He and his two -Wai Wais left to get their canoe, and soon the Indians were paddling up -the Rio Negro. Joe Nara was waving from between two heaps of packs and -luggage. - -Mr. Brewster, meanwhile, had opened a box of trinkets that he was -distributing to create good will. Eagerly, the natives accepted colored -marbles, bright shiny beads, little round mirrors, and other geegaws. -Biff saw Kamuka looking longingly at the eye-catching gifts and -mentioned it to his father, who promptly gave some to the Indian boy. - -Kamuka took some marbles and a mirror, but with a slight show of -reluctance. It was evident that he valued things that were useful as -well as showy. Among the assortment, Biff found a small microscope. He -handed it to Kamuka with the comment: - -“Here’s something you will really like. This glass makes little things -look big.” Biff held the lens above an ant that was crawling along a -dried palm leaf. “Here, see for yourself.” - -Kamuka tried the simple microscope and smiled when he saw that the -insect appeared larger. - -“I like it,” he declared, “but I like mirror better, because I can flash -sunlight, like you did.” - -“You can use this glass with the sun, too,” Biff said. “Hold it close to -the leaf—that’s right—now tilt it so the sun shines through. Keep it -that way and wait.” - -Kamuka didn’t have to wait long. The sun’s focused rays soon burned a -hole in the leaf. Kamuka tried another leaf with the same result. He -turned to Biff and remarked: - -“With a lot of dry leaves, all in one pile, you can start big fire with -this—maybe?” - -“You catch on fast, Kamuka,” complimented Biff. “Yes, a burning glass is -often used to start a fire. It’s a right handy thing to have.” - -Kamuka pocketed the microscope along with the mirror and his other new -possessions. In a serious tone, he said, “Time to get ready for trail -now.” - -Biff noted that Jacome was assigning the new bearers to their packs and -other equipment. - -“Yes, recess is over,” acknowledged Biff. “Let’s get our packs and join -the parade.” - -The boys found, much to their relish, that they were not needed as pack -carriers. Mr. Whitman had hired a few spare bearers at the village, and -since this new crew was fresh, with less than a half day’s journey -before sunset, Mr. Brewster had decided to let them take the full load. - -“You two can go ahead,” Mr. Brewster told Biff and Kamuka. “The -villagers tell me that the trail is well marked, so you won’t miss it. -But there may be short stretches that need clearing before we come -along.” - -It worked out as Mr. Brewster anticipated. At a few spots, Biff and -Kamuka encountered tangled undergrowth which they managed to hack away -with their machetes, by the time the safari caught up with them. As they -were starting ahead again, Mr. Brewster noted the position of the sun. - -“Allow about an hour,” he told the boys. “Then start looking for a good -campsite. You can wait there for us.” - -Biff enjoyed the carefree, late-afternoon hike through the vast green -vault of the jungle, particularly with Kamuka, who was quick to spot all -forms of wild life. Once, Kamuka pointed to a curious creature with a -huge shell that was moving across the trail. Biff looked just in time to -see it roll up into a solid ball and play dead. - -The thing was an armadillo, the most heavily armored denizen of the -jungle. Again, Kamuka called a halt while they watched what looked like -a Teddy bear with white legs attached to a gray, black-banded body. It -was attacking a huge anthill, darting a long, thin tongue from its -snouted muzzle. The creature was a giant anteater, feeding on its -favorite prey. - -[Illustration: _Up popped a group of tawny natives_] - -Kamuka was quick as well as accurate with the machete. Once, while -slashing at a low bush, he changed the direction of his swing. The long -blade whisked within inches of Biff’s shin. As Biff sprang back, he saw -the actual target of Kamuka’s quick aim. - -The machete had clipped the head from a snake which had been rearing to -strike at Biff’s leg. Pale yellow in color, with brown, diamond-shaped -spots, it somewhat resembled a rattler, except that it had sounded no -loud warning. - -“_Mapepire_,” defined Kamuka. “Very bad. Worse poison than _curare_, -like Macu use on arrows.” - -Biff decided that the snake was a species of bushmaster, one of the most -deadly of tropical reptiles. - -“Neat work, Kamuka,” Biff exclaimed gratefully. “You sure were -johnny-on-the-spot that time!” - -“Johnny-on-the-spot,” repeated Kamuka. “What does that mean?” - -“Somebody who is around when you need them most.” - -A troop of red howler monkeys were hopping from one high tree to -another, sometimes hanging on to branches only by their tails. The boys -were watching those acrobatics, when a sudden stir occurred in the brush -around them. - -Up from the bushes popped a group of tawny natives, wearing odd-shaped -aprons made of hides decorated with bright feathers and large, dull -beads. Their faces and bodies were streaked with scarlet dye that looked -like war paint. - -Some were holding bows, with arrows on drawn strings. Others were -raising long blowguns to their lips. All were aimed toward a central -target; the spot where Biff and Kamuka stood. - -Biff felt himself sink inwardly as he heard Kamuka gasp the word: -“Macu!” - - - - - CHAPTER XI - A Sudden Surprise - - -Slowly, the Macu warriors closed in on the two boys. The sharp eyes that -glared from painted faces were on the watch for even the slightest move. - -Kamuka muttered to Biff, “Drop machete. Right away.” - -As Kamuka let his machete fall, Biff did the same. The inner circle of -Macus dropped their own weapons and sprang forward upon the boys. - -The two were captured without a struggle. The Macus brought out rawhide -bowstrings and tied the wrists of the prisoners behind them. They also -tied their ankles together, but in hobble fashion, far enough apart so -that they could still take short steps. - -Two of their captors picked up the machetes. Another snatched Biff’s -wrist watch and tugged it loose. Next, they were finding prizes in the -pockets of the prisoners: Biff’s scout knife and his father’s metal -mirror; the marbles and the little mirror that Kamuka had been given -earlier in the day. - -Kamuka seemed indifferent to all that happened. He braced his feet so -that the Macus had trouble pushing him around. Biff copied that -procedure and found that it helped. Their captors were in a hurry -because all the while, the cries of the howler monkeys were becoming -louder. Above the din, Kamuka said calmly, “If they hear this back at -the safari, they will know that we are having trouble. They will come to -help us.” - -“But how will they know what is happening?” - -“You will see why. Soon.” - -Leaping monkeys formed dark red streaks against the deep green of the -jungle foliage. A few Macus were guarding Biff and Kamuka. The rest -spread out through the brush, where they squatted as they had -originally. Gradually, the commotion lessened up in the treetops. Then, -as the monkeys returned to normal, the Macus bobbed up again. - -Now, their bows and blowguns were pointed upward. The air was suddenly -filled with arrows and darts that found their marks high above. Monkeys -began tumbling from the trees, while the rest scattered, howling louder -than before. From the distance came answering chatter, like an alarm -spreading through the jungle. - -“The Macu come across river to hunt monkeys,” Kamuka told Biff. “We -heard monkeys talk. I should have known Macu were here.” - -The Macus gathered up the dead monkeys and marched Biff and Kamuka back -along the trail. New howls were coming from far off. - -“You see?” undertoned Kamuka. “Maybe safari will hear and come fast.” - -“Or go the other way faster,” put in Biff. “Those villagers are scared -by the very thought of meeting up with Macus.” - -“But your father will come, with Mr. Whitman—” - -“I only hope they won’t fall into the same trap.” - -“They will not fall into trap. They will have Jacome with them. He will -be on watch.” - -Biff’s hopes rose at Kamuka’s words, only to fall again as their Macu -captors turned suddenly from the trail. Instead of trampling the side -path, the Macus moved stealthily in single file, pushing the captured -boys into the line ahead of them. They spread the jungle plants as they -moved through them, then let them fall back into place, leaving no trace -of their route. - -Literally, the entire party was swallowed by the jungle. Biff groaned -loud enough for Kamuka to hear. - -“Fine chance we have now!” Biff said. “They will never find us, unless -the natives know where the Macu village is.” - -“Macu never make village,” replied Kamuka. “All they do is tear down -huts that belong to other people.” - -The procession was moving straight westward toward the setting sun. -That, at least, made sense to Biff, for it proved that the Macus had -come from across the Rio Negro, as they usually did. Evidently they had -found the fishing poor, so had gone on a monkey hunt instead. - -Soon, the procession reached the Macu camp. This was a small natural -clearing where the Macus had chopped down a few palm trees. Women of the -tribe were sewing palm leaves together to form roofs for crude shelters -around a central fire. - -While the hunters skinned monkeys for the evening meal, other tribesmen -gathered around Biff and Kamuka, prodding them as if they were -curiosities. Their hands were finally released and they were allowed to -eat. Biff was glad that they were fed left-over fish instead of monkey -meat. - -Then they were marched to two small trees. Biff’s wrists were tied -behind him around a tree, and he was allowed to slide down to a sitting -position. Kamuka was tied in the same fashion to another tree only a few -feet away. Liana ropes were used instead of thongs, but the knots were -very tight and solid. - -Other Macus tied their ankles in the same manner, so that escape would -be difficult, if not impossible. As the Macus moved away and gathered -around the slowly dying fire, Biff saw their ruddy faces and spoke to -Kamuka. - -“They sure look bloodthirsty, with their faces all done up in war -paint.” - -“That is not for war,” said Kamuka. “It is for hunger. They will wear -the paint all night, for luck in catching monkeys tomorrow.” - -Biff and Kamuka were not too uncomfortable that night. They slept -fitfully until dawn, when the women brought them water but offered them -no food. When they were alone again, Biff asked: - -“What do you think about head-hunters now, Kamuka? Will they let us grow -up before they shrink our heads?” - -“Maybe,” returned Kamuka. “Sometimes they take prisoners for members of -the tribe. But I do not want to be Macu. I want to be -johnny-on-the-spot.” - -“You’re on the spot all right. We both are. If I only had something to -cut these ropes!” - -“I have something Macu did not find. I have it in back pocket where I -can get it easy. Burning glass.” - -Kamuka’s words roused Biff to an eager pitch. - -“Get it, Kamuka!” he exclaimed. “Try to hold it into the sunlight and -turn it toward my hands.” - -“But it will burn your hands—” - -“Not long, it won’t. I’ll tell you when to move it and which way to tilt -it.” - -Kamuka soon had the little microscope tilted toward the sun. Biff -repressed a sudden “Ouch!” and then said calmly, “Just a little higher, -Kamuka. Hold it there a moment. No, a little more. Now, the other way—” - -“I smell rope burning!” Kamuka said. - -“Hold it just as it is,” urged Biff. - -Soon Biff, too, could smell the burning rope. A minute later, he found -that the bonds yielded when he tried to pull his wrists apart. Finally -the rope broke completely, and with one hand free Biff was able to take -the microscope and work on Kamuka’s bonds. - -By now, most of the Macu hunters had left the camp, and the few who -remained were still asleep. The boys worked on their ankle ropes, -unnoticed, but found them so tight that they had to take turns burning -them. Finally free, they realized that their biggest problem lay ahead. - -“We can’t both make a run for it at once,” whispered Biff, “or they -might wake up and spot us. You slide for the brush first, Kamuka. If -they still see me, they may not notice that you have gone.” - -“But I can’t leave you here alone, Biff.” - -“You won’t be leaving me. I’ll give you time to work around the -clearing. Then if they see me start to leave, you can raise a yell and -draw them your way.” - -“Very good, Biff. We try it.” - -The ruse worked better than they had hoped. Kamuka gained the edge of -the clearing with ease. Biff gave him due time to get properly posted, -then followed the same route. They had chosen it well, for it was not -only the closest edge of the clearing; it was directly toward the rising -sun, which would tend to dazzle anyone who looked that way. - -Once in the jungle, Biff kept close to the clearing as he circled it, -calling softly to Kamuka until they finally met. Again, the sun proved -helpful. They had been headed toward it when they were brought here as -prisoners, late in the previous afternoon. So now, they had only to move -toward the morning sun to reach the jungle trail. - -It was slow going, as they had to be wary of animals in the brush, yet -all the while they felt the urge to hurry in case their escape had been -discovered back at the Macu camp. At last, however, they came upon the -trail. Then came the question: Which direction should they take? - -“The safari must have come as far as we did,” declared Biff, “in fact -probably a lot farther, as they were supposed to keep on coming until -they overtook us.” - -“But when they didn’t find us,” said Kamuka, “they must have turned back -to look.” - -“You may be right,” decided Biff. “They could have figured, too, that we -missed the trail somewhere along the line. I’ll tell you what. Let’s go -back along the trail a couple of miles anyway. If we don’t meet them, -we’ll know they are up ahead.” - -“And all the time,” added Kamuka, “we keep good sharp look for Macu!” - -That final point was so important that both Biff and Kamuka kept paying -more attention to the bordering jungle than to the trail itself. Every -sound, from a bird call to a monkey howl might mean that Macu hunters -were about. So could the slightest stir among the jungle flowers and the -banks of surrounding plants, where at any moment, painted faces topped -with wavy hair might come popping into sight as they had the afternoon -before. - -But there wasn’t a trace of motion in all that sultry setting until the -boys reached a place where the trail took a short, sharp turn around the -slanted trunk of a fallen ceiba tree. Biff, in the lead, gave a quick -glad cry as he saw native bearers coming toward them, bowed under the -weight of the packs they carried. - -At the head of the column strode a white-clad man wearing a tropical -helmet. At sight of him, Biff turned and called to Kamuka: - -“Here’s Mr. Whitman coming with the whole safari! We’re safe now, -Kamuka! Come on!” - -With that, Biff dashed forward, only to be caught by the shoulders and -spun full about, his arm twisted in back of him. Biff’s captor shoved -him straight toward the leader of the safari, and the boy saw for the -first time that the man in white wasn’t Mr. Whitman. - -Looking down from beneath the pith helmet was the ever-smiling face of -Nicholas Serbot, tinted an unearthly green in the subdued glow of the -jungle. Over Biff’s shoulder leered the face of his captor, Big Pepito! - - - - - CHAPTER XII - Between Two Fires - - -Biff’s first concern was for Kamuka. He managed to dart a quick look -along the trail hoping to shout a warning to his companion. Then, Biff -caught himself, fearful that such a call would turn attention in -Kamuka’s direction. - -The warning wasn’t needed. Kamuka had witnessed Biff’s rapid capture and -had taken action on his own. With uncanny instinct, Kamuka had found an -opening in the seemingly solid wall of jungle and had already dived from -sight. - -One man, however, had seen the green mass close behind Kamuka’s -quick-moving form. That man was Urubu. He raised his rifle and fired -into the thick foliage, three times in quick succession. - -As Urubu paused, Biff appealed frantically to Serbot: - -“Don’t let him shoot again—” - -Serbot ordered Urubu to lower his rifle, which the guide did. At the -same time, Urubu grinned, for he had seen no ripple in the jungle leaves -beyond the spot where he had first aimed. - -“Perhaps,” purred Serbot, “Urubu is trying to shoot an anaconda, the way -he did the other day.” - -“Or some other jungle creature,” added Pepito, over Biff’s shoulder, -“like those that we heard run away.” - -Biff guessed that they were trying to draw out facts from him, to learn -if he and Kamuka had followed Luiz and listened in on the discussion -that had shaped the later events. As Biff tightened his lips, determined -not to answer, Urubu became impatient. - -“And maybe,” put in the leering guide, “I just now try to kill some -person, the way Luiz was chased and killed.” - -“What happened to Luiz was his own fault,” Biff argued hotly. “He tried -to kill my father first, with a knife.” - -“Your bearers did not tell us that,” stated Serbot smoothly. “We met -them on their way back to Santa Isabel, and they told us that Whitman -had fired at Luiz, who ran into quicksand—” - -“Where we tried to save him. Did they tell you that?” - -“Yes, they told us that. But not that Luiz had tried to kill your -father.” - -“That happened before they even woke up. By then, Luiz had started to -run, so naturally Mr. Whitman went after him.” - -“The boy lies,” snarled Urubu. “The bearers did not give you foolish -talk like this.” - -“They gave us other foolish talk,” reminded Serbot. “They scared our -crew by saying there were Macus around here.” - -“But there are Macus around!” exclaimed Biff. “Their camp is only a few -miles away from here. I know, because the Macus had me tied up as a -prisoner all last night!” - -The effect on Serbot’s party was electric. Even before Urubu could -translate the words to the bearers, they were dropping their packs, -ready to take to flight, for they recognized the name “Macus” when Biff -mentioned it. - -But Serbot, raising his smooth tone to a surprisingly strong pitch, -spoke in a mixture of Portuguese and native dialect that Biff managed to -understand. - -“Where will you go?” demanded Serbot. “Do you think you will be safe by -running away like frightened deer, while the Macus are looking for just -such prey? If there are Macus all around, as the boy says, there is -nothing for us to do but go on and be ready for them!” - -All this while, Pepito had retained his grip on Biff, but had been -gradually relaxing the hold. Now, at Serbot’s order, he released Biff -entirely, but still kept a wary eye on him. Biff longed to dash into the -jungle and look for Kamuka, but again he managed to restrain himself. - -The chances were that Urubu’s shots had missed and that Kamuka was lying -low in the motionless foliage. To race after him and draw new gunfire -would be the worst thing that Biff could possibly do. So he waited -patiently until the safari started on. - -Then Serbot took the lead, telling Biff to stay beside him, while Pepito -guarded one flank and Urubu the other, all three carrying ready rifles. -The bearers stepped along close together, eager to get through the Macu -territory. - -“Keep a sharp watch,” Serbot told Biff. “The Macus caught you yesterday. -Don’t let them trap you again today.” - -Occasionally, Biff managed to look back, hoping that Kamuka had come -from cover and was stealing along behind the safari. Soon Biff gave that -up, realizing that if Kamuka had decided to follow them, he would be -staying completely out of sight. - -When they reached the spot where the Macus had bobbed up the day before, -Biff recognized it. He turned to Serbot and said, “This is where the -head-hunters were yesterday.” - -Serbot swung about and ordered the safari to halt. As the bearers set -down their packs, Biff studied their faces and realized that some were -members of the group that Whitman had organized, the natives who had -started home when Joe Nara had exhibited the shrunken heads. - -Their meeting with Serbot’s safari must have scared some of Serbot’s -crew into going back to Santa Isabel. But Serbot or Urubu must have -talked some of Whitman’s men into coming along as replacements. Now Biff -understood how Serbot had learned so much about Luiz. - -After a brief rest, Serbot asked Biff, “Were there many head-hunters -here?” - -“Yes,” replied Biff. “A lot of them.” - -“And which way did they take you?” - -Biff pointed to the west. Smoothly, Serbot asked, “If there were so -many, how did you manage to escape today?” - -“Because most of them had left before dawn to go hunting,” replied Biff. -“That’s why I was afraid of running into them.” - -“Good. We’ll be on the watch for them.” - -Serbot ordered the safari forward. At the end of another mile, they came -to a side trail, which cut sharply in the direction of the Rio Negro. -After a rapid discussion with Urubu, so thick with dialect that Biff -could not understand it, Serbot decided to take the river route. - -As they started along it, Serbot spoke to Biff, using the smooth, easy -tone that reminded Biff of their first meeting in the airplane above the -Amazon. - -“If the Macus are hunting along the main trail,” declared Serbot, “they -will never bother to come this way. That makes it all the safer for us. -Anyone taking the main trail would be gone, for certain.” - -That was passed along by Urubu to the bearers, who not only were -pleased, but quickened their pace, hoping to get out of Macu territory -all the faster. But Biff’s heart sank, for he was afraid there would be -no catching up with his own safari now. - -Then Biff noted that Serbot was studying him steadily. Evidently, the -smiling man was anxious to learn which way the other safari had gone, -and was hoping that Biff’s change of manner would give the fact away. - -Suddenly, there came an interruption that gave Biff a cause for real -alarm. - -“Listen!” he exclaimed. - -From the treetops came a running chatter that seemed to carry like a -wave from somewhere off in the jungle. Biff recognized the excited -gabble. - -“The howler monkeys!” he told Serbot. “That’s the way they acted after -the Macus shot some of them with arrows yesterday!” - -Serbot tried to gauge the direction of the sound, then ordered the -safari onward, faster. They followed the rough, irregular trail until -they reached a spot where the chatter lessened and finally quieted -altogether. Serbot waved for the bearers to set down their packs. - -The order came just in time. The bearers themselves pointed to heads and -shoulders that bobbed from behind trees and bushes. Terrified, the -bearers shouted, “Macu!” - -Serbot dived behind a pack, to use it as a shelter. Pepito and Urubu did -the same, expecting Biff to join them with the huddling bearers, for -spears, arrows, and darts were now skimming toward them. Instead, Biff -acted upon sudden impulse and raced along the jungle trail. He heard -guns blast in back of him, but knew Serbot and the others were too busy -shooting at the attacking head-hunters to worry about him. - -Biff passed a turn in the trail and knew then that he was safe from -gunfire, but he had his eye on an opening in the jungle another hundred -feet ahead. There, Biff was sure that he could duck from sight the way -Kamuka had. But Biff was becoming too hopeful too soon. - -Less than halfway to the spot, Biff halted in his tracks as the foliage -parted and a painted Macu warrior loomed in sight. Armed with bow and -arrow, the deadly marksman was already taking aim at Biff with his -bowstring fully drawn. - -Another moment, and the poison-tipped arrow would be in flight, allowing -Biff no chance of escape at such close range! - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - The River of Death - - -The twang of the head-hunter’s bowstring was drowned by an explosive -burst from farther up the trail. With it, the Macu marksman gave an -upward, sideward jolt at the very instant the arrow was leaving his bow. - -The feathered missile zimmed high and wide by a matter of scant inches, -for Biff could hear it whirr past his ear and stop with a sharp thud in -a tree trunk just behind him. - -A piercing yell seemed to echo the timely gunshot. The Macu had dropped -his bow and was gripping his left arm with his right hand as he dived -off into the jungle. The bullet had jolted the bow from the Macu’s -grasp, sending the arrow wide. - -Now, looking up the trail, Biff saw his father hurrying in his -direction, rifle in hand. Biff started to meet him, shouting, “Dad!” -only to have Mr. Brewster wave him back. Next, Biff saw his father take -a quick shot at another Macu huntsman who had popped up in the brush, -only to drop from sight again. - -Now, from the other side of the trail, a brown head and arm poked from -among a mass of blossoms that sprouted from the thin bark of a fallen -tree trunk. Biff heard the familiar call: “Biff, come this way! Quick!” - -It was Kamuka. Biff vaulted the log and took shelter behind it, but -tried to shake off Kamuka’s restraining hand as he saw his father come -along the trail with Mr. Whitman and Jacome. All three were taking -long-range shots at distant Macus. - -“I have to warn Dad,” Biff explained. “Serbot’s party is just around the -bend.” - -“He knows,” assured Kamuka. “We were coming back when we heard their -guns. So we hurry fast.” - -“Coming back along this trail?” - -“That’s right. When they couldn’t find us on the main trail, they think -maybe we take this one. So today, they take it to look for us.” - -“Then you sneaked ahead of Serbot’s party after you ducked from sight. -But how did you know to take this side trail when you reached it?” - -“Jacome leave special message that I understand. Twist of grass and -broken jungle branch are as good as mirror signal, sometimes.” - -Mr. Brewster and his fellow-marksmen had rifles with a longer range than -the Macu weapons. Also, they were able to shift positions along the -trail, preventing the Macus from picking a point of attack. - -Serbot’s party, on the contrary, had first let the Macus close in on -them. Then, in solidly entrenching themselves, they had lost all chance -of mobility. Soon they would have been surrounded if Mr. Brewster and -his companions hadn’t come along to scatter the foe. Kamuka called -Biff’s attention to that fact. - -“Macu run like scared deer,” said Kamuka. “But now your father is -telling Mr. Whitman and Jacome to stop shooting. Why?” - -“I guess Dad wants to keep the Macus around as a threat,” returned Biff -grimly, “until he sees what Serbot intends to do. Urubu might take a pot -shot at anybody.” - -Kamuka gave a knowing nod. “You tell me!” - -“Then you saw it was Urubu who fired after you?” - -“Sure, Biff. I look long enough to see him aim. I tell Mr. Brewster all -that happened, too.” - -Evidently, Mr. Brewster had profited by Kamuka’s report. He had reached -the bend where he was in direct sight of Serbot’s entrenched party, but -he was motioning for Whitman and Jacome to stay behind him. - -Serbot looked up from behind a pack, then gave a wary glance in the -direction the Macus had gone. A few arrows came whizzing from high among -the tree boughs, but they landed wide. They were sufficient, however, to -shape Serbot’s next decision. - -Serbot ordered Pepito and Urubu to resume their shooting after the -Macus. At the same time, Serbot clambered over the packs and came along -the path to meet Mr. Brewster, who in his turn ordered Mr. Whitman and -Jacome to renew their fire on the distant head-hunters. Rifles barked in -unison. - -Biff and Kamuka joined their party in time to catch a last glimpse of -the routed head-hunters. - -“They won’t stop until they reach their camp,” declared Biff, “and maybe -they’ll still keep on going from there.” - -“Until they reach the Rio Negro,” added Kamuka, “and maybe they swim it -quick.” - -Mr. Brewster’s meeting with Serbot resulted in an immediate, though -guarded truce. Mr. Whitman and Jacome moved up to back Mr. Brewster, -while Serbot was beckoning for Pepito and Urubu to come and join him. -The boys stayed in the background as did Serbot’s bearers, none of whom -had been injured in the brief fray. - -How many head-hunters might be lying dead in the brush or limping away -wounded, there was no telling, but the battle had been won rapidly and -effectively. Serbot seemed duly appreciative as he purred: - -“We owe you much, _amigo_. You have helped us. Perhaps there is some way -we can help you.” - -“None at all,” Mr. Brewster said curtly. “Now that we have driven off -the Macus, we can go our separate ways.” - -“But how can you go anywhere? You have no bearers.” - -“They are waiting farther up the main trail, with our equipment. We left -them while we came back to look for the boys.” - -Serbot promptly raised a new line of inquiry. - -“Perhaps you are surprised to see me here,” he suggested, “So far from -Manaus, where we last met.” - -“Why should I be surprised?” returned Mr. Brewster. “We are both looking -for _balata_, aren’t we?” - -“I am not looking for rubber,” Serbot declared. “I am looking for a man -named Joe Nara, who claims to have a gold mine somewhere near the -headwaters of the Rio Negro. He came down to Manaus in a fast boat -shortly before you left your hotel.” - -“Who told you I had left?” - -“The manager at the Hotel Jacares. He also said that your room appeared -to have been robbed. The next day your jeep was found near an empty -boathouse. I learned that Senhor Whitman had started from there on a -rubber exploration trip upriver.” - -“And you thought I had joined him?” - -“Exactly, Senhor. So I came by plane to find you.” - -Biff realized that Serbot’s plane must have been one of those that had -passed over Nara’s cruiser on the trip up the Rio Negro. - -“After I hired Urubu as a guide,” continued Serbot, “I learned that you -had arrived on Nara’s cruiser. So I assumed that you planned to meet -Nara later.” - -“So you bribed Luiz to kill me, to make sure of meeting Nara first.” - -“No, no, _Senhor_. I only wanted Luiz to delay your safari, as Pepito -and Urubu will tell you.” - -Serbot gestured to the pair, and Pepito smiled broadly while Urubu -showed his usual ugly grin. - -“I wanted to talk to Nara,” continued Serbot earnestly, “because I had -heard that he was willing to sell his gold mine to the highest bidder. -That is, if he really has a gold mine. Perhaps you could tell me that?” - -“I wouldn’t know,” returned Mr. Brewster. “As you say, I am only -interested in rubber. And it’s time that I was starting off to look for -some.” - -With that parting, Mr. Brewster motioned his companions back toward the -main trail. They had only gone a dozen paces, when Mr. Brewster -undertoned: - -“Take turns glancing back to see what that crowd is doing. I don’t trust -any of them, particularly Urubu.” - -Biff took the first look and reported that Urubu, like Serbot and -Pepito, was leaning on his gun while the trio apparently discussed what -to do next. Soon Kamuka reported the same thing. Then Mr. Whitman looked -back and announced that the group was now out of sight. - -Mr. Brewster called for a quicker pace, and when they reached the main -trail, they moved even faster—so fast in fact, that Biff and Kamuka had -to jog along to keep up with the three men. - -“We came back to look for you at dawn,” Biff’s father told the boys, “so -our bearers will be packed and waiting for us when we reach our last -night’s campsite. If Serbot pushes his crew to overtake us, they will be -worn out, while we’ll be starting fresh.” - -Mr. Whitman was feeling the heat, for he removed his white helmet to mop -his forehead. - -“More likely,” he said, “Serbot will try to overtake Nara by going up -the bank of the Rio Negro. That makes all this hurry useless.” - -“No, we still must keep ahead of Serbot,” Mr. Brewster insisted. “If -Serbot has guessed where Nara is going, he will move up the Rio Del -Muerte while we are coming down it.” - -The bearers were waiting when they reached the campsite, and fell -promptly into line. There was little difficulty in spurring them on. The -mere mention that the Macus were behind them was enough. During the next -few days, the bearers toiled steadily along the inland trail. -Apparently, there was nothing that they feared more than the Macus. - -Nothing, at least, until the safari reached a deep but narrow stream -that the bearers promptly identified as Rio Del Muerte. Then they broke -into a babble of Indian talk that only Jacome was able to translate. - -“They say they leave us here,” declared Jacome. “It is death, they say, -to go down this river.” - -Mr. Brewster studied the narrow trail that flanked the riverbank and -dwindled off into the thick green of the jungle. - -“Tell them that if they go back the way they came, they may meet the -Macus.” - -Jacome translated Mr. Brewster’s comment. The bearers chattered back -excitedly, and Jacome announced: - -“They say they would rather meet Macu than stay near Rio Del Muerte. -They say they go home now.” - -While Jacome spoke, the bearers picked up their few belongings and -started on their homeward trek. Biff and Kamuka noted that they did not -even stop to fill their water bags from the stream that they seemed to -dread so much. - -“What do you make of it, Kamuka?” Biff asked. - -“I do not know,” Kamuka replied. “I cannot even understand the things -they say to Jacome, except that they are afraid to go downriver.” - -However, the expedition was far from being stranded. The pack bags that -the native bearers had abandoned contained three rubber boats, complete -with aluminum seats and paddles. Biff and Kamuka helped pump them full -of air, so that they took on a squatty, roundish shape. - -Then, after a survey of the rubber flotilla, Mr. Brewster decided to -take Biff and Kamuka with him in one boat, while Mr. Whitman and Jacome -manned the second, each carrying whatever equipment it could bear. The -third boat was converted into a raft and loaded with all the remaining -packs. Biff’s father took it in tow, letting Hal Whitman pace the trip -downstream. - -To Biff, this was a fine change after the long, sweaty hours on the -trail when he and Kamuka had helped relieve the bearers. They were -floating through a maze of jungle green that at times actually arched -into a tunnel above them. - -Though heavily loaded, the boats moved easily, more swiftly as the -jungle banks narrowed and the river itself deepened. Whitman was waving -back cheerily as they skimmed off the mileage. Suddenly they saw him -rise and wag his paddle frantically as he shouted: - -“Stay back—stay back—” - -His words were drowned by a mighty roar as they turned the bend and saw -what Whitman had already viewed. No wonder the natives called this the -Rio Del Muerte, the River of Death! Just ahead, a curved crest of foam -showed where the stream took a sudden drop in the form of a mammoth -waterfall—a sheer plunge to doom on the rocks a hundred feet below! - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - The Devil’s Gateway - - -“Paddle hard on the right, boys—with all your might!” - -Mr. Brewster shouted the order above the river’s tumult, and all three -bent to the task. They brought their boat broadside to the approaching -brink and drove it toward the left bank of the stream, which here was -scarcely a hundred feet wide. - -It was a gruelling race against death. There was no escaping the -powerful current that seemed to draw them with a suction pull. Yet the -jungle bank was coming closer with every stroke. - -They were almost there now, but Biff, in the bow, had no chance to catch -the first projecting tree, as the boat was swept past it. He worked -madly with the paddle instead, for here the bank was eaten away by the -current, and there was nothing to grab. - -It seemed certain now that the boat would be carried over the falls, -when suddenly it began to swirl about, and another few strokes brought -them into the last big clump of overhanging brush. - -Biff and Kamuka managed to grab hold and cling there, while Mr. Brewster -worked the boat into the bank itself. Then new disaster loomed in the -shape of the pack boat which had been following them on its towline. As -the other boat spun past, its line went taut before Mr. Brewster could -cut it. - -Biff’s shoulders seemed to wrench half from their sockets, and he felt -the bush pull loose from the soil. Then the tug ended as the other boat -came full about, giving them a soft thump. Churned into this new -position, it bulked in between the bank and their own craft, almost -wedging them loose and out into the stream. - -Mr. Brewster made a quick leap across the baggage and up on to the high -bank, carrying the slack line which he hitched over a tree bough. That -secured both boats, while the boys clambered ashore. - -In cutting away the bank, the current had created an eddy which -accounted for the final swirl that had carried both boats to safety. Yet -only a dozen feet away, the tangled jungle growth actually quivered on -the fringe of the falls that dropped in one huge deluge into the dizzy -depths below. - -It was from there that they first looked for Whitman’s boat, expecting -to see it bobbing somewhere in the rocky gorge a hundred feet below. The -rising mist obscured the bottom of the falls where the terrific torrent -would by now have battered the bodies of Mr. Whitman and Jacome into a -pulp. - -Or so they thought, until Mr. Brewster stepped closer to the overhanging -bushes and gained a full view of the crescent-shaped brink. He beckoned -to the boys and exclaimed: - -“Look there!” - -Caught between two low rocks, Whitman’s boat was jammed on the brink, -its two occupants still alive, temporarily at least. Heavily loaded, -wide of beam and flexible because of its inflated sides, the rubber boat -had snagged where almost any other craft would have cracked up and gone -over the crest. - -Other low rocks jutted at close intervals along the foamy brim. Biff -noticed them when he saw Mr. Whitman rise in the boat to point them out -to Jacome. - -“Those rocks are like steppingstones, Dad!” exclaimed Biff. “If we throw -a line to them, maybe we can haul them ashore—” - -An interruption came as the boat wabbled on its precarious perch, due to -Mr. Whitman’s shift of weight. It settled back again, as Whitman plopped -down into the stem. From the shore, Biff’s father gestured for Whitman -to stay down and received a nod in reply. Turning to Biff, Mr. Brewster -declared: - -“Throwing them a line won’t help. If they missed their footing, they -would be swept away in spite of it. We’ll have to carry it across to the -other bank and moor it there.” - -From the pack boat, Mr. Brewster produced a coil of thin, strong rope -which he estimated as more than long enough to bridge the stream and -return. He looped the center around a tree trunk and gave the ends to -Kamuka, motioning him into the empty boat. Then, with Biff helping, Mr. -Brewster kept working his way up along the bank, pulling the boat from -the shore, while Kamuka nimbly grabbed at passing branches. - -After they were a safe distance upstream, Mr. Brewster brought Biff into -the boat with him and told the boys: - -“Paddle hard on the left, this time. Try to swing the boat upstream—and -don’t stop, not for one instant!” - -Again, they were in the swirl of the swift-flowing current where Biff, -paddling bow, found it impossible to bring the boat about, even with -Kamuka working valiantly to help him. But Mr. Brewster had allowed for -that. Their efforts, plus his own, brought them to the far bank, still -well above the falls. - -There, the boys warped the boat downstream while Biff’s father hauled in -the floating rope. Picking a landing spot, they carried one end of the -rope about a tree, where they drew it taut and tied it to the other end. -The rope now followed the slight curve of the cataract’s brim from the -opposite bank as far as Whitman’s stranded boat. - -Mr. Brewster then took a loop of rope around a paddle and began to twist -it, winch fashion. He let the boys take over, one at each end of the -paddle, while he waved to the boat and pointed to the water. Whitman and -Jacome understood the plan at once and caught on to the rope as it -emerged. - -Rapidly, the boys turned the paddle, tightening the rope until it looked -like a suspension cable, except for its outward curve. Mr. Whitman and -Jacome, rising gradually from the boat, gripped the center of the double -line. - -Jacome took to the steppingstones first, moving in limber, catlike -fashion as he left the boat. Mr. Whitman, who had settled low to offset -the loss in weight, watched every move, still clutching the center of -the rope, which also helped to steady the boat. - -Hand over hand, Jacome followed the rope, swinging from one projecting -rock to the next, or actually leaping a space where the water gushed -through. It became easier as Jacome neared the bank where the pack boat -was moored. There, Jacome swung on the shore and waved for Whitman to -follow. - -As before, Whitman rose too rapidly. This time, the boat skidded out -from under him; as it did, he hopped to the nearest rock and balanced -there by clinging to the rope. Biff saw the boat slide over the falls, -tumbling from sight with the light luggage it contained. - -Breathlessly, Biff watched Hal Whitman swing to the next broad stone, -where he swayed dangerously while Mr. Brewster and Jacome, tightening -their ends of the rope, helped to steady him. What had been child’s play -for Jacome would have meant disaster for Whitman, without that timely -aid. - -The last leap, that looked the easiest, was the most dangerous of all. -Where Jacome had swung himself clear up on the bank, Whitman dropped -short, but not into the sweeping current that fringed the shore. Jacome -had wisely edged the pack boat into the gap. Whitman landed on the -luggage, and Jacome pulled him up to the bank above. - -During the next few hours, the party worked its way down the steep walls -that flanked the waterfall. This might have been impossible, except for -the holds afforded by the heavy jungle growth. The boats were deflated -and lowered by ropes. Then, when Biff and Kamuka reached the gorge, they -found a shallow stretch where they waded and swam the river, to receive -the luggage from the pack boat that Mr. Whitman and Jacome lowered from -their side. - -Farther downstream, the boys found Whitman’s boat, still intact, along -with its baggage, which Jacome had tied inside the rubber craft before -abandoning it. Biff and Kamuka hauled it ashore and spread the contents -of the bags so they could dry. - -That night, they camped within sound of the big waterfall, and the -muffled roar seemed almost musical, now that its hazard had been passed. -But Hal Whitman, seated by the campfire, spoke bitterly about his -harrowing experience. - -“I blame Joe Nara for all this,” he declared. “I believe he is our real -enemy, not Nicholas Serbot.” - -“How do you figure that, Hal?” inquired Mr. Brewster. - -“First, Nara must have snooped a lot more than he let on,” argued -Whitman, “in order to learn about that boathouse down in Manaus. Am I -right?” - -“You may be right,” conceded Mr. Brewster. “Go on.” - -“And by checking on me,” continued Whitman, “he found out about you. He -learned that you were staying at the Hotel Jacares. So he sent one of -his Indians to steal your map—” - -“Wait, Hal,” interposed Mr. Brewster with a smile. “How could he have -known that I even had the map?” - -“He knew Lew Kirby made a deal with somebody. You were the logical man, -or you wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble and expense of sending me -up to Santa Isabel to organize a safari.” - -“But if Nara knew I had the map, why would he want to steal it? Lew -Kirby was his partner. Remember?” - -“I remember.” Mr. Whitman smiled grimly. “What’s more, so does Joe Nara, -and that’s probably the one thing he’d like most to forget.” - -“So he wouldn’t be bound by any deal that Kirby made?” - -“Exactly. Without the map, you haven’t any claim. If Kirby signed over -his share of the mine to you, you would need the map to prove it.” - -“I still have part of it, Hal.” - -“Yes,” acknowledged Whitman, “but I’ll bet that Joe Nara only let you -keep it because he decided it wouldn’t do you any good. Think it over, -and you’ll see I’m right.” - -Whether or not Mr. Brewster thought it over during the night, Biff -certainly did. When they were loading the boats at dawn to resume their -trip downriver, Biff asked his father: - -“Do you think that Mr. Whitman is right about Joe Nara?” - -“There may be something in what he says,” admitted Mr. Brewster. “Nara -may have been keeping something from us.” - -During the day, they made speedy progress down the river, hugging the -bank at every bend to avoid new waterfalls. But the trip proved smooth, -which only brought more grumbles from Whitman. - -“Nara sent us down this river to get rid of us,” he declared, as they -paddled along. “It wasn’t his fault that the Rio Del Muerte failed to -live up to its name. As for that gateway where we’re supposed to meet -him—El Porto Del Diablo—I don’t think there is such a place.” - -One hour later, those doubts were dispelled. As the boats passed a bend, -they came to an opening in the jungle that looked like the dry bed of a -stream that had once joined the Rio Del Muerte. Then, amid the thick -green foliage, loomed the very rock that Nara had mentioned, split like -a huge gateway, a short distance up the ravine. - -They pulled the boats up on the low, sandy shore, where Mr. Brewster -decided to leave the packs and other equipment, though not for long. - -“Nara said to come through the gateway,” he said, “and meet him -somewhere up the ravine. If we don’t see him soon, we can come back and -bring the luggage in relays.” - -The trail narrowed at the end of half a mile and veered sharply beneath -a high, bulging cliff that slanted back like a gigantic brow, cutting -off the sunlight. Mr. Brewster, well in advance, had reached the turn in -the ravine, when Jacome, bringing up the rear of the procession, gave a -loud, warning shout. - -The rest looked up in time to see the tiny, squatty figures of six men -drop suddenly behind a row of rocks that resembled the top edge of a -castle tower. But that impression was a brief one. As the group stared -from below, they saw the rocky summit topple forward. - -Those watchers on the cliff top had launched a mass of bounding boulders -that encountered bigger chunks of granite and carried them along, with -the earth in which they were imbedded. An avalanche of stone and dirt -was gaining size as it roared down the slope, threatening to block the -narrow ravine and bury every member of the party that had come into its -path! - - - - - CHAPTER XV - Fabulous El Dorado - - -While the others stood rooted, staring upward, Biff looked for his -father, in the frantic hope of giving him some last-moment warning. Up -ahead, Mr. Brewster was waving for them to join him. Biff grabbed -Whitman by the arm and tried to start him forward, at the same time -yelling to Kamuka and Jacome: - -“It’s our only chance! Maybe Dad can get us past the turn in the -ravine!” - -They all were starting forward before Biff finished speaking, but their -chance faded as the landslide’s roar increased. Spreading as it came -over the cliff edge, the first wave of dirt and stone was not only -peppering them; it was pouring into the side passage that seemed their -only refuge. - -Fortunately, none of them was hit by that first spray of smaller stones. -Whitman stumbled, but Jacome overtook him and helped him regain his -footing. Then they had reached Mr. Brewster, who was blocking them from -the side passage where Biff thought he wanted them to go. - -Instead, Biff’s father now was rushing them beneath the overhanging -cliff, where they huddled against the rocky wall and turned to witness -the havoc that they had so narrowly escaped. From this hollow, open -space where Mr. Brewster had guided them, they watched tons of dirt and -stone drop down in a solid curtain, only a dozen feet away, for the -bulge of the cliff above was comparatively slight. - -Yet it jutted enough to send the tremendous landslide cascading out -beyond them, something on which Mr. Brewster had counted when he made -his quick decision. But after the roar had finally subsided, Biff’s -father disclaimed any special credit for the rescue. - -“I was close enough to see that this pocket offered us our only chance,” -stated Mr. Brewster. “As it was, your own prompt response saved your -lives. Otherwise, you would now be under there.” - -Mr. Brewster gestured significantly to the mound of earth and rock that -had piled many feet above their heads. Carefully, they worked their way -up over it and down a long slant to the main ravine, which they followed -back to the river. - -On the way, they looked up to the brow of the great cliff, but saw no -human figures there. They noted though, that the landslide had turned -the ravine into a dead-end, with no trace of the narrow passage that -angled off to the right, the route that they would have taken. - -Back at the river, Biff’s father sat on a pack and commented rather -ruefully: - -“I guess this about ends our quest for El Dorado.” - -“I’m afraid so,” Whitman agreed. “I’ve told you all along that Joe Nara -was a phony.” - -“You mentioned a few reasons why you thought so,” reminded Mr. Brewster. -“But they were hardly sufficient, Hal.” - -“All right,” retorted Whitman, “I’ll add a few clinchers. Nara said his -men were Wai Wai Indians, didn’t he?” - -“That’s right.” - -“Well, the Wai Wais come from clear over in British Guiana, not from -around here. And you remember those shrunken heads he showed us? To -prove that Macus were around?” - -Mr. Brewster nodded. - -“Those were Jivaro heads,” declared Whitman, “from somewhere up the -Amazon itself. Macus don’t shrink heads. All Nara wanted was to scare -our bearers back to Santa Isabel and chase us off into the jungle. Right -now, he’s probably still down on the Rio Negro, making a deal with -Serbot, somewhere near Piedra Del Cucuy, learning what the competition -has to offer—” - -Whitman cut off, his mouth wide open as he looked downstream. The others -turned and saw a dugout canoe approaching, with Joe Nara reclining -comfortably against the pack bags in its center, while Igo and Ubi were -paddling him up the Rio Del Muerte. Old Joe was smiling as he stepped -ashore, but he became solemn when he saw the accusing eyes that were -fixed upon him. - -“I don’t wonder you’re annoyed,” apologized Nara. “I should have gotten -here first—” - -“You didn’t expect us to get here at all,” Hal Whitman broke in. “Those -directions of yours were a one-way ticket over the falls on the Rio Del -Muerte!” - -“You tried to come down the river by boat?” Nara paused and stared at -the rubber boats. “I didn’t know you had these with you. I said to -follow the river, that was all. Remember?” - -“I remember,” returned Mr. Brewster. “You also told us to go up through -the gateway to the ravine—” - -“No, I didn’t!” interrupted Nara. “I said for you to come up through—” - -“What would be the difference?” - -“Why, if you came up through,” explained Nara, “I would have been there -to meet you. But if you had gone up through ahead of me”—he shook his -head—“well, thank heavens, you didn’t try it!” - -“Why not?” - -“Because the tribe that guards El Dorado would have let loose a -landslide if they saw strangers coming their way. I was mighty glad to -find you waiting here. I knew you couldn’t have gone up through El Porto -Del Diablo.” - -“But we did go up through.” - -As Joe Nara stared incredulously, Mr. Brewster described all that had -happened. - -“Now that the ravine is blocked,” he finished, “I suppose you can’t take -us to your fabulous El Dorado.” - -“On the contrary,” returned Nara, with a quick smile, “I can take you to -the mine by the short way.” He spoke to Igo and Ubi in dialect; then, as -the Indians went to the split rock, Nara announced, “I told them to -summon some bearers.” - -Igo and Ubi shouted up through the ravine, and their calls seemed to -echo back. Soon, squatty Indians appeared from the Devil’s Gateway until -a dozen of them had lined silently in front of Joe Nara. Kamuka -undertoned to Biff: - -“These are the men who pushed stones from hill.” - -“I figured that,” said Biff. “I wonder whether they are surprised or -sorry to see us still alive.” - -“They are neither. They think Nara has made us live again because we are -his friends. They think Nara is El Dorado.” - -From the furtive glances that the squatty Indians gave toward the -Brewster party, along with the way they were awaiting Nara’s bidding, -Biff decided that Kamuka had guessed right. - -At Nara’s command, the Indians did the unexpected. They began replacing -the packs and other equipment in the rubber boats, while Nara suggested -that Mr. Brewster and his party get on board. Then the Indians brought -dugouts from the bushes, and soon they were all paddling up the Rio Del -Muerte, with Nara’s canoe in the lead. - -The going was easy, for the current was sluggish here. After about two -miles, Igo and Ubi drove Nara’s dugout to a low bank where the jungle -appeared to be the thickest. With their paddles, they raised a tangle of -roots as they would a curtain, and worked the boat through. - -The others followed into a channel wide enough to accommodate the rubber -boats with ease. When the foliage had been dropped behind the final -canoe, Biff looked back and saw that the mouth of this stream was as -completely hidden as before. - -They emerged from the jungle near a towering rock that looked like the -one from which the Indians had launched the landslide. They pulled up -the boats beside the stream and took to a steep trail that brought them -up behind the rock, past the far end of the blocked ravine. - -The trail climbed steadily, with more slopes rising ahead. Beyond them -were mountain peaks, some looming blue and cloud-capped in the distance, -overlooking a vast, unexplored region. The chunky bearers marched -steadily onward, crossing logs over deep ravines and following ledges -hewn in the mountainsides. Biff kept his eyes fixed on the backs of the -trudging Indians to avoid any dizziness from looking below. - -“We are now in the Parima Mountains,” Joe Nara told them. “This part of -the range is in Venezuela.” - -“I know,” acknowledged Mr. Brewster. “We crossed the border from Brazil -soon after we left Piedra Del Cucuy.” - -“What about these Indians of yours?” Hal Whitman put in. “You say they -are Wai Wais, Nara, but that tribe lives over in Guiana.” - -“The main tribe does,” returned Nara, “but this one group remained here -to guard the sacred mountain, where El Dorado is located. They believed -that Daipurui, the Spirit of Evil, would go on a rampage if anyone found -the mine.” - -“And how did you get around that?” - -“I figured out a trick,” chuckled Nara, “that made them think I was El -Dorado himself, the original Golden Boy in person. So they took Lew -Kirby and me up to the mine, the same way they’re going now.” - -Single file, the Wai Wais were climbing steps cut in a cliff, gripping -liana vines as handrails to balance the weight of their packs. As Biff -began the climb, the bearers looked like big, bulging beetles crawling -toward the skyline. One by one, they dropped from sight as did the -others in the party. Biff learned the reason, when he reached a slanted -ledge, like a niche hacked in the cliff, and found the Wai Wais -squatting there. - -Kamuka came just behind Biff, then others of the party, and finally Joe -Nara. Evidently, the Wai Wais were awaiting him, for they began an odd -chant that included the words, “El Dorado—El Dorado—” and continued as -the shock-haired prospector strode past them. - -Nara paused where the ledge burrowed at a slant into the cliff and -beckoned for everyone to follow, which they did. They entered a gloomy -mine shaft, so low that all members of the party had to stoop, except -the boys. The Wai Wai bearers, already bending under their burdens, -followed the route automatically as though the passage had been cut to -their size. - -Daylight showed where the shaft opened into a great cavern. There, the -sun shone through cracks and other openings in the ceiling. It glinted -on chunky rock walls that fairly burned with vivid golden yellow. - -All the tales that Biff had ever heard of hidden treasure had suddenly -become real. This was a wonderland of wealth, with glittering side -shafts going deeper into the mountain, promising new finds for anyone -who followed them. Kamuka, awed by the yellow glitter, asked in -breathless tone: - -“How much you think this worth, Biff? A million _cruzeiro_—maybe?” - -“A lot more, if it’s gold ore,” returned Biff. “But it’s worth -practically nothing if it is simply yellow quartz. A lot of that is -found in Brazil, in places easier to reach than this. What’s just as -bad, it may be fool’s gold.” - -“Fool gold? What is that?” - -“A mineral called pyrite,” exclaimed Biff, “usually iron, mixed with -sulphur. It often fools people who think that it is gold. But it is more -the color of brass than gold, and it leaves a green streak when you rub -it on something smooth.” - -As Biff picked up a chunk of yellow rock to examine it, he caught a nod -of approval from his father. Biff had repeated facts that Mr. Brewster -had told him regarding metals. Now, Biff’s father indicated a stretch of -rocky wall, where patches of yellow shone from a background of milky -white. He asked: - -“What do you make of this, Biff?” - -“It looks like gold quartz for sure, Dad!” exclaimed Biff. “There’s no -chance of mistaking that. Or is there?” - -“In this case, there is no mistake.” Mr. Brewster was studying the milky -quartz as he spoke. “Undoubtedly, this shaft was first mined centuries -ago, for it resembles old Indian mines that I have inspected. But -although it yielded gold years ago, I doubt that its wealth has even -begun to be tapped.” - -“You’re right about that,” chuckled Joe Nara, who was standing by. “Look -there—and there—and there—” - -Nara had turned on a powerful flashlight, and with each announcement, he -pointed its beam down another rough-hewn shaft that branched from the -main corridor. Each time, the glare was reflected with a new burst of -brilliance. - -“The gold of El Dorado!” boasted Nara. “A mountain full of it and a lot -more that cropped over, as I’ll show you!” - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - Surrounded! - - -From the great central room, Joe Nara led his companions down through a -maze of shafts and tunnels. Each passage joined with another, and -frequently the links were steep steps worn smooth by the feet of native -miners, hundreds of years before. - -At intervals, daylight showed through shafts that had been driven down -through the mountain to tap a vein of gold. Always, the passages led -finally into new corridors that glittered with rich ore. At last, a long -straight tunnel brought the party out on the far side of the mountain, -hundreds of feet below the starting level. - -The slope was gradual here, featured by dirt gullies leading down to a -grassy valley, with the jungle beyond. As they followed the bed of one -dry stream, Joe Nara pointed to the sparkle in its sands. - -“That’s where I’ve picked up some of these,” he chuckled, bringing some -small gold nuggets from his pocket and displaying them in his open hand. -“But mostly I find them up some of the smaller stream beds. The gold -just kind of oozes out of the mountain.” - -Near the bottom of the slope was a shallow depression that nestled like -a bowl in the curve of the mountainside. - -“That’s where the lake was,” declared Nara. “The lake where El Dorado -used to take a dip and come out all covered with gold. It’s dried up, -now, but there’s still plenty of gold down in those sands.” - -Mr. Brewster studied the lake bed carefully. Biff saw his father look -beyond, as though following a sandy course that led down to the grassy -area that fringed the jungle. - -“You are probably right,” Mr. Brewster told Nara. “The lake was -artificially formed, and once the dam was broken, the water found its -way down into the jungle.” - -“And it joined a stream there,” added Nara, “as I’ll show you. Do you -know why this all happened?” Tilting his head, he darted one of his -birdlike glances at Whitman, then back to Mr. Brewster. “I’ll tell you -why. When the Indians found that the Spaniards and the English were -going after El Dorado as well as after each other, they closed up shop. - -“That’s what they did. Just closed up shop. They busted the dam and got -rid of the lake, so nobody could find it. They covered over all the -shafts so nobody could find them either. They started rumors about El -Dorado being somewhere else, to send all the explorers on a wild-goose -chase. Then they kept guard over the real El Dorado to scare away -anybody who stumbled on it by mistake.” - -“All quite logical,” agreed Mr. Brewster. “That is the way the Indians -would act.” He turned to Whitman and asked: “You agree, don’t you, Hal?” - -“I agree,” nodded Whitman. “_Now_ I know why Nara showed us those -shrunken heads. He did want to scare our bearers so they would run back -to Santa Isabel. But it was because his Wai Wais would have made trouble -if we brought a strange tribe here.” - -“They made trouble enough as it was,” declared Nara, with a dry chuckle. -Then, turning to Mr. Brewster, he said, “Let’s see what’s left of that -map Lew Kirby gave you. Then we can figure what to do next.” - -Mr. Brewster produced the torn corner from the map. It showed the mine, -the stream bed, the lake, and the trail that continued into the jungle, -where it reached a river that was marked on the map. - -“The route is an easy one,” stated Nara, “as you can see. But first, I -want you to estimate the value of the mine. Then pick out the ore you -want, so we can take it to the river. From there, we will go downstream -to the Casiquiare Canal and work our way through to the Orinoco River.” - -They camped that night beneath the trees that fringed the jungle. The -next day, Mr. Brewster returned to the mine and studied it in detail. -They stayed in the same camp another night and on the following day, the -Indians brought down loads of ore that Mr. Brewster had selected. - -Those loads were carried several miles through the jungle to the river -that Nara had mentioned. Biff and Kamuka helped make a new camp there. -Then they swam in the river while they waited for the Indians to bring -the packs. The water was very clear, and the boys brought up handfuls of -glittering sand from the bottom. When Mr. Brewster saw it, he commented: - -“There’s a fortune in gold to be dredged from this stream. But we still -have the problem of getting it down the Orinoco.” - -Joe Nara had the answer to that problem. His Indians showed up with a -small flotilla of odd-looking craft that resembled the _monterias_ of -the Amazon. Nearly thirty feet long, each boat had an open cockpit at -the front with a thatched cupola at the stern, serving as a sort of -cabin. - -Nara’s boats were different, however, from the more antiquated river -craft. His boats were low in the stern, so that the big steering paddle -could be replaced by a sizable outboard motor. Nara had such motors and -the gasoline to fuel them. - -“Every trip I made downriver,” explained Nara, “either over the mountain -and down the Rio Negro, or down this stream to the Orinoco, I bought -motors and gasoline and brought them back here. I knew that some day, -Lew Kirby would talk some company into a big deal for our mine. - -“What’s more, I knew the first thing they would ask would be if they -could transport either the gold or the ore once they mined it. My answer -is, yes, and I’ve got the boats to prove it—and the motors, too. I’ve -kept them for a long time.” - -Judging by the appearance of the motors, that was true. Some were twenty -years old, but all proved serviceable when attached to the loaded boats. -The four boats that formed the strange flotilla started out at a slow -but steady speed down the narrow jungle river that marked the first -stage of a long, adventurous journey. - -Each boat carried a crew of three. Biff and Kamuka were in one boat with -Mr. Brewster. Jacome and a Wai Wai Indian were in another with Hal -Whitman. The third boat was Nara’s, with Igo and Ubi as its crew. The -fourth, which served as a kitchen boat and carried the food supply, was -manned by three Wai Wai tribesmen. - -The packs, which included tents and other equipment, were in the boats -commanded by Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman. The ore from the mine was -mostly in Nara’s boat, which squatted lower in the water due to its -added weight. But it maintained the same speed as the other craft for -the simple but sufficient reason that Nara had equipped it with the -largest of his old-model motors. - -The containers of gasoline were distributed among the boats, and all -were careful not to waste any of the precious fuel. At times, they used -the oars or let the current carry them. When they encountered channels -that were narrow or shallow, they poled the boats through. - -They were deep in the jungle when the river opened into a fair-sized -lake, where Nara pulled his boat alongside of Mr. Brewster’s, to check -the map again. - -“This is one of the lagoons that connects with the Casiquiare Canal,” -explained Nara. “Actually, the Casiquiare is an overflow from the -Orinoco that reaches the headwaters of the Rio Negro, forming a link -with the Amazon. But sometimes the canal backs up and flows the wrong -way. The important thing is that it is always navigable, clear to the -Orinoco.” - -The job now was to work from one lagoon to another, through channels -that would have been shown on the missing portion of Kirby’s map. Nara -knew the route from memory, and fortunately he had been over it several -times. But he still had trouble picking his way through a lot of lesser -channels, and at times he called upon Mr. Brewster to check the course -by compass. - -“Taking a boat through a jungle,” declared Nara, “is just like going for -a hike in the woods. First thing you know, you’re traveling in a circle. -Only you don’t ever really know it, because wherever you are, it always -looks the same.” - -The more Biff thought that over, the more true it seemed. But when he -discussed it with Kamuka, the Indian boy disputed the notion. - -“One place is not like another,” declared Kamuka. “I look there, and I -see so many trees. I remember them like picture. You show me another -place, the picture is different.” - -“In that case,” said Biff, “I suppose you can never get lost in the -jungle.” - -“I get lost easy,” returned Kamuka. “Too easy. Any place I do not know, -I am lost—maybe. But I never get lost in the same place where I was -before.” - -Biff decided to test that out in a simple but effective way. As they -chugged along, he made notes of certain spots and told Kamuka to -remember them on his own. When they reached a similar place, Biff asked -Kamuka to tell him the difference. Always, Kamuka came up with some -slight variation that tallied with Biff’s list. - -When they swung into a small cove past a jutting point with an odd -overhanging tree, Biff was sure that they had seen the place before. -This time, Kamuka couldn’t come up with enough differences in the -scenery. Triumphantly, Biff was saying: - -“You see, Kamuka? This could be the same place where we were an hour -ago, or enough like it so you can’t tell the difference—” - -“Except,” said Kamuka, “that there was no smoke in trees, no campfire -with people around, no boats coming out from shore—” - -Biff looked up in surprise. He saw more boats, a whole batch of them, -shooting out from opposite points to block off any retreat. - -More than a dozen in number, those boats were filled with natives who -shouted savage war cries as they closed in on Nara’s flotilla, forcing -the heavier boats toward the shore. There was no avoiding the camp where -warlike natives waited, armed with spears, for now other canoes were -darting out from hiding places to complete the rapid roundup. - -Rather than be boarded by the natives, Mr. Brewster ordered the boats to -the shore. There, he and Whitman sprang out with loaded rifles. Biff and -Kamuka followed, bringing their machetes. Jacome joined them, armed in -the same fashion. Immediately, they were surrounded by a dozen silent -natives, who stood ready with poised spears. - -“Be careful,” warned Jacome. “Do not make move. Big pot on fire is used -to cook _curare_. Spear point poison—maybe.” - -Between the circling natives, Biff saw the fire and the pot that Jacome -mentioned. It was a big, crude kettle, steaming over the log flames. - -“I’m glad they’re just cooking _curare_,” Biff whispered to Kamuka. “I -thought maybe they were boiling some special stuff to shrink our heads.” - -“Maybe they do just that,” returned Kamuka solemnly. “I do not like -this. Not one bit, Biff.” - -A tall chief with a drooping feathered headdress and a plumed belt had -taken charge, and was ordering Nara and the Wai Wais from their boats. -Nara’s Indians brought their machetes, but old Joe came entirely -unarmed. He jabbered dialect at the feathered chief. Then, finding that -he didn’t understand, Nara let Igo and Ubi take over as interpreters. - -After a brief talk, Nara turned to Mr. Brewster. - -“They are Maco Indians,” stated Nara. “They were told that we intend to -attack their village.” - -“Macus,” Biff’s father groaned. “I knew they would catch up with us.” - -“Not Macus,” corrected Nara. “_Macos_, who live on the upper Orinoco. -But they can be just as dangerous, now that they’re sure we are their -enemies.” - -“Where did they get that idea?” asked Mr. Brewster. - -“From three men who stopped at their village near the Casiquiare,” -explained Nara, “and told them that we would come sneaking through the -backwaters to the spot where we are now.” - -“Serbot, Pepito, and Urubu,” Mr. Brewster decided grimly. “It must have -been Pepito who stole the map in Manaus. They were unable to locate the -mine on their portion of it, but they cut across our route and stirred -up this tribe against us.” - -“What do we do now?” put in Whitman. “Give them presents and send them -away happy?” - -“They won’t be happy unless they take us, too,” declared Nara. “They -want us to accompany them to their village, so that their king can hear -our story. He will decide whether we are guilty or innocent.” - -“That means he will either find us guilty,” observed Mr. Brewster, “or -he’ll put us through some ordeal where we will come out more dead than -alive. Should we make a stand for it here?” - -“Not a chance,” returned Nara. “Those spear tips are already poisoned. -That’s why they’re boiling water, to cook up a new brew after they’ve -used their spears. One false move now, and we’re goners.” - -From the bristling appearance of the spears and the glares of the two -dozen spearmen who now surrounded the party, it looked as though Nara -was right. Impatient mutters were coming from the tribesmen while the -feathered chief awaited a reply. - -“We can’t fight them,” declared Mr. Brewster, “and we can’t go with -them. What choice does that leave us?” - -“Only one,” replied Nara calmly. “We must convince them that we have a -right to be here, more right, in fact, than they have.” He turned to Ubi -and Igo and announced importantly: “Tell them who I am.” - -Igo and Ubi babbled in dialect with the title “El Dorado” sprinkled -through it, bringing echoing exclamations of “El Dorado” from the Maco -tribesmen. At the finish, Igo spoke simply to Nara: - -“They say they like to see you show them.” - -“I’ll show them!” Nara made a spreading gesture with his arms. “Tell -them to clear the way to that big pot up there by the fire, and I’ll -show them I’m El Dorado!” - -As Igo translated the statement, the Maco chief ordered his followers to -clear a path, which they did. Old Joe Nara strode forward, nodding his -head as though his triumph was already assured. - -“I hope,” said Kamuka, “that Senhor Nara can do something to help, like -real El Dorado would.” - -“Whatever he does,” added Biff fervently, “it will have to be good, if -it’s going to help at all!” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - The Man of Gold - - -When Joe Nara reached the big campfire, he extended his hands above the -simmering kettle and swept them back and forth in slow, impressive -fashion. His back was toward the half-circle of tribesmen, but now, he -changed position. - -First to the right, then to the left of the fire, Nara repeated his odd -ritual. Finally, he stepped beyond the fire and turned to face the group -through the rising steam which wavered and curled about his arms as he -repeated his ceremony. - -Two savage spearmen had stepped up to flank him with poised weapons, but -Nara paid them no attention. Biff looked slowly around and saw that he -and his father were under similar guard. So were Kamuka and Hal Whitman, -as well as Jacome and the other natives. Whatever Nara might do, there -would be no chance to make a run for the boats. - -Now Nara was drawing his shirt sleeves clear up past his elbows. He -looked like a wizened wizard as he showed one bare arm and then the -other, holding his upraised hands with widespread fingers. Looking -toward the sun, which was almost overhead, Nara made a clutching motion -with his right hand; then a downward throw toward the kettle, as though -flinging blobs of sunlight into the bubbling liquid. - -Then, he boldly drove his right arm shoulder deep into the kettle, -keeping it there while he stirred the boiling water with his bare arm. -The tribesmen began an excited babble when they realized that Nara was -unharmed. It became a shout when Nara brought his hand from the kettle -and raised it high, for all to see. - -From fingertips to above his elbow, Nara’s hand and arm glittered like -burnished gold, catching the sparkle of the sunlight which he had -seemingly captured to transform his flesh into that precious metal. Now -the tribesmen were shouting recognition: - -“El Dorado! El Dorado!” - -Nara apparently had turned legend into fact. To prove his power, he -repeated the process with his left arm. He showed it bare and white, -dipped it deep into the hissing water and brought it out all golden like -his right. - -The cry of “El Dorado! El Dorado!” increased as Nara stalked among the -Maco tribesmen, showing them his hands and arms at close range. The -warriors were awed, from their chief down to the pair of spearmen who -were supposed to keep Nara a prisoner—something which they had now -forgotten in their amazement. - -The Wai Wais remained silent. Igo, Ubi, and Nara’s other followers had -seen him perform this wonder. They took his power for granted. Now, at a -word from Nara, Igo and Ubi gathered up small pebbles which they showed -to the Maco tribesmen. - -Nara went back to the big kettle, and there he took pebbles first from -Igo, then from Ubi, promptly dipping them in the bubbling brew. As he -brought out the pebbles, he held them in the sunlight, showing them to -be pure gold. Nara gave the magic stones to Igo and Ubi to distribute -among the Maco warriors, who crowded forward to receive the gifts. - -Biff found himself practically alone beside his father. In an awed tone, -Biff asked, “How did Nara work that trick, Dad?” - -“He stirred the water to reduce its temperature,” explained Mr. -Brewster. “It had begun to boil at the top, but was still cool below. -I’ve seen the Fiji Islanders do a similar stunt.” - -“But how did he turn his hands and arms all golden?” - -“With some dye, probably, that he dropped into the water while he was -making passes over it.” - -“I still can’t see how he managed to fool those natives into thinking -that those colored pebbles are real gold.” - -“They are real gold,” Biff’s father stated, with a smile. “Remember all -those nuggets that Nara carries? I think he has been palming them from -his pockets. Every time he dips a pebble into the kettle, he lets it -drop and brings out a nugget instead.” - -Biff watched Nara give the dip treatment to a few more pebbles, then -nodded. - -“I think you’re right, Dad,” said Biff, “but Nara is mighty clever at -it. Only why is he handing out so many nuggets?” - -“To buy our freedom, son,” returned Mr. Brewster. “Look. Nara is -bargaining with the chief right now.” - -The nuggets apparently weren’t enough, for the Maco chief was shaking -his head emphatically. Nara promptly came up with a much bigger offer. -He picked some stones the size of hen’s eggs and began passing them -among the tribesmen, who nodded eagerly. - -“Nara can’t possibly be carrying nuggets the size of those stones,” -declared Mr. Brewster. “They’d weigh him down so he couldn’t walk. Get -ready now to run for it.” - -Biff passed the word to Kamuka, who relayed it to Whitman. By then, the -Maco chief had accepted the ransom offer, but wanted the big stones -turned to gold. Nara went to the kettle, pretended to throw in more -fistfuls of sunlight, then turned to the chief and made a beckoning -gesture, as he cackled: - -“Come and get it!” - -Headed by the chief, the tribesmen made a charge for the magic kettle, -all anxious to turn their stones into gold before the pot ran out of -concentrated sunlight. Nara stepped away to let them pass, then waved -for Mr. Brewster and the rest to begin their own dash the opposite way. - -They raced for the boats and were clambering on board, with Nara only a -few yards behind them, when the milling tribesmen noticed their flight. -Still, the natives were too busy to be bothered until they found that -the stones refused to turn to gold. Then they threw them down and -grabbed up their spears instead, but by that time the motors were -spinning and the boats were under way, with Igo hauling Nara over the -side of their _monteria_ while Ubi handled the helm. - -Some of the natives started a pursuit in their canoes, but the outboards -soon outdistanced them. All seemed safe and serene during the next half -hour, while they followed deep though sometimes narrow channels. Then, -from far in the jungle behind them, came the _bom-bom-bom_ of a savage -drum. - -Nara signaled for the boats to draw together for a conference. In a -worried tone, old Joe announced: - -“Maco drums. You can hear them for thirty or forty miles. They are -telling other tribes to be on the watch for us. So be ready for -trouble.” He paused, then asked Mr. Brewster in a low, confidential -tone, “How did you like the golden arm trick?” - -“Very good,” replied Mr. Brewster. “But these natives use paints -themselves to color their faces and bodies, so I can’t understand how -you fooled them with a dye.” - -Biff was close enough to hear Nara’s chuckle. - -“I didn’t use dye,” Nara stated. “I used a fine powder made from dried -plants, sprinkled with tiny flakes of gilt, that spreads on the water -like a dust. Dip your hand in and bring it out, the stuff gathers and -clings like a snug rubber glove. After it dries, you wipe it off.” - - [Illustration: Canoes on the river] - -Nara showed his hands, now perfectly clean; then added, “I sprinkled -just about enough for myself, so those Indians didn’t get any on their -own hands. They still think that I alone have the golden touch, but even -my being El Dorado won’t help us now that they feel I robbed them.” - - [Illustration: Drummers] - -An hour later, the drums were still throbbing when Joe Nara pointed -above the jungle to a huge, flat-topped mountain that towered like a -mighty mesa above the wavy green. - -“Cerro Duida,” called Nara, from his boat. “One of the biggest mountains -in the Parima chain, about a mile and a half high. It was a long time -before anybody climbed it, because Indians are afraid to go with them, -on account of the spirits they think live on top. It’s kind of tied in -with the El Dorado story. Anyway, Cerro Duida is close to the Orinoco -River—” - -Nara broke off as some canoes came scooting from the canal banks, filled -with armed natives. Motors were opened to the full, and the flotilla -again outdistanced the native dugouts. But Biff, at the bow of his -father’s _monteria_, saw new problems ahead. - -“We’ve missed the main channel, Dad,” Biff called to the stem. “It’s -shallow ahead, with a lot of sandbars.” - -Mr. Brewster cut off his motor and signaled for the other boats to do -the same. - -“We’d better pole our way through,” he decided. “We still have time -before those natives catch up with us, and we can’t risk getting -stranded on a sandbar.” - -“Watch where you push pole,” Kamuka advised Biff. “Big _sucuria_ may -wrap around it.” - -As Kamuka pointed, Biff saw a huge anaconda lazily sunning itself on a -sandbar near the canal bank. Beyond that were others; in fact, the area -was alive with the giant snakes, though none appeared to be active. - -Carefully, the boats were poled through the channels without disturbing -the basking boas. Biff looked back and counted a dozen of them, still in -repose. Snakes as well as shallows had been avoided, when Nara’s boat -ran on a hidden sandbar that the others had crossed. With its heavy -cargo of ore, Nara’s _monteria_ refused to budge. - -Mr. Brewster attached lines to Nara’s boat, so that the others could -haul it free. He told everybody to pole at once, and his plan seemed -certain of success, when Nara shrilled: - -“Look back there!” - -Native canoes had come around the bend. Seeing the flotilla stuck among -the sandbars, the tribesmen increased their paddle strokes. Nara grabbed -a rifle and shouted to Mr. Brewster: - -“Get your boats clear! I’ll fight them off!” - -“Keep going!” ordered Mr. Brewster. Then, to Nara, he called: “Don’t -start shooting! They outnumber us ten to one, and those spears of theirs -have poison tips. Once they start throwing them, we won’t have a -chance—” - -It was too late. Joe Nara couldn’t be stopped, once his mind was made -up. He opened fire at the canoes when they reached the first sandbar. -Two dozen warriors rose to fling their deadly spears! - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - Urubu Again - - -With the first crackle of Nara’s rifle, Mr. Brewster shouted, “Down -everybody—and get ready for them!” That, Biff knew, could be more than -just a shower of spears. The warriors themselves would be arriving next, -with other weapons. The only hope would be a few more pole thrusts, but -while that might save some of the party, it wouldn’t help Joe Nara. - -It happened though, that Nara had helped himself. Those crazy shots that -peppered the sandbars without coming near a canoe, unleashed a terrific -force that took the native warriors by complete surprise. As they poised -their spears, the sandbanks sprang into life before their eyes. - -Roused by the blasts of Nara’s guns and the ping of the bullets in their -sandy sunning spot, the anacondas lashed their way straight downstream -in a broad horde of writhing fury that seemed to stretch like a -monstrous ribbon, two hundred feet in length. - -The stampede of mighty boa constrictors swept everything from their -path. Their thick bodies and lashing coils spilled the canoes and -plunged the native warriors into the canal, spears and all. - -The snakes didn’t stop their mad rush. They whacked natives as well as -boats when they passed them and left the canoes drifting in a churn of -foam that made the canal look like a rapids clear beyond the bend. Then -the living tidal wave was gone as quickly as it had begun. But Mr. -Brewster wasn’t waiting for the natives to reclaim their canoes and -spears so as to return to action. - -“Back to the poles!” he ordered. “Heave away—away, everybody—and you, -too, Nara!” - -Old Joe, his face gleaming in happy surprise at the thing he had touched -off, now laid aside his rifle and helped pry the barge from its sandy -perch. By the time the hostile tribesmen were wading up on the sandbars -that the anacondas had left, Nara’s boat was free. Outboards roared anew -as the flotilla plowed its way to the main channel and on to the -junction of the Casquiare and the Orinoco, where they headed downstream. - -The rhythmic beat of distant tom-toms could still be heard that evening, -when the motors were stopped and the boats allowed to drift down the -river under a brilliant tropical moon. By morning, the drums had ceased, -indicating that the Maco tribe had either given up the chase or that the -flotilla was beyond the danger zone. - -From then on, the expedition traveled mostly by day and picked suitable -campsites overnight. Biff and Kamuka fished frequently and replenished -the food supply by catching huge river turtles as well as a tasty -species of catfish called _cajaro_. Biff landed one that measured well -over three feet in length. - -Some nights, the boats were lashed side by side and moored near river -settlements where they formed what Hal Whitman termed a “floating -mansion,” complete to the kitchen. At one village, Joe Nara bought -stacks of huge cassava cakes. These measured two and a half feet across, -but were only a half-inch thick. They had been brought upriver wrapped -in plantain leaves. - -These formed the main food for the Wai Wais accompanying Nara, and -Jacome and Kamuka liked them too, though Biff found them rather -tasteless. In contrast were some cayman eggs, which the boys dug up on a -sandy shore while hunting turtles with Jacome. The Indians, Kamuka -included, found them tasty indeed, but they were too strong in flavor to -suit Biff. - -Caymans were the great menace of the Orinoco, so the boys were duly -warned against them. Closely resembling alligators, they were supposed -to measure twenty-five feet or more in length. But when Kamuka called, -“There’s a big one!” and Mr. Brewster promptly drilled it with a rifle -shot, the cayman measured only twelve feet, when it was hauled on board -the kitchen _monteria_. - -“When you see a creature in motion,” Mr. Brewster told the boys, “and -particularly a bird, or its cousin, a reptile, you always gain an -exaggerated idea of its length.” - -“Eggs-aggerate?” Kamuka repeated the unfamiliar term. “You mean eggs -look long too?” - -“Not eggs-actly,” put in Biff, with a smile, “but if we’d looked much -longer at those cayman eggs, they would have hatched.” - -Mr. Brewster smiled at the jokes, then became serious. - -“You must learn what it means to gauge speed in terms of distance,” he -declared. “When we reach the rapids where the Ventuari flows into the -Orinoco, you boys can take the boat down through.” - -When they reached the rapids, Mr. Brewster gave the helm to Biff, then -told Kamuka to mind the bow and watch for rocks. Mr. Brewster went into -the thatched cabin, but from there, he kept a sharp lookout in case the -boys ran into trouble. - -Biff realized that his dad was standing by in case of emergency, but -unless something of the sort developed, Biff knew he would be on his -own. What a thrill it was! - -Kamuka watched like a cat, to copy any move made by Jacome and the -stolid natives who were warding off rocks from the bows of the other -boats. Biff kept an eager eye on Whitman, Joe Nara, and the Wai Wai who -was piloting the kitchen barge. When Biff saw that they were watching -the man in the bow, he did the same. - -Time and again, Kamuka would raise his paddle to jab at a threatening -rock. Always, Biff handled the helm accordingly. Kamuka nodded his head -admiringly. He was crediting Biff with being a wonderful pilot, never -realizing that he was furnishing the tip-off that enabled his friend to -demonstrate such skill. - -Twice, though, it was Kamuka’s quick work with the paddle that staved -off a crash on the rocks before Biff could bring the helm about. When at -last they were drifting in the calm water below the rapids, Biff sprang -forward over the thatched cabin and grabbed Kamuka’s hand, exclaiming: - -“Great work, Kamuka! We make a perfect team!” - -Kamuka smiled solemnly as he repeated: - -“We make—perfect team.” - -Mr. Brewster came from the cabin and clapped a hand on each boy’s -shoulder. - -“You do make a perfect team,” he complimented. “Just remember it.” - -They remembered it, several nights later, when they sat around the -campfire after a _cajaro_ dinner. - -“Tomorrow,” stated Mr. Brewster, “we come to the Maipures Rapids.” - -“Can we take the boat down through them?” queried Biff. “I mean, Kamuka -and I?” - -“None of our boats will shoot the Maipures,” said Mr. Brewster. “They -are impassable. So are the rapids of the Atures, forty miles below. A -road has been built around both rapids, so that trucks can transport us -with our boats.” - -Joe Nara gave a high-pitched snort. - -“That’s where Serbot will be waiting for us,” he declared. “That’s for -sure.” - -“I’m not so sure,” put in Hal Whitman. “After he sold us out to those -Indians on the Casquiare, he probably headed back the other way, down -the Rio Negro.” - -“Not if he figured we’d be coming down the Orinoco.” - -Whitman and Nara both turned to Mr. Brewster, to see if he could settle -the argument. As he lighted his pipe, Mr. Brewster stated calmly: - -“It’s about an even chance that Serbot came this way. If he did, he will -probably be watching the road to see if we come through.” - -“That’s right,” declared Nara. “We’d better keep a sharp lookout when we -reach that portage.” - -“Serbot may be watching for us,” agreed Mr. Brewster, “but he won’t be -able to make trouble for us there.” - -“After what he’s already done,” argued Nara, “he might give us trouble -anywhere.” - -When they reached Sanariapo, the tiny village at the head of the upper -rapids, Biff and Kamuka noticed some natives watching Igo and Ubi carry -sacks of ore up over the sloping rock between the river and the highway, -where transport trucks were waiting to load the boats as well as the -cargo. - -The boys reported this to Biff’s father, who talked with the truck -drivers and learned that the hangers-on were simply hoping to pick up a -few _bolivars_ in Venezuelan money by helping load the trucks. But that -didn’t satisfy Joe Nara. - -“If they can’t make a _bolivar_ one way,” he argued, “they may try -another. Like telling people about our gold ore.” - -“Here at Sanariapo,” stated Mr. Brewster, “there is no one for them to -tell.” - -“They might pass the word along to Puerto Ayacucho, below the lower -rapids,” returned Nara. “I’ll go ahead on the first truck with Igo and -Ubi, so I can check on any rumors.” - -It took most of the day to make trucking arrangements, and to transport -boats as well as cargo over the modern highway that spans the -intervening streams on big steel bridges. Biff found the trip -interesting, with stretches of open country and barren hills as well as -wooded slopes and forested areas. - -The highway followed the right bank of the Orinoco, which belongs to -Venezuela, while the land on the other side of the river is part of the -Republic of Colombia. At Puerto Ayacucho, they found Igo and Ubi waiting -to load the ore sacks into Nara’s _monteria_, when it arrived. But there -was no sign of Nara. - -According to Igo and Ubi, Nara had gone somewhere immediately after -arriving in Puerto Ayacucho. But Mr. Brewster, inquiring at stores, -hotels, and elsewhere, was unable to find anyone who had even seen the -old white-haired prospector. - -“The only place left,” Mr. Brewster declared, chuckling, “is the -governor’s office. Maybe Joe Nara is having lunch with His Excellency. -Should we try there?” - -“I don’t think so,” returned Hal Whitman dryly. “From the way Nara looks -for trouble, we might do better if we asked at the local calaboose.” - -Mr. Brewster smiled at that reference to the town jail. - -“I’ve already asked there,” he said. Then, turning to the boys, he -added, “Look around for Nara, and if you don’t have any luck, I guess -we’ll have to call on the governor’s office to help us find him.” - -Kamuka noticed some natives lounging near an old shack on the high bank -of the river. - -“Maybe they have seen Senhor Nara,” Kamuka said to Biff. “But you will -have to ask them. They do not speak Portuguese as I do. They talk -Spanish, which you understand.” - -When they approached the group, Biff addressed the nearest native, who -was huddled by the wall, his chin buried deep in his red bandanna -neckerchief and his gaze turned toward the river. - -“_Oiga, amigo_,” began Biff. “_Soy buscando un viejo son pelo bianco_—” - -Biff was saying that he was looking for an old man with white hair, but -he got no further. The slouchy native came to his feet and spun about -with a snarl. - -As Biff dropped back, he found himself staring into the vicious, hawkish -face of Urubu! - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - Partners in Crime - - -“Look out, Biff! He may have a knife!” - -The warning came from Kamuka as the Indian boy grabbed Biff’s arm, -hauling him away from Urubu. But there was no way for them to dodge, -except toward the wall, as Urubu was between them and the corner of the -building. - -Then, from around that very corner came a limber figure, a thin man clad -in dungarees and a big sombrero, whose tight fists moved like pistons as -they jabbed at Urubu’s face. Jolted backward, Urubu dropped the knife -that he was pulling from beneath his shirt. Warding off a few blows, he -turned and ran wildly for a landing below the riverbank. - -The boys turned to thank their rescuer, who had lost his big sombrero -and was stooping to pick up the wide-brimmed hat. They were amazed when -they saw his smiling face and white hair. The man who had routed Urubu -was Joe Nara. - -“The way to spot snoopers,” advised Nara, “is to go snooping for them. -Nobody would know old Joe Nara in this outfit, particularly with his -white hair out of sight.” - -Nara chuckled as he put on the sombrero, showing how quick and complete -the change was. Then Nara pointed to the river where a small, squat -motorboat was scudding downstream. - -“There goes Urubu,” said Nara, “with another rat who was waiting for -him, probably Pepito. They’re going to tell their boss Serbot that the -gold rush is coming his way.” - -The boys couldn’t see the boat closely, because they faced the glare of -the late afternoon sun. When they told Mr. Brewster what had happened, -he agreed with Nara. - -“We’ll keep going downstream, though,” Mr. Brewster decided, “until we -reach the rapids above Puerto Carreno, the only town on the Colombian -side of the river.” - -“Can we go through those rapids?” asked Biff. - -“Yes, they are quite navigable,” his father replied, “but that is where -Serbot and his crew will be waiting to attack us. If we get by the -rapids, we’ll be all right, because Mr. Stannart should be at Puerto -Carreno in his yacht, by this time.” - -“Can he come that far up the Orinoco, Dad?” - -“Yes, he can make it,” replied Mr. Brewster. “And in his letter he said -he would, unless we met him farther downriver. Since we have taken -longer than the time he allotted us, we should find him there. Then -we’ll close the mining deal with you, Joe.” - -“If we get there,” put in Nara glumly. “We can’t go around those rapids -unless we take a back trail, and Serbot will be watching that, too.” - -As the loaded flotilla continued down the river, Mr. Brewster continued -to weigh the coming problem. He was hoping that a solution might crop -up, and as the expedition approached the rapids, the answer came. - -Back from the river on the Venezuelan side stood an old, abandoned -blockhouse flanked by a few dilapidated mud huts. - -“We’ll make camp there,” Mr. Brewster decided. “We can bring enough -supplies into the blockhouse to hold Serbot off if he tries to attack -us.” - -“Do you think he has spies watching for us now?” asked Biff. - -“Very probably,” his father rejoined. “And when he learns that we aren’t -coming down the river, he will have to come up here to find us.” - -Mr. Brewster signaled the other boats to shore, and when they landed, he -explained full details of his plan. - -“Tomorrow, Nara,” stated Mr. Brewster, “I want you to move your Wai Wai -Indians down by a back trail to the rapids. They should be able to creep -up on Serbot’s crew without his knowing it.” - -Nara nodded agreement. - -“As soon as Serbot becomes impatient and starts up here,” Mr. Brewster -went on, “the Wai Wais can spring a surprise attack on any men that he -leaves there. Then, before Serbot has time to attack us here, we’ll come -down the river in the boats. We’ll pick your men up at the rapids, where -they will have cleared the way for us.” - -“But what about my _monteria_?” asked Nara, tilting his head in canny -style. “It has all the gold ore. Remember?” - -“We’ll bring it with the other boats,” promised Mr. Brewster. “It means -more to me than to you, Nara, because you have lots more back at El -Dorado. But these are the samples that I need to show Mr. Stannart and -close the deal for Ajax.” - -“But suppose Serbot does attack here?” - -“We’ll drive him off from the blockhouse. When he sees that we are well -fortified, he is sure to withdraw until he can bring up more men. Your -Wai Wais will have taken care of them. That’s when we’ll surprise him by -dashing out to the boats and starting down the river.” - -They spent the rest of the day bringing the supplies in from the boats -and putting the blockhouse into shape. The small windows of the square, -squatty building were equipped with screens, but most of them were in -poor condition. Mr. Brewster insisted upon repairing them first. - -“Let’s get fortified against mosquitoes and other insects for tonight,” -he suggested. “During the evening, we can strengthen the shutters and -fix loopholes so as to fight off Serbot and his pests tomorrow or -whenever they come this way.” - -While the others worked late into the evening, Joe Nara strode about -wearing a gun belt with two revolvers poking from its holsters, ready -for trouble. Later Nara and his Wai Wais slept under netting on their -_monterias_, so as to get a good rest. - -In the blockhouse, the other members of the party took turns at guard -duty through the night. At dawn, Jacome awakened Biff, who was scheduled -to take over at that time. From one of the screened windows, Biff saw -the squatty figures of Igo and Ubi emerge from Nara’s _monteria_. They -roused the other Indians, and soon were stealthily moving off among the -trees, to seek a trail to the rapids. - -The next few hours were the longest that Biff had ever experienced. The -others woke up, had breakfast, and strolled about the camp. But the very -air seemed charged with expectancy. It would probably be mid-afternoon, -perhaps even later in the day, before a move came from the other camp—if -a move came at all. - -Mr. Brewster, Hal Whitman, and Jacome were all carrying their rifles, -fully loaded, but that was purely a matter of precaution. - -“Nara’s party can’t have reached the rapids yet,” Mr. Brewster told Biff -and Kamuka. “Even so, they won’t make a move unless Serbot starts out -with his main force. If he sends some men ahead, they may try some -sniping so, naturally, we must be ready. But that will show their hand—” - -A sudden interruption came from the surrounding trees, the blasts of a -dozen guns or more. Mr. Brewster wheeled and fired back from the spot -where he was standing, midway between the blockhouse and the boats. Mr. -Whitman and Jacome were nearer the blockhouse. They turned and fired, -too. - -A bigger volley answered from a wider angle, accompanied by the whine of -bullets that were high, but close. Whitman was shouting from near the -blockhouse: - -“This way! Quick, or you’ll be cut off! Serbot is here with his whole -outfit!” - -Amid new gunbursts, Mr. Brewster made a rapid decision. He pointed the -boys to the shore and told them: - -“Quick! Get to Nara’s _monteria_. Start it down the river, and don’t -stop until you reach Stannart’s yacht!” - -The boys were on their way, and Mr. Brewster was dashing back to the -blockhouse, to join Whitman and Jacome. He made it safely, although he -drew the fire of Serbot’s followers, who were now visible as they came -clambering, shouting, from the surrounding brush. - -But Biff and Kamuka were now beyond the range of immediate gunfire when -they boarded the _monteria_. Then they had the big motor started, and -the heavily loaded boat was plowing its way out to the middle of the -Orinoco. - -When Biff looked back, he saw tiny figures on the shore, but the boat -was now half a mile away, too far for bullets to reach it. - -“Serbot staged a surprise attack of his own,” Biff told Kamuka, who was -with him in the stem. “And Dad had promised Nara that he would get this -_monteria_ down the river. So here we are!” - -“Soon we reach rapids,” was Kamuka’s comment. “I better get ready so we -can work like team.” - -The space under the thatched cabin was stacked with packs as well as -sacks of ore, so Kamuka didn’t try to crawl through it to reach the bow -of the boat. Instead, he scrambled over the low roof, picked up a paddle -from the forward cockpit, and waved back to Biff as he took his -position. - -Soon the white foam of the rapids showed ahead. Biff steered for what -looked like the main channel, and the _monteria_ was swept into a series -of whirlpools that licked the sides of jutting black rocks. The contrast -in color helped Kamuka ward off those obstacles, while Biff did some -fancy piloting to keep to the channel. - -Then, as Biff veered from a new hazard in the shape of a sandbank, he -saw what he had feared most. Human figures rose from the tall grass -beyond the sandy shoal and aimed rifles directly at the swift-moving -boat and the boys who manned it. - -They were Serbot’s reserves, Biff realized, stationed here to block the -flotilla if it came down the rapids, and Biff was sure he saw the -gleaming face of Urubu in the midst of the group. Urubu was finding it -an easy task with only a single _monteria_ coming his way. He waved his -hand as a signal to fire. - -As the rifles barked, Biff gunned the motor, adding enough speed to -carry the boat from the path of fire. But Urubu’s crew was aiming again, -this time at point-blank range. Fortunately their fire never came. The -tall grass stirred behind them, and from it sprang Igo, Ubi, and the -rest of Nara’s Indians. - -The Wai Wais had been stalking Urubu’s riflemen to the edge of the -sandbank. The first blast of gunfire had given away the position of -Urubu’s men. Now, the Wai Wais were engulfing them like a human tidal -wave, while Biff and Kamuka resumed their battle with the rapids, -keeping the big, clumsy boat clear of the rocks and sand. - -Finally, the water subsided, and they were chugging peacefully down the -river past the little settlement of Puerto Carreno and a great jutting -point of sand where the Meta River flowed in from the left to join the -Orinoco. - -Kamuka waved his paddle and pointed ahead. Moored well away from the -channel was a sleek white craft that could only be Mr. Stannart’s yacht, -the _Coronet_. Though small, it had a trim build that marked it -seaworthy, capable of braving the Caribbean, yet also suited to river -travel. - -Smiling men in trim uniforms appeared on deck as Biff maneuvered the -_monteria_ alongside the yacht. The boys made their boat fast and -clambered up a rope ladder to find Mr. Stannart coming from his cabin to -greet them. Biff introduced Kamuka, then started to pour out his story -in one breath: - -“Dad’s upriver in a lot of trouble. Old Joe Nara is somewhere along the -rapids. But we’ve brought the gold ore from the mine, down there in the -boat—” - -Mr. Stannart smilingly interrupted with a wave toward the cabin as he -suggested: - -“Step in there and tell me all about it. I have a friend who would like -to hear it too. You will agree when you meet him—” - -The boys entered the compact cabin, then stopped short in amazement. Mr. -Stannart’s friend was smiling, too, but in a way that was anything but -pleasant. For both Biff and Kamuka had seen that fixed smile before. - -The man who awaited them in the cabin was Nicholas Serbot! - - - - - CHAPTER XX - The Tables Turn - - -Gripped by utter astonishment, Biff could only stare from Serbot to -Stannart. When he found his voice, he blurted out accusingly: - -“You two must have been working together from the very start!” - -“Not quite,” declared Mr. Stannart dryly, “although I must say that Mr. -Serbot and I have continually operated along similar lines. However, it -wasn’t until after your father told the Ajax Corporation about Lew Kirby -and his wonderful mine that I even heard of Nicholas Serbot.” - -“And I,” rejoined Serbot, with his same fixed smile, “had never heard of -the Ajax Mining Corporation.” - -“Despite the fact that your father was impressed by Kirby’s story,” -Stannart told Biff, “Ajax still had to investigate it. Kirby had samples -of gold that might have come from many places, and his map could have -meant nothing. It was necessary to obtain some reports from the upper -region of the Rio Negro. I learned that certain European interests were -checking on the same story.” - -“And I,” added Serbot, “happened to represent some of those interests.” - -“So while the directors of the Ajax Corporation dawdled,” continued -Stannart, “I contacted the competition. I had much to offer that they -needed, as Mr. Serbot will agree.” - -“And I,” said Serbot, “advised them to meet the price, which -included—this.” - -By “this” Serbot referred to the stolen portion of Kirby’s map, which he -spread on the desk in front of him. Biff started to say something, then -caught himself. Gregg Stannart recognized what was in Biff’s mind and -promptly expressed it. - -“I needed a go-between,” Stannart asserted. “Some way to enable Serbot -to use the information I could give him without bringing suspicion on -myself.” - -“So you gave me that letter!” exclaimed Biff. He turned accusingly -toward Serbot. “And you tried to steal it from me on the plane! It was -all arranged beforehand!” - -“All very nicely arranged,” agreed Stannart, “because I wanted to keep -my job with Ajax if the El Dorado story proved to be a hoax.” - -“Since I might have seen the address on the envelope you carried,” -Serbot told Biff, “you and your father guessed that I sent Pepito to -steal your precious map, which was exactly what I wanted. What you -didn’t guess was that Stannart was in on the game. The funniest -part”—for once, Serbot’s smile seemed real—“was that I had a carbon copy -of Stannart’s letter to your father, here in my pocket all the time!” - -Biff swelled with indignation until he happened to glance toward Kamuka. -All this talk had left Kamuka totally unimpressed. In Kamuka’s eyes, -Biff saw only the same appeal that had been present that day when Biff -had pulled the other boy from the quicksand. Biff suddenly realized that -now they both were in something equally deep and probably just as -deadly. Since he couldn’t say anything that would help, Biff said -nothing. - -Stannart turned to Serbot and put the question: - -“What should we do with these boys?” - -“I don’t know,” returned Serbot harshly. “Maybe they should have upset -their boat and drowned, coming down through those rapids. If something -like that had happened—” - -“No, no,” Stannart interrupted. “Your men will have taken care of -Brewster and his party by now. But we still need the boys to help us. -Suppose we take them up the river, as far as the torn portion of your -map—” - -Stannart was leaning forward, pointing to the map with one hand, but he -had his other hand in his pocket, as though gripping a gun. - -“Of course!” exclaimed Serbot, who had one hand in a pocket, too. “Then -they could take us back to where they came from, to this El Dorado that -Nara talked about.” - -Both Stannart and Serbot were glaring hard at Biff as though now it was -his turn to speak. Biff’s throat was dry, for he realized that these two -men, in their desire for gold, would think nothing about snuffing out -his life and Kamuka’s. Somebody had to speak for Biff right then—and -somebody did, from the door of the cabin. - -“Nobody talks about El Dorado,” a crackly voice announced, “except Joe -Nara, the man who owns it.” - -There in the doorway stood old Joe, both his guns drawn from their -holsters, one fixed on Stannart, the other on Serbot. At Nara’s nod, the -two men brought their hands from their pockets empty. They knew the old -man meant business. - -“Pretty smart, both of you,” Nara said. “I never even guessed your game, -Stannart, probably because I never met you before. But having seen you -now, I think I would have known you for a rat from away back. - -“But I figured you out, Serbot. I knew what you were after—that cargo of -mine. So I stayed with them.” Nara gave his head a quick tilt, to smile -at Biff and Kamuka. “Yes, boys, I sent my Wai Wais down to the rapids, -while I stayed in the cabin of my _monteria_. - -“Next thing I knew”—Nara gave a chuckle—“you were bringing me downriver, -and a right good job you were making of it, too. Finally, you hauled up -beside this yacht and went on board. When you didn’t come back, I -reckoned you might be needing old Joe, so I moseyed on board, and here I -am.” - -Still keeping Stannart and Serbot covered with his guns, Nara shifted -his elbow toward his hip pocket to indicate a coil of rope that -projected there. - -“Take that rope,” Nara told the boys, “and tie them up tight. Gag them, -too, with their handkerchiefs. If they don’t have any, use your own. -Make a good job of it. I want them to be here when I send around for -them.” - -Biff and Kamuka followed Nara’s instructions eagerly. They did a good -job with the gags, too, while Nara, brandishing his guns, kept talking -to Stannart and Serbot in an accusing tone. - -“I figured you out before I ever met you,” declared Nara, “because I -knew I’d be meeting up with rats some time, and you just happened to be -it. You figured you’d get rid of me if you could, and even if you -couldn’t you’d jump my claim. After all, who was Joe Nara? Just some -crazy guy who thought he’d found El Dorado. - -“Crazy, yes, but like a fox. I came down the Orinoco more than once to -make sure my claim was registered after each political shakeup in -Venezuela. I didn’t even take any chances on this last trip.” - -Nara paused, then chuckled as he turned to the boys who had finished -tying Stannart and Serbot in their chairs. - -“Remember how I dropped from sight in Puerto Ayacucho?” asked Nara. “Do -you know where I was most of the day? Having lunch with His Excellency, -the governor of the Amazonas Territory, that’s where. I told him some -people were trying to steal my claim. He said he wouldn’t let them get -away with it. - -“After I left his office, I snooped around and happened to be handy when -you ran into trouble with Urubu. I’d finished my business with the -governor. He said if he didn’t hear from me, he’d send some soldiers -downriver to look me up.” - -Nara examined the knots that the boys had tied and gave an approving -nod. He beckoned them out through the cabin door, which he closed behind -him. The yacht’s crew suspected nothing, for they helped Nara and the -boys over the rail and down into their waiting _monteria_. - -As they started up the broad Orinoco, Nara pointed to some boats that -were coming toward them. - -“Government boats,” he chuckled, “bringing those soldiers I spoke -about.” - -When they met the boats, they found the other _monterias_ with them, -manned by Biffs father, Mr. Whitman, and Jacome. The Venezuelan troops -had arrived at the blockhouse during the battle and had helped rout -Serbot’s followers, who were commanded by Pepito. - -In the rapids, they had contacted Nara’s Wai Wais, who had overpowered -and captured Urubu and his crew. Igo and Ubi would be along later, Mr. -Brewster stated, bringing their prisoners with them. - -“But we saw no sign of Serbot,” declared Mr. Brewster. “I think we -should offer a reward for his capture. I’ll talk to Mr. Stannart about -it, when I see him on the yacht.” - -“You better wait, Dad, till we tell you what happened,” Biff advised -soberly. - -Mr. Brewster was shocked when he heard Biff’s story. “I can hardly -believe it!” he exclaimed. “Gregg Stannart, of all men! But now that I -think of it,” he added thoughtfully, “there’s been a piece missing from -the puzzle right along—and Stannart was it!” He shook his head. “I still -can’t believe it.” - -Now Mr. Brewster was more eager than anyone to take Stannart and Serbot -into custody. As they approached the _Coronet_, they noticed excitement -on the deck. Mr. Brewster studied the yacht through his binoculars and -announced: - -“I see Stannart and Serbot, both of them. The crew must have found them -in the cabin and released them.” - -A fast boat containing a squad of Venezuelan soldiers sped ahead to -board the yacht. Sight of the military uniforms must have quenched any -desire for fight in Stannart and Serbot, for suddenly a little motor -launch scooted from the far side of the yacht and bounded through the -choppy waves toward the left bank of the river. - -Only Stannart and Serbot were in the tiny tender. The boat with the -Venezuelan soldiers turned to pursue it, opening rifle fire, but the -fugitives kept on. Then, just as it seemed sure they would be overtaken, -the chase ended. The soldiers, about to fire at close range, suddenly -lowered their rifles. - -“It’s too late,” declared Mr. Brewster glumly. “They can’t be captured -now. They have passed the middle of the river and are across the -international line, in Colombian jurisdiction.” - -The captain of the yacht was astonished when told the reason for -Stannart’s flight. He and his crew had known nothing about Stannart’s -double-dealing. They had supposed that Serbot was simply a friend who -had come on board to meet the owner. They had been puzzled to find the -pair bound and gagged after Nara and the boys had left. - -Stannart had claimed that Nara and the boys had tried to rob him. The -yacht captain had accepted that explanation until Stannart and Serbot -saw the Venezuelan soldiers and suddenly took flight. Then it was plain -that something was wrong. - -Contact was made with Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and from there, -radiograms were relayed to and from New York. Word finally came from the -directors of the Ajax Mining Corporation, stating that they had checked -their accounts and found that Stannart had taken most of the available -funds before starting on his Caribbean yacht trip. - -The Ajax Corporation obtained an order enabling them to take over the -_Coronet_, and the yacht was placed in Mr. Brewster’s charge. They also -authorized Mr. Brewster to complete the transaction with Joe Nara on -whatever terms might be mutually satisfactory. - -That was done on board the _Coronet_, which was still anchored near the -junction of the Meta and the Orinoco. Mr. Brewster set the date when the -Ajax Corporation would take over the mine with a down payment of a -quarter of a million dollars to Joe Nara and a block of El Dorado stock -that would guarantee him a share of all future profits. - -That same day, Joe Nara prepared to start back up the Orinoco with Igo, -Ubi, and the other Wai Wais, who were eager to rejoin their fellow -tribesmen as the guardians of El Dorado. Hal Whitman arranged to go -along to represent the Ajax Company, taking Jacome with him. Kamuka -packed his few belongings, expecting to accompany them. The Indian boy -was saying a reluctant good-by to Biff on the deck of the yacht, when -Mr. Brewster quietly commented: - -“You don’t have to go, Kamuka, if you’d rather come with us.” - -Kamuka’s eyes popped wide with eager surprise. Biff showed the same -feeling, when he exclaimed, “You really mean it, Dad?” - -“I do,” rejoined Mr. Brewster. “Hal Whitman told me he has made plans to -send Kamuka to a new school that is opening in Brasilia, the capital of -Brazil. But Hal can’t possibly get down there for the next few weeks, or -more. So there’s no reason why Kamuka can’t come home with us. Then he -can fly to Brasilia after Mr. Whitman arrives there.” - -Biff turned and clapped Kamuka on the shoulder. - -“Will we have fun, Kamuka! First, the yacht will take us out into the -Atlantic Ocean—” - -“I have heard of it,” put in Kamuka. “They say it is bigger than a -thousand Amazons.” - -“And you’ll see New York, which is more wonderful than any El Dorado!” - -It was hard to tell which boy felt the greater thrill. Each was glad to -continue a companionship in which they had shared so many adventures, -forming the bonds of a friendship that would last always. - -Mr. Brewster was the most pleased of all. He stood at the stem of the -yacht with Biff and Kamuka, while they were churning their way down the -broad Orinoco toward Ciudad Bolivar, the largest port on the river. It -was then that Biff turned to his father and said, very seriously: - -“Dad, I can’t see how Stannart and Serbot missed out. When they used me -as a go-between, they had everything so easy.” - -“So easy, Biff?” - -“Yes. I must have been a big handicap to the safari. I’d never even seen -a jungle, let alone run into the sort of dangers we found there.” - -“But you learned to meet those dangers, and more.” - -“Well, yes. I certainly did learn some things.” - -“And so did the rest of us,” declared Mr. Brewster. “Our enemies put us -in spots where we had to pull one another out. That was their big -mistake. The situations that we overcame early sharpened us for the -problems we met later. That’s why we won out.” - -As Biff nodded slowly, his father added with a smile: - -“Think back, Biff, and you’ll see how it adds up.” - -Biff gazed back at the wide Orinoco, tapering to the dim, distant scenes -of those final adventures, and he knew that his dad was right. - - - _A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure_ - BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY - - By ANDY ADAMS - -“Guard this letter as you would your life!” - -With these words ringing in his ears, Biff Brewster boards the -Brazil-bound plane to join his father on a safari to the headwaters of -the Amazon River—a safari that, to Biff’s amazement, becomes a deadly -contest for fabulous riches. - -From the beginning, Biff, his father, Biffs friend Kamuka, and the rest -of the party find their path menaced by an enemy who never reveals -himself. Is it Nicholas Serbot, the suave stranger whom Biff first meets -on the plane? Or is it Joe Nara, the eccentric old prospector, the only -white man alive who knows the route to the almost legendary El Dorado -gold mine? - -Biff and Kamuka find their days crowded with the hazards and thrills of -jungle travel as they trek through a wilderness echoing with the threat -of “Macu”—the dreaded head-hunters. And waiting for them at the end of -the trail are a shock and a surprise beyond their wildest dreams. - -Young readers will love this lively, adventure-filled story with its -combination of realism and fantastic mystery. Here is the first exciting -book in a brand-new series for boys. Other Biff Brewster stories are -also available at your booksellers. - - - _NEW!_ BIFF BREWSTER - Mystery Adventures - - By ANDY ADAMS - - [Illustration: Biff Brewster] - -Biff Brewster, sixteen, is a tall, strongly built blond youth who lives -In Indianapolis, Indiana, with his parents and the eleven-year-old -twins, Ted and Monica. Because his mother and father believe that travel -is as important to education as formal schooling, Biff is encouraged to -travel to various countries during the vacation months. His experiences -in these lands, and the young people he meets there, form the basis of a -new series for adventure-loving readers. In every journey there is a -strong element of mystery, usually a direct result of conditions -peculiar to the region in which he is traveling. Thus, in addition to -adventure, these books impart carefully researched information about -foreign countries. - -_Start reading one today_— - - (1) BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY - (2) MYSTERY OF THE CHINESE RING - (3) HAWAIIAN SEA HUNT MYSTERY - (4) MYSTERY OF THE MEXICAN TREASURE - (5) AFRICAN IVORY MYSTERY - (6) ALASKA GHOST GLACIER MYSTERY - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, Inc. Publisher - New York 10, N. Y. - - [Illustration: Endpapers] - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery, by Andy Adams - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY *** - -***** This file should be named 51538-0.txt or 51538-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/5/3/51538/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } - .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; } - .toc dt.jr { font-style:normal; } - .toc dt a span.cn, .toc dt span.cn, dt span.cn { width:3.5em; text-align:right; margin-right:.7em; float:left; } - dt .large {font-weight:bold; } - div.bcat dl dd { margin-left:4em; max-width:21em; } - div.bcat dl dt { text-indent:-2em; margin-left:2em; } - -.clear { clear:both; } -.htab { margin-left:8em; } - /* MAXWIDTH FOR JUVENILE BOOKS */ - p, blockquote, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre { text-align:justify; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre.internal dl { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.csmaller { max-width:38em; } - p.csmallest { max-width:40em; } - blockquote { max-width:23em; } - - - div.verse { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; } -/* book advertisements */ - p.bkad {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.bkpr {font-size:90%; } - p.bkrv { } - dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } - - dl.int { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } - dl.int dt {margin-left:0em; } - dl.int dd {margin-left:2em; } -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery, by Andy Adams - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery - A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure - -Author: Andy Adams - -Release Date: March 23, 2016 [EBook #51538] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="img"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery" width="600" height="743" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p000.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="684" /> -<p class="caption">“<i>Biff, come this way! Quick!</i>”</p> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<p class="center"><span class="ss">A BIFF BREWSTER -<br />MYSTERY ADVENTURE</span></p> -<h1>BRAZILIAN -<br />GOLD MINE -<br />MYSTERY</h1> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/logo.jpg" alt="Compass" width="300" height="308" /> -</div> -<p class="center"><span class="ss">By ANDY ADAMS</span></p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="ss">GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS -<br />NEW YORK</span></p> -</div> -<p class="center small">© GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1960</p> -<p class="center small">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -<br />MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> -<h2>Contents</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt class="jr"><span class="jl"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span></span> <span class="small">PAGE</span></dt> -<dt><span class="cn">I </span><a href="#c1">Up the Amazon</a> 1</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">II </span><a href="#c2">The Clutching Hand</a> 8</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">III </span><a href="#c3">The Hidden Boathouse</a> 16</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IV </span><a href="#c4">The Safari Starts</a> 25</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">V </span><a href="#c5">The Spotted Terror</a> 40</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VI </span><a href="#c6">Into the Quicksand</a> 50</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VII </span><a href="#c7">The Deadly Coils</a> 58</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VIII </span><a href="#c8">A Traitor Strikes</a> 67</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IX </span><a href="#c9">The Shrunken Heads</a> 76</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">X </span><a href="#c10">Trapped by the Head-Hunters</a> 85</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XI </span><a href="#c11">A Sudden Surprise</a> 95</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XII </span><a href="#c12">Between Two Fires</a> 103</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIII </span><a href="#c13">The River of Death</a> 110</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIV </span><a href="#c14">The Devil’s Gateway</a> 119</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XV </span><a href="#c15">Fabulous El Dorado</a> 128</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVI </span><a href="#c16">Surrounded!</a> 137</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVII </span><a href="#c17">The Man of Gold</a> 147</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVIII </span><a href="#c18">Urubu Again</a> 156</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIX </span><a href="#c19">Partners in Crime</a> 164</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XX </span><a href="#c20">The Tables Turn</a> 173</dt> -</dl> -<h1 title=""><span class="ss">BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY</span></h1> -<div class="pb" id="Page_1">1</div> -<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER I</span> -<br />Up the Amazon</h2> -<p>“Guard this letter as you would your life!”</p> -<p>Mr. Stannart spoke in a low, tense tone as he -glanced around the waiting room at Idlewild Airport. -Biff Brewster felt a sudden surge of excitement when -he took the envelope that the gray-haired man handed -him.</p> -<p>The envelope was tightly sealed, and it was addressed -to Biff’s father, Thomas Brewster, at the Hotel -Jacares in Manaus, Brazil. In the upper corner -was the return address of the Ajax Mining Corporation -in New York City. Gregg Stannart was the president -of the company, and Mr. Brewster was its chief -field engineer.</p> -<p>“Since you are flying to Brazil to join your father,” -Mr. Stannart continued, “I decided to have you deliver -this letter personally, rather than take the risk of -its falling into the wrong hands.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_2">2</div> -<p>He paused, gave Biff a keen, steady glance, and -asked, “Did your father tell you why he was going to -the headwaters of the Amazon River?”</p> -<p>“He wrote that he was going on a jungle safari,” -replied Biff, “and he invited me to fly to Brazil and -join him, as a birthday present.”</p> -<p>Biff was thinking back to his birthday party at the -Brewster home in Indianapolis less than a week ago. -His mother had brought in a cake with sixteen lighted -candles that Biff had blown out with a single puff, to -the delight of the twins, Ted and Monica, who were -five years younger than Biff. But the big surprise was -when Biff’s mother had given him the birthday letter -from his dad.</p> -<p>Next had come the excitement of packing, when it -dawned on Biff that nearly all his birthday presents -were clothes and equipment he could use on a tropical -trip. Then Biff had flown to New York where Mr. -Stannart had met him to put him on the plane for -Brazil.</p> -<p>“Your father is bound on a highly important and -secret mission for our company,” Mr. Stannart confided -now. “He is going far up the Rio Negro, which -joins the Amazon just below the city of Manaus. The -party <i>supposedly</i> will be looking for sites for rubber -plantations.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_3">3</div> -<p>Mr. Stannart paused, then said solemnly, “Your -father will be looking for gold—a fabulous gold mine -about which we have secret information. But here in -New York,” he went on, “we have just discovered -that there has been a leak in that information. We -have learned that certain people would do anything to -stop your father and get to the mine first. Even now, -he may be in danger.”</p> -<p>“But Dad didn’t say anything about it—”</p> -<p>“Because he doesn’t know about it. He may change -his mind about letting you accompany him after you -give him this letter. It will tell him all he needs to -know.”</p> -<p>Biff put the letter deep down into his coat pocket. -Mr. Stannart nodded approvingly.</p> -<p>“Be careful what you say to strangers,” he warned -Biff, “and above all, guard that letter!”</p> -<p>It was nearly time for the departure of Biff’s plane. -Mr. Stannart explained that it would take him to -Belem, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Para, -not far from the mouth of the Amazon. There, Biff -would change to a plane for Manaus, a thousand miles -up the great river.</p> -<p>Mr. Stannart studied the other passengers who were -waiting to board the plane. He said to Biff in parting, -in a low but confident tone:</p> -<p>“You won’t have any trouble on this flight. But be -careful after you leave Belem!”</p> -<p>The long trip south did prove uneventful. During -daylight, the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean, and -darkness had settled when it reached the coast of Brazil. -Biff landed in Belem at dawn, so it wasn’t until -he had changed to the plane for Manaus that he gained -his first view of the Brazilian jungle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_4">4</div> -<p>He saw it from a seat beside the window as the -plane climbed above Belem; a vast, solid mass of billowing -green that looked ready to swallow the city -that spread below. Then the jungle ended, and the -plane was flying over a huge expanse of brownish -water streaked with waves of white. This was the -Amazon River, stretching as far as the eye could see.</p> -<p>A smooth voice purred from beside Biff’s shoulder:</p> -<p>“It looks more like an ocean than a river, doesn’t -it?”</p> -<p>Biff turned to meet the gaze of the smiling man -sitting beside him whose eyes looked sharp even -through his dark-green glasses. The large lenses gave -an olive hue to the sleek, oval face that narrowed to a -pointed chin.</p> -<p>“<i>O Rio Mar</i>,” the smiling man continued. “That is -what Brazilians call the Amazon. It means ‘The River -Sea’ in Portuguese. Do you understand the language?”</p> -<p>“A little,” replied Biff, “but I know Spanish better.” -He was about to add that he had learned both -from his father. Then, remembering Mr. Stannart’s -warning to be careful when he talked to strangers, -Biff stated simply but truthfully:</p> -<p>“I have been studying Spanish in school.”</p> -<p>“You will need to speak Portuguese,” the man declared, -“if you are stopping off anywhere between -Belem and Manaus.” He paused inquiringly. Then, -getting no response, he added, “If you go farther up -the Amazon or any of its tributaries, you will need to -know the dialects of Indian tribes as well.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_5">5</div> -<p>The stranger’s easy, persuasive tone almost caused -Biff to remark that he was going on beyond Manaus. -But he caught himself in time and said nothing.</p> -<p>“You may have to talk fast, too,” Biff’s fellow passenger -continued. “Those tribes are often dangerous. -You are sure to find head-hunters among them.”</p> -<p>This time, Biff asked a question.</p> -<p>“Have you been among the head-hunters, sir?”</p> -<p>The stranger’s smile widened. “My name is Serbot, -Nicholas Serbot. And yours?”</p> -<p>“Bruce Brewster. My friends call me Biff.”</p> -<p>Nicholas Serbot inclined his head politely. “No, I -have never been among the head-hunters, Biff. I come -to Manaus occasionally to do business for some European -concerns that I represent. Mostly in rubber.”</p> -<p>“My dad is in Manaus,” Biff volunteered. “I’m -meeting him there.”</p> -<p>“Perhaps he will take you on a jungle safari. They -organize such trips in Manaus.”</p> -<p>“That sounds great!” exclaimed Biff. “I’ll mention -it to Dad!”</p> -<p>“Tell him to inquire at the Hotel Amazonas,” suggested -Serbot. “Meanwhile”—he leaned toward Biff -as he spoke—“you may find the scene below quite interesting.”</p> -<p>They had reached the head of the Para River, the -principal mouth of the Amazon, sixty miles above -Belem. The plane was thrumming over a gigantic -carpet of thickly tufted green, furrowed by a maze -of irregular streams.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_6">6</div> -<p>“The region of the Thousand Islands,” Serbot explained. -“Those channels that twist through the solid -jungle are called the Narrows. They come from the -main course of the Amazon, and most of them are -deep enough to be navigable.”</p> -<p>Below, Biff saw an ocean-going freighter working -up through a watery passage. It looked like a toy boat -from this altitude, and occasionally it was swallowed -by the thick foliage that jutted over the channel, only -to emerge from the green arcade.</p> -<p>Soon the boat was far behind, and Biff watched the -narrow channels widen and merge into a limitless, -white-capped sea—the great Amazon itself. Serbot’s -purring voice, and the steady drone of the plane’s -motors had a lulling effect. Biff’s eyes closed to avoid -the glare of the tropical sun; soon he was asleep. He -dreamed that he was back at Idlewild, with Mr. Stannart’s -voice repeating:</p> -<p>“Guard this letter as you would your life! Guard -this letter....”</p> -<p>In the dream, invisible fingers seemed to be plucking -the precious envelope, drawing it up and out of -Biff’s pocket. With a sudden start, Biff awoke and -shot his own hand to his pocket, where it met the -crinkle of paper.</p> -<p>The dream had been realistic in one respect. As he -dozed, Biff must have kept slumping down into his -seat, causing the envelope to work upward every time -he hunched his shoulders. A few inches more and it -would have fallen from his pocket.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_7">7</div> -<p>Or was that the answer? What if those phantom -fingers had been real instead of mere figments of a -dream!</p> -<p>As he thrust the envelope far down into his inside -pocket and buttoned his coat for safer keeping, Biff -Brewster shot a suspicious glance toward his companion -of the plane trip, the smooth-spoken man who -called himself Nicholas Serbot.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_8">8</div> -<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER II</span> -<br />The Clutching Hand</h2> -<p>Biff was wide awake now, the drone of the plane -growing louder in his ears. With it, his suspicions of -Serbot faded. The smiling man was leaning back in his -seat, his own eyes closed as if in sleep. His hands were -folded loosely across his stomach.</p> -<p>For the first time, Biff saw why Serbot wore that -constant smile. The left side of his mouth was curled -to match the right, which was drawn upward by a -scar that began at the corner of his lips and became increasingly -jagged until it ended beside his right eyebrow.</p> -<p>Before, the large rims and green tint of the sun -glasses had helped to hide the scar; but Serbot had removed -them before he went to sleep. Now, as Biff -studied him, Serbot opened his eyes slowly and gave -Biff a sleepy glance. Realizing that Biff had observed -the scar, Serbot raised his right hand and traced it -lightly with his forefinger.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<p>“A decoration I received during World War Two,” -he commented, “while I was working with the French -Underground. A Nazi spy tried to give me this—” -Graphically, Serbot swept his hand across his throat—“but -I managed to save my neck. I received this instead.”</p> -<p>Serbot clenched his left fist as though it contained -a weapon. He grabbed his left wrist with his right -hand and shook his head.</p> -<p>“If anyone attacks you with a knife or gun, don’t -try to stop him that way,” he said. “It won’t work -fast enough, as I found out. Hit his wrist like this”—Serbot -opened his right hand, bent it backward, -and drove it against his left wrist—“with the heel of -your hand, upward and outward. Try it.”</p> -<p>Biff practiced the action a few times and apparently -won Serbot’s approval, for the smiling man added:</p> -<p>“That not only will stop him, it will jar the weapon -from his grasp, enabling you to snatch it all in the -same move.”</p> -<p>Serbot demonstrated that, too. Then, noting that -some of the other passengers were beginning to look -their way, Serbot changed the subject abruptly. Leaning -toward Biff, he began pointing out more sights -from the window, as the plane followed the north -bank of the river.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div> -<p>There, the jungle had opened into widespread grazing -lands, studded by a range of low, flat-topped -mountains. Perched on one summit was a little town -that Serbot said was called Monte Alegre. Then they -were far out over the river again, and the Amazon -once more resembled a choppy, yellow sea, until the -order came to “Fasten safety belts!” The plane was -coming to a landing at Santarém on the south bank.</p> -<p>Serbot pointed out to Biff the wide Tapajóz River -which disgorged a huge flood into the turbulent Amazon, -splotching the yellow tide with long streaks of -green that looked like wash from the jungle and shone -with emerald brilliance in the noonday sun.</p> -<p>The plane roared off again, and at Obidos, eighty -miles farther upstream, the Amazon narrowed to a -single deep channel only a mile and a quarter wide -with the walls of solid forests fringing both bluffs. -Later, the river widened again, and Serbot indicated -small settlements built on high stilts in clearings back -from the bank.</p> -<p>“Those show you how high the river rises,” Serbot -told Biff. “Often it overflows its banks for many miles -on both sides. Some of the native villages are so far off -in the jungle that they can only be reached when the -Amazon is in flood.”</p> -<p>Between pointing out these interesting scenes, Serbot -talked occasionally of his war experiences, and -Biff, wide awake and alert ever since his morning nap, -was enjoying the trip more and more. He realized -that he was gaining a slight preview of the Brazilian -jungle that might prove helpful when he and his -father set out on the safari that was actually to be a -gold hunt. But he was careful to avoid answering any -direct questions that Serbot put to him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<p>It was late afternoon when Serbot indicated a great, -dark swirl of water that merged with the muddy -Amazon, marking the mouth of another huge tributary.</p> -<p>“The black water of the Rio Negro,” defined Serbot. -“From here it is only ten miles up to Manaus.”</p> -<p>Soon, the plane landed at the Manaus airport, and a -few minutes later, Biff was being welcomed by his -father, a tall, rugged man with dark hair and tanned, -square-jawed face, an older counterpart of Biff himself, -except for the boy’s blond hair. But when Biff -looked around for Mr. Serbot, hoping to introduce -him to Mr. Brewster, he found to his surprise that his -companion of the plane trip had already gone.</p> -<p>Biff and his dad talked about the family and everything -at home while they were picking up Biff’s luggage. -Mr. Brewster then led the way to a jeep that he -had parked outside the airport. Before they started -their drive into the city, Biff drew the sealed envelope -from his pocket and handed it to his father with the -comment:</p> -<p>“Dad, this is from Mr. Stannart. He told me to -guard it carefully, that it is very important.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster tore open the envelope, and Biff -watched his expression change as he read the letter. -His lips set tightly above his firm jaw, Mr. Brewster -thrust the letter into his own pocket; then he started -the jeep. Keeping a sharp eye along the rough road, -he asked:</p> -<p>“Did Mr. Stannart mention what was in the letter?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<p>“In a way, he did,” rejoined Biff. “He said we were -supposed to be going with a rubber-hunting expedition, -but that actually we would be looking for -gold—”</p> -<p>“You didn’t mention that to anyone, did you?” interrupted -Mr. Brewster anxiously. “I mean, while -you were on the plane?”</p> -<p>“I only talked to a man named Mr. Serbot,” returned -Biff, “and I even played dumb when he suggested -that you take me on a safari. He said we could -make arrangements at the Hotel Amazonas.”</p> -<p>Biff saw his father’s taut expression change to one -of relief. Mr. Brewster spurted the jeep over a watery -stretch of road with the comment:</p> -<p>“These jeeps have to be real puddle jumpers. You -never know how deep some of the mud holes are.”</p> -<p>The road improved as they swung into the city. It -was then that Mr. Brewster asked:</p> -<p>“Did Mr. Stannart tell you that there might be serious -danger, now that other persons are after the -mine?”</p> -<p>“Yes, he said you must be warned.”</p> -<p>“I suppose that is why he let you come,” mused Mr. -Brewster. “Frankly, I feel he made a mistake, and I -should send you straight home. However, if we keep -far enough ahead of trouble, it may not catch up with -us.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster ended with a reassuring smile.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<p>“I’ll tell you the story from the start,” he said. -“During World War Two, two prospectors, Lew -Kirby and Joe Nara, gave up hunting gold and diamonds -down in the state of Minas Geraes and came up -the Amazon to help gather rubber. They put their -profits into food and supplies and kept going north to -look for a fabled land of gold—a land called El Dorado.”</p> -<p>“El Dorado! We learned about him in American -History!” Biff exclaimed. “It sounded crazier than -science fiction. Wasn’t El Dorado supposed to be a -king who came out of a lake with his body all covered -with gold?”</p> -<p>“Originally, yes,” returned Mr. Brewster. “Then -the story became a legend of a golden city and finally -a golden land. The Spaniards looked for it, and so did -Sir Walter Raleigh.”</p> -<p>“But nobody ever found it!”</p> -<p>“Nobody except Lew Kirby and Joe Nara.”</p> -<p>Sure that his father was joking, Biff expected a -chuckle to follow. But Mr. Brewster was very serious.</p> -<p>“They uncovered a fabulous Inca mine,” resumed -Mr. Brewster. “It was too far and too difficult to -bring the gold down the Amazon. So they worked -their way to the Orinoco River, which brought them -out through Venezuela.</p> -<p>“Kirby sent Nara back to the mine and then returned -to Minas Geraes, hoping to find someone to -help finance the claim. But people either didn’t believe -his story, or they were the sort he wouldn’t trust. -But he trusted me and I believed him—when he gave -me these.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster brought out of his pocket some small -samples of ore that fairly glistened with gold. Biff had -learned enough regarding mining and minerals from -his dad to recognize the value of these specimens. In -an awed tone Biff asked:</p> -<p>“Is there much of this in the mine, Dad?”</p> -<p>“A whole mountain full,” replied Mr. Brewster, -“from what Lew Kirby told me—before he died.”</p> -<p>The jeep was rolling smoothly now along a boulevard -lined with fig trees, all neatly trimmed to a -mushroom shape. But the story of the fabled gold -mine interested Biff more than the sights of Manaus.</p> -<p>“Lew gave me a map,” continued Mr. Brewster, -“showing the route that he followed to reach the -headwaters of the Orinoco, though it does not give -the exact location of the mine. To learn that, we must -find Joe Nara. I hope that no one else finds him -first.”</p> -<p>“Like the persons mentioned in Mr. Stannart’s letter?”</p> -<p>“That’s right, Biff. Despite Mr. Stannart’s constant -urging, the directors of the Ajax Corporation have -been painfully slow in providing funds for our trip. -Meanwhile, Mr. Stannart says in his letter, certain -foreign interests have learned of the mine and have -moved into the picture. They may be the sort who -will stop at nothing to get that mine!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<p>Before Biff could ask more questions, the jeep -pulled up beside a modest, low-built structure that -bore the sign: HOTEL JACARES. Looking about, -Biff was surprised to see that it was growing dark and -that the street lamps were already aglow.</p> -<p>“Night falls swiftly here in the tropics,” explained -Mr. Brewster, as they went through the hotel lobby -and up the stairs to the second floor. “That is why I -lost no time coming from the airport. The driving is -difficult after dark.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster unlocked the door of his room, -turned on the light, then halted in amazement. The -place was strewn with clothes from his suitcases. -Sheets had been ripped from beds and mattresses cut -open. Papers were scattered everywhere.</p> -<p>In a corner was a framed mirror hanging above a -washstand. Mr. Brewster hurried over, took down -the mirror, and laid it on a table beside a closet door. -He pried away the backing of the mirror and brought -out a sheet of paper that had been hidden there.</p> -<p>“This is what they were after!” he exclaimed. “The -one thing they couldn’t find! Kirby’s map!”</p> -<p>As Mr. Brewster spoke, the closet door was opening -slowly, but it was behind his shoulder and -he didn’t see it. From the crack slid a long, bare human -arm, and a hand reached for the prize that Mr. -Brewster flourished. Frantically, Biff shouted:</p> -<p>“Dad! Look out!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER III</span> -<br />The Hidden Boathouse</h2> -<p>Mr. Brewster swung about at Biff’s warning, an -instant too late. The hand had already clutched the -map and was snatching it from his grasp. The map -tore apart, leaving only a corner in Mr. Brewster’s -hand.</p> -<p>Quickly, Biff’s father dove for the closet door, intending -to slam it and trap the occupant, map and all. -But the man in the closet moved swiftly, too. He -flung the door wide, and its edge swept past Mr. -Brewster’s fingers as the man dived under his arm. -Biff, crouched low, was about to stop the intruder -with a football tackle when Mr. Brewster overtook -the fugitive, applied a powerful arm-hold, and -brought him full about.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<p>Biff saw that the struggling man’s face was masked -behind a large, knotted bandanna handkerchief, and -that his rough, baggy clothes disguised his height and -weight. As he twisted in Mr. Brewster’s grasp, the -man managed to thrust his hand into the folds of his -jacket and whip out a revolver. Coming about, he -aimed point-blank at Mr. Brewster.</p> -<p>Biff’s father dropped away a split second before -the revolver barked, its muzzle tonguing flame inches -above his head. Then, before the masked man could -fire again, Mr. Brewster wheeled about, grabbed a -small table with both hands, and flung it bodily at -his masked foe.</p> -<p>The man darted out of the way, only to find Biff -blocking his escape. Biff heard a snarl from behind -the bandanna, and saw the glint of the gun barrel as -the man swung the weapon with a savage, downward -stroke. Instinctively, Biff shot his own hand upward, -using the trick that Serbot had shown him on the -plane that very day.</p> -<p>The heel of Biff’s hand caught the man’s wrist, -driving it outward. The impact jolted the gun from -his hand, but the weapon scaled toward the side of the -room and clattered near the bottom of the wall, where -Mr. Brewster sprang across and scooped it from the -floor, practically on the rebound.</p> -<p>The masked man hadn’t tried to retrieve the gun. -Instead, he dashed through the doorway to the hall, -still clutching the stolen map. Biff raced after him, -with Mr. Brewster close behind. They might have -overtaken the fugitive if he had gone down the stairway -to the lobby, but instead he chose a shorter route -to a large open window at the other end of the hall. -There, he leaped a low railing, carrying a loose screen -with him. When Biff reached the window and looked -down into the dark, the man had vanished in the thick -mesh of tropical foliage that had broken his fall.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> -<p>“No use trying to go after him,” decided Mr. -Brewster ruefully. “We don’t even know the direction -he has taken. The hotel clerk will have heard the shot. -We’ll let him report the incident to the police. They’ll -figure it was just a sneak thief.”</p> -<p>“But what about the map?” Biff inquired anxiously. -“How will you find the route to the Orinoco without -it?”</p> -<p>“I still have the corner that shows the mine itself,” -declared Mr. Brewster, holding it for Biff to see. “And -Joe Nara would have to guide us there anyway.”</p> -<p>Biff’s father frowned. “We <i>may</i> have trouble getting -through to the Orinoco, if someone tries to block -our way. But from there on, it should be smooth sailing. -Mr. Stannart says in his letter that he will bring -his yacht to meet us on our way back, and will sign -the agreement with Nara, then and there.”</p> -<p>Returning to their room, Biff and his father met the -manager of the hotel hastening up the stairs. Mr. -Brewster told him briefly that they had surprised a -sneak thief in their room, and handed over the intruder’s -revolver. With profuse apologies, the manager departed -after Mr. Brewster refused his offer to have the -room put in order.</p> -<p>When they were alone, Biff’s father said, “It was -neat, the way you disarmed that fellow. Where did -you learn that trick?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<p>“From Mr. Serbot,” replied Biff, “the man I met on -the plane coming from Belem.”</p> -<p>While they were repacking Mr. Brewster’s bags and -clearing up the room, Biff told his father about the -things they had discussed on the plane. Mr. Brewster -listened intently, then asked:</p> -<p>“Did you tell Serbot that I was stopping at this -hotel?”</p> -<p>“Positively not,” returned Biff. “He couldn’t possibly -have learned it—unless—”</p> -<p>“Unless what?”</p> -<p>“Unless he saw the envelope,” exclaimed Biff in a -hollow tone. “It nearly worked out of my pocket -while I was asleep. Mr. Serbot <i>might</i> have drawn it -out that far. When I looked at him, though, he was -asleep, with his hands folded.”</p> -<p>“Playing innocent, perhaps. Did he seem to make a -habit of folding his hands?”</p> -<p>“No, that was the only time I saw them folded. -Dad”—Biff’s tone became worried—“do you think -Mr. Serbot read the address on the envelope and -phoned someone from the airport, and told them to -come up here?”</p> -<p>“I wouldn’t be surprised,” his father asserted grimly. -“The envelope has the return address of the Ajax -Mining Corporation, and that would identify us to -anyone who is trying to beat us to the El Dorado -mine. But let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster had finished packing his bags. He -picked them up and nodded for Biff to bring his, too.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>“We’ll send these out to the airport,” Mr. Brewster -declared. “There’s a plane going up the Rio Negro -at dawn, and our luggage can go on it. We may take -that plane, or perhaps a later one. We’ll see.”</p> -<p>They made arrangements with the hotel porter to -handle the baggage. After that, Mr. Brewster decided -that they should go out for dinner so Biff could see the -city. Once on the lighted streets of Manaus, Biff realized -how futile it would be to look for the baggily -clad man who had stolen the map. Dozens of workmen -who passed them were dressed in similar attire, -even to a bandanna worn as a neckerchief.</p> -<p>The gay life of the tropical city impressed Biff. -There were brilliantly lighted downtown cafés, and -Mr. Brewster chose one where they were served half -a dozen courses of tasty, highly seasoned food, finishing -with ice cream that Biff thought was the best -he had ever eaten. He had just swallowed the last -spoonful when he suddenly exclaimed:</p> -<p>“Look, Dad! Those two men sitting at that table -in the corner! One of them is Mr. Serbot!”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster had no difficulty in picking out Serbot -from Biff’s earlier description, though the scar on -the smiling man’s cheek was scarcely visible in the -soft light of the café. Serbot’s companion was shorter -and chunkier, with a broad face, quick, narrow eyes, -and straight lips.</p> -<p>“Introduce me on the way out,” Mr. Brewster told -Biff. “I would like to size up that pair.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<p>A few minutes later, Biff’s father was shaking hands -with Serbot, who immediately introduced his stocky -companion.</p> -<p>“This is Senhor Armandeo,” stated Serbot. “Pepito -Armandeo, known as Grande Pepito, or Big Pepito, -as you would call him in English. He is a famous -wrestler.” Smoothly, Serbot changed the subject. -“You have a very intelligent son, Senhor Brewster. I -enjoyed my trip with him. You are interested in rubber, -Senhor?”</p> -<p>“What else,” asked Mr. Brewster, “would bring me -to Manaus?”</p> -<p>Serbot’s response was a noticeable increase of his -perpetual smile. He bowed as he made the parting -comment:</p> -<p>“Perhaps we have mutual interests, Senhor.”</p> -<p>Outside the café, Mr. Brewster spoke reflectively.</p> -<p>“Perhaps Serbot and I do have mutual interests,” he -said. “In something bigger than rubber. Something -like gold.”</p> -<p>They climbed into the jeep, and Mr. Brewster -drove past the Amazonas Theater, the magnificent -opera house that had been built when Manaus was a -boom town in the jungle. Mr. Brewster mentioned -that to Biff as they went by; but Biff realized that his -father was thinking of something else. Finally, he -said:</p> -<p>“I am not surprised that you suspected Serbot. He -strikes me as being very shrewd. I am doubtful of his -friend, Big Pepito, too.”</p> -<p>“Then maybe Serbot sent Pepito to steal the map!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>“Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly, Biff.” Mr. -Brewster smiled as he spoke. “I still can’t understand -how Serbot could have learned so much. Nobody -knew my plans except Mr. Stannart.”</p> -<p>“What about the directors of the Ajax Company, -Dad?”</p> -<p>“Once they agreed, they gave Stannart full say. Our -dealings were confidential. Stannart sent me funds to -buy safari equipment which I shipped here to Manaus -ahead of me.”</p> -<p>“Mr. Serbot talked about safaris on the plane -trip.”</p> -<p>“So you told me, Biff.” Mr. Brewster frowned. -“I’m beginning to think that somebody found out -about our plans here in Manaus. Pepito, for instance, -could have learned of the safari shipments and sent -word to Serbot. But Hal Whitman should have suspected -something and informed me.”</p> -<p>“Hal Whitman? Who is he, Dad?”</p> -<p>“The man who received the shipments here. He assembled -them secretly in a boathouse a few miles up -the river. Later, he loaded all the supplies and took -them far up the river to an old landing above Santa -Isabel. He is waiting there for us to join him.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster halted the car at an intersection and -pondered for a few moments. Then he said:</p> -<p>“Somebody could have snooped around that boathouse -after Whitman left. They might have learned -where the shipments came from and perhaps gained -some link between Whitman and myself. If we go out -there, we might pick up some clue ourselves. It’s -worth a try.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster headed for the outskirts of the city. -The road became rougher, and he was handling the -jeep in its best puddle-jumping style as he added:</p> -<p>“Maybe some spies are still around the boathouse, -trying to learn what else they can. In that case, we -can surprise them. If the boathouse is empty, we can -wait inside it and see if anyone shows up later.”</p> -<p>As the jeep swung beneath an arch of trees, Biff -was startled by what looked like human figures jumping -from bough to bough in the glow of the moonlight. -Mr. Brewster laughed.</p> -<p>“Just monkeys. Don’t let them worry you. There -is the boathouse. You can see our headlights reflected -in its windows.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster cut off the headlights as he spoke, -but oddly, the reflection persisted for a few moments -more. Biff thought it was his imagination, but his father -decided otherwise.</p> -<p>“Someone is moving around inside with a flashlight,” -he whispered. “The boathouse is on pontoons -to allow for the rise and fall of the river. If we reach -the gangplank first, we can trap them before they -come ashore.”</p> -<p>Silently Biff and his father slipped out of the jeep -and crept forward beneath overhanging boughs that -Biff could hear creak above him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> -<p>This time, he was thinking about people in the boathouse, -not monkeys in the trees. He was watching for -a flashlight instead of looking up into the moonlight. -That proved to be a bad mistake.</p> -<p>Two living human figures dropped from the -branches like massive rubber balls, one taking Biff as -a target, the other landing squarely on Mr. Brewster. -In their hands, these silent, shadowy attackers carried -thin ropes that they looped around the necks of their -victims as they flattened them.</p> -<p>Biff heard his father give a short, gurgling cry. -Then Biff was gasping as the cord tightened around -his own neck. Next, his captor clapped a cloth to his -face, and Biff was stifled by a strong, pungent odor -that completely overpowered him. His head seemed -to burst with stabs of flashing light that turned to utter -blackness as his senses left him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER IV</span> -<br />The Safari Starts</h2> -<p><i>Thrumm—thrumm—thrumm—thrumm—</i></p> -<p>As Biff awakened, the steady sound made him think -that he was back on the plane above the Amazon. He -opened his eyes expecting to see the yellow sea far -below.</p> -<p>Instead, he saw black water streaming past the side -of a boat, churning white as it scudded back into the -distance. When he turned his head, he saw his father -beside him.</p> -<p>They were propped against some boxes near the -front of a long cabin cruiser, which had a permanent -top stretched like a canopy over its large, open cockpit, -making it ideal for tropical travel. But there was -nothing ideal about Biff’s present plight.</p> -<p>Biff’s hands were bound in back of him by a rough -cord that chafed his wrists. His ankles, too, were -tightly tied. At a glance, Biff saw that his father was -in a similar situation. The thin, tough rope around Mr. -Brewster’s ankles looked like a tropical vine.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<p>Biff tried to speak, but he found his lips too dry, his -throat too parched. He caught a warning headshake -from his father, and following the direction of Mr. -Brewster’s gaze, Biff saw two chunky men, clad in -baggy, sleeveless shirts and old khaki trousers cut off -at the knees.</p> -<p>The pair were standing guard like patient watchdogs, -looking for any move from the captives. They -had black, straight hair and coppery skin; those features, -plus their stony, immobile expressions marked -them as Indians from the headwaters of the river, -which, from its blackish color, could only be the Rio -Negro.</p> -<p>One Indian spoke in a guttural dialect, and a shrill -voice responded from up ahead:</p> -<p>“So they’re awake now? Good! Igo, you take the -wheel.”</p> -<p>One Indian moved forward. Moments later, a -scrawny man with a crafty, wizened face beneath a -shock of whitish hair, stepped into sight. To the other -Indian, he piped:</p> -<p>“Ubi, you stay here. You help me watch.”</p> -<p>Then, tilting his head in birdlike fashion, the white-haired -man studied the prisoners and demanded:</p> -<p>“What were you two doing around that boathouse?”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster kept his lips tightly closed, his eyes -staring straight back toward the frothy wake from the -cruiser’s propeller. Biff, too, ignored the question.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<p>“Maybe you’d talk if I gave you a drink of water,” -the scrawny man suggested, “and maybe I ought to toss -you in that big drink out there”—he gestured toward -the river—“and let you try to swim ashore. You -wouldn’t get far, tied like that.”</p> -<p>The stolid silence of the Brewsters annoyed the -white-haired man. His voice rose to a still higher -pitch:</p> -<p>“I mean it, every word of it! I’ll find a way to -make you talk, as sure as my name is Joe Nara!”</p> -<p>Biff almost gulped the name, “Joe Nara!” before -he caught himself. Then he heard his father speak -calmly in reply.</p> -<p>“If you are really Joe Nara,” stated Mr. Brewster, -“I’ll tell you all you want to know. Only I don’t believe -that you are Joe Nara.”</p> -<p>Oddly, the wizened man’s anger faded. His own -tone became even as he asked, “And why wouldn’t I -be Joe Nara?”</p> -<p>“Joe Nara is a husky chap,” returned Mr. Brewster, -“with dark hair, a bit gray, but not white. He’s tough, -but he doesn’t get angry and excited. He has too good -a sense of humor.”</p> -<p>Biff saw a twinkle in the wizened man’s eyes. The -scrawny face relaxed in a genuine smile. In a soft, -faraway tone, he asked, “And who told you all that?”</p> -<p>“Joe Nara’s partner, Lew Kirby, before he died.”</p> -<p>“So Lew is dead. I was afraid of that.”</p> -<p>As he spoke, the wizened man’s expression became -very sorrowful. He gestured to Ubi, and the Indian -cut the crude ropes that bound the prisoners.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> -<p>“I <i>am</i> Joe Nara,” the white-haired man said. “I’ve -grown a lot older in the years since I saw Lew Kirby -last. Kind of lost my sense of humor, too, living upriver -with nobody but Indians to talk to. What’s your -name?”</p> -<p>“Tom Brewster. And this is my son Biff.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster extended his own hand, palm up. Old -Joe Nara slapped his own hand palm downward, -meeting Mr. Brewster’s with a solid whack, followed -by a tight grip to which Mr. Brewster responded -firmly.</p> -<p>“That’s how Lew and I always shook hands,” declared -Nara. “I guess you and Lew were friends all -right, or he wouldn’t have shown you that grip.”</p> -<p>Ubi was bringing gourds of water. Nara waited -until Biff and his father had slaked their thirst. Then, -with a chuckle, the white-haired man remarked:</p> -<p>“I guess Lew must have told you about the time he -and I went to Lake Titicaca down in Peru to look for -Inca gold?”</p> -<p>“No, Kirby never told me that,” returned Mr. -Brewster, “because you never went there. He said -you planned the trip but gave it up. You came up this -way instead.”</p> -<p>“And where would we have found gold near the -headwaters of the Rio Negro?”</p> -<p>“I can tell you in two words: El Dorado.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<p>That convinced Joe Nara. He opened a door beneath -the short forward deck and revealed a compact -kitchen galley. He heated up a pot of <i>feijoada</i>, a Brazilian -dish of black beans cooked with dried meat. -With it he served bowls of <i>mandioca</i>, a mush made -from the pulp of the <i>cassava</i>.</p> -<p>Simple though the fare was, it tasted so good that -Biff eagerly accepted the second helping that Nara -offered him.</p> -<p>“I was really hungry,” said Biff. “I feel as though -I had been asleep for hours.”</p> -<p>“You were,” returned Nara. “That stuff you inhaled -is a secret Indian brew that acts like chloroform. -Gives you an appetite, though, when you do wake -up.”</p> -<p>“And just why,” asked Mr. Brewster dryly, “did -you happen to try the stuff out on us?”</p> -<p>“I’ll tell you why,” asserted Nara. “Every now and -then, I come down from the mine with Igo and Ubi -to buy supplies. Whatever I buy, I pay for with -these.”</p> -<p>From his pocket, Nara brought some small nuggets -of pure gold which clinked heavily when he trickled -them from one hand to the other.</p> -<p>“People have been trying to trail me back up to the -mine,” continued Nara, “so I bought this boat, the -<i>Xanadu</i>, from a rubber outfit that had gone broke. I -decided to come downriver to see who was spying on -me. Before I even got to Santa Isabel, I saw a crew -unloading supplies at an old abandoned camp.”</p> -<p>“Whitman’s crew!” exclaimed Mr. Brewster. “I sent -them up the Rio Negro to wait for me, so I could -start on a safari to find your mine.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> -<p>Nara gave an understanding chuckle.</p> -<p>“I had Igo and Ubi talk to the natives,” Nara said. -“They learned that the expedition had started from a -boathouse outside of Manaus. So I came all the way -down the river to look into it. We were watching -the boathouse when you came along.”</p> -<p>“So you thought we were enemies—”</p> -<p>“Not exactly enemies,” corrected Nara. “Just suspicious -characters. After Igo and Ubi grabbed you, I -decided to bring you along. Now that you’ve explained -yourselves, I’ll turn around and take you back -down to Manaus if you want.”</p> -<p>“Now that we’ve started upriver,” decided Mr. -Brewster, “there is no need to go back. We sent our -luggage on to Santa Isabel by air, and we intended to -take a plane ourselves. But now we may as well keep -on with you.”</p> -<p>All that day, the <i>Xanadu</i> sped swiftly up the Rio -Negro. Biff took his turn at the wheel and was pleased -by the way the cruiser handled. At intervals, the river -became so thick with islands that it reminded Biff of -the famous Narrows that he had seen from the air -above the lower Amazon. But here on the Rio Negro, -the channels were shallow as well as twisty. Still, -Biff found no difficulty in guiding the sleek craft -through the maze.</p> -<p>“The <i>Xanadu</i> was built to order for this river,” -Nara told Biff. “That’s why I bought her. Be careful, -though, when we reach that island dead ahead. The -channel appears to split there—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p001.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="682" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The</i> Xanadu <i>thrummed upriver</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>As Nara spoke, the palm-fringed island vanished. -The whole sky had opened in one tremendous downpour. -Biff couldn’t believe that it was only rain. He -thought for the moment that the <i>Xanadu</i> had come -beneath a tremendous waterfall. Adding to the illusion -was the sudden rise of steam from the heated -jungle that flanked the channel. Instantly, the speeding -cruiser was shrouded in a mist that swelled above -it.</p> -<p>“Swing her about!” shrilled Nara. “Our only -chance is to turn downstream before the flood hits -us!”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster stepped up and took the wheel. Instead -of taking Nara’s advice, he sped the boat straight -upstream, picking his course in an amazing fashion. -Somehow, he must have gauged the exact position of -the threatening island, for he veered past it. New -channels seemed to open with each swerve of the -cruiser’s bow.</p> -<p>Biff’s father had seen Navy service in the South -Pacific and was familiar with jungle waterways as -well as tropical storms. As a Lieutenant, Junior Grade, -he had been trained specially for jungle fighting and -had won medals for bravery, finally leaving the service -as a Lieutenant Commander.</p> -<p>“It’s better to buck the current,” Mr. Brewster declared, -“than to let it carry us into something we -can’t avoid.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>Igo and Ubi were releasing curtains from beneath -the permanent top, giving the cruiser’s interior the -effect of a long, narrow tent, completely sheltered -from the terrific downpour, which like many tropical -rains, was coming straight downward.</p> -<p>Some of the narrow channels were flooding rapidly, -and there, big logs and branches occasionally met the -cruiser’s rounded prow, only to glance aside as Mr. -Brewster deftly turned the wheel. They reached a -wider channel where a headland bulked suddenly in -midstream; but it proved to be a small floating island, -composed of small palm trees sprouting from a mass -of soil and undergrowth that had come loose from -an overhanging bank.</p> -<p>Biff could hear the chatter of monkeys and the -screech of birds as the passing branches scraped the -hanging canvas on the cruiser’s side. Then the tiny islet -and its excited living freight had drifted far downstream. -Still Mr. Brewster kept steadily to his course, -staring upstream through the cruiser’s rainswept windshield.</p> -<p>Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the rain ended, -revealing a new maze of channels that could be found -only by looking for gaps among the tree branches, -so high had the water risen in this sunken area. Cutting -the speed, Mr. Brewster navigated the openings -gingerly. That brought a chuckle from Joe Nara.</p> -<p>“Kind of lucky, weren’t you?” he remarked.</p> -<p>“Yes, I was rather lucky,” acknowledged Mr. -Brewster. “Like you and Lew Kirby, when you stumbled -onto that mine of yours.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>“We were more than lucky,” retorted Nara. “We -were smart. Didn’t Lew tell you how we doped it -out?”</p> -<p>“He said you ran into a tribe of Indians who were -guarding a mountain that they claimed was sacred.”</p> -<p>“That’s right. Wai Wai Indians. Igo and Ubi are -members of the tribe.” Nara gestured toward the -stolid pair who now were rolling up the canvas curtains. -“What else did Lew say?”</p> -<p>“He said you convinced the Indians that you were -a powerful witch doctor, so they led you to the lost -mine.”</p> -<p>“From the tricks I showed them,” chuckled Nara, -“they thought I was El Dorado the Original, and that -the mine belonged to me and Lew. You know the -story of the man who turned all golden? Well, I -proved it could be done.”</p> -<p>Biff was hoping that Nara would give more details -on that subject, when suddenly, the white-haired man -demanded:</p> -<p>“Did Lew give you a map to locate the mine?”</p> -<p>“Not exactly,” replied Mr. Brewster. “He gave me -one showing a route from the mine to some waterways -which he said led to the Orinoco River. That -was all.”</p> -<p>“That was enough. It proved there was a short way -out.”</p> -<p>“Yes, but I still have to go over the actual route to -make sure that gold ore could be transported by it, -down the Orinoco.”</p> -<p>“Do you have the map with you now?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<p>“Only part of it.”</p> -<p>From deep in his pocket, Mr. Brewster produced -the torn corner from Kirby’s map.</p> -<p>“A prowler stole the rest from my hotel room,” he -explained. “I managed to hold on to the part that -shows the mine.”</p> -<p>Joe Nara stroked his chin in worried fashion.</p> -<p>“If somebody showed me the rest of the map,” he -commented, “I might have to believe them if they -said they knew Lew Kirby, too.”</p> -<p>“I thought of that,” returned Mr. Brewster calmly, -“and I would be glad if such a person should appear. -It would be a case of a thief trapping himself.”</p> -<p>Joe Nara nodded as though he agreed; but he immediately -dropped the subject of the map and the -mine as well.</p> -<p>During the next few days, the <i>Xanadu</i> thrummed -upriver, keeping to broad channels instead of short-cuts -between islands. This simplified the handling of -the cruiser during brief but heavy rainstorms. Biff -noted that after each rain the air soon became as humid -as before. It was hot at night as well as in the -daytime, and while one member of the group piloted -the cruiser under the bright tropical moon, the others -slept in the ample cockpit; never in the tiny forward -cabin.</p> -<p>One evening when Nara was at the wheel, Biff -and his father were seated near the stern, far enough -away for Biff to ask:</p> -<p>“Do you think Joe Nara doubts your story, Dad?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div> -<p>“About the map being stolen?” returned Mr. Brewster. -“He might be wondering about it. After all, I -could have torn the corner from a map that belonged -to someone else.”</p> -<p>“But you gave him Kirby’s hand grip and when you -mentioned ‘El Dorado’ it was like a password.”</p> -<p>“I could have learned those from some other person. -Nara has to be cautious, with a gold mine at stake. -I think he trusts me but wants to sound me out. Watch -him, and you’ll see he is suspicious of everything.”</p> -<p>Biff noted that as the trip continued, Nara insisted -upon giving other river craft a wide berth. When occasional -airplanes flew high above, Nara always -leaned out from beneath the canopy to study them -suspiciously, but the planes apparently took no notice -of the boat below.</p> -<p>After the cruiser had passed Santa Isabel, Biff was -taking his turn at the wheel when Nara approached -and remarked:</p> -<p>“Pretty soon we’ll drop you and your dad at the -old rubber camp where your friend Whitman is waiting -for you.”</p> -<p>“Aren’t you going to join us on the safari?”</p> -<p>“Not there,” returned Nara. “I’m taking the -<i>Xanadu</i> on to Sao Gabriel, to see if we can buck the -rapids and reach the upper river.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster had been close enough to hear Nara’s -comment. Now, he put the query:</p> -<p>“Then where will we meet you, Joe?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<p>“At Piedra Del Cucuy,” Nara replied. “You can see -it for miles, a big rock rising from the forest, where -Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia all meet up. By the -time you arrive there, we will know if it is safe to go -on.”</p> -<p>“Why wouldn’t it be safe?” asked Biff.</p> -<p>“Because of the Macus, the head-hunters who raid -the river settlements.” Nara turned to his two Indians -and said: “Tell them about the Macus.”</p> -<p>“Macu very bad,” stated Igo.</p> -<p>“Macu kill for head,” added Ubi.</p> -<p>At last the <i>Xanadu</i> reached an old, dilapidated landing, -where half a dozen men stood beside some huts -on the high bank. Mr. Brewster indicated one man -who was wearing khaki shorts, white shirt, and pith -helmet.</p> -<p>“That’s Whitman,” said Mr. Brewster. “He’s too -far away to hail him.” He brought out a leather case -containing a flat metal mirror and handed it to Biff.</p> -<p>“Whitman understands Morse,” Mr. Brewster said. -“Signal him to send out a boat for us, Biff.”</p> -<p>Biff turned the mirror toward the sun, then slanted -it in Whitman’s direction. Covering the mirror with -his hand, he flashed the message in dots and dashes: -S-E-N-D B-O-A-T.</p> -<p>Whitman pointed to a canoe on the shore. Biff -watched two figures hurry down and clamber into -the craft, a small figure at the bow, a big one in the -stern. They paddled out to the waiting cruiser and -swung alongside. The man in the stern, a husky, barrel-chested -native, furnished a broad, friendly smile.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>“Me Jacome,” he announced.</p> -<p>The bow paddler was an Indian boy about Biff’s -age and size. He was wearing faded blue denim trousers, -ragged at the knees, and a shirt that matched it in -color and tattered sleeves. He reached up to grab the -cruiser’s side, adding, “I’m Kamuka.”</p> -<p>Biff extended his own hand and responded, “I’m -Biff.” In that unexpected handshake, the two boys established -an immediate friendship. They grinned at -each other as Biff helped Kamuka swing the canoe -about so that Jacome could hold the stern alongside.</p> -<p>As soon as Biff and his father stepped into the canoe -the <i>Xanadu</i> sped off like a startled creature. Joe Nara -at the wheel, waved good-by, while Igo and Ubi -simply stared back like a pair of reversed figureheads. -Jacome and Kamuka did fast work with their paddles -to prevent the canoe from tipping in the cruiser’s -swell. Then they headed toward the dock.</p> -<p>Kamuka looked over his shoulder and said to Biff, -“I like the way you send message. You show me -how?”</p> -<p>Biff nodded. “I’ll show you how.”</p> -<p>During the short paddle, Mr. Brewster talked to -Jacome in Portuguese and Biff, listening closely, understood -most of what was said. Mr. Brewster asked -about the luggage and was told that it had arrived -by air. Also, he wanted to know if the safari was -ready to start. Jacome told him yes, that they had -been waiting for him to arrive.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<p>When they reached the shore, Hal Whitman was -still up by the huts engaged with the natives in an excited -conversation. Mr. Brewster started in that direction, -and Biff was about to follow when a hand -plucked his sleeve. It was Kamuka, with the request:</p> -<p>“You spell message now?”</p> -<p>“All right,” agreed Biff. He produced the mirror, -caught the sun’s glint, and focused it on the wall of a -hut perhaps a hundred feet away. “Now, watch—”</p> -<p>Biff halted abruptly. A burly native, wearing baggy -white shirt and trousers, with a red bandanna tied -about his head, had joined the argument and was pushing -Mr. Whitman back into the hut.</p> -<p>“Urubu!” exclaimed Kamuka. “He make trouble!”</p> -<p>Whitman came from the hut with a shotgun and -gestured for the native, Urubu, to be on his way. Instead, -Urubu grabbed for the gun and snatched it -from Whitman’s grasp, tripping him at the same time. -Mr. Brewster was starting forward on the run, but he -was too far away to help Whitman.</p> -<p>Urubu raised the gun butt to drive it down on -Whitman’s head. Biff could see the savage look on -Urubu’s face. Kamuka gripped Biff’s arm. The native -boy’s voice was breathless:</p> -<p>“Somebody must help Mr. Whitman! Quick!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER V</span> -<br />The Spotted Terror</h2> -<p>That jog from Kamuka’s hand gave Biff a sudden -idea. Biff was holding the mirror so it threw a big -spot of sunlight on the hut wall. The spot wavered -when Kamuka jogged Biff’s arm, and Urubu was only -a dozen feet from the corner of the hut.</p> -<p>Biff changed the mirror’s angle just a slight degree, -spotting the light square in Urubu’s eyes. That reflected -glint of the sun was enough. Urubu dropped -back, flinging his arm upward to shield his vision. Mr. -Whitman came to his feet and grappled for the shotgun. -A few seconds later, Mr. Brewster had pitched -into the struggle.</p> -<p>They disarmed Urubu, who stood by glaring sullenly. -Biff and Kamuka approached the group, and -Jacome, who had pulled the canoe on shore, came up -behind them.</p> -<p>“You know what the name Urubu means, Biff?” -Kamuka asked.</p> -<p>Biff shook his head.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>“It means vulture,” the Indian boy said.</p> -<p>A chuckle came from Jacome. “A good name for -Urubu. He is like one vulture!”</p> -<p>At close range, Urubu looked the part. He had a -profile like a buzzard’s. He stood by, a sullen look on -his face, as Mr. Whitman told Mr. Brewster:</p> -<p>“I turned down Urubu as a guide because he lied -to me. He said he had guided safaris for the past five -years, when part of that time he was in jail. Then he -told our porters that I lied to them—”</p> -<p>“You did,” put in Urubu. “You said that Senhor -Brewster would arrive three days ago. Instead he has -arrived only now—as you can see.”</p> -<p>Urubu repeated those remarks to the native bearers -in a mixture of Portuguese and Indian dialect. He was -dumfounded when Mr. Brewster spoke to them in -the same manner. Mr. Brewster’s words brought a -murmur of approval.</p> -<p>“They want to be paid for the days they waited,” -Mr. Brewster told Mr. Whitman. “I said we would -pay them, and they are satisfied. Do you need Urubu -as a guide?”</p> -<p>“I should say not!”</p> -<p>“Then we can send him away again.”</p> -<p>That was unnecessary. When Mr. Brewster turned -to speak to Urubu, the troublemaker was gone. He -had made a quick departure by the nearest jungle -path. Mr. Whitman promptly called for Luiz, the new -guide, to step forward, and a small, bowing native -came from the group of bearers.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>Since it was not yet noon, Mr. Brewster ordered -Luiz to get everything ready for an immediate start. -Soon the native bearers, more than a dozen in number, -were hoisting their packs and other equipment. -Meanwhile, Biff was present at a last-minute conference -between his father and Hal Whitman.</p> -<p>“We’ll follow our original plan,” stated Mr. Brewster. -“If we strike off to the northwest and follow -the regular trails, we will appear to be looking for -<i>balata</i> like any other rubber-hunting expedition.”</p> -<p>Biff knew that the term <i>balata</i> referred both to the -rubber tree and its juice. He watched Hal Whitman -mop perspiration from his forehead. Whitman’s -worry seemed to vanish with that process.</p> -<p>“We will be following the long side of a triangle,” -Biff’s father continued, “while Joe Nara is going -around by the Rio Negro, turning north after he -passes Sao Gabriel. But we now know exactly where -to meet him. That will be at Piedra Del Cucuy.”</p> -<p>“That’s better than floundering around the headwaters -of the Rio Negro,” Whitman agreed. “I was -afraid we would be on a wild goose chase, trying to -find him there. It’s lucky that you met up with Nara.”</p> -<p>“Let’s say that Nara met up with us,” Mr. Brewster -chuckled. “We’ll meet again at Piedra Del Cucuy, -provided Nara dodges those head-hunters. Since the -rapids will delay him, we should reach the great -rock as soon as Nara does.”</p> -<p>“I’ll talk to Luiz and see if he knows the best -route—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<p>“Not yet!” warned Mr. Brewster. “Wait until we -are deep in the jungle, with no chance of any spies -being about, before we even mention Piedra Del -Cucuy. Do you understand?”</p> -<p>The final query was meant for Biff as well as Mr. -Whitman. Biff nodded, then went to join Kamuka, -who was waiting to help him get his pack on his back. -That done, they fell into the procession as it started -out.</p> -<p>The first few miles gave Biff the false impression -that a jungle trek was easy. The trail was smooth, -well-trodden by multitudes of natives who had -scoured the back country in search of <i>balata</i>. But as -paths diverged, they became rougher.</p> -<p>Biff began stumbling over big roots that crossed -the path, and when he kept his eyes turned down to -watch for them, he lost sight of the bearers ahead of -him and had trouble getting into line behind them. -Once, Biff lost the trail entirely, and Kamuka overtook -him just as he was blundering squarely into a -fallen tree.</p> -<p>The obstacle was at shoulder level, and Kamuka, -sighting the bearers taking a turn in the path beyond, -suggested: “We climb over. Take short way back to -trail.”</p> -<p>Biff pressed aside some projecting branches as he -clambered across the tree trunk, pack and all. His -hands became sticky with some clinging substance.</p> -<p>“Spider web. Thick here,” Kamuka said. He helped -Biff brush away the fine-spun threads, and pointed -into the sunlight that filtered through the jungle foliage.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p002.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="705" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Kamuka cleared the branches with hard, expert slashes</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<p>Glistening between the tree branches were the -largest, thickest spider webs that Biff had ever seen. -There were multitudes of them, forming what at first -glance seemed an impassible barrier.</p> -<p>Kamuka settled that problem by clearing away the -obstructing branches with hard, expert slashes of his -machete, taking the webs with them.</p> -<p>The trail had become so irregular that the bearers -frequently had to hack their way through the thick -growth. Kamuka did the same, and Biff tried to copy -the Indian youth’s smooth style. Kamuka handled his -machete easily, despite the pack that he carried. But -with Biff, the pack shifted at every swing, and its -straps cut into his back and shoulders.</p> -<p>Big Jacome was doing most of the trail blazing, -with Kamuka close behind him. Mr. Brewster and -Mr. Whitman did their share, while urging the bearers -to take their turns at the work. All responded -willingly, with the exception of the guide, Luiz, who -was lagging behind.</p> -<p>“What’s holding you back, Luiz?” Whitman demanded. -“Why don’t you get up ahead and take a -hand at cutting the trail?”</p> -<p>“You pay others to cut trail, Senhor,” returned -Luiz. “You pay me to be guide. <i>Nao?</i>”</p> -<p>Biff’s father overheard the argument and provided -a prompt solution.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div> -<p>“Since you are the guide,” he told Luiz, “suppose -you show us the trail. Possibly we have lost it. You -lead; we will follow.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster spoke in the Brazilian dialect that the -bearers understood. Their solemn faces broadened at -the expense of Luiz. Angrily, the undersized guide -shouldered his way to the head of the line and began -hacking at the brush with Jacome. Biff caught up -with Kamuka, who had waited while Luiz went by.</p> -<p>“You see his face?” asked Kamuka. “Luiz is very -mad. He does not like hard work.”</p> -<p>The glower that Luiz gave over his shoulder -proved that Kamuka’s opinion was correct. The keen-eyed -Indian boy was quick to note that Biff’s face also -wore a pained expression, but for a different reason. -Understandingly, Kamuka said:</p> -<p>“You have trouble with pack. I fix it.”</p> -<p>Expertly, he adjusted the straps to the fraction of -an inch. From then on, the pack seemed to fit to Biff’s -back, giving him no more aches. What amazed Biff, -though, was the fact that Kamuka’s pack had no -straps, but was laced to his back by crude ropes made -from jungle vines. Yet it seemed to adjust itself to -every move that Kamuka made.</p> -<p>Soon, the going became easier underfoot, and the -path was free of obstacles. It was no longer necessary -to hack through the jungle growth.</p> -<p>“Luiz bring us back to better trail,” Kamuka confided -to Biff. “Less work for Luiz.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<p>It was less work for Biff, too, though he didn’t say -so. He was pleased because his father had handled the -situation so neatly. Biff noted the happy grins on the -faces of the bearers every time Mr. Brewster moved -back and forth among them. Biff grinned, too, when -his dad came by and gave him an encouraging whack -on the pack which now seemed molded to Biff’s -body.</p> -<p>“It takes a few days to get into the swing of a -safari,” Mr. Brewster stated, “so don’t be discouraged. -Even the native bearers are struggling a bit, though -they won’t admit it. We’ll call it a day as soon as we -reach a suitable campsite.”</p> -<p>About an hour later, the safari halted. Gratefully, -the bearers eased their packs to the ground and began -to set up camp at Whitman’s direction, on a high -bank above a jungle stream. The insects were bothersome, -as they had been at intervals along the route, -but the expedition was equipped to meet that problem. -The packs contained netting for the sleeping hammocks, -as well as insect repellent.</p> -<p>The chief feature of the campsite was its closeness -to a water hole. Luiz approved this, making a great -show of his official title of guide. Biff, glad to be free -of his pack, eagerly volunteered to help Kamuka -bring up pails of water from the stream below. Halfway -down, Kamuka hissed for a quick halt.</p> -<p>“We go back up quick,” he said to Biff. “We tell -Senhor Brewster we see tapir at water hole.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> -<p>Kamuka pointed out a pair of curious dark brown -animals, with clumsy, bulky bodies, stocky legs, and -long-snouted heads. The creatures were feeding on -the leaves of young trees and appeared somewhat -tame. Kamuka took no chance on frightening them -away, however, as he beckoned Biff up the path.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster promptly picked up a loaded rifle and -accompanied the boys down the path. The tapirs were -already lumbering into the brush when Biff’s father -took quick but accurate aim on one of the animals and -fired.</p> -<p>One tapir dropped in its tracks, while its companion -crashed madly into the jungle. The boys rushed -down to the bank and found that the tapir was shot -squarely through the head. When Mr. Brewster joined -them, he smiled.</p> -<p>“That’s the only way to shoot a tapir,” he declared. -“Otherwise, they blunder into the jungle wounded, -and you can never find them. They have thick hides -like a hippopotamus. In fact, they belong to the same -family.”</p> -<p>That night, the members of the safari feasted on -tapir steaks, which they broiled on the prongs of -long, forked sticks. Later, they went to sleep around -the same campfire. All day, Biff had listened to the -chatter of monkeys and the screech of birds. Now, -howls of jungle animals seemed tuned to the heavy -basso chorus of frogs from the stream below.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<p>But despite that, Biff was soon sound asleep, the -crackle of the campfire blending with his last waking -moments. Some hours later, he woke up suddenly. -The jungle concert had ended, and the flames had settled -to a low, subdued flicker. Somebody should have -tended the fire, Biff thought. He recalled his father -discussing that point with Luiz shortly after they had -finished dinner. Biff rolled from his hammock and -groped toward some logs that lay beside the fire. -There, he halted at sight of what appeared to be two -live coals, glinting from a big log.</p> -<p>Biff pulled back his hand just in time, as the log -came alive with a snarl. Biff realized that he had encountered -some prowling beast of prey. He raised -the alarm with a loud shout:</p> -<p>“Dad! There’s something here by the fire—”</p> -<p>Before Biff could complete the sentence, he saw -that the creature was a huge jungle cat, its tawny yellow -coat spotted black. Already, it was poising for a -spring. Biff, caught unarmed, was confronted by an -attacking jaguar, one of the jungle’s most ferocious -killers.</p> -<p>Biff heard an answering call from his father. Then, -before Mr. Brewster could have possibly found time -to grab his gun, the jaguar sprang!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER VI</span> -<br />Into the Quicksand</h2> -<p>Biff flung his arms upward, as he tried to duck -away. It was a hopeless effort, for nothing could have -saved him from those fierce claws, once the jaguar -reached him. What stopped the springing jungle cat -was another figure, small but chunky, that came flying -out of the darkness, feet first.</p> -<p>It was Kamuka. The Indian boy had grabbed a -long liana vine hanging like a rope from a tree beside -his high hammock. All in one motion, he had -swung himself across the jaguar’s path just in time to -ram the creature’s shoulder in mid-air and veer the -big cat toward the fire.</p> -<p>That gave Biff time enough to roll the other way, -and Kamuka, as he struck the ground, promptly -squirmed about to dive off into the darkness. The -scene was momentarily illuminated by a shower of -sparks raised by the jaguar when it struck the fringe -of the embers. With more of a yowl than a snarl, the -big cat cleared the fire at a single bound and took off -into the jungle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster had his gun by then, but with so -many figures bouncing in the vague firelight, he -couldn’t risk a shot. By the time Biff and Kamuka -were out of the way, Jacome had come on the scene, -swinging a big club. Mr. Brewster had to wait until he -was out of the path of aim, before firing into the jungle.</p> -<p>By then, Mr. Brewster might as well have fired -blank shots. The jaguar had vanished completely in -darkness. Jacome threw some logs on the fire, and as -the flames took hold, he commented:</p> -<p>“The tapir tiger—that is what we call the jaguar. -A good name for him. Look there and you see why!”</p> -<p>Jacome indicated a chunk of cooked tapir meat, -hanging from a tree branch near the fire. The smell -of its favorite food had evidently drawn the “tapir -tiger” in from the jungle. But that did not fully satisfy -Mr. Brewster.</p> -<p>“Jaguars frequently kill and eat tapirs,” Biff’s father -declared, “but they also shy away from campfires. I -gave orders that this fire should be tended all night. -Who neglected his duty?”</p> -<p>The final words were addressed to Luiz, who had -just joined the group. The guide shrugged and gestured -to some of the native bearers who were coming -sleepily from their hammocks. They stared dumbly -at Luiz, until Mr. Brewster queried them sharply in -their dialect, getting headshakes from all.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>“I will give the orders direct from now on,” Mr. -Brewster told Luiz bluntly, “and I intend to see that -they are carried out.” He looked up, noted the faint -glimmer of daybreak through the high leaves, and -added, “It is after dawn. Let’s break camp and start -on our way.”</p> -<p>Biff expressed his thanks to Kamuka while the Indian -boy was helping him prepare his pack.</p> -<p>“If you hadn’t hopped to help me the way you -did,” asserted Biff, “I would be just a chunk of tapir -meat, or something a lot like it. I’ll remember what -you did for me, Kamuka.”</p> -<p>“That is good,” rejoined Kamuka solemnly. “I help -you. You help me. That is the way in the jungle.”</p> -<p>Biff felt that he was getting the knack of jungle -ways during that day’s trek, but he was due for new -surprises. As they hacked a path through a thick -growth of brush, he heard a sound that was sharply -distinct from the screeches of the vivid parrots and -macaws that continually scolded from the trees.</p> -<p>It was exactly like a hammer striking an anvil or -some other chunk of solid metal. It came from well -back in the jungle, and after it was repeated, Biff said -to Kamuka:</p> -<p>“Hear that! There must be a village back there in -the jungle!”</p> -<p>Kamuka laughed as the clanging sound came again.</p> -<p>“<i>El campanero</i>,” he defined. “That is what some -people call it. Others call it the bellbird.”</p> -<p>“You mean it’s only a bird?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<p>As if in answer, the sharp note was repeated with -methodical precision, and Biff recognized that it had a -quality that could be mistaken for a bell rather than -the clank of hammer on anvil. Biff kept looking for -the bird itself until Kamuka noticed it and told him:</p> -<p>“Bellbird very hard to find. He may be far away -when you think he is close by.”</p> -<p>Other creatures were closer at hand. From up -ahead, Jacome turned and pointed to the path. He -called something in his native tongue, and Biff -watched the bearers take quick sidesteps. Then Kamuka -was nudging Biff with his elbow and pointing -out the reason.</p> -<p>A procession of ants was moving along the trail as -though keeping pace with the safari. The insects were -carrying thin green slivers that wobbled above their -bodies. Biff saw that those were tiny fragments of -leaves that the ants had gathered and evidently were -going to store for food.</p> -<p>“Umbrella ants,” defined Kamuka. “Be careful or -they crawl up your leg instead of along path. Umbrella -ants can bite—hard!”</p> -<p>From the way the ants had chopped the leaves -they carried, Biff took Kamuka at his word. He -played hopscotch with the insects until they veered -off the trail. The going became easy again, except that -the atmosphere of the jungle was growing more humid. -Even the chatter of the birds and monkeys was -silenced in the sultry calm.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> -<p>Then came a sudden rain as torrential as the big -downpour that they had encountered on the Rio Negro. -With the jungle steam rising about them, it was a -case of groping along the trail, which soon became -ankle deep with water. As he sloshed through the -muck, Biff told Kamuka:</p> -<p>“Those ants are smarter than we are. They must -have known this was coming and carried their own -umbrellas.”</p> -<p>Kamuka interpreted that to Jacome, who laughed -and passed it along to the bearers. The rain stopped -suddenly at last, but although the heat returned again, -the path remained soggy underfoot. Luiz, it seemed, -had lost the trail during the rain and was marching -the safari into a jungle swamp.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster called a halt. It was not just a matter -of getting back on the trail; he wanted the best trail. -For the first time, Biff heard his father mention -“Piedra Del Cucuy” to Luiz, who nodded that he understood.</p> -<p>“We go to Piedra Del Cucuy,” assured Luiz. “That -is easy, now I know. I show you the best way.”</p> -<p>Biff’s clothes were dry by now except for his shoes -and socks, which felt as if they were filled with lead -weights as the march was resumed. Luiz soon took -the safari out of the swampy land to a dry path, but -at times, he showed hesitancy at places where the -trail divided. Always, he came finally to a definite decision, -but Jacome began to eye him suspiciously.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<p>“We all hear Senhor Brewster say we go to Piedra -Del Cucuy,” Jacome confided to Biff and Kamuka. -“Now we know we go there, Luiz is afraid to take us -on wrong trail. Some of us go to Piedra Del Cucuy before -this. We may remember way if Luiz ‘forget’ it.”</p> -<p>A little later, Biff fell in stride alongside his dad -and told him what Jacome had said.</p> -<p>“I think there’s no question but that Luiz is trying -to delay us,” declared Mr. Brewster. “The only puzzle -is his purpose. He may simply be hoping to make -more money by keeping us longer on the hike. Or -he may have deliberately stalled us in order to learn -our exact destination. That is why I told him. Now, I -am forcing him to show his hand.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster’s tactics paid off by mid-afternoon. -The ringing cry of the bellbird had begun again in -the deep jungle, and Biff was still hoping for a sight -of the elusive <i>campanero</i>, when Luiz led the safari on -a short side trail that terminated in a clearing. There -Luiz announced, “We camp here tonight.”</p> -<p>“We could still go on a few miles farther,” objected -Mr. Brewster. “In fact, we might stop almost anywhere -on the trail.”</p> -<p>“Plenty of water here,” argued Luiz. “Maybe not -in other places.”</p> -<p>Jacome overheard that. The big man supplied a -grim but knowing grin as he muttered his own opinion -to the boys.</p> -<p>“Maybe and maybe not,” said Jacome. “In wet -season, we find water everywhere; in dry season, no. -But we came through big rain today, like wet season.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<p>After brief deliberation, Mr. Brewster gave Luiz -the nod.</p> -<p>“We need water,” he agreed, “and perhaps we are -too tired to go on much farther today. We will make -camp here.”</p> -<p>Hardly had they unloaded their packs before -Kamuka suggested to Biff, “Come with me. Maybe -we find bellbird.”</p> -<p>They started along a twisty jungle path in the general -direction of the distant metallic sound. Kamuka -was moving so hurriedly that they were out of sight -of camp before Biff caught up with him and reminded -him, “They may want to send us for water, -back at camp—”</p> -<p>“That can wait,” put in Kamuka. “We find bird -first.”</p> -<p>“But you told me before that there was no use -looking for the bellbird, that the sound might be far -away.”</p> -<p>“I know. But this is not real bellbird. Listen.”</p> -<p>Biff listened. The sharp note came clear again, -from exactly the same direction. Biff could detect no -difference between it and the anvil chorus of earlier -in the day. But Kamuka could.</p> -<p>“Somebody is hitting metal with hammer,” the Indian -boy insisted. “We look for them. We find them—if -we hurry.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>Kamuka waved his arm for Biff to follow, as he -started a quick jog along the jungle path, hoping to -reach the source of the well-faked bird call before the -sounds ceased. Straight ahead, low tree branches -formed a thick green arch, darkening the path between -two low banks that were vivid with colorful -flowers.</p> -<p>Mostly, they were magnificent orchids that thrived -on dampness as well as heat, but Biff was unaware of -that. Kamuka, though schooled in jungle knowledge, -ignored the flowers in his haste. He had turned his -head to see if Biff had responded to his call, when -suddenly, the green carpeting of the path gave way -beneath his weight.</p> -<p>A moment later, Kamuka was waist deep in slimy -ooze, squirming, twisting about to grab at bushes on -the solid ground that he had left. The tufts of grass -that he clutched simply pulled loose from the soft -earth. With each quickly repeated snatch, he had still -less chance of gaining a hold, for he was sinking to his -armpits as he panted:</p> -<p>“Look out, Biff! Don’t come close! Quicksand!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER VII</span> -<br />The Deadly Coils</h2> -<p>Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where -Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically -waving him back. Biff felt the soft bank giving -way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to -solid ground, knowing that only from there could he -hope to save his friend.</p> -<p>Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though -more slowly now. That gave Biff a few more minutes -in which to help him; but how to help was still a -question. There was no use throwing a liana vine to -Kamuka; it would be too flimsy. A tree branch would -be better, but the only boughs strong enough to support -a person’s weight were those that overhung the -mire itself.</p> -<p>Biff couldn’t wrench those branches loose from -their trunks in time to save Kamuka. In fact, to push -anything out from the bank looked like a hopeless -plan. The best way to help would be by a pull straight -up. Biff realized that, when he saw Kamuka look up -toward the lowest bough, six feet or more above his -head.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p003.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="745" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<p>If only Kamuka could reach that far!</p> -<p>That thought gave Biff the answer. Skirting the -quicksand, he climbed one of the trees and started -working out on its lowest thick branch, hand over -hand, toward the spot where Kamuka, now nearly -shoulder-deep in the muck, still looked up hopefully.</p> -<p>So far, Biff had been worrying whether the bough -would prove strong enough. Now he was wishing -that it would bend more. Biff was dangling near -Kamuka, but not quite above him; and it was impossible -for the Indian boy to shift his position in the -quicksand. But Biff was able to do the next best thing.</p> -<p>Locking his hands over the thick branch, Biff began -a pendulum swing, out and back—out and back—bringing -his ankles closer to Kamuka’s reach. Kamuka -made one clutch and missed, but on the next swing -Biff practically placed his ankle in the Indian boy’s -grasp.</p> -<p>Kamuka caught Biff’s other ankle in the same fashion, -and Biff, slanting a glance downward, saw the -other boy’s face smiling grimly from between those -upstretched arms. Kamuka’s voice came calmly. -“Hold tight, Biff. I will pull up slowly.”</p> -<p>Now Biff was glad that the bough was a stout one, -for he could feel it give under Kamuka’s added -weight. Biff tried to work himself higher by bending -his arms and turning them along the branch, so that -he could use his hands to grip his opposite wrists.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<p>That helped at first, but Kamuka’s weight kept increasing -as he emerged gradually from the ooze, and -the strain made Biff’s shoulders feel as if they would -pull from their sockets. But by then, Kamuka had -worked clear of the quicksand’s suction. He caught -Biff’s belt with one hand; then the other. Next, he -was clamping Biff’s shoulder and finally the tree -branch.</p> -<p>The strain lessened then, with both boys dangling -from the bough. Practically side by side, they made a -hand-over-hand trip toward the tree trunk and -dropped to solid ground. There they sat a moment, -panting and rubbing their shoulders as they looked at -each other, a bit bewildered by their short but strenuous -adventure.</p> -<p>From the distance came that clear metallic note -that they had heard before. Kamuka looked at Biff.</p> -<p>“We still go find it—maybe?”</p> -<p>“All right, Kamuka. Let’s go find it.”</p> -<p>They skirted the quicksand and took the path that -Kamuka had missed in his hurry. It divided into lesser -paths, but they continued to pick a course in the general -direction of the clanging sound.</p> -<p>“Somebody use that for a signal,” declared Kamuka. -“When we find it, you will see that I am right—”</p> -<p>“You <i>are</i> right,” Biff whispered. “Look there!”</p> -<p>A figure had cut into the path well ahead of them -and was continuing on. Softly, Kamuka whispered -the name: “Luiz!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>The boys were fortunate. Luiz hadn’t spotted them. -Evidently, the guide had left the camp by another -path and had followed a roundabout course to reach -his present goal. Luiz, judging by the eager expression -on his scheming face, was also following the call of -the false bellbird. Cautiously, the boys took up Luiz’s -trail until he reached a clearing. There, they sidled -into a patch of jungle and spread the foliage just -enough to view the open space in front of them.</p> -<p>A big man was sitting on a camp stool beside a tent. -In front of him was a small anvil, and he gave it a -ringing stroke with a hammer as the boys watched. -Kamuka was the first to recognize the hawkish face -that turned in Luiz’s direction as the guide approached.</p> -<p>Kamuka whispered, “Urubu!”</p> -<p>Biff had scarcely noticed Urubu. Instead, he was -staring in total amazement at two other men who had -come from the tent.</p> -<p>“One of those men is Nicholas Serbot,” he told -Kamuka. “The other is his sidekick, Big Pepito. But -they were in Manaus, the night we left there. How -did they get here?”</p> -<p>“Airplane come upriver ahead of you,” replied -Kamuka. “Stop at <i>maloca</i> near rubber camp.”</p> -<p>By <i>maloca</i> Kamuka meant a native village some distance -back from the Rio Negro. Quickly, Biff exclaimed:</p> -<p>“That’s where they met Urubu! They must have -paid him to make trouble for us!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> -<p>Kamuka gave a chuckle. “Look like they pay Luiz, -too.”</p> -<p>Urubu was introducing Luiz to Serbot and Pepito. -In the background were several native bearers, apparently -under orders to keep their distance. Serbot -and Pepito were watching them to make sure they -did. Biff took advantage of that.</p> -<p>“We can move up closer,” he told Kamuka. “Maybe -close enough to hear what they are saying.”</p> -<p>Kamuka silently agreed, for he crawled along with -Biff until they reached the very fringe of the thinner -brush, only a dozen yards from where the four men -stood. There, Kamuka whispered, “This far enough.”</p> -<p>The grass here was tall and studded with brilliant -flowers and shrubs that had cropped up since the -brush was thinned. By keeping almost flat on their -stomachs, the boys remained completely hidden. Most -of the discussion was in Portuguese, with a sprinkling -of dialect, so between them Biff and Kamuka were -able to understand most of what was said.</p> -<p>“I come for money, Senhor,” Luiz told Serbot. -“Like Urubu said you would give me if I delay safari.”</p> -<p>“You will get your money later,” promised Serbot. -“You can’t spend it here in the jungle anyway. If you -even showed it, Brewster and Whitman would wonder -where it came from.”</p> -<p>Luiz started to babble an objection, only to have -Urubu interrupt him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>“You have only done half your job, Luiz,” Urubu -reminded him. “You gave our safari time to catch up -with yours. Now you must see that we have time to -get ahead.”</p> -<p>“For that,” injected Luiz, “I should be paid -double.”</p> -<p>“You will be,” agreed Serbot, “if you can tell us -where Brewster intends to go, so we can get there -ahead of him.”</p> -<p>Biff saw Luiz’s teeth gleam in a knowing smile. -The small guide spoke in dialect to Urubu, who made -a prompt reply. Kamuka understood the talk and -whispered to Biff:</p> -<p>“Luiz says he can tell them what they want to -know. He asks Urubu if he can trust them. Urubu -says yes.”</p> -<p>By then, Luiz had turned to Serbot. Biff’s heart -sank as he heard Luiz triumphantly announce:</p> -<p>“They go to Piedra Del Cucuy!”</p> -<p>“The big boundary rock!” exclaimed Serbot. “That -must have been Nara’s boat that took Brewster and -the boy up the river. Now, they probably plan to -meet Nara there.” He turned to Urubu. “Can you -get us to Piedra Del Cucuy first?” he demanded.</p> -<p>“Easily,” assured Urubu, “if Luiz takes them the -long way.”</p> -<p>“Maybe I should leave them,” put in Luiz, “and -come with you. Then they will have no guide and -will not find the way at all.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<p>“That would be all right,” decided Serbot, “but -learn what else you can first. Did Brewster mention -the name Nara?”</p> -<p>“<i>Nao</i>, Senhor.”</p> -<p>“Did he say anything about a map?”</p> -<p>“<i>Nao</i>, Senhor.”</p> -<p>“Find out what you can about both. If you can get -word to us, good. If Brewster becomes suspicious, join -us. But your big job is to delay their safari. Use whatever -way seems best.”</p> -<p>That ended the parley, except for parting words -from Urubu to Luiz, which greatly interested the listening -boys.</p> -<p>“Tomorrow, I signal before we start.” Urubu gestured -toward the hammer and anvil. “If you do not -come to join us, we will know you are staying with -the safari—to guide them the long way.”</p> -<p>Urubu and Luiz were turning in the direction of -the spot where the boys lay hidden. Biff whispered to -Kamuka:</p> -<p>“Let’s crawl out of here fast—”</p> -<p>“Stay still!” Kamuka’s interruption came as a warning -hiss. “Do not move—not one inch!”</p> -<p>Biff let his eyes turn in the direction of Kamuka’s -stare. Despite the intense heat of the jungle, Biff could -actually feel himself freeze. Coming straight toward -them through the tall grass was the head of a huge -snake!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<p>Behind it, the grass rippled from the slithering coils -that followed. Fully twenty feet in length, the gigantic -creature could only be an anaconda, greatest of -all boa constrictors.</p> -<p>To be caught within those crushing coils would -mean sure death!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER VIII</span> -<br />A Traitor Strikes</h2> -<p>“Do not move—not one inch!”</p> -<p>Kamuka repeated that warning as the snake’s long -body slid slowly past. Whether or not the creature -was in search of other prey, to move would be to attract -it. Biff realized that from Kamuka’s tone as well -as his words.</p> -<p>Gradually, the sliding coils slackened speed. It was -Biff who spoke now, his own voice strained, but -low:</p> -<p>“It’s turning now, Kamuka. It may be coming -back.”</p> -<p>“Maybe, but stay still. One move, you are gone.”</p> -<p>Despite himself, Biff raised his head, only slightly, -but enough to look beyond the long, hoselike body -that was still gliding by. Aloud, Biff groaned:</p> -<p>“There is Luiz—coming straight toward us—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> -<p>Biff threw up his arms to ward off the great boa’s -tail as it lashed past. Looking up, he saw the snake’s -huge mouth yawning toward him. Biff shut his eyes, -thinking there was no hope now. Then a wild scream -came from just ahead.</p> -<p>Biff and Kamuka bobbed up from the grass and -saw what had happened. The anaconda, on the rove -for prey, had lashed out for the first moving thing -that approached it—Luiz. Caught in the snake’s coils, -the guide was shouting:</p> -<p>“Urubu! <i>Ajudo! Ajudo!</i>”</p> -<p>Urubu took one quick look and relayed the call -for help. Serbot and Pepito came from the tent, saw -what was happening, and dashed back for their guns. -Biff didn’t wait to watch what followed. He grabbed -Kamuka’s arm and exclaimed, “Let’s go!”</p> -<p>They went. Behind them, they heard a burst of -gunfire. Those first shots must have wounded the -anaconda or frightened it away, for the next volley -whistled through the foliage as Biff and Kamuka -dived into the jungle. The boys found their path and -raced along it until the shooting dwindled far behind -them.</p> -<p>Breathless, they slackened their pace to a walk and -talked over what had happened. In a worried tone, -Biff said:</p> -<p>“They must have seen us or they wouldn’t have -fired after us. I hope they didn’t know who we were.”</p> -<p>“More likely,” observed Kamuka seriously, “I -think they don’t know what we were.”</p> -<p>“You mean they mistook us for some jungle animals?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<p>“Why not? We were gone quick—<i>pouf</i>! Maybe we -were gone quicker than <i>sucuria</i>.”</p> -<p>By “sucuria” Kamuka meant the anaconda. He was -referring to the giant water boa by its more popular -Brazilian name. Kamuka’s comment brought a smile -from Biff.</p> -<p>“I wonder if they shot the anaconda,” he speculated, -“or whether it managed to get away.”</p> -<p>“Perhaps Luiz will tell us,” rejoined Kamuka, grinning, -“when he gets back to our camp.”</p> -<p>“If Luiz ever gets back there at all!”</p> -<p>The boys lost no time in getting back to camp -themselves. There, they told Mr. Brewster and Mr. -Whitman all that had happened.</p> -<p>“Serbot must have learned a lot from somebody -down in Minas Geraes,” decided Mr. Brewster, -“though how, I can’t quite understand. I checked everyone -who had talked with Lew Kirby, and I felt -sure he had confided in me alone.”</p> -<p>“And how did Serbot hear about Joe Nara?” queried -Mr. Whitman. “There have been rumors of head-hunters -and abandoned rubber plantations off in the -jungle. But no talk of prospectors and gold mines—at -least none that reached me.”</p> -<p>“There were rumors farther up the river,” Biff’s -father said, “according to what Nara told us. When -Joe bought that cruiser and came down to Manaus, -he turned rumor into fact.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<p>“Nara found out about us,” Hal Whitman pointed -out, “so why shouldn’t Serbot find out about Nara? -Or about us, for that matter? We know now where -the leak came. Through Urubu.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster weighed that statement, then slowly -shook his head.</p> -<p>“Urubu couldn’t have sent word to Serbot that -fast,” he declared, then, turning to Biff, he queried: -“You are sure Serbot told Luiz to find out what he -could about Nara?”</p> -<p>“Yes,” replied Biff, “and about the map, too.”</p> -<p>“Then it wasn’t Serbot’s man who stole the map,” -mused Mr. Brewster, “unless he wants that missing -corner that I still have. Or else—”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster interrupted himself, as sounds of excitement -came from the bearers, who were busy -thatching palm leaves to form a shelter. Their babble -of dialect included the name “Luiz,” and a couple of -the bearers were running to help the guide as he came -limping into camp.</p> -<p>“Say nothing,” warned Mr. Brewster. “Just listen -to what Luiz has to tell us.”</p> -<p>Luiz had plenty to tell when they formed a sympathetic -group around him.</p> -<p>“I look for water hole,” Luiz told them, “and I -meet <i>una grande sucuria</i>—one big anaconda! He grab -me around my body, like this!”</p> -<p>Graphically, Luiz gestured to indicate how the -snake’s coils had encircled his body.</p> -<p>Biff and Kamuka kept straight, solemn faces as -Luiz continued.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>“I pull my gun quick!” Luiz thrust his hand deep -in his trouser pocket and brought out a small revolver. -“I fire quick, until the gun is empty.” He clicked the -trigger repeatedly; then broke open the revolver and -showed its empty chambers. “Still, anaconda hold -me, until I draw knife and stab him hard!”</p> -<p>From a sheath at the back of his belt, Luiz whipped -out a knife that looked far more formidable than his -puny gun. He gave fierce stabs at the imaginary anaconda, -his face gleaming with an ugly smile that was -more vicious than triumphant. Luiz looked like a small -edition of Urubu, whose ways he seemed to copy.</p> -<p>“Big snake go off into jungle,” added Luiz, wiggling -his hand ahead of him to indicate the anaconda’s -writhing course. “Hurt bad, I think. Maybe it is dead -by now. But the animals were still afraid of it. I hear -them run.”</p> -<p>His sharp eyes darted from Biff to Kamuka, but -neither boy changed expression. Clumsily, Luiz pocketed -the revolver with his left hand and thrust the -knife smoothly back into its sheath with his right. -He rubbed his side painfully, then beckoned to two of -the natives and said, “We go look for water hole -again.”</p> -<p>A short while later, the boys had a chance to exchange -comments while they were gathering palm -fronds for the shelter. After making sure that no one -else was nearby, Kamuka confided:</p> -<p>“Luiz had no gun at start of safari. Urubu must -have given gun to him.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<p>“To explain the shots if any of our party heard -them!” exclaimed Biff. “And did you see the way -Luiz looked at us when he mentioned scared animals? -Maybe they glimpsed us going into the brush.”</p> -<p>“Maybe,” agreed Kamuka. “I think they shoot anaconda, -or big <i>sucuria</i> would not let Luiz go so easy.”</p> -<p>“That’s another reason why Luiz claimed he shot -it,” added Biff. “We might come across the anaconda -and find the bullet marks.”</p> -<p>Shortly afterward, the boys found a chance to repeat -those opinions to Mr. Brewster, who added a few -points that they had overlooked.</p> -<p>“Luiz couldn’t possibly have brought the gun from -his pocket, as he claimed,” stated Mr. Brewster, “because -the snake was already coiled about his body. -For that matter, he could not have drawn his knife, -either.</p> -<p>“However, from the clumsy way he showed us the -gun and put it back in the wrong pocket, you could -tell he had never handled it before. In contrast, he -was smooth and quick with his knife, which is obviously -his customary weapon.”</p> -<p>One question still perplexed Biff.</p> -<p>“That other camp is a good way off, Dad,” Biff -said, “yet we heard the anvil strokes before we started -out. How come you didn’t hear the gunfire later?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<p>“Urubu may have made the first strokes closer by,” -replied Mr. Brewster. “The anvil sound is also sharper -than a gunshot and should carry farther. That is probably -why they chose it as a signal. Kamuka did well -to detect it.”</p> -<p>That evening, Biff was glad there had been time to -build the thatched shelter, for a tropical dew had begun -to settle, almost as thick as a dripping rain. It was -less damp beneath the shelter, where Biff and Kamuka -had slung their hammocks.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster, however, had inflated a rubber mattress -and had placed it near the fire, stating that he -would use a poncho to keep off the moisture. From -his hammock, Biff watched his dad arrange small logs -and palm stalks as spare fuel. As he closed his eyes, -Biff could hear his father talking to Luiz, who was -standing close by.</p> -<p>“I will watch the fire tonight,” announced Mr. -Brewster. “You have been hurt. You need rest more -than I do.”</p> -<p>“But, Senhor,” objected Luiz. “Suppose you fall -asleep—”</p> -<p>“I am sure to wake up at intervals. I always do. -But you must get some sleep, Luiz. We need you to -guide us to Piedra Del Cucuy. You are sure you know -the way?”</p> -<p>“Most certainly, Senhor. But it may take longer -than you expect.”</p> -<p>A pause—then Mr. Brewster asked bluntly, -“Why?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<p>“Because the shortest way is not the best way,” -returned Luiz. “We might meet floods, or streams -where the piranha may attack us. They are very dangerous -fish, the piranha—”</p> -<p>“I know,” interrupted Mr. Brewster impatiently, -“but we have no time to waste.”</p> -<p>“You are meeting someone at Piedra Del Cucuy?”</p> -<p>“Yes,” replied Mr. Brewster. “A man named—” -He caught himself, then said in a blunt tone:</p> -<p>“I won’t know our plans until we get there. We -will continue on up the river. That is all that I can -tell you.”</p> -<p>“Don’t you have a map, Senhor?”</p> -<p>Biff opened his eyes at Luiz’s question. He saw his -father start to reach into his inside pocket, then bring -his hand out empty. Shaking his head, Mr. Brewster -said:</p> -<p>“No, I have no map. Go get some sleep, Luiz. You -will need it.”</p> -<p>Biff glimpsed Luiz’s face as the sneaky guide turned -from the firelight. Beneath the hatbrim, Luiz wore -that same ugly smile that showed his satisfaction. Obviously, -Luiz was planning his next move, probably -for tomorrow.</p> -<p>When it came, his father would be ready for it, -Biff felt sure. Soon Biff drifted into a fitful sleep from -which he awoke at intervals. Sometimes he heard the -crackle of the fire and decided that his father must -have thrown on a log and then gone back to sleep. -For, each time, Biff saw the figure of Mr. Brewster -covered by the rubber poncho, near the pile of logs -that had become much smaller during the night. It -must have been the fourth or fifth awakening, when -Biff saw someone move into the firelight’s flicker.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<p>It was Luiz. He crept forward. Crouched above -the quiet form, Luiz thrust his hand downward as if -to reach into the sleeper’s pocket.</p> -<p>The figure under the poncho seemed to stir. Luiz recoiled -quickly and sped his hand to his hip. Before Biff -could shout a warning, Luiz had whipped out his long -knife into sight and driven it straight down at the -helpless shape beneath him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER IX</span> -<br />The Shrunken Heads</h2> -<p>Wildly, Biff tumbled from his hammock to the -soggy ground. Coming to his hands and knees, he -started forward just as another figure sprang into the -firelight, too late to halt Luiz’s knife. The newcomer -grabbed Luiz’s shoulders and spun the little man full -about. For a moment, Luiz poised his blade as though -planning to counter the attack.</p> -<p>Instead, he uttered an unearthly shriek, as though -he had seen a ghost. Biff was startled, too, but his cry -was a glad one. Etched against the firelight, Biff saw -his dad’s face looking down at Luiz.</p> -<p>Tom Brewster himself was the man who had interrupted -Luiz’s deadly work. The figure under the -poncho, Biff realized, must be a dummy.</p> -<p>As the two men struggled for possession of the -knife, they kicked the dummy apart with their feet. -Suddenly Luiz managed to wrench free and dashed -off into the jungle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster didn’t bother to start after the terrified -guide. But Hal Whitman came rushing from the -shelter waving a revolver. Mr. Whitman fired a few -wild shots in the direction that Luiz had taken. The -crackling of jungle plants came back like echoes, indicating -that the gunfire had spurred Luiz’s mad -flight.</p> -<p>“That’s enough, Hal,” laughed Mr. Brewster. “The -fellow is so badly scared he won’t stop running until -he reaches Serbot’s camp.”</p> -<p>“And the more he runs,” returned Mr. Whitman, -“the more difficulty he will have finding it in the -dark. Well, if Luiz gets lost in the jungle, he won’t -talk to Serbot.”</p> -<p>“I don’t think it matters much, Hal. Luiz has already -told Serbot all he knows.”</p> -<p>“Except that we found out his game. Now he will -tell that to Serbot, too—if he finds him.”</p> -<p>By the flickering firelight, Biff saw his father’s face -take on a troubled expression.</p> -<p>“You’re right, Hal,” decided Mr. Brewster grimly. -“I hadn’t thought of that. It would be better to catch -Luiz and take him along with us. It’s probably too late -now, but it may be worth a try.” Mr. Brewster turned -to Jacome. “Call Luiz, and see if he answers.”</p> -<p>Jacome gave a long call: “Luiz! Luiz!” Faintly, -like a faraway echo, a voice responded: “<i>Ajudo! -Ajudo!</i>”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<p>In the firelight, Biff and Kamuka exchanged -startled glances. Both had the same sudden thought, -but it was Biff who exclaimed, “The quicksand! -Luiz must have taken the same path that we did this -afternoon!”</p> -<p>Jacome was calling “Luiz!” again, but this time -there was no response. Mr. Brewster gave the prompt -order:</p> -<p>“Bring lights and hurry!”</p> -<p>From the way the path showed in the gleam of -their flashlights, it was plain that Luiz could have followed -it rapidly in the dark, for it formed the only -opening through the brush. Biff and Kamuka, racing -along beside Jacome, were the first to reach the arch -of trees above the quicksand.</p> -<p>They halted there, but saw no sign of a human figure -in the muck. The glare revealed nothing but floating -water flowers until big Jacome pointed out what -appeared to be a lily pad. Biff exclaimed:</p> -<p>“Luiz’s hat!”</p> -<p>It was lying brim downward in the ooze, beyond -the bough from which Biff had rescued Kamuka. This -time it was Kamuka who scrambled along the branch -and used a big stick that Jacome tossed him to prod -the quicksand, but with no result.</p> -<p>From the bank, Mr. Brewster studied the scene -grimly, noting that the farther out Kamuka jabbed -the stick, the easier and deeper it went.</p> -<p>“That cry from Luiz was his last,” decided Mr. -Brewster. “In his flight, he must have plunged much -farther than Kamuka did this afternoon. That is why -the quicksand swallowed him much faster.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> -<p>From the bank, Jacome and other natives dragged -the mire with stones attached to long liana vines, but -received no answering tugs from the pulpy quicksand. -When they pushed long sticks down into the mire, -they went completely out of sight, to stay.</p> -<p>“There’s no reclaiming anything lost in those -depths,” Biff’s father said soberly. “That goes for -Luiz, too.”</p> -<p>When they returned to the campsite, Mr. Brewster -dismantled the crude dummy that he had placed beside -the fire. It was formed from wads of grass, palm -stalks, and small logs, which had made it bulky enough -to be mistaken for a sleeping figure in the uncertain -firelight.</p> -<p>“After what you told me,” Mr. Brewster said to -Biff and Kamuka, “I decided to test Luiz. I did everything -but mention Joe Nara by name. I made this -dummy figure so I could watch Luiz if he tried to -steal the map he had been told I carried. At the same -time, I was guarding my life against his treachery.”</p> -<p>“But, Dad!” exclaimed Biff. “Serbot never told -Luiz to kill you. He simply told him to delay our -safari.”</p> -<p>“And to Luiz’s way of thinking,” declared Mr. -Brewster, “the simplest way of accomplishing that -would be by killing me. Here in the jungle, people -think and act in very direct terms, particularly the natives.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman began a discussion -of the next steps to be taken. They agreed that the -sooner the safari moved along, the better. Mr. Brewster -put a question to Jacome.</p> -<p>“You have been to Piedra Del Cucuy before, Jacome. -Could you find your way there again?”</p> -<p>“I think so, Senhor.”</p> -<p>“Then you will be our guide as far as the big rock. -Have the bearers ready to move at dawn.”</p> -<p>Daylight was tinting the vast canopy of jungle -leaves when the safari started back toward the main -trail. The setting was somber at this early hour, but -the silence was soon broken by some scattered jungle -cries. Then, clear and sharp, came the metallic note -of the bellbird. Mr. Brewster waved the safari to a -stop and said:</p> -<p>“Listen.”</p> -<p>The call was repeated. Mr. Brewster turned to -Kamuka and asked:</p> -<p>“What kind of bird is that? <i>Campanero</i> or Urubu?”</p> -<p>Biff smiled at the way his father used the term for -“bellbird” along with Urubu’s nickname of “vulture.” -But Kamuka kept a very serious face as he replied.</p> -<p>“It is Urubu. Look, Senhor. I show you why.”</p> -<p>He pointed to a white-feathered bird that formed -a tiny spot on the high branch of a tree.</p> -<p>“There is real <i>campanero</i>,” declared Kamuka. “He -is saying nothing. He would answer if he heard real -call.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster studied the bellbird through a pair of -binoculars and promptly agreed with Kamuka. He -handed the glasses to Biff, who noted that the bird, -which was something like a waxwing, but larger, had -an appendage that extended from its forehead and -draped down over its bill. This ornament, jet-black -in color, was starred with tiny tufts of feathers. Mr. -Brewster called it a caruncle and explained that it was -commonly seen on various species of tropical birds -noted for their ringing cries.</p> -<p>But this bellbird remained silent, even when the -distant anvil sound clanged anew.</p> -<p>“Urubu is signaling for Luiz,” declared Mr. Brewster. -“He may wait an hour or so and try again. -When Serbot finally decides that we have moved on, -he will think that Luiz is taking us the long way. We -should get a good head start, right now.”</p> -<p>The safari pressed forward at a quick pace which -was maintained most of the day. The going was not -as hard as Biff had anticipated. Luiz’s talk of a tough -trail had been a sham, so that the party would be willing -to take the long route.</p> -<p>Even some of the streams they encountered were -already bridged with fallen trees, making crossing -easy. After one such crossing, Jacome suggested stopping -to eat. Mr. Brewster opened some canned goods, -but most of the bearers preferred bowls of coarse -cereal, made from the manioc or cassava plant. This -formed their chief diet.</p> -<p>Jacome gnawed on a large bone of left-over tapir -meat. When he had finished half of the meat, he suddenly -tossed the bone into the stream. Instantly, the -water flashed with silvery streaks in the shape of long, -sleek fish that fought for the bone and tore the remaining -meat to shreds.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div> -<p>“Piranha,” grunted Jacome. “They rip anybody -who goes in water. If we chop away tree, Urubu will -have to stop to build new bridge to get across.”</p> -<p>“Serbot might suspect something,” objected Mr. -Brewster. “If they guess that we are on the same trail -<i>ahead</i> of them, they will hurry. It is better to let them -think that they can take their time.”</p> -<p>Jacome still found time to fish for piranha during -the short rest. The cannibal fish practically leaped -from the water to take the bait. Jacome took no -chances with the sharp teeth that projected from -their bulldog jaws. He cut the lines and tossed the -fish into a basket, hooks and all. When the safari made -camp at dusk, they cooked the piranha, and the fish -proved a tasty dinner, indeed.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster kept the safari at a steady pace -during the next few days in order to stay ahead of -Serbot’s party. Jacome proved an excellent guide, -remembering every landmark along the trail. One -afternoon, a rain ended as they trudged beside the -bank of a sluggish stream and Jacome pointed into the -distance with the comment:</p> -<p>“Big rock. There.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<p>It was Piedra Del Cucuy, a huge, stumpy shaft of -granite, towering hundreds of feet above the forest. -The rock was streaked with tiny trees that looked -like sprinklings from the vast green vegetation that -spread beneath. Though the natural boundary marker -was still a day’s march away, the mere sight of it -spurred on the safari.</p> -<p>In the light of dawn, the big rock seemed much -closer, and within a few hours’ trek, even its cracks -and furrows showed sharply. Trails began to join, and -suddenly the trees spread as the safari emerged upon -a sandy beach lapped by the black water of the Rio -Negro.</p> -<p>There wasn’t a sign of a boat nor of any habitation -until Kamuka pointed to a movement in the brush, a -few hundred feet downstream. Mr. Brewster stepped -forward, spreading his arms with a wide sweep.</p> -<p>“If it’s Joe Nara,” Mr. Brewster told Biff, “he will -recognize us. If not, be ready to get back to shelter!”</p> -<p>Two figures bobbed into sight, and Biff recognized -the squatty forms of Igo and Ubi. They turned and -gestured. A few moments later they were joined by -Joe Nara. All three came forward to meet the safari. -Nara was carrying a small package under his arm.</p> -<p>The bearers were laying down their packs and -other equipment when Nara cried excitedly:</p> -<p>“We hoped it would be you, Brewster, but we -weren’t sure. The Macus have been attacking villages -up and down the river. Everywhere, we have heard -the cry: ‘Macu! Macu!’ until we—”</p> -<p>“Hold it, Nara,” broke in Mr. Brewster. “We have -more important things to talk about first.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div> -<p>The native bearers were coming forward silently, -and Biff realized that they were drawn by that -dreaded word, Macu. But Mr. Brewster wasn’t able -to hush Joe Nara.</p> -<p>“What’s more important than Macu head-hunters?” -the old man demanded. “If you don’t believe me, -Brewster, look at what I picked up downriver!”</p> -<p>Before Mr. Brewster could stop him, Joe Nara -ripped open the package that he carried. Under the -eyes of the native bearers who now were crowding -close about him, Nara brought out a pair of shrunken -human heads, triumphantly displaying one in each -hand!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER X</span> -<br />Trapped by the Head-hunters</h2> -<p>From the babble that followed, Biff realized that -the damage had been done. The bearers shied away as -though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack -them. They made a hurried retreat toward the -trail from which the safari had come. Out of their excited -chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:</p> -<p>“Macu here! We go home—quick!”</p> -<p>Biff, meanwhile, was studying the shrunken heads -in amazement. Reduced to the size of baseballs, their -human appearance was preserved in miniature form. -Cords closed the lips, and feathered ornaments hung -from the ears of these grotesque trophies.</p> -<p>Though Biff had heard how head-hunters dealt with -their victims, he had thought of shrunken heads as -curios rather than as something gruesome. But here, -on a tropical riverbank, where the deadly Macus -might pop up in person, the grisly trophies were fearful -things indeed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<p>When Biff looked from the tiny heads in Nara’s -hands to the scared faces of the clustered natives, he -noted a striking similarity between them. He knew -that the natives saw it, too, each picturing himself as -a head-hunter’s prospective victim. Mr. Whitman and -Jacome were trying to quiet the wild babble but to no -avail. Mr. Brewster gestured to the shrunken heads -and told Nara:</p> -<p>“Put those away.”</p> -<p>Old Joe wrapped the souvenirs with a chuckle, as -though he relished the confusion he had caused. -Jacome approached and spoke solemnly to Mr. Brewster.</p> -<p>“It is no good,” Jacome said. “They want pay. -They want to go back to Santa Isabel—far away -from Macu.”</p> -<p>“What about you, Jacome?” inquired Mr. Brewster. -“Do you want to go with them?”</p> -<p>“I want to go, yes,” admitted Jacome, “but I want -more to stay with you. So I stay.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster turned to Kamuka. “And you, -Kamuka?”</p> -<p>“I stay with Biff.”</p> -<p>“Good boy!” Biff clapped Kamuka on the shoulder. -“I knew a couple of little shrunken heads wouldn’t -scare you.”</p> -<p>“I have seen such heads before,” rejoined Kamuka -calmly, “but always heads of men. Never any head of -a boy. So why should heads scare me?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster paid off the bearers in Brazilian <i>cruzeiro</i> -notes, saying he would give them double if they -stayed with the safari, but there were no takers. In -English, Mr. Whitman undertoned the suggestion:</p> -<p>“Keep talking to them. They still may stay.”</p> -<p>“No, it must be voluntary,” returned Mr. Brewster, -“as with Jacome and Kamuka. Otherwise, they will -desert us later.”</p> -<p>The bearers hastily packed their few belongings, -took a supply of food, and started back along the -trail. Mr. Brewster remarked to Joe Nara, “Now I -suppose we shall have to go upriver in the <i>Xanadu</i>.”</p> -<p>“We can’t,” returned Nara. “We had to haul the -cruiser up on shore below the big rapids. The friendly -natives who helped were the ones who told us about -the Macus and gave us the shrunken heads. We’ve -come the rest of the way in a canoe.”</p> -<p>Nara paused and gestured down the riverbank.</p> -<p>“We hid it there,” he added, “so we could wait for -you.”</p> -<p>“We have rubber boats in our equipment,” stated -Mr. Brewster. “We can inflate them for the trip upriver.”</p> -<p>“But there are many more rapids,” objected Nara, -“with no natives to help you carry the boats past -them. You will have to go overland by a back trail.”</p> -<p>“Where will we find new bearers?”</p> -<p>“From a native village a mile or so in there.” Nara -gestured to another jungle path. “I’ll send Igo and -Ubi along to introduce you.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster delegated the task of hiring the bearers -to Hal Whitman, who left, accompanied by Jacome -and Nara’s two Wai Wai Indians. Biff and -Kamuka took a swim in the safe water of the river. -As they sat drying themselves in the sun, the boys -watched Nara describe the route to Mr. Brewster. -With a stick, old Joe drew a wiggly line in the sand -and said:</p> -<p>“This here is the Rio Negro. I keep going up it until -I turn east on another river.” Nara made a line that -wiggled to the right. “I don’t know its right name—if -it has any—but the natives call it—”</p> -<p>“Rio Del Muerte,” interposed Mr. Brewster. “The -River of Death.”</p> -<p>“Lew Kirby told you that, did he?”</p> -<p>“Yes. That’s where he said I’d find you. Somewhere -up the Rio Del Muerte.”</p> -<p>Nara showed a pleased smile at this new token of -a bond between his former partner, Lew Kirby, and -Mr. Brewster.</p> -<p>“Your trail will bring you to the Rio Del Muerte,” -resumed Nara, “but you will strike it many miles -above the mine.”</p> -<p>“How many miles above?”</p> -<p>“I wouldn’t know. I have never gone by that route. -But the native bearers will know when they reach the -Rio Del Muerte.”</p> -<p>“And then?”</p> -<p>“Then you follow it downstream until you meet -me.”</p> -<p>“Where will that be?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>Nara eyed Mr. Brewster in quick, birdlike fashion, -then decided to answer the question.</p> -<p>“At a split rock on the north bank,” stated Nara, -“They call it La Porta Del Diablo, or the Devil’s -Gate. Come through the gateway and continue up the -ravine. It leads to El Dorado. I will meet you on the -way.”</p> -<p>Mr. Whitman and Jacome were coming from the -jungle with a crew of natives. Mr. Brewster spoke -quickly to Nara. “Don’t show those shrunken heads -to these chaps!”</p> -<p>This time old Joe kept his shrunken heads out of -sight. He and his two Wai Wais left to get their canoe, -and soon the Indians were paddling up the Rio Negro. -Joe Nara was waving from between two heaps of -packs and luggage.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster, meanwhile, had opened a box of -trinkets that he was distributing to create good will. -Eagerly, the natives accepted colored marbles, bright -shiny beads, little round mirrors, and other geegaws. -Biff saw Kamuka looking longingly at the eye-catching -gifts and mentioned it to his father, who promptly -gave some to the Indian boy.</p> -<p>Kamuka took some marbles and a mirror, but with -a slight show of reluctance. It was evident that he -valued things that were useful as well as showy. -Among the assortment, Biff found a small microscope. -He handed it to Kamuka with the comment:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>“Here’s something you will really like. This glass -makes little things look big.” Biff held the lens above -an ant that was crawling along a dried palm leaf. -“Here, see for yourself.”</p> -<p>Kamuka tried the simple microscope and smiled -when he saw that the insect appeared larger.</p> -<p>“I like it,” he declared, “but I like mirror better, -because I can flash sunlight, like you did.”</p> -<p>“You can use this glass with the sun, too,” Biff said. -“Hold it close to the leaf—that’s right—now tilt it so -the sun shines through. Keep it that way and wait.”</p> -<p>Kamuka didn’t have to wait long. The sun’s focused -rays soon burned a hole in the leaf. Kamuka -tried another leaf with the same result. He turned to -Biff and remarked:</p> -<p>“With a lot of dry leaves, all in one pile, you can -start big fire with this—maybe?”</p> -<p>“You catch on fast, Kamuka,” complimented Biff. -“Yes, a burning glass is often used to start a fire. It’s -a right handy thing to have.”</p> -<p>Kamuka pocketed the microscope along with the -mirror and his other new possessions. In a serious tone, -he said, “Time to get ready for trail now.”</p> -<p>Biff noted that Jacome was assigning the new bearers -to their packs and other equipment.</p> -<p>“Yes, recess is over,” acknowledged Biff. “Let’s get -our packs and join the parade.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<p>The boys found, much to their relish, that they -were not needed as pack carriers. Mr. Whitman had -hired a few spare bearers at the village, and since this -new crew was fresh, with less than a half day’s journey -before sunset, Mr. Brewster had decided to let -them take the full load.</p> -<p>“You two can go ahead,” Mr. Brewster told Biff -and Kamuka. “The villagers tell me that the trail is -well marked, so you won’t miss it. But there may be -short stretches that need clearing before we come -along.”</p> -<p>It worked out as Mr. Brewster anticipated. At a -few spots, Biff and Kamuka encountered tangled undergrowth -which they managed to hack away with -their machetes, by the time the safari caught up with -them. As they were starting ahead again, Mr. Brewster -noted the position of the sun.</p> -<p>“Allow about an hour,” he told the boys. “Then -start looking for a good campsite. You can wait there -for us.”</p> -<p>Biff enjoyed the carefree, late-afternoon hike -through the vast green vault of the jungle, particularly -with Kamuka, who was quick to spot all forms of -wild life. Once, Kamuka pointed to a curious creature -with a huge shell that was moving across the trail. -Biff looked just in time to see it roll up into a solid -ball and play dead.</p> -<p>The thing was an armadillo, the most heavily armored -denizen of the jungle. Again, Kamuka called a -halt while they watched what looked like a Teddy -bear with white legs attached to a gray, black-banded -body. It was attacking a huge anthill, darting a long, -thin tongue from its snouted muzzle. The creature -was a giant anteater, feeding on its favorite prey.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p004.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="701" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Up popped a group of tawny natives</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<p>Kamuka was quick as well as accurate with the -machete. Once, while slashing at a low bush, he -changed the direction of his swing. The long blade -whisked within inches of Biff’s shin. As Biff sprang -back, he saw the actual target of Kamuka’s quick -aim.</p> -<p>The machete had clipped the head from a snake -which had been rearing to strike at Biff’s leg. Pale -yellow in color, with brown, diamond-shaped spots, -it somewhat resembled a rattler, except that it had -sounded no loud warning.</p> -<p>“<i>Mapepire</i>,” defined Kamuka. “Very bad. Worse -poison than <i>curare</i>, like Macu use on arrows.”</p> -<p>Biff decided that the snake was a species of bushmaster, -one of the most deadly of tropical reptiles.</p> -<p>“Neat work, Kamuka,” Biff exclaimed gratefully. -“You sure were johnny-on-the-spot that time!”</p> -<p>“Johnny-on-the-spot,” repeated Kamuka. “What -does that mean?”</p> -<p>“Somebody who is around when you need them -most.”</p> -<p>A troop of red howler monkeys were hopping -from one high tree to another, sometimes hanging on -to branches only by their tails. The boys were watching -those acrobatics, when a sudden stir occurred in -the brush around them.</p> -<p>Up from the bushes popped a group of tawny natives, -wearing odd-shaped aprons made of hides decorated -with bright feathers and large, dull beads. -Their faces and bodies were streaked with scarlet dye -that looked like war paint.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -<p>Some were holding bows, with arrows on drawn -strings. Others were raising long blowguns to their -lips. All were aimed toward a central target; the spot -where Biff and Kamuka stood.</p> -<p>Biff felt himself sink inwardly as he heard Kamuka -gasp the word: “Macu!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER XI</span> -<br />A Sudden Surprise</h2> -<p>Slowly, the Macu warriors closed in on the two -boys. The sharp eyes that glared from painted faces -were on the watch for even the slightest move.</p> -<p>Kamuka muttered to Biff, “Drop machete. Right -away.”</p> -<p>As Kamuka let his machete fall, Biff did the same. -The inner circle of Macus dropped their own weapons -and sprang forward upon the boys.</p> -<p>The two were captured without a struggle. The -Macus brought out rawhide bowstrings and tied the -wrists of the prisoners behind them. They also tied -their ankles together, but in hobble fashion, far -enough apart so that they could still take short steps.</p> -<p>Two of their captors picked up the machetes. Another -snatched Biff’s wrist watch and tugged it loose. -Next, they were finding prizes in the pockets of the -prisoners: Biff’s scout knife and his father’s metal mirror; -the marbles and the little mirror that Kamuka -had been given earlier in the day.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -<p>Kamuka seemed indifferent to all that happened. He -braced his feet so that the Macus had trouble pushing -him around. Biff copied that procedure and found -that it helped. Their captors were in a hurry because -all the while, the cries of the howler monkeys were -becoming louder. Above the din, Kamuka said -calmly, “If they hear this back at the safari, they will -know that we are having trouble. They will come to -help us.”</p> -<p>“But how will they know what is happening?”</p> -<p>“You will see why. Soon.”</p> -<p>Leaping monkeys formed dark red streaks against -the deep green of the jungle foliage. A few Macus -were guarding Biff and Kamuka. The rest spread out -through the brush, where they squatted as they had -originally. Gradually, the commotion lessened up in -the treetops. Then, as the monkeys returned to normal, -the Macus bobbed up again.</p> -<p>Now, their bows and blowguns were pointed upward. -The air was suddenly filled with arrows and -darts that found their marks high above. Monkeys began -tumbling from the trees, while the rest scattered, -howling louder than before. From the distance came -answering chatter, like an alarm spreading through -the jungle.</p> -<p>“The Macu come across river to hunt monkeys,” -Kamuka told Biff. “We heard monkeys talk. I should -have known Macu were here.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<p>The Macus gathered up the dead monkeys and -marched Biff and Kamuka back along the trail. New -howls were coming from far off.</p> -<p>“You see?” undertoned Kamuka. “Maybe safari -will hear and come fast.”</p> -<p>“Or go the other way faster,” put in Biff. “Those -villagers are scared by the very thought of meeting -up with Macus.”</p> -<p>“But your father will come, with Mr. Whitman—”</p> -<p>“I only hope they won’t fall into the same trap.”</p> -<p>“They will not fall into trap. They will have Jacome -with them. He will be on watch.”</p> -<p>Biff’s hopes rose at Kamuka’s words, only to fall -again as their Macu captors turned suddenly from the -trail. Instead of trampling the side path, the Macus -moved stealthily in single file, pushing the captured -boys into the line ahead of them. They spread the -jungle plants as they moved through them, then let -them fall back into place, leaving no trace of their -route.</p> -<p>Literally, the entire party was swallowed by the -jungle. Biff groaned loud enough for Kamuka to hear.</p> -<p>“Fine chance we have now!” Biff said. “They will -never find us, unless the natives know where the -Macu village is.”</p> -<p>“Macu never make village,” replied Kamuka. “All -they do is tear down huts that belong to other people.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div> -<p>The procession was moving straight westward toward -the setting sun. That, at least, made sense to -Biff, for it proved that the Macus had come from -across the Rio Negro, as they usually did. Evidently -they had found the fishing poor, so had gone on a -monkey hunt instead.</p> -<p>Soon, the procession reached the Macu camp. This -was a small natural clearing where the Macus had -chopped down a few palm trees. Women of the tribe -were sewing palm leaves together to form roofs for -crude shelters around a central fire.</p> -<p>While the hunters skinned monkeys for the evening -meal, other tribesmen gathered around Biff and Kamuka, -prodding them as if they were curiosities. Their -hands were finally released and they were allowed to -eat. Biff was glad that they were fed left-over fish -instead of monkey meat.</p> -<p>Then they were marched to two small trees. Biff’s -wrists were tied behind him around a tree, and he -was allowed to slide down to a sitting position. Kamuka -was tied in the same fashion to another tree only -a few feet away. Liana ropes were used instead of -thongs, but the knots were very tight and solid.</p> -<p>Other Macus tied their ankles in the same manner, -so that escape would be difficult, if not impossible. -As the Macus moved away and gathered around the -slowly dying fire, Biff saw their ruddy faces and -spoke to Kamuka.</p> -<p>“They sure look bloodthirsty, with their faces all -done up in war paint.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<p>“That is not for war,” said Kamuka. “It is for hunger. -They will wear the paint all night, for luck in -catching monkeys tomorrow.”</p> -<p>Biff and Kamuka were not too uncomfortable that -night. They slept fitfully until dawn, when the -women brought them water but offered them no food. -When they were alone again, Biff asked:</p> -<p>“What do you think about head-hunters now, Kamuka? -Will they let us grow up before they shrink -our heads?”</p> -<p>“Maybe,” returned Kamuka. “Sometimes they take -prisoners for members of the tribe. But I do not want -to be Macu. I want to be johnny-on-the-spot.”</p> -<p>“You’re on the spot all right. We both are. If I only -had something to cut these ropes!”</p> -<p>“I have something Macu did not find. I have it in -back pocket where I can get it easy. Burning glass.”</p> -<p>Kamuka’s words roused Biff to an eager pitch.</p> -<p>“Get it, Kamuka!” he exclaimed. “Try to hold it -into the sunlight and turn it toward my hands.”</p> -<p>“But it will burn your hands—”</p> -<p>“Not long, it won’t. I’ll tell you when to move it -and which way to tilt it.”</p> -<p>Kamuka soon had the little microscope tilted toward -the sun. Biff repressed a sudden “Ouch!” and -then said calmly, “Just a little higher, Kamuka. Hold -it there a moment. No, a little more. Now, the other -way—”</p> -<p>“I smell rope burning!” Kamuka said.</p> -<p>“Hold it just as it is,” urged Biff.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> -<p>Soon Biff, too, could smell the burning rope. A minute -later, he found that the bonds yielded when he -tried to pull his wrists apart. Finally the rope broke -completely, and with one hand free Biff was able to -take the microscope and work on Kamuka’s bonds.</p> -<p>By now, most of the Macu hunters had left the -camp, and the few who remained were still asleep. -The boys worked on their ankle ropes, unnoticed, but -found them so tight that they had to take turns burning -them. Finally free, they realized that their biggest -problem lay ahead.</p> -<p>“We can’t both make a run for it at once,” whispered -Biff, “or they might wake up and spot us. You -slide for the brush first, Kamuka. If they still see me, -they may not notice that you have gone.”</p> -<p>“But I can’t leave you here alone, Biff.”</p> -<p>“You won’t be leaving me. I’ll give you time to -work around the clearing. Then if they see me start -to leave, you can raise a yell and draw them your -way.”</p> -<p>“Very good, Biff. We try it.”</p> -<p>The ruse worked better than they had hoped. Kamuka -gained the edge of the clearing with ease. Biff gave -him due time to get properly posted, then followed -the same route. They had chosen it well, for it was -not only the closest edge of the clearing; it was directly -toward the rising sun, which would tend to -dazzle anyone who looked that way.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<p>Once in the jungle, Biff kept close to the clearing as -he circled it, calling softly to Kamuka until they -finally met. Again, the sun proved helpful. They had -been headed toward it when they were brought here -as prisoners, late in the previous afternoon. So now, -they had only to move toward the morning sun to -reach the jungle trail.</p> -<p>It was slow going, as they had to be wary of -animals in the brush, yet all the while they felt the -urge to hurry in case their escape had been discovered -back at the Macu camp. At last, however, they came -upon the trail. Then came the question: Which direction -should they take?</p> -<p>“The safari must have come as far as we did,” declared -Biff, “in fact probably a lot farther, as they -were supposed to keep on coming until they overtook -us.”</p> -<p>“But when they didn’t find us,” said Kamuka, “they -must have turned back to look.”</p> -<p>“You may be right,” decided Biff. “They could -have figured, too, that we missed the trail somewhere -along the line. I’ll tell you what. Let’s go back along -the trail a couple of miles anyway. If we don’t meet -them, we’ll know they are up ahead.”</p> -<p>“And all the time,” added Kamuka, “we keep good -sharp look for Macu!”</p> -<p>That final point was so important that both Biff -and Kamuka kept paying more attention to the bordering -jungle than to the trail itself. Every sound, -from a bird call to a monkey howl might mean that -Macu hunters were about. So could the slightest stir -among the jungle flowers and the banks of surrounding -plants, where at any moment, painted faces topped -with wavy hair might come popping into sight as -they had the afternoon before.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<p>But there wasn’t a trace of motion in all that sultry -setting until the boys reached a place where the trail -took a short, sharp turn around the slanted trunk of -a fallen ceiba tree. Biff, in the lead, gave a quick glad -cry as he saw native bearers coming toward them, -bowed under the weight of the packs they carried.</p> -<p>At the head of the column strode a white-clad -man wearing a tropical helmet. At sight of him, Biff -turned and called to Kamuka:</p> -<p>“Here’s Mr. Whitman coming with the whole safari! -We’re safe now, Kamuka! Come on!”</p> -<p>With that, Biff dashed forward, only to be caught -by the shoulders and spun full about, his arm twisted -in back of him. Biff’s captor shoved him straight toward -the leader of the safari, and the boy saw for the -first time that the man in white wasn’t Mr. Whitman.</p> -<p>Looking down from beneath the pith helmet was -the ever-smiling face of Nicholas Serbot, tinted an -unearthly green in the subdued glow of the jungle. -Over Biff’s shoulder leered the face of his captor, -Big Pepito!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">CHAPTER XII</span> -<br />Between Two Fires</h2> -<p>Biff’s first concern was for Kamuka. He managed to -dart a quick look along the trail hoping to shout a -warning to his companion. Then, Biff caught himself, -fearful that such a call would turn attention in Kamuka’s -direction.</p> -<p>The warning wasn’t needed. Kamuka had witnessed -Biff’s rapid capture and had taken action on his own. -With uncanny instinct, Kamuka had found an opening -in the seemingly solid wall of jungle and had already -dived from sight.</p> -<p>One man, however, had seen the green mass close -behind Kamuka’s quick-moving form. That man was -Urubu. He raised his rifle and fired into the thick foliage, -three times in quick succession.</p> -<p>As Urubu paused, Biff appealed frantically to Serbot:</p> -<p>“Don’t let him shoot again—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> -<p>Serbot ordered Urubu to lower his rifle, which the -guide did. At the same time, Urubu grinned, for he -had seen no ripple in the jungle leaves beyond the spot -where he had first aimed.</p> -<p>“Perhaps,” purred Serbot, “Urubu is trying to shoot -an anaconda, the way he did the other day.”</p> -<p>“Or some other jungle creature,” added Pepito, -over Biff’s shoulder, “like those that we heard run -away.”</p> -<p>Biff guessed that they were trying to draw out facts -from him, to learn if he and Kamuka had followed -Luiz and listened in on the discussion that had shaped -the later events. As Biff tightened his lips, determined -not to answer, Urubu became impatient.</p> -<p>“And maybe,” put in the leering guide, “I just now -try to kill some person, the way Luiz was chased and -killed.”</p> -<p>“What happened to Luiz was his own fault,” Biff -argued hotly. “He tried to kill my father first, with -a knife.”</p> -<p>“Your bearers did not tell us that,” stated Serbot -smoothly. “We met them on their way back to Santa -Isabel, and they told us that Whitman had fired at -Luiz, who ran into quicksand—”</p> -<p>“Where we tried to save him. Did they tell you -that?”</p> -<p>“Yes, they told us that. But not that Luiz had tried -to kill your father.”</p> -<p>“That happened before they even woke up. By -then, Luiz had started to run, so naturally Mr. Whitman -went after him.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<p>“The boy lies,” snarled Urubu. “The bearers did -not give you foolish talk like this.”</p> -<p>“They gave us other foolish talk,” reminded Serbot. -“They scared our crew by saying there were -Macus around here.”</p> -<p>“But there are Macus around!” exclaimed Biff. -“Their camp is only a few miles away from here. I -know, because the Macus had me tied up as a prisoner -all last night!”</p> -<p>The effect on Serbot’s party was electric. Even before -Urubu could translate the words to the bearers, -they were dropping their packs, ready to take to -flight, for they recognized the name “Macus” when -Biff mentioned it.</p> -<p>But Serbot, raising his smooth tone to a surprisingly -strong pitch, spoke in a mixture of Portuguese and native -dialect that Biff managed to understand.</p> -<p>“Where will you go?” demanded Serbot. “Do you -think you will be safe by running away like frightened -deer, while the Macus are looking for just such -prey? If there are Macus all around, as the boy says, -there is nothing for us to do but go on and be ready -for them!”</p> -<p>All this while, Pepito had retained his grip on Biff, -but had been gradually relaxing the hold. Now, at -Serbot’s order, he released Biff entirely, but still -kept a wary eye on him. Biff longed to dash into the -jungle and look for Kamuka, but again he managed -to restrain himself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<p>The chances were that Urubu’s shots had missed -and that Kamuka was lying low in the motionless foliage. -To race after him and draw new gunfire would -be the worst thing that Biff could possibly do. So he -waited patiently until the safari started on.</p> -<p>Then Serbot took the lead, telling Biff to stay beside -him, while Pepito guarded one flank and Urubu -the other, all three carrying ready rifles. The bearers -stepped along close together, eager to get through the -Macu territory.</p> -<p>“Keep a sharp watch,” Serbot told Biff. “The Macus -caught you yesterday. Don’t let them trap you again -today.”</p> -<p>Occasionally, Biff managed to look back, hoping -that Kamuka had come from cover and was stealing -along behind the safari. Soon Biff gave that up, realizing -that if Kamuka had decided to follow them, he -would be staying completely out of sight.</p> -<p>When they reached the spot where the Macus had -bobbed up the day before, Biff recognized it. He -turned to Serbot and said, “This is where the head-hunters -were yesterday.”</p> -<p>Serbot swung about and ordered the safari to halt. -As the bearers set down their packs, Biff studied their -faces and realized that some were members of the -group that Whitman had organized, the natives who -had started home when Joe Nara had exhibited the -shrunken heads.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<p>Their meeting with Serbot’s safari must have scared -some of Serbot’s crew into going back to Santa Isabel. -But Serbot or Urubu must have talked some of -Whitman’s men into coming along as replacements. -Now Biff understood how Serbot had learned so -much about Luiz.</p> -<p>After a brief rest, Serbot asked Biff, “Were there -many head-hunters here?”</p> -<p>“Yes,” replied Biff. “A lot of them.”</p> -<p>“And which way did they take you?”</p> -<p>Biff pointed to the west. Smoothly, Serbot asked, -“If there were so many, how did you manage to escape -today?”</p> -<p>“Because most of them had left before dawn to go -hunting,” replied Biff. “That’s why I was afraid of -running into them.”</p> -<p>“Good. We’ll be on the watch for them.”</p> -<p>Serbot ordered the safari forward. At the end of -another mile, they came to a side trail, which cut -sharply in the direction of the Rio Negro. After a -rapid discussion with Urubu, so thick with dialect -that Biff could not understand it, Serbot decided to -take the river route.</p> -<p>As they started along it, Serbot spoke to Biff, using -the smooth, easy tone that reminded Biff of their -first meeting in the airplane above the Amazon.</p> -<p>“If the Macus are hunting along the main trail,” declared -Serbot, “they will never bother to come this -way. That makes it all the safer for us. Anyone taking -the main trail would be gone, for certain.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<p>That was passed along by Urubu to the bearers, -who not only were pleased, but quickened their pace, -hoping to get out of Macu territory all the faster. But -Biff’s heart sank, for he was afraid there would be no -catching up with his own safari now.</p> -<p>Then Biff noted that Serbot was studying him steadily. -Evidently, the smiling man was anxious to learn -which way the other safari had gone, and was hoping -that Biff’s change of manner would give the fact -away.</p> -<p>Suddenly, there came an interruption that gave -Biff a cause for real alarm.</p> -<p>“Listen!” he exclaimed.</p> -<p>From the treetops came a running chatter that -seemed to carry like a wave from somewhere off in -the jungle. Biff recognized the excited gabble.</p> -<p>“The howler monkeys!” he told Serbot. “That’s -the way they acted after the Macus shot some of -them with arrows yesterday!”</p> -<p>Serbot tried to gauge the direction of the sound, -then ordered the safari onward, faster. They followed -the rough, irregular trail until they reached a spot -where the chatter lessened and finally quieted altogether. -Serbot waved for the bearers to set down -their packs.</p> -<p>The order came just in time. The bearers themselves -pointed to heads and shoulders that bobbed -from behind trees and bushes. Terrified, the bearers -shouted, “Macu!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<p>Serbot dived behind a pack, to use it as a shelter. -Pepito and Urubu did the same, expecting Biff to join -them with the huddling bearers, for spears, arrows, -and darts were now skimming toward them. Instead, -Biff acted upon sudden impulse and raced along the -jungle trail. He heard guns blast in back of him, but -knew Serbot and the others were too busy shooting -at the attacking head-hunters to worry about him.</p> -<p>Biff passed a turn in the trail and knew then that he -was safe from gunfire, but he had his eye on an -opening in the jungle another hundred feet ahead. -There, Biff was sure that he could duck from sight the -way Kamuka had. But Biff was becoming too hopeful -too soon.</p> -<p>Less than halfway to the spot, Biff halted in his -tracks as the foliage parted and a painted Macu warrior -loomed in sight. Armed with bow and arrow, the -deadly marksman was already taking aim at Biff with -his bowstring fully drawn.</p> -<p>Another moment, and the poison-tipped arrow -would be in flight, allowing Biff no chance of escape -at such close range!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div> -<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER XIII</span> -<br />The River of Death</h2> -<p>The twang of the head-hunter’s bowstring was -drowned by an explosive burst from farther up the -trail. With it, the Macu marksman gave an upward, -sideward jolt at the very instant the arrow was leaving -his bow.</p> -<p>The feathered missile zimmed high and wide by a -matter of scant inches, for Biff could hear it whirr -past his ear and stop with a sharp thud in a tree trunk -just behind him.</p> -<p>A piercing yell seemed to echo the timely gunshot. -The Macu had dropped his bow and was gripping his -left arm with his right hand as he dived off into the -jungle. The bullet had jolted the bow from the Macu’s -grasp, sending the arrow wide.</p> -<p>Now, looking up the trail, Biff saw his father -hurrying in his direction, rifle in hand. Biff started to -meet him, shouting, “Dad!” only to have Mr. Brewster -wave him back. Next, Biff saw his father take a -quick shot at another Macu huntsman who had -popped up in the brush, only to drop from sight again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<p>Now, from the other side of the trail, a brown -head and arm poked from among a mass of blossoms -that sprouted from the thin bark of a fallen tree -trunk. Biff heard the familiar call: “Biff, come this -way! Quick!”</p> -<p>It was Kamuka. Biff vaulted the log and took shelter -behind it, but tried to shake off Kamuka’s restraining -hand as he saw his father come along the -trail with Mr. Whitman and Jacome. All three were -taking long-range shots at distant Macus.</p> -<p>“I have to warn Dad,” Biff explained. “Serbot’s -party is just around the bend.”</p> -<p>“He knows,” assured Kamuka. “We were coming -back when we heard their guns. So we hurry -fast.”</p> -<p>“Coming back along this trail?”</p> -<p>“That’s right. When they couldn’t find us on the -main trail, they think maybe we take this one. So today, -they take it to look for us.”</p> -<p>“Then you sneaked ahead of Serbot’s party after -you ducked from sight. But how did you know to -take this side trail when you reached it?”</p> -<p>“Jacome leave special message that I understand. -Twist of grass and broken jungle branch are as good -as mirror signal, sometimes.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster and his fellow-marksmen had rifles -with a longer range than the Macu weapons. Also, -they were able to shift positions along the trail, preventing -the Macus from picking a point of attack.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<p>Serbot’s party, on the contrary, had first let the -Macus close in on them. Then, in solidly entrenching -themselves, they had lost all chance of mobility. Soon -they would have been surrounded if Mr. Brewster -and his companions hadn’t come along to scatter the -foe. Kamuka called Biff’s attention to that fact.</p> -<p>“Macu run like scared deer,” said Kamuka. “But -now your father is telling Mr. Whitman and Jacome -to stop shooting. Why?”</p> -<p>“I guess Dad wants to keep the Macus around as a -threat,” returned Biff grimly, “until he sees what Serbot -intends to do. Urubu might take a pot shot at -anybody.”</p> -<p>Kamuka gave a knowing nod. “You tell me!”</p> -<p>“Then you saw it was Urubu who fired after -you?”</p> -<p>“Sure, Biff. I look long enough to see him aim. I -tell Mr. Brewster all that happened, too.”</p> -<p>Evidently, Mr. Brewster had profited by Kamuka’s -report. He had reached the bend where he was in -direct sight of Serbot’s entrenched party, but he -was motioning for Whitman and Jacome to stay behind -him.</p> -<p>Serbot looked up from behind a pack, then gave a -wary glance in the direction the Macus had gone. A -few arrows came whizzing from high among the -tree boughs, but they landed wide. They were sufficient, -however, to shape Serbot’s next decision.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> -<p>Serbot ordered Pepito and Urubu to resume their -shooting after the Macus. At the same time, Serbot -clambered over the packs and came along the path to -meet Mr. Brewster, who in his turn ordered Mr. -Whitman and Jacome to renew their fire on the distant -head-hunters. Rifles barked in unison.</p> -<p>Biff and Kamuka joined their party in time to catch -a last glimpse of the routed head-hunters.</p> -<p>“They won’t stop until they reach their camp,” -declared Biff, “and maybe they’ll still keep on going -from there.”</p> -<p>“Until they reach the Rio Negro,” added Kamuka, -“and maybe they swim it quick.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster’s meeting with Serbot resulted in an -immediate, though guarded truce. Mr. Whitman and -Jacome moved up to back Mr. Brewster, while -Serbot was beckoning for Pepito and Urubu to come -and join him. The boys stayed in the background as -did Serbot’s bearers, none of whom had been injured -in the brief fray.</p> -<p>How many head-hunters might be lying dead in the -brush or limping away wounded, there was no telling, -but the battle had been won rapidly and effectively. -Serbot seemed duly appreciative as he purred:</p> -<p>“We owe you much, <i>amigo</i>. You have helped us. -Perhaps there is some way we can help you.”</p> -<p>“None at all,” Mr. Brewster said curtly. “Now -that we have driven off the Macus, we can go our -separate ways.”</p> -<p>“But how can you go anywhere? You have no -bearers.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> -<p>“They are waiting farther up the main trail, with -our equipment. We left them while we came back to -look for the boys.”</p> -<p>Serbot promptly raised a new line of inquiry.</p> -<p>“Perhaps you are surprised to see me here,” he suggested, -“So far from Manaus, where we last met.”</p> -<p>“Why should I be surprised?” returned Mr. Brewster. -“We are both looking for <i>balata</i>, aren’t we?”</p> -<p>“I am not looking for rubber,” Serbot declared. “I -am looking for a man named Joe Nara, who claims -to have a gold mine somewhere near the headwaters -of the Rio Negro. He came down to Manaus in a fast -boat shortly before you left your hotel.”</p> -<p>“Who told you I had left?”</p> -<p>“The manager at the Hotel Jacares. He also said -that your room appeared to have been robbed. The -next day your jeep was found near an empty boathouse. -I learned that Senhor Whitman had started -from there on a rubber exploration trip upriver.”</p> -<p>“And you thought I had joined him?”</p> -<p>“Exactly, Senhor. So I came by plane to find you.”</p> -<p>Biff realized that Serbot’s plane must have been one -of those that had passed over Nara’s cruiser on the -trip up the Rio Negro.</p> -<p>“After I hired Urubu as a guide,” continued Serbot, -“I learned that you had arrived on Nara’s cruiser. So -I assumed that you planned to meet Nara later.”</p> -<p>“So you bribed Luiz to kill me, to make sure of -meeting Nara first.”</p> -<p>“No, no, <i>Senhor</i>. I only wanted Luiz to delay your -safari, as Pepito and Urubu will tell you.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<p>Serbot gestured to the pair, and Pepito smiled -broadly while Urubu showed his usual ugly grin.</p> -<p>“I wanted to talk to Nara,” continued Serbot -earnestly, “because I had heard that he was willing to -sell his gold mine to the highest bidder. That is, if -he really has a gold mine. Perhaps you could tell me -that?”</p> -<p>“I wouldn’t know,” returned Mr. Brewster. “As -you say, I am only interested in rubber. And it’s time -that I was starting off to look for some.”</p> -<p>With that parting, Mr. Brewster motioned his companions -back toward the main trail. They had only -gone a dozen paces, when Mr. Brewster undertoned:</p> -<p>“Take turns glancing back to see what that crowd -is doing. I don’t trust any of them, particularly -Urubu.”</p> -<p>Biff took the first look and reported that Urubu, -like Serbot and Pepito, was leaning on his gun while -the trio apparently discussed what to do next. Soon -Kamuka reported the same thing. Then Mr. Whitman -looked back and announced that the group was now -out of sight.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster called for a quicker pace, and when -they reached the main trail, they moved even faster—so -fast in fact, that Biff and Kamuka had to jog along -to keep up with the three men.</p> -<p>“We came back to look for you at dawn,” Biff’s -father told the boys, “so our bearers will be packed -and waiting for us when we reach our last night’s -campsite. If Serbot pushes his crew to overtake us, -they will be worn out, while we’ll be starting fresh.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<p>Mr. Whitman was feeling the heat, for he removed -his white helmet to mop his forehead.</p> -<p>“More likely,” he said, “Serbot will try to overtake -Nara by going up the bank of the Rio Negro. That -makes all this hurry useless.”</p> -<p>“No, we still must keep ahead of Serbot,” Mr. -Brewster insisted. “If Serbot has guessed where Nara -is going, he will move up the Rio Del Muerte while -we are coming down it.”</p> -<p>The bearers were waiting when they reached the -campsite, and fell promptly into line. There was little -difficulty in spurring them on. The mere mention -that the Macus were behind them was enough. During -the next few days, the bearers toiled steadily along -the inland trail. Apparently, there was nothing that -they feared more than the Macus.</p> -<p>Nothing, at least, until the safari reached a deep but -narrow stream that the bearers promptly identified as -Rio Del Muerte. Then they broke into a babble of -Indian talk that only Jacome was able to translate.</p> -<p>“They say they leave us here,” declared Jacome. -“It is death, they say, to go down this river.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster studied the narrow trail that flanked -the riverbank and dwindled off into the thick green -of the jungle.</p> -<p>“Tell them that if they go back the way they came, -they may meet the Macus.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<p>Jacome translated Mr. Brewster’s comment. The -bearers chattered back excitedly, and Jacome announced:</p> -<p>“They say they would rather meet Macu than stay -near Rio Del Muerte. They say they go home now.”</p> -<p>While Jacome spoke, the bearers picked up their -few belongings and started on their homeward trek. -Biff and Kamuka noted that they did not even stop to -fill their water bags from the stream that they seemed -to dread so much.</p> -<p>“What do you make of it, Kamuka?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“I do not know,” Kamuka replied. “I cannot even -understand the things they say to Jacome, except that -they are afraid to go downriver.”</p> -<p>However, the expedition was far from being -stranded. The pack bags that the native bearers had -abandoned contained three rubber boats, complete -with aluminum seats and paddles. Biff and Kamuka -helped pump them full of air, so that they took on a -squatty, roundish shape.</p> -<p>Then, after a survey of the rubber flotilla, Mr. -Brewster decided to take Biff and Kamuka with him -in one boat, while Mr. Whitman and Jacome manned -the second, each carrying whatever equipment it -could bear. The third boat was converted into a raft -and loaded with all the remaining packs. Biff’s father -took it in tow, letting Hal Whitman pace the trip -downstream.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<p>To Biff, this was a fine change after the long, -sweaty hours on the trail when he and Kamuka had -helped relieve the bearers. They were floating -through a maze of jungle green that at times actually -arched into a tunnel above them.</p> -<p>Though heavily loaded, the boats moved easily, -more swiftly as the jungle banks narrowed and the -river itself deepened. Whitman was waving back -cheerily as they skimmed off the mileage. Suddenly -they saw him rise and wag his paddle frantically as he -shouted:</p> -<p>“Stay back—stay back—”</p> -<p>His words were drowned by a mighty roar as they -turned the bend and saw what Whitman had already -viewed. No wonder the natives called this the Rio -Del Muerte, the River of Death! Just ahead, a curved -crest of foam showed where the stream took a sudden -drop in the form of a mammoth waterfall—a sheer -plunge to doom on the rocks a hundred feet below!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<h2 id="c14"><span class="small">CHAPTER XIV</span> -<br />The Devil’s Gateway</h2> -<p>“Paddle hard on the right, boys—with all your -might!”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster shouted the order above the river’s -tumult, and all three bent to the task. They brought -their boat broadside to the approaching brink and -drove it toward the left bank of the stream, which -here was scarcely a hundred feet wide.</p> -<p>It was a gruelling race against death. There was no -escaping the powerful current that seemed to draw -them with a suction pull. Yet the jungle bank was -coming closer with every stroke.</p> -<p>They were almost there now, but Biff, in the bow, -had no chance to catch the first projecting tree, as the -boat was swept past it. He worked madly with the -paddle instead, for here the bank was eaten away by -the current, and there was nothing to grab.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> -<p>It seemed certain now that the boat would be carried -over the falls, when suddenly it began to swirl -about, and another few strokes brought them into the -last big clump of overhanging brush.</p> -<p>Biff and Kamuka managed to grab hold and cling -there, while Mr. Brewster worked the boat into the -bank itself. Then new disaster loomed in the shape of -the pack boat which had been following them on -its towline. As the other boat spun past, its line went -taut before Mr. Brewster could cut it.</p> -<p>Biff’s shoulders seemed to wrench half from their -sockets, and he felt the bush pull loose from the soil. -Then the tug ended as the other boat came full about, -giving them a soft thump. Churned into this new -position, it bulked in between the bank and their -own craft, almost wedging them loose and out into -the stream.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster made a quick leap across the baggage -and up on to the high bank, carrying the slack line -which he hitched over a tree bough. That secured -both boats, while the boys clambered ashore.</p> -<p>In cutting away the bank, the current had created -an eddy which accounted for the final swirl that had -carried both boats to safety. Yet only a dozen feet -away, the tangled jungle growth actually quivered on -the fringe of the falls that dropped in one huge deluge -into the dizzy depths below.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<p>It was from there that they first looked for Whitman’s -boat, expecting to see it bobbing somewhere in -the rocky gorge a hundred feet below. The rising mist -obscured the bottom of the falls where the terrific -torrent would by now have battered the bodies of -Mr. Whitman and Jacome into a pulp.</p> -<p>Or so they thought, until Mr. Brewster stepped -closer to the overhanging bushes and gained a full -view of the crescent-shaped brink. He beckoned to -the boys and exclaimed:</p> -<p>“Look there!”</p> -<p>Caught between two low rocks, Whitman’s boat -was jammed on the brink, its two occupants still alive, -temporarily at least. Heavily loaded, wide of beam -and flexible because of its inflated sides, the rubber -boat had snagged where almost any other craft would -have cracked up and gone over the crest.</p> -<p>Other low rocks jutted at close intervals along the -foamy brim. Biff noticed them when he saw Mr. -Whitman rise in the boat to point them out to Jacome.</p> -<p>“Those rocks are like steppingstones, Dad!” exclaimed -Biff. “If we throw a line to them, maybe we -can haul them ashore—”</p> -<p>An interruption came as the boat wabbled on its -precarious perch, due to Mr. Whitman’s shift of -weight. It settled back again, as Whitman plopped -down into the stem. From the shore, Biff’s father gestured -for Whitman to stay down and received a nod -in reply. Turning to Biff, Mr. Brewster declared:</p> -<p>“Throwing them a line won’t help. If they missed -their footing, they would be swept away in spite of it. -We’ll have to carry it across to the other bank and -moor it there.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> -<p>From the pack boat, Mr. Brewster produced a coil -of thin, strong rope which he estimated as more than -long enough to bridge the stream and return. He -looped the center around a tree trunk and gave the -ends to Kamuka, motioning him into the empty boat. -Then, with Biff helping, Mr. Brewster kept working -his way up along the bank, pulling the boat from the -shore, while Kamuka nimbly grabbed at passing -branches.</p> -<p>After they were a safe distance upstream, Mr. -Brewster brought Biff into the boat with him and told -the boys:</p> -<p>“Paddle hard on the left, this time. Try to swing -the boat upstream—and don’t stop, not for one instant!”</p> -<p>Again, they were in the swirl of the swift-flowing -current where Biff, paddling bow, found it impossible -to bring the boat about, even with Kamuka working -valiantly to help him. But Mr. Brewster had allowed -for that. Their efforts, plus his own, brought them -to the far bank, still well above the falls.</p> -<p>There, the boys warped the boat downstream while -Biff’s father hauled in the floating rope. Picking a -landing spot, they carried one end of the rope about a -tree, where they drew it taut and tied it to the other -end. The rope now followed the slight curve of the -cataract’s brim from the opposite bank as far as Whitman’s -stranded boat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster then took a loop of rope around a -paddle and began to twist it, winch fashion. He let -the boys take over, one at each end of the paddle, -while he waved to the boat and pointed to the water. -Whitman and Jacome understood the plan at once and -caught on to the rope as it emerged.</p> -<p>Rapidly, the boys turned the paddle, tightening the -rope until it looked like a suspension cable, except for -its outward curve. Mr. Whitman and Jacome, rising -gradually from the boat, gripped the center of the -double line.</p> -<p>Jacome took to the steppingstones first, moving in -limber, catlike fashion as he left the boat. Mr. Whitman, -who had settled low to offset the loss in weight, -watched every move, still clutching the center of the -rope, which also helped to steady the boat.</p> -<p>Hand over hand, Jacome followed the rope, swinging -from one projecting rock to the next, or actually -leaping a space where the water gushed through. It -became easier as Jacome neared the bank where the -pack boat was moored. There, Jacome swung on the -shore and waved for Whitman to follow.</p> -<p>As before, Whitman rose too rapidly. This time, the -boat skidded out from under him; as it did, he hopped -to the nearest rock and balanced there by clinging to -the rope. Biff saw the boat slide over the falls, tumbling -from sight with the light luggage it contained.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> -<p>Breathlessly, Biff watched Hal Whitman swing to -the next broad stone, where he swayed dangerously -while Mr. Brewster and Jacome, tightening their ends -of the rope, helped to steady him. What had been -child’s play for Jacome would have meant disaster -for Whitman, without that timely aid.</p> -<p>The last leap, that looked the easiest, was the most -dangerous of all. Where Jacome had swung himself -clear up on the bank, Whitman dropped short, but -not into the sweeping current that fringed the shore. -Jacome had wisely edged the pack boat into the gap. -Whitman landed on the luggage, and Jacome pulled -him up to the bank above.</p> -<p>During the next few hours, the party worked its -way down the steep walls that flanked the waterfall. -This might have been impossible, except for the holds -afforded by the heavy jungle growth. The boats were -deflated and lowered by ropes. Then, when Biff and -Kamuka reached the gorge, they found a shallow -stretch where they waded and swam the river, to receive -the luggage from the pack boat that Mr. Whitman -and Jacome lowered from their side.</p> -<p>Farther downstream, the boys found Whitman’s -boat, still intact, along with its baggage, which -Jacome had tied inside the rubber craft before abandoning -it. Biff and Kamuka hauled it ashore and -spread the contents of the bags so they could dry.</p> -<p>That night, they camped within sound of the big -waterfall, and the muffled roar seemed almost musical, -now that its hazard had been passed. But Hal Whitman, -seated by the campfire, spoke bitterly about his -harrowing experience.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<p>“I blame Joe Nara for all this,” he declared. “I believe -he is our real enemy, not Nicholas Serbot.”</p> -<p>“How do you figure that, Hal?” inquired Mr. -Brewster.</p> -<p>“First, Nara must have snooped a lot more than he -let on,” argued Whitman, “in order to learn about -that boathouse down in Manaus. Am I right?”</p> -<p>“You may be right,” conceded Mr. Brewster. “Go -on.”</p> -<p>“And by checking on me,” continued Whitman, -“he found out about you. He learned that you were -staying at the Hotel Jacares. So he sent one of his -Indians to steal your map—”</p> -<p>“Wait, Hal,” interposed Mr. Brewster with a smile. -“How could he have known that I even had the -map?”</p> -<p>“He knew Lew Kirby made a deal with somebody. -You were the logical man, or you wouldn’t have gone -to all the trouble and expense of sending me up to -Santa Isabel to organize a safari.”</p> -<p>“But if Nara knew I had the map, why would he -want to steal it? Lew Kirby was his partner. Remember?”</p> -<p>“I remember.” Mr. Whitman smiled grimly. -“What’s more, so does Joe Nara, and that’s probably -the one thing he’d like most to forget.”</p> -<p>“So he wouldn’t be bound by any deal that Kirby -made?”</p> -<p>“Exactly. Without the map, you haven’t any claim. -If Kirby signed over his share of the mine to you, you -would need the map to prove it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> -<p>“I still have part of it, Hal.”</p> -<p>“Yes,” acknowledged Whitman, “but I’ll bet that -Joe Nara only let you keep it because he decided it -wouldn’t do you any good. Think it over, and you’ll -see I’m right.”</p> -<p>Whether or not Mr. Brewster thought it over during -the night, Biff certainly did. When they were -loading the boats at dawn to resume their trip downriver, -Biff asked his father:</p> -<p>“Do you think that Mr. Whitman is right about Joe -Nara?”</p> -<p>“There may be something in what he says,” admitted -Mr. Brewster. “Nara may have been keeping -something from us.”</p> -<p>During the day, they made speedy progress down -the river, hugging the bank at every bend to avoid -new waterfalls. But the trip proved smooth, which -only brought more grumbles from Whitman.</p> -<p>“Nara sent us down this river to get rid of us,” he -declared, as they paddled along. “It wasn’t his fault -that the Rio Del Muerte failed to live up to its name. -As for that gateway where we’re supposed to meet -him—El Porto Del Diablo—I don’t think there is -such a place.”</p> -<p>One hour later, those doubts were dispelled. As the -boats passed a bend, they came to an opening in the -jungle that looked like the dry bed of a stream that -had once joined the Rio Del Muerte. Then, amid the -thick green foliage, loomed the very rock that Nara -had mentioned, split like a huge gateway, a short -distance up the ravine.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<p>They pulled the boats up on the low, sandy shore, -where Mr. Brewster decided to leave the packs and -other equipment, though not for long.</p> -<p>“Nara said to come through the gateway,” he said, -“and meet him somewhere up the ravine. If we -don’t see him soon, we can come back and bring the -luggage in relays.”</p> -<p>The trail narrowed at the end of half a mile and -veered sharply beneath a high, bulging cliff that -slanted back like a gigantic brow, cutting off the sunlight. -Mr. Brewster, well in advance, had reached the -turn in the ravine, when Jacome, bringing up the rear -of the procession, gave a loud, warning shout.</p> -<p>The rest looked up in time to see the tiny, squatty -figures of six men drop suddenly behind a row of -rocks that resembled the top edge of a castle tower. -But that impression was a brief one. As the group -stared from below, they saw the rocky summit topple -forward.</p> -<p>Those watchers on the cliff top had launched a -mass of bounding boulders that encountered bigger -chunks of granite and carried them along, with the -earth in which they were imbedded. An avalanche of -stone and dirt was gaining size as it roared down the -slope, threatening to block the narrow ravine and -bury every member of the party that had come into -its path!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> -<h2 id="c15"><span class="small">CHAPTER XV</span> -<br />Fabulous El Dorado</h2> -<p>While the others stood rooted, staring upward, Biff -looked for his father, in the frantic hope of giving -him some last-moment warning. Up ahead, Mr. -Brewster was waving for them to join him. Biff -grabbed Whitman by the arm and tried to start him -forward, at the same time yelling to Kamuka and -Jacome:</p> -<p>“It’s our only chance! Maybe Dad can get us past -the turn in the ravine!”</p> -<p>They all were starting forward before Biff finished -speaking, but their chance faded as the landslide’s roar -increased. Spreading as it came over the cliff edge, -the first wave of dirt and stone was not only peppering -them; it was pouring into the side passage that -seemed their only refuge.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<p>Fortunately, none of them was hit by that first -spray of smaller stones. Whitman stumbled, but -Jacome overtook him and helped him regain his footing. -Then they had reached Mr. Brewster, who was -blocking them from the side passage where Biff -thought he wanted them to go.</p> -<p>Instead, Biff’s father now was rushing them beneath -the overhanging cliff, where they huddled -against the rocky wall and turned to witness the havoc -that they had so narrowly escaped. From this hollow, -open space where Mr. Brewster had guided them, -they watched tons of dirt and stone drop down in a -solid curtain, only a dozen feet away, for the bulge of -the cliff above was comparatively slight.</p> -<p>Yet it jutted enough to send the tremendous landslide -cascading out beyond them, something on which -Mr. Brewster had counted when he made his quick -decision. But after the roar had finally subsided, Biff’s -father disclaimed any special credit for the rescue.</p> -<p>“I was close enough to see that this pocket offered -us our only chance,” stated Mr. Brewster. “As it was, -your own prompt response saved your lives. Otherwise, -you would now be under there.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster gestured significantly to the mound -of earth and rock that had piled many feet above their -heads. Carefully, they worked their way up over it -and down a long slant to the main ravine, which -they followed back to the river.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div> -<p>On the way, they looked up to the brow of the -great cliff, but saw no human figures there. They -noted though, that the landslide had turned the ravine -into a dead-end, with no trace of the narrow passage -that angled off to the right, the route that they -would have taken.</p> -<p>Back at the river, Biff’s father sat on a pack and -commented rather ruefully:</p> -<p>“I guess this about ends our quest for El Dorado.”</p> -<p>“I’m afraid so,” Whitman agreed. “I’ve told you all -along that Joe Nara was a phony.”</p> -<p>“You mentioned a few reasons why you thought -so,” reminded Mr. Brewster. “But they were hardly -sufficient, Hal.”</p> -<p>“All right,” retorted Whitman, “I’ll add a few -clinchers. Nara said his men were Wai Wai Indians, -didn’t he?”</p> -<p>“That’s right.”</p> -<p>“Well, the Wai Wais come from clear over in British -Guiana, not from around here. And you remember -those shrunken heads he showed us? To prove -that Macus were around?”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster nodded.</p> -<p>“Those were Jivaro heads,” declared Whitman, -“from somewhere up the Amazon itself. Macus don’t -shrink heads. All Nara wanted was to scare our bearers -back to Santa Isabel and chase us off into the jungle. -Right now, he’s probably still down on the Rio -Negro, making a deal with Serbot, somewhere near -Piedra Del Cucuy, learning what the competition -has to offer—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> -<p>Whitman cut off, his mouth wide open as he looked -downstream. The others turned and saw a dugout -canoe approaching, with Joe Nara reclining comfortably -against the pack bags in its center, while Igo -and Ubi were paddling him up the Rio Del Muerte. -Old Joe was smiling as he stepped ashore, but he -became solemn when he saw the accusing eyes that -were fixed upon him.</p> -<p>“I don’t wonder you’re annoyed,” apologized -Nara. “I should have gotten here first—”</p> -<p>“You didn’t expect us to get here at all,” Hal Whitman -broke in. “Those directions of yours were a one-way -ticket over the falls on the Rio Del Muerte!”</p> -<p>“You tried to come down the river by boat?” Nara -paused and stared at the rubber boats. “I didn’t know -you had these with you. I said to follow the river, -that was all. Remember?”</p> -<p>“I remember,” returned Mr. Brewster. “You also -told us to go up through the gateway to the ravine—”</p> -<p>“No, I didn’t!” interrupted Nara. “I said for you -to come up through—”</p> -<p>“What would be the difference?”</p> -<p>“Why, if you came up through,” explained Nara, -“I would have been there to meet you. But if you -had gone up through ahead of me”—he shook his -head—“well, thank heavens, you didn’t try it!”</p> -<p>“Why not?”</p> -<p>“Because the tribe that guards El Dorado would -have let loose a landslide if they saw strangers coming -their way. I was mighty glad to find you waiting -here. I knew you couldn’t have gone up through -El Porto Del Diablo.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> -<p>“But we did go up through.”</p> -<p>As Joe Nara stared incredulously, Mr. Brewster described -all that had happened.</p> -<p>“Now that the ravine is blocked,” he finished, -“I suppose you can’t take us to your fabulous El -Dorado.”</p> -<p>“On the contrary,” returned Nara, with a quick -smile, “I can take you to the mine by the short way.” -He spoke to Igo and Ubi in dialect; then, as the Indians -went to the split rock, Nara announced, “I told -them to summon some bearers.”</p> -<p>Igo and Ubi shouted up through the ravine, and -their calls seemed to echo back. Soon, squatty Indians -appeared from the Devil’s Gateway until a dozen of -them had lined silently in front of Joe Nara. Kamuka -undertoned to Biff:</p> -<p>“These are the men who pushed stones from hill.”</p> -<p>“I figured that,” said Biff. “I wonder whether they -are surprised or sorry to see us still alive.”</p> -<p>“They are neither. They think Nara has made us -live again because we are his friends. They think Nara -is El Dorado.”</p> -<p>From the furtive glances that the squatty Indians -gave toward the Brewster party, along with the way -they were awaiting Nara’s bidding, Biff decided that -Kamuka had guessed right.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> -<p>At Nara’s command, the Indians did the unexpected. -They began replacing the packs and other -equipment in the rubber boats, while Nara suggested -that Mr. Brewster and his party get on board. Then -the Indians brought dugouts from the bushes, and -soon they were all paddling up the Rio Del Muerte, -with Nara’s canoe in the lead.</p> -<p>The going was easy, for the current was sluggish -here. After about two miles, Igo and Ubi drove -Nara’s dugout to a low bank where the jungle appeared -to be the thickest. With their paddles, they -raised a tangle of roots as they would a curtain, and -worked the boat through.</p> -<p>The others followed into a channel wide enough to -accommodate the rubber boats with ease. When the -foliage had been dropped behind the final canoe, Biff -looked back and saw that the mouth of this stream -was as completely hidden as before.</p> -<p>They emerged from the jungle near a towering -rock that looked like the one from which the Indians -had launched the landslide. They pulled up the boats -beside the stream and took to a steep trail that brought -them up behind the rock, past the far end of the -blocked ravine.</p> -<p>The trail climbed steadily, with more slopes rising -ahead. Beyond them were mountain peaks, some -looming blue and cloud-capped in the distance, overlooking -a vast, unexplored region. The chunky bearers -marched steadily onward, crossing logs over deep -ravines and following ledges hewn in the mountainsides. -Biff kept his eyes fixed on the backs of the -trudging Indians to avoid any dizziness from looking -below.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div> -<p>“We are now in the Parima Mountains,” Joe Nara -told them. “This part of the range is in Venezuela.”</p> -<p>“I know,” acknowledged Mr. Brewster. “We -crossed the border from Brazil soon after we left -Piedra Del Cucuy.”</p> -<p>“What about these Indians of yours?” Hal Whitman -put in. “You say they are Wai Wais, Nara, but -that tribe lives over in Guiana.”</p> -<p>“The main tribe does,” returned Nara, “but this -one group remained here to guard the sacred mountain, -where El Dorado is located. They believed that -Daipurui, the Spirit of Evil, would go on a rampage if -anyone found the mine.”</p> -<p>“And how did you get around that?”</p> -<p>“I figured out a trick,” chuckled Nara, “that made -them think I was El Dorado himself, the original -Golden Boy in person. So they took Lew Kirby and -me up to the mine, the same way they’re going now.”</p> -<p>Single file, the Wai Wais were climbing steps cut -in a cliff, gripping liana vines as handrails to balance -the weight of their packs. As Biff began the climb, -the bearers looked like big, bulging beetles crawling -toward the skyline. One by one, they dropped from -sight as did the others in the party. Biff learned the -reason, when he reached a slanted ledge, like a niche -hacked in the cliff, and found the Wai Wais squatting -there.</p> -<p>Kamuka came just behind Biff, then others of the -party, and finally Joe Nara. Evidently, the Wai Wais -were awaiting him, for they began an odd chant that -included the words, “El Dorado—El Dorado—” and -continued as the shock-haired prospector strode past -them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> -<p>Nara paused where the ledge burrowed at a slant -into the cliff and beckoned for everyone to follow, -which they did. They entered a gloomy mine shaft, -so low that all members of the party had to stoop, except -the boys. The Wai Wai bearers, already bending -under their burdens, followed the route automatically -as though the passage had been cut to their size.</p> -<p>Daylight showed where the shaft opened into a -great cavern. There, the sun shone through cracks -and other openings in the ceiling. It glinted on chunky -rock walls that fairly burned with vivid golden yellow.</p> -<p>All the tales that Biff had ever heard of hidden -treasure had suddenly become real. This was a wonderland -of wealth, with glittering side shafts going -deeper into the mountain, promising new finds for -anyone who followed them. Kamuka, awed by the -yellow glitter, asked in breathless tone:</p> -<p>“How much you think this worth, Biff? A million -<i>cruzeiro</i>—maybe?”</p> -<p>“A lot more, if it’s gold ore,” returned Biff. “But -it’s worth practically nothing if it is simply yellow -quartz. A lot of that is found in Brazil, in places easier -to reach than this. What’s just as bad, it may be fool’s -gold.”</p> -<p>“Fool gold? What is that?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> -<p>“A mineral called pyrite,” exclaimed Biff, “usually -iron, mixed with sulphur. It often fools people who -think that it is gold. But it is more the color of brass -than gold, and it leaves a green streak when you rub -it on something smooth.”</p> -<p>As Biff picked up a chunk of yellow rock to examine -it, he caught a nod of approval from his father. -Biff had repeated facts that Mr. Brewster had told -him regarding metals. Now, Biff’s father indicated a -stretch of rocky wall, where patches of yellow shone -from a background of milky white. He asked:</p> -<p>“What do you make of this, Biff?”</p> -<p>“It looks like gold quartz for sure, Dad!” exclaimed -Biff. “There’s no chance of mistaking that. Or is -there?”</p> -<p>“In this case, there is no mistake.” Mr. Brewster -was studying the milky quartz as he spoke. “Undoubtedly, -this shaft was first mined centuries ago, -for it resembles old Indian mines that I have inspected. -But although it yielded gold years ago, I doubt that -its wealth has even begun to be tapped.”</p> -<p>“You’re right about that,” chuckled Joe Nara, who -was standing by. “Look there—and there—and -there—”</p> -<p>Nara had turned on a powerful flashlight, and with -each announcement, he pointed its beam down another -rough-hewn shaft that branched from the main -corridor. Each time, the glare was reflected with a -new burst of brilliance.</p> -<p>“The gold of El Dorado!” boasted Nara. “A -mountain full of it and a lot more that cropped over, -as I’ll show you!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<h2 id="c16"><span class="small">CHAPTER XVI</span> -<br />Surrounded!</h2> -<p>From the great central room, Joe Nara led his companions -down through a maze of shafts and tunnels. -Each passage joined with another, and frequently the -links were steep steps worn smooth by the feet of -native miners, hundreds of years before.</p> -<p>At intervals, daylight showed through shafts that -had been driven down through the mountain to tap a -vein of gold. Always, the passages led finally into -new corridors that glittered with rich ore. At last, a -long straight tunnel brought the party out on the far -side of the mountain, hundreds of feet below the -starting level.</p> -<p>The slope was gradual here, featured by dirt gullies -leading down to a grassy valley, with the jungle beyond. -As they followed the bed of one dry stream, -Joe Nara pointed to the sparkle in its sands.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> -<p>“That’s where I’ve picked up some of these,” he -chuckled, bringing some small gold nuggets from his -pocket and displaying them in his open hand. “But -mostly I find them up some of the smaller stream -beds. The gold just kind of oozes out of the mountain.”</p> -<p>Near the bottom of the slope was a shallow depression -that nestled like a bowl in the curve of the -mountainside.</p> -<p>“That’s where the lake was,” declared Nara. “The -lake where El Dorado used to take a dip and come -out all covered with gold. It’s dried up, now, but -there’s still plenty of gold down in those sands.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster studied the lake bed carefully. Biff -saw his father look beyond, as though following a -sandy course that led down to the grassy area that -fringed the jungle.</p> -<p>“You are probably right,” Mr. Brewster told Nara. -“The lake was artificially formed, and once the dam -was broken, the water found its way down into the -jungle.”</p> -<p>“And it joined a stream there,” added Nara, “as -I’ll show you. Do you know why this all happened?” -Tilting his head, he darted one of his birdlike glances -at Whitman, then back to Mr. Brewster. “I’ll tell you -why. When the Indians found that the Spaniards and -the English were going after El Dorado as well as -after each other, they closed up shop.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<p>“That’s what they did. Just closed up shop. They -busted the dam and got rid of the lake, so nobody -could find it. They covered over all the shafts so nobody -could find them either. They started rumors -about El Dorado being somewhere else, to send all -the explorers on a wild-goose chase. Then they kept -guard over the real El Dorado to scare away anybody -who stumbled on it by mistake.”</p> -<p>“All quite logical,” agreed Mr. Brewster. “That is -the way the Indians would act.” He turned to Whitman -and asked: “You agree, don’t you, Hal?”</p> -<p>“I agree,” nodded Whitman. “<i>Now</i> I know why -Nara showed us those shrunken heads. He did want -to scare our bearers so they would run back to Santa -Isabel. But it was because his Wai Wais would have -made trouble if we brought a strange tribe here.”</p> -<p>“They made trouble enough as it was,” declared -Nara, with a dry chuckle. Then, turning to Mr. -Brewster, he said, “Let’s see what’s left of that map -Lew Kirby gave you. Then we can figure what to do -next.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster produced the torn corner from the -map. It showed the mine, the stream bed, the lake, and -the trail that continued into the jungle, where it -reached a river that was marked on the map.</p> -<p>“The route is an easy one,” stated Nara, “as you -can see. But first, I want you to estimate the value of -the mine. Then pick out the ore you want, so we can -take it to the river. From there, we will go downstream -to the Casiquiare Canal and work our way -through to the Orinoco River.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div> -<p>They camped that night beneath the trees that -fringed the jungle. The next day, Mr. Brewster returned -to the mine and studied it in detail. They -stayed in the same camp another night and on the -following day, the Indians brought down loads of ore -that Mr. Brewster had selected.</p> -<p>Those loads were carried several miles through the -jungle to the river that Nara had mentioned. Biff and -Kamuka helped make a new camp there. Then they -swam in the river while they waited for the Indians -to bring the packs. The water was very clear, and the -boys brought up handfuls of glittering sand from the -bottom. When Mr. Brewster saw it, he commented:</p> -<p>“There’s a fortune in gold to be dredged from this -stream. But we still have the problem of getting it -down the Orinoco.”</p> -<p>Joe Nara had the answer to that problem. His Indians -showed up with a small flotilla of odd-looking -craft that resembled the <i>monterias</i> of the Amazon. -Nearly thirty feet long, each boat had an open cockpit -at the front with a thatched cupola at the stern, -serving as a sort of cabin.</p> -<p>Nara’s boats were different, however, from the -more antiquated river craft. His boats were low in -the stern, so that the big steering paddle could be replaced -by a sizable outboard motor. Nara had such -motors and the gasoline to fuel them.</p> -<p>“Every trip I made downriver,” explained Nara, -“either over the mountain and down the Rio Negro, -or down this stream to the Orinoco, I bought motors -and gasoline and brought them back here. I knew that -some day, Lew Kirby would talk some company into -a big deal for our mine.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> -<p>“What’s more, I knew the first thing they would -ask would be if they could transport either the gold -or the ore once they mined it. My answer is, yes, and -I’ve got the boats to prove it—and the motors, too. -I’ve kept them for a long time.”</p> -<p>Judging by the appearance of the motors, that was -true. Some were twenty years old, but all proved -serviceable when attached to the loaded boats. The -four boats that formed the strange flotilla started out -at a slow but steady speed down the narrow jungle -river that marked the first stage of a long, adventurous -journey.</p> -<p>Each boat carried a crew of three. Biff and Kamuka -were in one boat with Mr. Brewster. Jacome and a -Wai Wai Indian were in another with Hal Whitman. -The third boat was Nara’s, with Igo and Ubi as its -crew. The fourth, which served as a kitchen boat -and carried the food supply, was manned by three -Wai Wai tribesmen.</p> -<p>The packs, which included tents and other equipment, -were in the boats commanded by Mr. Brewster -and Mr. Whitman. The ore from the mine was mostly -in Nara’s boat, which squatted lower in the water due -to its added weight. But it maintained the same speed -as the other craft for the simple but sufficient reason -that Nara had equipped it with the largest of his -old-model motors.</p> -<p>The containers of gasoline were distributed among -the boats, and all were careful not to waste any of -the precious fuel. At times, they used the oars or let -the current carry them. When they encountered channels -that were narrow or shallow, they poled the -boats through.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> -<p>They were deep in the jungle when the river -opened into a fair-sized lake, where Nara pulled his -boat alongside of Mr. Brewster’s, to check the map -again.</p> -<p>“This is one of the lagoons that connects with the -Casiquiare Canal,” explained Nara. “Actually, the -Casiquiare is an overflow from the Orinoco that -reaches the headwaters of the Rio Negro, forming a -link with the Amazon. But sometimes the canal backs -up and flows the wrong way. The important thing is -that it is always navigable, clear to the Orinoco.”</p> -<p>The job now was to work from one lagoon to another, -through channels that would have been shown -on the missing portion of Kirby’s map. Nara knew the -route from memory, and fortunately he had been over -it several times. But he still had trouble picking his -way through a lot of lesser channels, and at times he -called upon Mr. Brewster to check the course by -compass.</p> -<p>“Taking a boat through a jungle,” declared Nara, -“is just like going for a hike in the woods. First thing -you know, you’re traveling in a circle. Only you -don’t ever really know it, because wherever you are, -it always looks the same.”</p> -<p>The more Biff thought that over, the more true it -seemed. But when he discussed it with Kamuka, the -Indian boy disputed the notion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> -<p>“One place is not like another,” declared Kamuka. -“I look there, and I see so many trees. I remember -them like picture. You show me another place, the -picture is different.”</p> -<p>“In that case,” said Biff, “I suppose you can never -get lost in the jungle.”</p> -<p>“I get lost easy,” returned Kamuka. “Too easy. -Any place I do not know, I am lost—maybe. But I -never get lost in the same place where I was before.”</p> -<p>Biff decided to test that out in a simple but effective -way. As they chugged along, he made notes of certain -spots and told Kamuka to remember them on his own. -When they reached a similar place, Biff asked Kamuka -to tell him the difference. Always, Kamuka came -up with some slight variation that tallied with Biff’s list.</p> -<p>When they swung into a small cove past a jutting -point with an odd overhanging tree, Biff was sure that -they had seen the place before. This time, Kamuka -couldn’t come up with enough differences in the -scenery. Triumphantly, Biff was saying:</p> -<p>“You see, Kamuka? This could be the same place -where we were an hour ago, or enough like it so you -can’t tell the difference—”</p> -<p>“Except,” said Kamuka, “that there was no smoke -in trees, no campfire with people around, no boats -coming out from shore—”</p> -<p>Biff looked up in surprise. He saw more boats, a -whole batch of them, shooting out from opposite -points to block off any retreat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div> -<p>More than a dozen in number, those boats were -filled with natives who shouted savage war cries as -they closed in on Nara’s flotilla, forcing the heavier -boats toward the shore. There was no avoiding the -camp where warlike natives waited, armed with spears, -for now other canoes were darting out from hiding -places to complete the rapid roundup.</p> -<p>Rather than be boarded by the natives, Mr. Brewster -ordered the boats to the shore. There, he and Whitman -sprang out with loaded rifles. Biff and Kamuka followed, -bringing their machetes. Jacome joined them, -armed in the same fashion. Immediately, they were -surrounded by a dozen silent natives, who stood ready -with poised spears.</p> -<p>“Be careful,” warned Jacome. “Do not make move. -Big pot on fire is used to cook <i>curare</i>. Spear point -poison—maybe.”</p> -<p>Between the circling natives, Biff saw the fire and -the pot that Jacome mentioned. It was a big, crude -kettle, steaming over the log flames.</p> -<p>“I’m glad they’re just cooking <i>curare</i>,” Biff whispered -to Kamuka. “I thought maybe they were boiling -some special stuff to shrink our heads.”</p> -<p>“Maybe they do just that,” returned Kamuka solemnly. -“I do not like this. Not one bit, Biff.”</p> -<p>A tall chief with a drooping feathered headdress -and a plumed belt had taken charge, and was ordering -Nara and the Wai Wais from their boats. Nara’s -Indians brought their machetes, but old Joe came -entirely unarmed. He jabbered dialect at the feathered -chief. Then, finding that he didn’t understand, Nara -let Igo and Ubi take over as interpreters.</p> -<p>After a brief talk, Nara turned to Mr. Brewster.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> -<p>“They are Maco Indians,” stated Nara. “They were -told that we intend to attack their village.”</p> -<p>“Macus,” Biff’s father groaned. “I knew they would -catch up with us.”</p> -<p>“Not Macus,” corrected Nara. “<i>Macos</i>, who live on -the upper Orinoco. But they can be just as dangerous, -now that they’re sure we are their enemies.”</p> -<p>“Where did they get that idea?” asked Mr. -Brewster.</p> -<p>“From three men who stopped at their village near -the Casiquiare,” explained Nara, “and told them that -we would come sneaking through the backwaters to -the spot where we are now.”</p> -<p>“Serbot, Pepito, and Urubu,” Mr. Brewster decided -grimly. “It must have been Pepito who stole the map -in Manaus. They were unable to locate the mine on -their portion of it, but they cut across our route and -stirred up this tribe against us.”</p> -<p>“What do we do now?” put in Whitman. “Give -them presents and send them away happy?”</p> -<p>“They won’t be happy unless they take us, too,” declared -Nara. “They want us to accompany them to -their village, so that their king can hear our story. He -will decide whether we are guilty or innocent.”</p> -<p>“That means he will either find us guilty,” observed -Mr. Brewster, “or he’ll put us through some ordeal -where we will come out more dead than alive. Should -we make a stand for it here?”</p> -<p>“Not a chance,” returned Nara. “Those spear tips -are already poisoned. That’s why they’re boiling -water, to cook up a new brew after they’ve used -their spears. One false move now, and we’re goners.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> -<p>From the bristling appearance of the spears and -the glares of the two dozen spearmen who now surrounded -the party, it looked as though Nara was right. -Impatient mutters were coming from the tribesmen -while the feathered chief awaited a reply.</p> -<p>“We can’t fight them,” declared Mr. Brewster, “and -we can’t go with them. What choice does that leave -us?”</p> -<p>“Only one,” replied Nara calmly. “We must convince -them that we have a right to be here, more right, -in fact, than they have.” He turned to Ubi and Igo and -announced importantly: “Tell them who I am.”</p> -<p>Igo and Ubi babbled in dialect with the title “El -Dorado” sprinkled through it, bringing echoing exclamations -of “El Dorado” from the Maco tribesmen. -At the finish, Igo spoke simply to Nara:</p> -<p>“They say they like to see you show them.”</p> -<p>“I’ll show them!” Nara made a spreading gesture -with his arms. “Tell them to clear the way to that big -pot up there by the fire, and I’ll show them I’m El -Dorado!”</p> -<p>As Igo translated the statement, the Maco chief ordered -his followers to clear a path, which they did. -Old Joe Nara strode forward, nodding his head as -though his triumph was already assured.</p> -<p>“I hope,” said Kamuka, “that Senhor Nara can -do something to help, like real El Dorado would.”</p> -<p>“Whatever he does,” added Biff fervently, “it will -have to be good, if it’s going to help at all!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div> -<h2 id="c17"><span class="small">CHAPTER XVII</span> -<br />The Man of Gold</h2> -<p>When Joe Nara reached the big campfire, he extended -his hands above the simmering kettle and swept -them back and forth in slow, impressive fashion. His -back was toward the half-circle of tribesmen, but now, -he changed position.</p> -<p>First to the right, then to the left of the fire, Nara -repeated his odd ritual. Finally, he stepped beyond the -fire and turned to face the group through the rising -steam which wavered and curled about his arms as -he repeated his ceremony.</p> -<p>Two savage spearmen had stepped up to flank him -with poised weapons, but Nara paid them no attention. -Biff looked slowly around and saw that he and -his father were under similar guard. So were Kamuka -and Hal Whitman, as well as Jacome and the other -natives. Whatever Nara might do, there would be no -chance to make a run for the boats.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div> -<p>Now Nara was drawing his shirt sleeves clear up -past his elbows. He looked like a wizened wizard as he -showed one bare arm and then the other, holding his -upraised hands with widespread fingers. Looking toward -the sun, which was almost overhead, Nara made -a clutching motion with his right hand; then a downward -throw toward the kettle, as though flinging -blobs of sunlight into the bubbling liquid.</p> -<p>Then, he boldly drove his right arm shoulder deep -into the kettle, keeping it there while he stirred the -boiling water with his bare arm. The tribesmen -began an excited babble when they realized that Nara -was unharmed. It became a shout when Nara brought -his hand from the kettle and raised it high, for all to -see.</p> -<p>From fingertips to above his elbow, Nara’s hand -and arm glittered like burnished gold, catching the -sparkle of the sunlight which he had seemingly captured -to transform his flesh into that precious metal. -Now the tribesmen were shouting recognition:</p> -<p>“El Dorado! El Dorado!”</p> -<p>Nara apparently had turned legend into fact. To -prove his power, he repeated the process with his left -arm. He showed it bare and white, dipped it deep into -the hissing water and brought it out all golden like his -right.</p> -<p>The cry of “El Dorado! El Dorado!” increased as -Nara stalked among the Maco tribesmen, showing -them his hands and arms at close range. The warriors -were awed, from their chief down to the pair of spearmen -who were supposed to keep Nara a prisoner—something -which they had now forgotten in their -amazement.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> -<p>The Wai Wais remained silent. Igo, Ubi, and Nara’s -other followers had seen him perform this wonder. -They took his power for granted. Now, at a word -from Nara, Igo and Ubi gathered up small pebbles -which they showed to the Maco tribesmen.</p> -<p>Nara went back to the big kettle, and there he took -pebbles first from Igo, then from Ubi, promptly dipping -them in the bubbling brew. As he brought out -the pebbles, he held them in the sunlight, showing -them to be pure gold. Nara gave the magic stones to -Igo and Ubi to distribute among the Maco warriors, -who crowded forward to receive the gifts.</p> -<p>Biff found himself practically alone beside his father. -In an awed tone, Biff asked, “How did Nara work -that trick, Dad?”</p> -<p>“He stirred the water to reduce its temperature,” explained -Mr. Brewster. “It had begun to boil at the top, -but was still cool below. I’ve seen the Fiji Islanders do -a similar stunt.”</p> -<p>“But how did he turn his hands and arms all -golden?”</p> -<p>“With some dye, probably, that he dropped into the -water while he was making passes over it.”</p> -<p>“I still can’t see how he managed to fool those natives -into thinking that those colored pebbles are real -gold.”</p> -<p>“They are real gold,” Biff’s father stated, with a -smile. “Remember all those nuggets that Nara carries? -I think he has been palming them from his pockets. -Every time he dips a pebble into the kettle, he lets it -drop and brings out a nugget instead.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> -<p>Biff watched Nara give the dip treatment to a few -more pebbles, then nodded.</p> -<p>“I think you’re right, Dad,” said Biff, “but Nara -is mighty clever at it. Only why is he handing out so -many nuggets?”</p> -<p>“To buy our freedom, son,” returned Mr. Brewster. -“Look. Nara is bargaining with the chief right now.”</p> -<p>The nuggets apparently weren’t enough, for the -Maco chief was shaking his head emphatically. Nara -promptly came up with a much bigger offer. He -picked some stones the size of hen’s eggs and began -passing them among the tribesmen, who nodded -eagerly.</p> -<p>“Nara can’t possibly be carrying nuggets the size -of those stones,” declared Mr. Brewster. “They’d -weigh him down so he couldn’t walk. Get ready now -to run for it.”</p> -<p>Biff passed the word to Kamuka, who relayed it to -Whitman. By then, the Maco chief had accepted the -ransom offer, but wanted the big stones turned to -gold. Nara went to the kettle, pretended to throw in -more fistfuls of sunlight, then turned to the chief and -made a beckoning gesture, as he cackled:</p> -<p>“Come and get it!”</p> -<p>Headed by the chief, the tribesmen made a charge -for the magic kettle, all anxious to turn their stones -into gold before the pot ran out of concentrated sunlight. -Nara stepped away to let them pass, then waved -for Mr. Brewster and the rest to begin their own dash -the opposite way.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div> -<p>They raced for the boats and were clambering on -board, with Nara only a few yards behind them, when -the milling tribesmen noticed their flight. Still, the -natives were too busy to be bothered until they found -that the stones refused to turn to gold. Then they -threw them down and grabbed up their spears instead, -but by that time the motors were spinning and the -boats were under way, with Igo hauling Nara over -the side of their <i>monteria</i> while Ubi handled the helm.</p> -<p>Some of the natives started a pursuit in their canoes, -but the outboards soon outdistanced them. All seemed -safe and serene during the next half hour, while they -followed deep though sometimes narrow channels. -Then, from far in the jungle behind them, came the -<i>bom-bom-bom</i> of a savage drum.</p> -<p>Nara signaled for the boats to draw together for a -conference. In a worried tone, old Joe announced:</p> -<p>“Maco drums. You can hear them for thirty or forty -miles. They are telling other tribes to be on the watch -for us. So be ready for trouble.” He paused, then asked -Mr. Brewster in a low, confidential tone, “How did -you like the golden arm trick?”</p> -<p>“Very good,” replied Mr. Brewster. “But these natives -use paints themselves to color their faces and -bodies, so I can’t understand how you fooled them -with a dye.”</p> -<p>Biff was close enough to hear Nara’s chuckle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div> -<p>“I didn’t use dye,” Nara stated. “I used a fine powder -made from dried plants, sprinkled with tiny flakes -of gilt, that spreads on the water like a dust. Dip your -hand in and bring it out, the stuff gathers and clings -like a snug rubber glove. After it dries, you wipe it -off.”</p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p005.jpg" alt="Canoes on the river" width="500" height="523" /> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div> -<p>Nara showed his hands, now perfectly clean; then -added, “I sprinkled just about enough for myself, so -those Indians didn’t get any on their own hands. They -still think that I alone have the golden touch, but even -my being El Dorado won’t help us now that they feel -I robbed them.”</p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p06.jpg" alt="Drummers" width="500" height="625" /> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> -<p>An hour later, the drums were still throbbing when -Joe Nara pointed above the jungle to a huge, flat-topped -mountain that towered like a mighty mesa -above the wavy green.</p> -<p>“Cerro Duida,” called Nara, from his boat. “One of -the biggest mountains in the Parima chain, about a mile -and a half high. It was a long time before anybody -climbed it, because Indians are afraid to go with them, -on account of the spirits they think live on top. It’s -kind of tied in with the El Dorado story. Anyway, -Cerro Duida is close to the Orinoco River—”</p> -<p>Nara broke off as some canoes came scooting from -the canal banks, filled with armed natives. Motors -were opened to the full, and the flotilla again outdistanced -the native dugouts. But Biff, at the bow of -his father’s <i>monteria</i>, saw new problems ahead.</p> -<p>“We’ve missed the main channel, Dad,” Biff called -to the stem. “It’s shallow ahead, with a lot of sandbars.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster cut off his motor and signaled for the -other boats to do the same.</p> -<p>“We’d better pole our way through,” he decided. -“We still have time before those natives catch up with -us, and we can’t risk getting stranded on a sandbar.”</p> -<p>“Watch where you push pole,” Kamuka advised -Biff. “Big <i>sucuria</i> may wrap around it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div> -<p>As Kamuka pointed, Biff saw a huge anaconda -lazily sunning itself on a sandbar near the canal bank. -Beyond that were others; in fact, the area was alive -with the giant snakes, though none appeared to be -active.</p> -<p>Carefully, the boats were poled through the channels -without disturbing the basking boas. Biff looked -back and counted a dozen of them, still in repose. -Snakes as well as shallows had been avoided, when -Nara’s boat ran on a hidden sandbar that the others -had crossed. With its heavy cargo of ore, Nara’s <i>monteria</i> -refused to budge.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster attached lines to Nara’s boat, so that -the others could haul it free. He told everybody to -pole at once, and his plan seemed certain of success, -when Nara shrilled:</p> -<p>“Look back there!”</p> -<p>Native canoes had come around the bend. Seeing -the flotilla stuck among the sandbars, the tribesmen -increased their paddle strokes. Nara grabbed a rifle -and shouted to Mr. Brewster:</p> -<p>“Get your boats clear! I’ll fight them off!”</p> -<p>“Keep going!” ordered Mr. Brewster. Then, to -Nara, he called: “Don’t start shooting! They outnumber -us ten to one, and those spears of theirs have poison -tips. Once they start throwing them, we won’t have a -chance—”</p> -<p>It was too late. Joe Nara couldn’t be stopped, once -his mind was made up. He opened fire at the canoes -when they reached the first sandbar. Two dozen warriors -rose to fling their deadly spears!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div> -<h2 id="c18"><span class="small">CHAPTER XVIII</span> -<br />Urubu Again</h2> -<p>With the first crackle of Nara’s rifle, Mr. Brewster -shouted, “Down everybody—and get ready for them!” -That, Biff knew, could be more than just a shower -of spears. The warriors themselves would be arriving -next, with other weapons. The only hope would be a -few more pole thrusts, but while that might save some -of the party, it wouldn’t help Joe Nara.</p> -<p>It happened though, that Nara had helped himself. -Those crazy shots that peppered the sandbars without -coming near a canoe, unleashed a terrific force that -took the native warriors by complete surprise. As -they poised their spears, the sandbanks sprang into -life before their eyes.</p> -<p>Roused by the blasts of Nara’s guns and the ping of -the bullets in their sandy sunning spot, the anacondas -lashed their way straight downstream in a broad horde -of writhing fury that seemed to stretch like a monstrous -ribbon, two hundred feet in length.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> -<p>The stampede of mighty boa constrictors swept -everything from their path. Their thick bodies and -lashing coils spilled the canoes and plunged the native -warriors into the canal, spears and all.</p> -<p>The snakes didn’t stop their mad rush. They -whacked natives as well as boats when they passed -them and left the canoes drifting in a churn of foam -that made the canal look like a rapids clear beyond -the bend. Then the living tidal wave was gone as -quickly as it had begun. But Mr. Brewster wasn’t waiting -for the natives to reclaim their canoes and spears -so as to return to action.</p> -<p>“Back to the poles!” he ordered. “Heave away—away, -everybody—and you, too, Nara!”</p> -<p>Old Joe, his face gleaming in happy surprise at the -thing he had touched off, now laid aside his rifle and -helped pry the barge from its sandy perch. By the -time the hostile tribesmen were wading up on the -sandbars that the anacondas had left, Nara’s boat was -free. Outboards roared anew as the flotilla plowed its -way to the main channel and on to the junction of -the Casquiare and the Orinoco, where they headed -downstream.</p> -<p>The rhythmic beat of distant tom-toms could still be -heard that evening, when the motors were stopped and -the boats allowed to drift down the river under a -brilliant tropical moon. By morning, the drums had -ceased, indicating that the Maco tribe had either given -up the chase or that the flotilla was beyond the danger -zone.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<p>From then on, the expedition traveled mostly by -day and picked suitable campsites overnight. Biff and -Kamuka fished frequently and replenished the food -supply by catching huge river turtles as well as a tasty -species of catfish called <i>cajaro</i>. Biff landed one that -measured well over three feet in length.</p> -<p>Some nights, the boats were lashed side by side and -moored near river settlements where they formed -what Hal Whitman termed a “floating mansion,” complete -to the kitchen. At one village, Joe Nara bought -stacks of huge cassava cakes. These measured two and -a half feet across, but were only a half-inch thick. -They had been brought upriver wrapped in plantain -leaves.</p> -<p>These formed the main food for the Wai Wais accompanying -Nara, and Jacome and Kamuka liked -them too, though Biff found them rather tasteless. In -contrast were some cayman eggs, which the boys dug -up on a sandy shore while hunting turtles with Jacome. -The Indians, Kamuka included, found them tasty -indeed, but they were too strong in flavor to suit Biff.</p> -<p>Caymans were the great menace of the Orinoco, -so the boys were duly warned against them. Closely -resembling alligators, they were supposed to measure -twenty-five feet or more in length. But when Kamuka -called, “There’s a big one!” and Mr. Brewster -promptly drilled it with a rifle shot, the cayman -measured only twelve feet, when it was hauled on -board the kitchen <i>monteria</i>.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div> -<p>“When you see a creature in motion,” Mr. Brewster -told the boys, “and particularly a bird, or its cousin, a -reptile, you always gain an exaggerated idea of its -length.”</p> -<p>“Eggs-aggerate?” Kamuka repeated the unfamiliar -term. “You mean eggs look long too?”</p> -<p>“Not eggs-actly,” put in Biff, with a smile, “but -if we’d looked much longer at those cayman eggs, they -would have hatched.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster smiled at the jokes, then became serious.</p> -<p>“You must learn what it means to gauge speed in -terms of distance,” he declared. “When we reach the -rapids where the Ventuari flows into the Orinoco, you -boys can take the boat down through.”</p> -<p>When they reached the rapids, Mr. Brewster gave -the helm to Biff, then told Kamuka to mind the bow -and watch for rocks. Mr. Brewster went into the -thatched cabin, but from there, he kept a sharp lookout -in case the boys ran into trouble.</p> -<p>Biff realized that his dad was standing by in case of -emergency, but unless something of the sort developed, -Biff knew he would be on his own. What a -thrill it was!</p> -<p>Kamuka watched like a cat, to copy any move made -by Jacome and the stolid natives who were warding -off rocks from the bows of the other boats. Biff kept -an eager eye on Whitman, Joe Nara, and the Wai Wai -who was piloting the kitchen barge. When Biff saw -that they were watching the man in the bow, he did -the same.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div> -<p>Time and again, Kamuka would raise his paddle to -jab at a threatening rock. Always, Biff handled the -helm accordingly. Kamuka nodded his head admiringly. -He was crediting Biff with being a wonderful -pilot, never realizing that he was furnishing the tip-off -that enabled his friend to demonstrate such skill.</p> -<p>Twice, though, it was Kamuka’s quick work with -the paddle that staved off a crash on the rocks before -Biff could bring the helm about. When at last they -were drifting in the calm water below the rapids, -Biff sprang forward over the thatched cabin and -grabbed Kamuka’s hand, exclaiming:</p> -<p>“Great work, Kamuka! We make a perfect team!”</p> -<p>Kamuka smiled solemnly as he repeated:</p> -<p>“We make—perfect team.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster came from the cabin and clapped a -hand on each boy’s shoulder.</p> -<p>“You do make a perfect team,” he complimented. -“Just remember it.”</p> -<p>They remembered it, several nights later, when they -sat around the campfire after a <i>cajaro</i> dinner.</p> -<p>“Tomorrow,” stated Mr. Brewster, “we come to the -Maipures Rapids.”</p> -<p>“Can we take the boat down through them?” queried -Biff. “I mean, Kamuka and I?”</p> -<p>“None of our boats will shoot the Maipures,” said -Mr. Brewster. “They are impassable. So are the rapids -of the Atures, forty miles below. A road has been built -around both rapids, so that trucks can transport us -with our boats.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_161">161</div> -<p>Joe Nara gave a high-pitched snort.</p> -<p>“That’s where Serbot will be waiting for us,” he -declared. “That’s for sure.”</p> -<p>“I’m not so sure,” put in Hal Whitman. “After he -sold us out to those Indians on the Casquiare, he probably -headed back the other way, down the Rio -Negro.”</p> -<p>“Not if he figured we’d be coming down the -Orinoco.”</p> -<p>Whitman and Nara both turned to Mr. Brewster, -to see if he could settle the argument. As he lighted his -pipe, Mr. Brewster stated calmly:</p> -<p>“It’s about an even chance that Serbot came this -way. If he did, he will probably be watching the road -to see if we come through.”</p> -<p>“That’s right,” declared Nara. “We’d better keep -a sharp lookout when we reach that portage.”</p> -<p>“Serbot may be watching for us,” agreed Mr. -Brewster, “but he won’t be able to make trouble for -us there.”</p> -<p>“After what he’s already done,” argued Nara, “he -might give us trouble anywhere.”</p> -<p>When they reached Sanariapo, the tiny village at -the head of the upper rapids, Biff and Kamuka noticed -some natives watching Igo and Ubi carry sacks of ore -up over the sloping rock between the river and the -highway, where transport trucks were waiting to load -the boats as well as the cargo.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_162">162</div> -<p>The boys reported this to Biff’s father, who talked -with the truck drivers and learned that the hangers-on -were simply hoping to pick up a few <i>bolivars</i> in Venezuelan -money by helping load the trucks. But that -didn’t satisfy Joe Nara.</p> -<p>“If they can’t make a <i>bolivar</i> one way,” he argued, -“they may try another. Like telling people about our -gold ore.”</p> -<p>“Here at Sanariapo,” stated Mr. Brewster, “there -is no one for them to tell.”</p> -<p>“They might pass the word along to Puerto Ayacucho, -below the lower rapids,” returned Nara. “I’ll go -ahead on the first truck with Igo and Ubi, so I can -check on any rumors.”</p> -<p>It took most of the day to make trucking arrangements, -and to transport boats as well as cargo over the -modern highway that spans the intervening streams -on big steel bridges. Biff found the trip interesting, -with stretches of open country and barren hills as well -as wooded slopes and forested areas.</p> -<p>The highway followed the right bank of the Orinoco, -which belongs to Venezuela, while the land on -the other side of the river is part of the Republic of -Colombia. At Puerto Ayacucho, they found Igo and -Ubi waiting to load the ore sacks into Nara’s <i>monteria</i>, -when it arrived. But there was no sign of Nara.</p> -<p>According to Igo and Ubi, Nara had gone somewhere -immediately after arriving in Puerto Ayacucho. -But Mr. Brewster, inquiring at stores, hotels, and -elsewhere, was unable to find anyone who had even -seen the old white-haired prospector.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> -<p>“The only place left,” Mr. Brewster declared, -chuckling, “is the governor’s office. Maybe Joe Nara -is having lunch with His Excellency. Should we try -there?”</p> -<p>“I don’t think so,” returned Hal Whitman dryly. -“From the way Nara looks for trouble, we might do -better if we asked at the local calaboose.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster smiled at that reference to the town -jail.</p> -<p>“I’ve already asked there,” he said. Then, turning -to the boys, he added, “Look around for Nara, and if -you don’t have any luck, I guess we’ll have to call on -the governor’s office to help us find him.”</p> -<p>Kamuka noticed some natives lounging near an old -shack on the high bank of the river.</p> -<p>“Maybe they have seen Senhor Nara,” Kamuka said -to Biff. “But you will have to ask them. They do not -speak Portuguese as I do. They talk Spanish, which -you understand.”</p> -<p>When they approached the group, Biff addressed -the nearest native, who was huddled by the wall, his -chin buried deep in his red bandanna neckerchief and -his gaze turned toward the river.</p> -<p>“<i>Oiga, amigo</i>,” began Biff. “<i>Soy buscando un viejo -son pelo bianco</i>—”</p> -<p>Biff was saying that he was looking for an old man -with white hair, but he got no further. The slouchy -native came to his feet and spun about with a snarl.</p> -<p>As Biff dropped back, he found himself staring into -the vicious, hawkish face of Urubu!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_164">164</div> -<h2 id="c19"><span class="small">CHAPTER XIX</span> -<br />Partners in Crime</h2> -<p>“Look out, Biff! He may have a knife!”</p> -<p>The warning came from Kamuka as the Indian boy -grabbed Biff’s arm, hauling him away from Urubu. But -there was no way for them to dodge, except toward -the wall, as Urubu was between them and the corner -of the building.</p> -<p>Then, from around that very corner came a limber -figure, a thin man clad in dungarees and a big sombrero, -whose tight fists moved like pistons as they -jabbed at Urubu’s face. Jolted backward, Urubu -dropped the knife that he was pulling from beneath -his shirt. Warding off a few blows, he turned and ran -wildly for a landing below the riverbank.</p> -<p>The boys turned to thank their rescuer, who had -lost his big sombrero and was stooping to pick up the -wide-brimmed hat. They were amazed when they -saw his smiling face and white hair. The man who -had routed Urubu was Joe Nara.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div> -<p>“The way to spot snoopers,” advised Nara, “is to -go snooping for them. Nobody would know old -Joe Nara in this outfit, particularly with his white -hair out of sight.”</p> -<p>Nara chuckled as he put on the sombrero, showing -how quick and complete the change was. Then -Nara pointed to the river where a small, squat motorboat -was scudding downstream.</p> -<p>“There goes Urubu,” said Nara, “with another rat -who was waiting for him, probably Pepito. They’re -going to tell their boss Serbot that the gold rush is -coming his way.”</p> -<p>The boys couldn’t see the boat closely, because they -faced the glare of the late afternoon sun. When they -told Mr. Brewster what had happened, he agreed -with Nara.</p> -<p>“We’ll keep going downstream, though,” Mr. -Brewster decided, “until we reach the rapids above -Puerto Carreno, the only town on the Colombian -side of the river.”</p> -<p>“Can we go through those rapids?” asked Biff.</p> -<p>“Yes, they are quite navigable,” his father replied, -“but that is where Serbot and his crew will be waiting -to attack us. If we get by the rapids, we’ll be all -right, because Mr. Stannart should be at Puerto Carreno -in his yacht, by this time.”</p> -<p>“Can he come that far up the Orinoco, Dad?”</p> -<p>“Yes, he can make it,” replied Mr. Brewster. “And -in his letter he said he would, unless we met him -farther downriver. Since we have taken longer than -the time he allotted us, we should find him there. -Then we’ll close the mining deal with you, Joe.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_166">166</div> -<p>“If we get there,” put in Nara glumly. “We can’t -go around those rapids unless we take a back trail, -and Serbot will be watching that, too.”</p> -<p>As the loaded flotilla continued down the river, -Mr. Brewster continued to weigh the coming problem. -He was hoping that a solution might crop up, -and as the expedition approached the rapids, the answer -came.</p> -<p>Back from the river on the Venezuelan side stood -an old, abandoned blockhouse flanked by a few dilapidated -mud huts.</p> -<p>“We’ll make camp there,” Mr. Brewster decided. -“We can bring enough supplies into the blockhouse -to hold Serbot off if he tries to attack us.”</p> -<p>“Do you think he has spies watching for us now?” -asked Biff.</p> -<p>“Very probably,” his father rejoined. “And when -he learns that we aren’t coming down the river, he -will have to come up here to find us.”</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster signaled the other boats to shore, -and when they landed, he explained full details of his -plan.</p> -<p>“Tomorrow, Nara,” stated Mr. Brewster, “I want -you to move your Wai Wai Indians down by a back -trail to the rapids. They should be able to creep up -on Serbot’s crew without his knowing it.”</p> -<p>Nara nodded agreement.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div> -<p>“As soon as Serbot becomes impatient and starts -up here,” Mr. Brewster went on, “the Wai Wais -can spring a surprise attack on any men that he leaves -there. Then, before Serbot has time to attack us -here, we’ll come down the river in the boats. We’ll -pick your men up at the rapids, where they will have -cleared the way for us.”</p> -<p>“But what about my <i>monteria</i>?” asked Nara, tilting -his head in canny style. “It has all the gold ore. -Remember?”</p> -<p>“We’ll bring it with the other boats,” promised -Mr. Brewster. “It means more to me than to you, -Nara, because you have lots more back at El Dorado. -But these are the samples that I need to show Mr. -Stannart and close the deal for Ajax.”</p> -<p>“But suppose Serbot does attack here?”</p> -<p>“We’ll drive him off from the blockhouse. When -he sees that we are well fortified, he is sure to withdraw -until he can bring up more men. Your Wai -Wais will have taken care of them. That’s when we’ll -surprise him by dashing out to the boats and starting -down the river.”</p> -<p>They spent the rest of the day bringing the supplies -in from the boats and putting the blockhouse -into shape. The small windows of the square, squatty -building were equipped with screens, but most of -them were in poor condition. Mr. Brewster insisted -upon repairing them first.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_168">168</div> -<p>“Let’s get fortified against mosquitoes and other -insects for tonight,” he suggested. “During the evening, -we can strengthen the shutters and fix loopholes -so as to fight off Serbot and his pests tomorrow or -whenever they come this way.”</p> -<p>While the others worked late into the evening, Joe -Nara strode about wearing a gun belt with two revolvers -poking from its holsters, ready for trouble. -Later Nara and his Wai Wais slept under netting on -their <i>monterias</i>, so as to get a good rest.</p> -<p>In the blockhouse, the other members of the party -took turns at guard duty through the night. At dawn, -Jacome awakened Biff, who was scheduled to take -over at that time. From one of the screened windows, -Biff saw the squatty figures of Igo and Ubi emerge -from Nara’s <i>monteria</i>. They roused the other Indians, -and soon were stealthily moving off among the trees, -to seek a trail to the rapids.</p> -<p>The next few hours were the longest that Biff had -ever experienced. The others woke up, had breakfast, -and strolled about the camp. But the very air seemed -charged with expectancy. It would probably be mid-afternoon, -perhaps even later in the day, before a -move came from the other camp—if a move came at -all.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster, Hal Whitman, and Jacome were all -carrying their rifles, fully loaded, but that was purely -a matter of precaution.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> -<p>“Nara’s party can’t have reached the rapids yet,” -Mr. Brewster told Biff and Kamuka. “Even so, they -won’t make a move unless Serbot starts out with -his main force. If he sends some men ahead, they -may try some sniping so, naturally, we must be ready. -But that will show their hand—”</p> -<p>A sudden interruption came from the surrounding -trees, the blasts of a dozen guns or more. Mr. -Brewster wheeled and fired back from the spot where -he was standing, midway between the blockhouse and -the boats. Mr. Whitman and Jacome were nearer the -blockhouse. They turned and fired, too.</p> -<p>A bigger volley answered from a wider angle, accompanied -by the whine of bullets that were high, -but close. Whitman was shouting from near the -blockhouse:</p> -<p>“This way! Quick, or you’ll be cut off! Serbot is -here with his whole outfit!”</p> -<p>Amid new gunbursts, Mr. Brewster made a rapid -decision. He pointed the boys to the shore and told -them:</p> -<p>“Quick! Get to Nara’s <i>monteria</i>. Start it down -the river, and don’t stop until you reach Stannart’s -yacht!”</p> -<p>The boys were on their way, and Mr. Brewster -was dashing back to the blockhouse, to join Whitman -and Jacome. He made it safely, although he -drew the fire of Serbot’s followers, who were now -visible as they came clambering, shouting, from the -surrounding brush.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_170">170</div> -<p>But Biff and Kamuka were now beyond the range -of immediate gunfire when they boarded the -<i>monteria</i>. Then they had the big motor started, and -the heavily loaded boat was plowing its way out to -the middle of the Orinoco.</p> -<p>When Biff looked back, he saw tiny figures on the -shore, but the boat was now half a mile away, too far -for bullets to reach it.</p> -<p>“Serbot staged a surprise attack of his own,” Biff -told Kamuka, who was with him in the stem. “And -Dad had promised Nara that he would get this -<i>monteria</i> down the river. So here we are!”</p> -<p>“Soon we reach rapids,” was Kamuka’s comment. -“I better get ready so we can work like team.”</p> -<p>The space under the thatched cabin was stacked -with packs as well as sacks of ore, so Kamuka didn’t -try to crawl through it to reach the bow of the boat. -Instead, he scrambled over the low roof, picked up a -paddle from the forward cockpit, and waved back to -Biff as he took his position.</p> -<p>Soon the white foam of the rapids showed ahead. -Biff steered for what looked like the main channel, -and the <i>monteria</i> was swept into a series of whirlpools -that licked the sides of jutting black rocks. The -contrast in color helped Kamuka ward off those -obstacles, while Biff did some fancy piloting to keep -to the channel.</p> -<p>Then, as Biff veered from a new hazard in the -shape of a sandbank, he saw what he had feared most. -Human figures rose from the tall grass beyond the -sandy shoal and aimed rifles directly at the swift-moving -boat and the boys who manned it.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div> -<p>They were Serbot’s reserves, Biff realized, stationed -here to block the flotilla if it came down the rapids, -and Biff was sure he saw the gleaming face of Urubu -in the midst of the group. Urubu was finding it an -easy task with only a single <i>monteria</i> coming his way. -He waved his hand as a signal to fire.</p> -<p>As the rifles barked, Biff gunned the motor, adding -enough speed to carry the boat from the path of fire. -But Urubu’s crew was aiming again, this time at -point-blank range. Fortunately their fire never -came. The tall grass stirred behind them, and from -it sprang Igo, Ubi, and the rest of Nara’s Indians.</p> -<p>The Wai Wais had been stalking Urubu’s riflemen -to the edge of the sandbank. The first blast of gunfire -had given away the position of Urubu’s men. -Now, the Wai Wais were engulfing them like a human -tidal wave, while Biff and Kamuka resumed their -battle with the rapids, keeping the big, clumsy boat -clear of the rocks and sand.</p> -<p>Finally, the water subsided, and they were chugging -peacefully down the river past the little settlement -of Puerto Carreno and a great jutting point of -sand where the Meta River flowed in from the left -to join the Orinoco.</p> -<p>Kamuka waved his paddle and pointed ahead. -Moored well away from the channel was a sleek -white craft that could only be Mr. Stannart’s yacht, -the <i>Coronet</i>. Though small, it had a trim build that -marked it seaworthy, capable of braving the Caribbean, -yet also suited to river travel.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div> -<p>Smiling men in trim uniforms appeared on deck -as Biff maneuvered the <i>monteria</i> alongside the yacht. -The boys made their boat fast and clambered up a -rope ladder to find Mr. Stannart coming from his -cabin to greet them. Biff introduced Kamuka, then -started to pour out his story in one breath:</p> -<p>“Dad’s upriver in a lot of trouble. Old Joe Nara is -somewhere along the rapids. But we’ve brought the -gold ore from the mine, down there in the boat—”</p> -<p>Mr. Stannart smilingly interrupted with a wave -toward the cabin as he suggested:</p> -<p>“Step in there and tell me all about it. I have a -friend who would like to hear it too. You will agree -when you meet him—”</p> -<p>The boys entered the compact cabin, then stopped -short in amazement. Mr. Stannart’s friend was smiling, -too, but in a way that was anything but pleasant. -For both Biff and Kamuka had seen that fixed smile -before.</p> -<p>The man who awaited them in the cabin was Nicholas -Serbot!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div> -<h2 id="c20"><span class="small">CHAPTER XX</span> -<br />The Tables Turn</h2> -<p>Gripped by utter astonishment, Biff could only stare -from Serbot to Stannart. When he found his voice, he -blurted out accusingly:</p> -<p>“You two must have been working together from -the very start!”</p> -<p>“Not quite,” declared Mr. Stannart dryly, “although -I must say that Mr. Serbot and I have continually operated -along similar lines. However, it wasn’t until after -your father told the Ajax Corporation about Lew -Kirby and his wonderful mine that I even heard of -Nicholas Serbot.”</p> -<p>“And I,” rejoined Serbot, with his same fixed smile, -“had never heard of the Ajax Mining Corporation.”</p> -<p>“Despite the fact that your father was impressed -by Kirby’s story,” Stannart told Biff, “Ajax still had to -investigate it. Kirby had samples of gold that might -have come from many places, and his map could have -meant nothing. It was necessary to obtain some reports -from the upper region of the Rio Negro. I learned -that certain European interests were checking on the -same story.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div> -<p>“And I,” added Serbot, “happened to represent -some of those interests.”</p> -<p>“So while the directors of the Ajax Corporation -dawdled,” continued Stannart, “I contacted the competition. -I had much to offer that they needed, as Mr. -Serbot will agree.”</p> -<p>“And I,” said Serbot, “advised them to meet the -price, which included—this.”</p> -<p>By “this” Serbot referred to the stolen portion of -Kirby’s map, which he spread on the desk in front of -him. Biff started to say something, then caught himself. -Gregg Stannart recognized what was in Biff’s mind -and promptly expressed it.</p> -<p>“I needed a go-between,” Stannart asserted. “Some -way to enable Serbot to use the information I could -give him without bringing suspicion on myself.”</p> -<p>“So you gave me that letter!” exclaimed Biff. He -turned accusingly toward Serbot. “And you tried to -steal it from me on the plane! It was all arranged beforehand!”</p> -<p>“All very nicely arranged,” agreed Stannart, “because -I wanted to keep my job with Ajax if the El -Dorado story proved to be a hoax.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_175">175</div> -<p>“Since I might have seen the address on the envelope -you carried,” Serbot told Biff, “you and your father -guessed that I sent Pepito to steal your precious map, -which was exactly what I wanted. What you didn’t -guess was that Stannart was in on the game. The funniest -part”—for once, Serbot’s smile seemed real—“was -that I had a carbon copy of Stannart’s letter to -your father, here in my pocket all the time!”</p> -<p>Biff swelled with indignation until he happened to -glance toward Kamuka. All this talk had left Kamuka -totally unimpressed. In Kamuka’s eyes, Biff saw -only the same appeal that had been present that day -when Biff had pulled the other boy from the quicksand. -Biff suddenly realized that now they both were -in something equally deep and probably just as deadly. -Since he couldn’t say anything that would help, Biff -said nothing.</p> -<p>Stannart turned to Serbot and put the question:</p> -<p>“What should we do with these boys?”</p> -<p>“I don’t know,” returned Serbot harshly. “Maybe -they should have upset their boat and drowned, coming -down through those rapids. If something like that -had happened—”</p> -<p>“No, no,” Stannart interrupted. “Your men will -have taken care of Brewster and his party by now. -But we still need the boys to help us. Suppose we take -them up the river, as far as the torn portion of your -map—”</p> -<p>Stannart was leaning forward, pointing to the map -with one hand, but he had his other hand in his pocket, -as though gripping a gun.</p> -<p>“Of course!” exclaimed Serbot, who had one hand -in a pocket, too. “Then they could take us back to -where they came from, to this El Dorado that Nara -talked about.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_176">176</div> -<p>Both Stannart and Serbot were glaring hard at Biff -as though now it was his turn to speak. Biff’s throat -was dry, for he realized that these two men, in their -desire for gold, would think nothing about snuffing -out his life and Kamuka’s. Somebody had to speak for -Biff right then—and somebody did, from the door of -the cabin.</p> -<p>“Nobody talks about El Dorado,” a crackly voice -announced, “except Joe Nara, the man who owns it.”</p> -<p>There in the doorway stood old Joe, both his guns -drawn from their holsters, one fixed on Stannart, the -other on Serbot. At Nara’s nod, the two men brought -their hands from their pockets empty. They knew -the old man meant business.</p> -<p>“Pretty smart, both of you,” Nara said. “I never -even guessed your game, Stannart, probably because -I never met you before. But having seen you now, I -think I would have known you for a rat from away -back.</p> -<p>“But I figured you out, Serbot. I knew what you -were after—that cargo of mine. So I stayed with -them.” Nara gave his head a quick tilt, to smile at Biff -and Kamuka. “Yes, boys, I sent my Wai Wais down to -the rapids, while I stayed in the cabin of my <i>monteria</i>.</p> -<p>“Next thing I knew”—Nara gave a chuckle—“you -were bringing me downriver, and a right good job you -were making of it, too. Finally, you hauled up beside -this yacht and went on board. When you didn’t come -back, I reckoned you might be needing old Joe, so -I moseyed on board, and here I am.”</p> -<p>Still keeping Stannart and Serbot covered with his -guns, Nara shifted his elbow toward his hip pocket to -indicate a coil of rope that projected there.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div> -<p>“Take that rope,” Nara told the boys, “and tie them -up tight. Gag them, too, with their handkerchiefs. If -they don’t have any, use your own. Make a good job -of it. I want them to be here when I send around -for them.”</p> -<p>Biff and Kamuka followed Nara’s instructions -eagerly. They did a good job with the gags, too, while -Nara, brandishing his guns, kept talking to Stannart -and Serbot in an accusing tone.</p> -<p>“I figured you out before I ever met you,” declared -Nara, “because I knew I’d be meeting up -with rats some time, and you just happened to be it. -You figured you’d get rid of me if you could, and -even if you couldn’t you’d jump my claim. After all, -who was Joe Nara? Just some crazy guy who thought -he’d found El Dorado.</p> -<p>“Crazy, yes, but like a fox. I came down the Orinoco -more than once to make sure my claim was registered -after each political shakeup in Venezuela. I -didn’t even take any chances on this last trip.”</p> -<p>Nara paused, then chuckled as he turned to the boys -who had finished tying Stannart and Serbot in their -chairs.</p> -<p>“Remember how I dropped from sight in Puerto -Ayacucho?” asked Nara. “Do you know where I -was most of the day? Having lunch with His Excellency, -the governor of the Amazonas Territory, -that’s where. I told him some people were trying -to steal my claim. He said he wouldn’t let them get -away with it.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_178">178</div> -<p>“After I left his office, I snooped around and happened -to be handy when you ran into trouble with -Urubu. I’d finished my business with the governor. He -said if he didn’t hear from me, he’d send some soldiers -downriver to look me up.”</p> -<p>Nara examined the knots that the boys had tied and -gave an approving nod. He beckoned them out -through the cabin door, which he closed behind him. -The yacht’s crew suspected nothing, for they helped -Nara and the boys over the rail and down into their -waiting <i>monteria</i>.</p> -<p>As they started up the broad Orinoco, Nara -pointed to some boats that were coming toward them.</p> -<p>“Government boats,” he chuckled, “bringing those -soldiers I spoke about.”</p> -<p>When they met the boats, they found the other -<i>monterias</i> with them, manned by Biffs father, Mr. -Whitman, and Jacome. The Venezuelan troops had -arrived at the blockhouse during the battle and had -helped rout Serbot’s followers, who were commanded -by Pepito.</p> -<p>In the rapids, they had contacted Nara’s Wai Wais, -who had overpowered and captured Urubu and his -crew. Igo and Ubi would be along later, Mr. Brewster -stated, bringing their prisoners with them.</p> -<p>“But we saw no sign of Serbot,” declared Mr. -Brewster. “I think we should offer a reward for his -capture. I’ll talk to Mr. Stannart about it, when I see -him on the yacht.”</p> -<p>“You better wait, Dad, till we tell you what happened,” -Biff advised soberly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_179">179</div> -<p>Mr. Brewster was shocked when he heard Biff’s -story. “I can hardly believe it!” he exclaimed. “Gregg -Stannart, of all men! But now that I think of it,” he -added thoughtfully, “there’s been a piece missing from -the puzzle right along—and Stannart was it!” He -shook his head. “I still can’t believe it.”</p> -<p>Now Mr. Brewster was more eager than anyone -to take Stannart and Serbot into custody. As they -approached the <i>Coronet</i>, they noticed excitement on -the deck. Mr. Brewster studied the yacht through his -binoculars and announced:</p> -<p>“I see Stannart and Serbot, both of them. The crew -must have found them in the cabin and released them.”</p> -<p>A fast boat containing a squad of Venezuelan soldiers -sped ahead to board the yacht. Sight of the -military uniforms must have quenched any desire for -fight in Stannart and Serbot, for suddenly a little -motor launch scooted from the far side of the yacht -and bounded through the choppy waves toward the -left bank of the river.</p> -<p>Only Stannart and Serbot were in the tiny tender. -The boat with the Venezuelan soldiers turned to pursue -it, opening rifle fire, but the fugitives kept on. -Then, just as it seemed sure they would be overtaken, -the chase ended. The soldiers, about to fire at -close range, suddenly lowered their rifles.</p> -<p>“It’s too late,” declared Mr. Brewster glumly. “They -can’t be captured now. They have passed the middle -of the river and are across the international line, in -Colombian jurisdiction.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_180">180</div> -<p>The captain of the yacht was astonished when told -the reason for Stannart’s flight. He and his crew had -known nothing about Stannart’s double-dealing. They -had supposed that Serbot was simply a friend who had -come on board to meet the owner. They had been -puzzled to find the pair bound and gagged after Nara -and the boys had left.</p> -<p>Stannart had claimed that Nara and the boys had -tried to rob him. The yacht captain had accepted that -explanation until Stannart and Serbot saw the Venezuelan -soldiers and suddenly took flight. Then it was -plain that something was wrong.</p> -<p>Contact was made with Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, -and from there, radiograms were relayed to -and from New York. Word finally came from the directors -of the Ajax Mining Corporation, stating that -they had checked their accounts and found that Stannart -had taken most of the available funds before -starting on his Caribbean yacht trip.</p> -<p>The Ajax Corporation obtained an order enabling -them to take over the <i>Coronet</i>, and the yacht was -placed in Mr. Brewster’s charge. They also authorized -Mr. Brewster to complete the transaction with Joe -Nara on whatever terms might be mutually satisfactory.</p> -<p>That was done on board the <i>Coronet</i>, which was -still anchored near the junction of the Meta and the -Orinoco. Mr. Brewster set the date when the Ajax -Corporation would take over the mine with a down -payment of a quarter of a million dollars to Joe Nara -and a block of El Dorado stock that would guarantee -him a share of all future profits.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_181">181</div> -<p>That same day, Joe Nara prepared to start back up -the Orinoco with Igo, Ubi, and the other Wai Wais, -who were eager to rejoin their fellow tribesmen as the -guardians of El Dorado. Hal Whitman arranged to go -along to represent the Ajax Company, taking Jacome -with him. Kamuka packed his few belongings, expecting -to accompany them. The Indian boy was saying -a reluctant good-by to Biff on the deck of the -yacht, when Mr. Brewster quietly commented:</p> -<p>“You don’t have to go, Kamuka, if you’d rather -come with us.”</p> -<p>Kamuka’s eyes popped wide with eager surprise. -Biff showed the same feeling, when he exclaimed, -“You really mean it, Dad?”</p> -<p>“I do,” rejoined Mr. Brewster. “Hal Whitman told -me he has made plans to send Kamuka to a new school -that is opening in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. But -Hal can’t possibly get down there for the next few -weeks, or more. So there’s no reason why Kamuka -can’t come home with us. Then he can fly to Brasilia -after Mr. Whitman arrives there.”</p> -<p>Biff turned and clapped Kamuka on the shoulder.</p> -<p>“Will we have fun, Kamuka! First, the yacht will -take us out into the Atlantic Ocean—”</p> -<p>“I have heard of it,” put in Kamuka. “They say it -is bigger than a thousand Amazons.”</p> -<p>“And you’ll see New York, which is more wonderful -than any El Dorado!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_182">182</div> -<p>It was hard to tell which boy felt the greater thrill. -Each was glad to continue a companionship in which -they had shared so many adventures, forming the -bonds of a friendship that would last always.</p> -<p>Mr. Brewster was the most pleased of all. He stood -at the stem of the yacht with Biff and Kamuka, while -they were churning their way down the broad Orinoco -toward Ciudad Bolivar, the largest port on the -river. It was then that Biff turned to his father and -said, very seriously:</p> -<p>“Dad, I can’t see how Stannart and Serbot missed -out. When they used me as a go-between, they had -everything so easy.”</p> -<p>“So easy, Biff?”</p> -<p>“Yes. I must have been a big handicap to the safari. -I’d never even seen a jungle, let alone run into the sort -of dangers we found there.”</p> -<p>“But you learned to meet those dangers, and more.”</p> -<p>“Well, yes. I certainly did learn some things.”</p> -<p>“And so did the rest of us,” declared Mr. Brewster. -“Our enemies put us in spots where we had to pull one -another out. That was their big mistake. The situations -that we overcame early sharpened us for the problems -we met later. That’s why we won out.”</p> -<p>As Biff nodded slowly, his father added with a -smile:</p> -<p>“Think back, Biff, and you’ll see how it adds up.”</p> -<p>Biff gazed back at the wide Orinoco, tapering to -the dim, distant scenes of those final adventures, and he -knew that his dad was right.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_183">183</div> -<h3 id="c21"><i>A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure</i> -<br />BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY</h3> -<p class="center">By ANDY ADAMS</p> -<p>“Guard this letter as you would your life!”</p> -<p>With these words ringing in his ears, Biff -Brewster boards the Brazil-bound plane to -join his father on a safari to the headwaters -of the Amazon River—a safari that, to -Biff’s amazement, becomes a deadly contest -for fabulous riches.</p> -<p>From the beginning, Biff, his father, -Biffs friend Kamuka, and the rest of the -party find their path menaced by an enemy -who never reveals himself. Is it Nicholas -Serbot, the suave stranger whom Biff first -meets on the plane? Or is it Joe Nara, the -eccentric old prospector, the only white -man alive who knows the route to the -almost legendary El Dorado gold mine?</p> -<p>Biff and Kamuka find their days crowded -with the hazards and thrills of jungle -travel as they trek through a wilderness -echoing with the threat of “Macu”—the -dreaded head-hunters. And waiting for -them at the end of the trail are a shock -and a surprise beyond their wildest dreams.</p> -<p>Young readers will love this lively, adventure-filled -story with its combination of -realism and fantastic mystery. Here is the -first exciting book in a brand-new series for -boys. Other <span class="sc">Biff Brewster</span> stories are also -available at your booksellers.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_185">185</div> -<h3 id="c22"><i><span class="large">NEW!</span></i> BIFF BREWSTER -<br />Mystery Adventures</h3> -<p class="center">By ANDY ADAMS</p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/bflap.jpg" alt="Biff Brewster" width="258" height="799" /> -</div> -<p>Biff Brewster, sixteen, is a tall, strongly built -blond youth who lives In Indianapolis, Indiana, -with his parents and the eleven-year-old -twins, Ted and Monica. Because his -mother and father believe that travel is as -important to education as formal schooling, -Biff is encouraged to travel to various countries -during the vacation months. His experiences -in these lands, and the young people -he meets there, form the basis of a new series -for adventure-loving readers. In every journey -there is a strong element of mystery, usually a -direct result of conditions peculiar to the region -in which he is traveling. Thus, in addition -to adventure, these books impart carefully researched -information about foreign countries.</p> -<p><span class="ss"><i>Start reading one today</i>—</span></p> -<dl class="int"><dt>(1) BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY</dt> -<dt>(2) MYSTERY OF THE CHINESE RING</dt> -<dt>(3) HAWAIIAN SEA HUNT MYSTERY</dt> -<dt>(4) MYSTERY OF THE MEXICAN TREASURE</dt> -<dt>(5) AFRICAN IVORY MYSTERY</dt> -<dt>(6) ALASKA GHOST GLACIER MYSTERY</dt></dl> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="ss">GROSSET & DUNLAP, Inc. Publisher -<br />New York 10, N. Y.</span></p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/endpaper.jpg" alt="Endpapers" width="654" height="500" /> -</div> -<h2 id="tn">Transcriber’s Notes</h2><ul><li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li> -<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li></ul> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery, by Andy Adams - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY *** - -***** This file should be named 51538-h.htm or 51538-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/5/3/51538/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery - A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure - -Author: Andy Adams - -Release Date: March 23, 2016 [EBook #51538] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -[Illustration: "_Biff, come this way! Quick!_"] - - A BIFF BREWSTER - MYSTERY ADVENTURE - - - - - BRAZILIAN - GOLD MINE - MYSTERY - - - [Illustration: Compass] - - By ANDY ADAMS - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS - NEW YORK - - (c) GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1960 - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - Contents - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I Up the Amazon 1 - II The Clutching Hand 8 - III The Hidden Boathouse 16 - IV The Safari Starts 25 - V The Spotted Terror 40 - VI Into the Quicksand 50 - VII The Deadly Coils 58 - VIII A Traitor Strikes 67 - IX The Shrunken Heads 76 - X Trapped by the Head-Hunters 85 - XI A Sudden Surprise 95 - XII Between Two Fires 103 - XIII The River of Death 110 - XIV The Devil's Gateway 119 - XV Fabulous El Dorado 128 - XVI Surrounded! 137 - XVII The Man of Gold 147 - XVIII Urubu Again 156 - XIX Partners in Crime 164 - XX The Tables Turn 173 - - - - - BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY - - - - - CHAPTER I - Up the Amazon - - -"Guard this letter as you would your life!" - -Mr. Stannart spoke in a low, tense tone as he glanced around the waiting -room at Idlewild Airport. Biff Brewster felt a sudden surge of -excitement when he took the envelope that the gray-haired man handed -him. - -The envelope was tightly sealed, and it was addressed to Biff's father, -Thomas Brewster, at the Hotel Jacares in Manaus, Brazil. In the upper -corner was the return address of the Ajax Mining Corporation in New York -City. Gregg Stannart was the president of the company, and Mr. Brewster -was its chief field engineer. - -"Since you are flying to Brazil to join your father," Mr. Stannart -continued, "I decided to have you deliver this letter personally, rather -than take the risk of its falling into the wrong hands." - -He paused, gave Biff a keen, steady glance, and asked, "Did your father -tell you why he was going to the headwaters of the Amazon River?" - -"He wrote that he was going on a jungle safari," replied Biff, "and he -invited me to fly to Brazil and join him, as a birthday present." - -Biff was thinking back to his birthday party at the Brewster home in -Indianapolis less than a week ago. His mother had brought in a cake with -sixteen lighted candles that Biff had blown out with a single puff, to -the delight of the twins, Ted and Monica, who were five years younger -than Biff. But the big surprise was when Biff's mother had given him the -birthday letter from his dad. - -Next had come the excitement of packing, when it dawned on Biff that -nearly all his birthday presents were clothes and equipment he could use -on a tropical trip. Then Biff had flown to New York where Mr. Stannart -had met him to put him on the plane for Brazil. - -"Your father is bound on a highly important and secret mission for our -company," Mr. Stannart confided now. "He is going far up the Rio Negro, -which joins the Amazon just below the city of Manaus. The party -_supposedly_ will be looking for sites for rubber plantations." - -Mr. Stannart paused, then said solemnly, "Your father will be looking -for gold--a fabulous gold mine about which we have secret information. -But here in New York," he went on, "we have just discovered that there -has been a leak in that information. We have learned that certain people -would do anything to stop your father and get to the mine first. Even -now, he may be in danger." - -"But Dad didn't say anything about it--" - -"Because he doesn't know about it. He may change his mind about letting -you accompany him after you give him this letter. It will tell him all -he needs to know." - -Biff put the letter deep down into his coat pocket. Mr. Stannart nodded -approvingly. - -"Be careful what you say to strangers," he warned Biff, "and above all, -guard that letter!" - -It was nearly time for the departure of Biff's plane. Mr. Stannart -explained that it would take him to Belem, the capital city of the -Brazilian state of Para, not far from the mouth of the Amazon. There, -Biff would change to a plane for Manaus, a thousand miles up the great -river. - -Mr. Stannart studied the other passengers who were waiting to board the -plane. He said to Biff in parting, in a low but confident tone: - -"You won't have any trouble on this flight. But be careful after you -leave Belem!" - -The long trip south did prove uneventful. During daylight, the plane was -over the Atlantic Ocean, and darkness had settled when it reached the -coast of Brazil. Biff landed in Belem at dawn, so it wasn't until he had -changed to the plane for Manaus that he gained his first view of the -Brazilian jungle. - -He saw it from a seat beside the window as the plane climbed above -Belem; a vast, solid mass of billowing green that looked ready to -swallow the city that spread below. Then the jungle ended, and the plane -was flying over a huge expanse of brownish water streaked with waves of -white. This was the Amazon River, stretching as far as the eye could -see. - -A smooth voice purred from beside Biff's shoulder: - -"It looks more like an ocean than a river, doesn't it?" - -Biff turned to meet the gaze of the smiling man sitting beside him whose -eyes looked sharp even through his dark-green glasses. The large lenses -gave an olive hue to the sleek, oval face that narrowed to a pointed -chin. - -"_O Rio Mar_," the smiling man continued. "That is what Brazilians call -the Amazon. It means 'The River Sea' in Portuguese. Do you understand -the language?" - -"A little," replied Biff, "but I know Spanish better." He was about to -add that he had learned both from his father. Then, remembering Mr. -Stannart's warning to be careful when he talked to strangers, Biff -stated simply but truthfully: - -"I have been studying Spanish in school." - -"You will need to speak Portuguese," the man declared, "if you are -stopping off anywhere between Belem and Manaus." He paused inquiringly. -Then, getting no response, he added, "If you go farther up the Amazon or -any of its tributaries, you will need to know the dialects of Indian -tribes as well." - -The stranger's easy, persuasive tone almost caused Biff to remark that -he was going on beyond Manaus. But he caught himself in time and said -nothing. - -"You may have to talk fast, too," Biff's fellow passenger continued. -"Those tribes are often dangerous. You are sure to find head-hunters -among them." - -This time, Biff asked a question. - -"Have you been among the head-hunters, sir?" - -The stranger's smile widened. "My name is Serbot, Nicholas Serbot. And -yours?" - -"Bruce Brewster. My friends call me Biff." - -Nicholas Serbot inclined his head politely. "No, I have never been among -the head-hunters, Biff. I come to Manaus occasionally to do business for -some European concerns that I represent. Mostly in rubber." - -"My dad is in Manaus," Biff volunteered. "I'm meeting him there." - -"Perhaps he will take you on a jungle safari. They organize such trips -in Manaus." - -"That sounds great!" exclaimed Biff. "I'll mention it to Dad!" - -"Tell him to inquire at the Hotel Amazonas," suggested Serbot. -"Meanwhile"--he leaned toward Biff as he spoke--"you may find the scene -below quite interesting." - -They had reached the head of the Para River, the principal mouth of the -Amazon, sixty miles above Belem. The plane was thrumming over a gigantic -carpet of thickly tufted green, furrowed by a maze of irregular streams. - -"The region of the Thousand Islands," Serbot explained. "Those channels -that twist through the solid jungle are called the Narrows. They come -from the main course of the Amazon, and most of them are deep enough to -be navigable." - -Below, Biff saw an ocean-going freighter working up through a watery -passage. It looked like a toy boat from this altitude, and occasionally -it was swallowed by the thick foliage that jutted over the channel, only -to emerge from the green arcade. - -Soon the boat was far behind, and Biff watched the narrow channels widen -and merge into a limitless, white-capped sea--the great Amazon itself. -Serbot's purring voice, and the steady drone of the plane's motors had a -lulling effect. Biff's eyes closed to avoid the glare of the tropical -sun; soon he was asleep. He dreamed that he was back at Idlewild, with -Mr. Stannart's voice repeating: - -"Guard this letter as you would your life! Guard this letter...." - -In the dream, invisible fingers seemed to be plucking the precious -envelope, drawing it up and out of Biff's pocket. With a sudden start, -Biff awoke and shot his own hand to his pocket, where it met the crinkle -of paper. - -The dream had been realistic in one respect. As he dozed, Biff must have -kept slumping down into his seat, causing the envelope to work upward -every time he hunched his shoulders. A few inches more and it would have -fallen from his pocket. - -Or was that the answer? What if those phantom fingers had been real -instead of mere figments of a dream! - -As he thrust the envelope far down into his inside pocket and buttoned -his coat for safer keeping, Biff Brewster shot a suspicious glance -toward his companion of the plane trip, the smooth-spoken man who called -himself Nicholas Serbot. - - - - - CHAPTER II - The Clutching Hand - - -Biff was wide awake now, the drone of the plane growing louder in his -ears. With it, his suspicions of Serbot faded. The smiling man was -leaning back in his seat, his own eyes closed as if in sleep. His hands -were folded loosely across his stomach. - -For the first time, Biff saw why Serbot wore that constant smile. The -left side of his mouth was curled to match the right, which was drawn -upward by a scar that began at the corner of his lips and became -increasingly jagged until it ended beside his right eyebrow. - -Before, the large rims and green tint of the sun glasses had helped to -hide the scar; but Serbot had removed them before he went to sleep. Now, -as Biff studied him, Serbot opened his eyes slowly and gave Biff a -sleepy glance. Realizing that Biff had observed the scar, Serbot raised -his right hand and traced it lightly with his forefinger. - -"A decoration I received during World War Two," he commented, "while I -was working with the French Underground. A Nazi spy tried to give me -this--" Graphically, Serbot swept his hand across his throat--"but I -managed to save my neck. I received this instead." - -Serbot clenched his left fist as though it contained a weapon. He -grabbed his left wrist with his right hand and shook his head. - -"If anyone attacks you with a knife or gun, don't try to stop him that -way," he said. "It won't work fast enough, as I found out. Hit his wrist -like this"--Serbot opened his right hand, bent it backward, and drove it -against his left wrist--"with the heel of your hand, upward and outward. -Try it." - -Biff practiced the action a few times and apparently won Serbot's -approval, for the smiling man added: - -"That not only will stop him, it will jar the weapon from his grasp, -enabling you to snatch it all in the same move." - -Serbot demonstrated that, too. Then, noting that some of the other -passengers were beginning to look their way, Serbot changed the subject -abruptly. Leaning toward Biff, he began pointing out more sights from -the window, as the plane followed the north bank of the river. - -There, the jungle had opened into widespread grazing lands, studded by a -range of low, flat-topped mountains. Perched on one summit was a little -town that Serbot said was called Monte Alegre. Then they were far out -over the river again, and the Amazon once more resembled a choppy, -yellow sea, until the order came to "Fasten safety belts!" The plane was -coming to a landing at Santarem on the south bank. - -Serbot pointed out to Biff the wide Tapajoz River which disgorged a huge -flood into the turbulent Amazon, splotching the yellow tide with long -streaks of green that looked like wash from the jungle and shone with -emerald brilliance in the noonday sun. - -The plane roared off again, and at Obidos, eighty miles farther -upstream, the Amazon narrowed to a single deep channel only a mile and a -quarter wide with the walls of solid forests fringing both bluffs. -Later, the river widened again, and Serbot indicated small settlements -built on high stilts in clearings back from the bank. - -"Those show you how high the river rises," Serbot told Biff. "Often it -overflows its banks for many miles on both sides. Some of the native -villages are so far off in the jungle that they can only be reached when -the Amazon is in flood." - -Between pointing out these interesting scenes, Serbot talked -occasionally of his war experiences, and Biff, wide awake and alert ever -since his morning nap, was enjoying the trip more and more. He realized -that he was gaining a slight preview of the Brazilian jungle that might -prove helpful when he and his father set out on the safari that was -actually to be a gold hunt. But he was careful to avoid answering any -direct questions that Serbot put to him. - -It was late afternoon when Serbot indicated a great, dark swirl of water -that merged with the muddy Amazon, marking the mouth of another huge -tributary. - -"The black water of the Rio Negro," defined Serbot. "From here it is -only ten miles up to Manaus." - -Soon, the plane landed at the Manaus airport, and a few minutes later, -Biff was being welcomed by his father, a tall, rugged man with dark hair -and tanned, square-jawed face, an older counterpart of Biff himself, -except for the boy's blond hair. But when Biff looked around for Mr. -Serbot, hoping to introduce him to Mr. Brewster, he found to his -surprise that his companion of the plane trip had already gone. - -Biff and his dad talked about the family and everything at home while -they were picking up Biff's luggage. Mr. Brewster then led the way to a -jeep that he had parked outside the airport. Before they started their -drive into the city, Biff drew the sealed envelope from his pocket and -handed it to his father with the comment: - -"Dad, this is from Mr. Stannart. He told me to guard it carefully, that -it is very important." - -Mr. Brewster tore open the envelope, and Biff watched his expression -change as he read the letter. His lips set tightly above his firm jaw, -Mr. Brewster thrust the letter into his own pocket; then he started the -jeep. Keeping a sharp eye along the rough road, he asked: - -"Did Mr. Stannart mention what was in the letter?" - -"In a way, he did," rejoined Biff. "He said we were supposed to be going -with a rubber-hunting expedition, but that actually we would be looking -for gold--" - -"You didn't mention that to anyone, did you?" interrupted Mr. Brewster -anxiously. "I mean, while you were on the plane?" - -"I only talked to a man named Mr. Serbot," returned Biff, "and I even -played dumb when he suggested that you take me on a safari. He said we -could make arrangements at the Hotel Amazonas." - -Biff saw his father's taut expression change to one of relief. Mr. -Brewster spurted the jeep over a watery stretch of road with the -comment: - -"These jeeps have to be real puddle jumpers. You never know how deep -some of the mud holes are." - -The road improved as they swung into the city. It was then that Mr. -Brewster asked: - -"Did Mr. Stannart tell you that there might be serious danger, now that -other persons are after the mine?" - -"Yes, he said you must be warned." - -"I suppose that is why he let you come," mused Mr. Brewster. "Frankly, I -feel he made a mistake, and I should send you straight home. However, if -we keep far enough ahead of trouble, it may not catch up with us." - -Mr. Brewster ended with a reassuring smile. - -"I'll tell you the story from the start," he said. "During World War -Two, two prospectors, Lew Kirby and Joe Nara, gave up hunting gold and -diamonds down in the state of Minas Geraes and came up the Amazon to -help gather rubber. They put their profits into food and supplies and -kept going north to look for a fabled land of gold--a land called El -Dorado." - -"El Dorado! We learned about him in American History!" Biff exclaimed. -"It sounded crazier than science fiction. Wasn't El Dorado supposed to -be a king who came out of a lake with his body all covered with gold?" - -"Originally, yes," returned Mr. Brewster. "Then the story became a -legend of a golden city and finally a golden land. The Spaniards looked -for it, and so did Sir Walter Raleigh." - -"But nobody ever found it!" - -"Nobody except Lew Kirby and Joe Nara." - -Sure that his father was joking, Biff expected a chuckle to follow. But -Mr. Brewster was very serious. - -"They uncovered a fabulous Inca mine," resumed Mr. Brewster. "It was too -far and too difficult to bring the gold down the Amazon. So they worked -their way to the Orinoco River, which brought them out through -Venezuela. - -"Kirby sent Nara back to the mine and then returned to Minas Geraes, -hoping to find someone to help finance the claim. But people either -didn't believe his story, or they were the sort he wouldn't trust. But -he trusted me and I believed him--when he gave me these." - -Mr. Brewster brought out of his pocket some small samples of ore that -fairly glistened with gold. Biff had learned enough regarding mining and -minerals from his dad to recognize the value of these specimens. In an -awed tone Biff asked: - -"Is there much of this in the mine, Dad?" - -"A whole mountain full," replied Mr. Brewster, "from what Lew Kirby told -me--before he died." - -The jeep was rolling smoothly now along a boulevard lined with fig -trees, all neatly trimmed to a mushroom shape. But the story of the -fabled gold mine interested Biff more than the sights of Manaus. - -"Lew gave me a map," continued Mr. Brewster, "showing the route that he -followed to reach the headwaters of the Orinoco, though it does not give -the exact location of the mine. To learn that, we must find Joe Nara. I -hope that no one else finds him first." - -"Like the persons mentioned in Mr. Stannart's letter?" - -"That's right, Biff. Despite Mr. Stannart's constant urging, the -directors of the Ajax Corporation have been painfully slow in providing -funds for our trip. Meanwhile, Mr. Stannart says in his letter, certain -foreign interests have learned of the mine and have moved into the -picture. They may be the sort who will stop at nothing to get that -mine!" - -Before Biff could ask more questions, the jeep pulled up beside a -modest, low-built structure that bore the sign: HOTEL JACARES. Looking -about, Biff was surprised to see that it was growing dark and that the -street lamps were already aglow. - -"Night falls swiftly here in the tropics," explained Mr. Brewster, as -they went through the hotel lobby and up the stairs to the second floor. -"That is why I lost no time coming from the airport. The driving is -difficult after dark." - -Mr. Brewster unlocked the door of his room, turned on the light, then -halted in amazement. The place was strewn with clothes from his -suitcases. Sheets had been ripped from beds and mattresses cut open. -Papers were scattered everywhere. - -In a corner was a framed mirror hanging above a washstand. Mr. Brewster -hurried over, took down the mirror, and laid it on a table beside a -closet door. He pried away the backing of the mirror and brought out a -sheet of paper that had been hidden there. - -"This is what they were after!" he exclaimed. "The one thing they -couldn't find! Kirby's map!" - -As Mr. Brewster spoke, the closet door was opening slowly, but it was -behind his shoulder and he didn't see it. From the crack slid a long, -bare human arm, and a hand reached for the prize that Mr. Brewster -flourished. Frantically, Biff shouted: - -"Dad! Look out!" - - - - - CHAPTER III - The Hidden Boathouse - - -Mr. Brewster swung about at Biff's warning, an instant too late. The -hand had already clutched the map and was snatching it from his grasp. -The map tore apart, leaving only a corner in Mr. Brewster's hand. - -Quickly, Biff's father dove for the closet door, intending to slam it -and trap the occupant, map and all. But the man in the closet moved -swiftly, too. He flung the door wide, and its edge swept past Mr. -Brewster's fingers as the man dived under his arm. Biff, crouched low, -was about to stop the intruder with a football tackle when Mr. Brewster -overtook the fugitive, applied a powerful arm-hold, and brought him full -about. - -Biff saw that the struggling man's face was masked behind a large, -knotted bandanna handkerchief, and that his rough, baggy clothes -disguised his height and weight. As he twisted in Mr. Brewster's grasp, -the man managed to thrust his hand into the folds of his jacket and whip -out a revolver. Coming about, he aimed point-blank at Mr. Brewster. - -Biff's father dropped away a split second before the revolver barked, -its muzzle tonguing flame inches above his head. Then, before the masked -man could fire again, Mr. Brewster wheeled about, grabbed a small table -with both hands, and flung it bodily at his masked foe. - -The man darted out of the way, only to find Biff blocking his escape. -Biff heard a snarl from behind the bandanna, and saw the glint of the -gun barrel as the man swung the weapon with a savage, downward stroke. -Instinctively, Biff shot his own hand upward, using the trick that -Serbot had shown him on the plane that very day. - -The heel of Biff's hand caught the man's wrist, driving it outward. The -impact jolted the gun from his hand, but the weapon scaled toward the -side of the room and clattered near the bottom of the wall, where Mr. -Brewster sprang across and scooped it from the floor, practically on the -rebound. - -The masked man hadn't tried to retrieve the gun. Instead, he dashed -through the doorway to the hall, still clutching the stolen map. Biff -raced after him, with Mr. Brewster close behind. They might have -overtaken the fugitive if he had gone down the stairway to the lobby, -but instead he chose a shorter route to a large open window at the other -end of the hall. There, he leaped a low railing, carrying a loose screen -with him. When Biff reached the window and looked down into the dark, -the man had vanished in the thick mesh of tropical foliage that had -broken his fall. - -"No use trying to go after him," decided Mr. Brewster ruefully. "We -don't even know the direction he has taken. The hotel clerk will have -heard the shot. We'll let him report the incident to the police. They'll -figure it was just a sneak thief." - -"But what about the map?" Biff inquired anxiously. "How will you find -the route to the Orinoco without it?" - -"I still have the corner that shows the mine itself," declared Mr. -Brewster, holding it for Biff to see. "And Joe Nara would have to guide -us there anyway." - -Biff's father frowned. "We _may_ have trouble getting through to the -Orinoco, if someone tries to block our way. But from there on, it should -be smooth sailing. Mr. Stannart says in his letter that he will bring -his yacht to meet us on our way back, and will sign the agreement with -Nara, then and there." - -Returning to their room, Biff and his father met the manager of the -hotel hastening up the stairs. Mr. Brewster told him briefly that they -had surprised a sneak thief in their room, and handed over the -intruder's revolver. With profuse apologies, the manager departed after -Mr. Brewster refused his offer to have the room put in order. - -When they were alone, Biff's father said, "It was neat, the way you -disarmed that fellow. Where did you learn that trick?" - -"From Mr. Serbot," replied Biff, "the man I met on the plane coming from -Belem." - -While they were repacking Mr. Brewster's bags and clearing up the room, -Biff told his father about the things they had discussed on the plane. -Mr. Brewster listened intently, then asked: - -"Did you tell Serbot that I was stopping at this hotel?" - -"Positively not," returned Biff. "He couldn't possibly have learned -it--unless--" - -"Unless what?" - -"Unless he saw the envelope," exclaimed Biff in a hollow tone. "It -nearly worked out of my pocket while I was asleep. Mr. Serbot _might_ -have drawn it out that far. When I looked at him, though, he was asleep, -with his hands folded." - -"Playing innocent, perhaps. Did he seem to make a habit of folding his -hands?" - -"No, that was the only time I saw them folded. Dad"--Biff's tone became -worried--"do you think Mr. Serbot read the address on the envelope and -phoned someone from the airport, and told them to come up here?" - -"I wouldn't be surprised," his father asserted grimly. "The envelope has -the return address of the Ajax Mining Corporation, and that would -identify us to anyone who is trying to beat us to the El Dorado mine. -But let's not jump to conclusions just yet." - -Mr. Brewster had finished packing his bags. He picked them up and nodded -for Biff to bring his, too. - -"We'll send these out to the airport," Mr. Brewster declared. "There's a -plane going up the Rio Negro at dawn, and our luggage can go on it. We -may take that plane, or perhaps a later one. We'll see." - -They made arrangements with the hotel porter to handle the baggage. -After that, Mr. Brewster decided that they should go out for dinner so -Biff could see the city. Once on the lighted streets of Manaus, Biff -realized how futile it would be to look for the baggily clad man who had -stolen the map. Dozens of workmen who passed them were dressed in -similar attire, even to a bandanna worn as a neckerchief. - -The gay life of the tropical city impressed Biff. There were brilliantly -lighted downtown cafes, and Mr. Brewster chose one where they were -served half a dozen courses of tasty, highly seasoned food, finishing -with ice cream that Biff thought was the best he had ever eaten. He had -just swallowed the last spoonful when he suddenly exclaimed: - -"Look, Dad! Those two men sitting at that table in the corner! One of -them is Mr. Serbot!" - -Mr. Brewster had no difficulty in picking out Serbot from Biff's earlier -description, though the scar on the smiling man's cheek was scarcely -visible in the soft light of the cafe. Serbot's companion was shorter -and chunkier, with a broad face, quick, narrow eyes, and straight lips. - -"Introduce me on the way out," Mr. Brewster told Biff. "I would like to -size up that pair." - -A few minutes later, Biff's father was shaking hands with Serbot, who -immediately introduced his stocky companion. - -"This is Senhor Armandeo," stated Serbot. "Pepito Armandeo, known as -Grande Pepito, or Big Pepito, as you would call him in English. He is a -famous wrestler." Smoothly, Serbot changed the subject. "You have a very -intelligent son, Senhor Brewster. I enjoyed my trip with him. You are -interested in rubber, Senhor?" - -"What else," asked Mr. Brewster, "would bring me to Manaus?" - -Serbot's response was a noticeable increase of his perpetual smile. He -bowed as he made the parting comment: - -"Perhaps we have mutual interests, Senhor." - -Outside the cafe, Mr. Brewster spoke reflectively. - -"Perhaps Serbot and I do have mutual interests," he said. "In something -bigger than rubber. Something like gold." - -They climbed into the jeep, and Mr. Brewster drove past the Amazonas -Theater, the magnificent opera house that had been built when Manaus was -a boom town in the jungle. Mr. Brewster mentioned that to Biff as they -went by; but Biff realized that his father was thinking of something -else. Finally, he said: - -"I am not surprised that you suspected Serbot. He strikes me as being -very shrewd. I am doubtful of his friend, Big Pepito, too." - -"Then maybe Serbot sent Pepito to steal the map!" - -"Don't jump to conclusions too quickly, Biff." Mr. Brewster smiled as he -spoke. "I still can't understand how Serbot could have learned so much. -Nobody knew my plans except Mr. Stannart." - -"What about the directors of the Ajax Company, Dad?" - -"Once they agreed, they gave Stannart full say. Our dealings were -confidential. Stannart sent me funds to buy safari equipment which I -shipped here to Manaus ahead of me." - -"Mr. Serbot talked about safaris on the plane trip." - -"So you told me, Biff." Mr. Brewster frowned. "I'm beginning to think -that somebody found out about our plans here in Manaus. Pepito, for -instance, could have learned of the safari shipments and sent word to -Serbot. But Hal Whitman should have suspected something and informed -me." - -"Hal Whitman? Who is he, Dad?" - -"The man who received the shipments here. He assembled them secretly in -a boathouse a few miles up the river. Later, he loaded all the supplies -and took them far up the river to an old landing above Santa Isabel. He -is waiting there for us to join him." - -Mr. Brewster halted the car at an intersection and pondered for a few -moments. Then he said: - -"Somebody could have snooped around that boathouse after Whitman left. -They might have learned where the shipments came from and perhaps gained -some link between Whitman and myself. If we go out there, we might pick -up some clue ourselves. It's worth a try." - -Mr. Brewster headed for the outskirts of the city. The road became -rougher, and he was handling the jeep in its best puddle-jumping style -as he added: - -"Maybe some spies are still around the boathouse, trying to learn what -else they can. In that case, we can surprise them. If the boathouse is -empty, we can wait inside it and see if anyone shows up later." - -As the jeep swung beneath an arch of trees, Biff was startled by what -looked like human figures jumping from bough to bough in the glow of the -moonlight. Mr. Brewster laughed. - -"Just monkeys. Don't let them worry you. There is the boathouse. You can -see our headlights reflected in its windows." - -Mr. Brewster cut off the headlights as he spoke, but oddly, the -reflection persisted for a few moments more. Biff thought it was his -imagination, but his father decided otherwise. - -"Someone is moving around inside with a flashlight," he whispered. "The -boathouse is on pontoons to allow for the rise and fall of the river. If -we reach the gangplank first, we can trap them before they come ashore." - -Silently Biff and his father slipped out of the jeep and crept forward -beneath overhanging boughs that Biff could hear creak above him. - -This time, he was thinking about people in the boathouse, not monkeys in -the trees. He was watching for a flashlight instead of looking up into -the moonlight. That proved to be a bad mistake. - -Two living human figures dropped from the branches like massive rubber -balls, one taking Biff as a target, the other landing squarely on Mr. -Brewster. In their hands, these silent, shadowy attackers carried thin -ropes that they looped around the necks of their victims as they -flattened them. - -Biff heard his father give a short, gurgling cry. Then Biff was gasping -as the cord tightened around his own neck. Next, his captor clapped a -cloth to his face, and Biff was stifled by a strong, pungent odor that -completely overpowered him. His head seemed to burst with stabs of -flashing light that turned to utter blackness as his senses left him. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - The Safari Starts - - -_Thrumm--thrumm--thrumm--thrumm--_ - -As Biff awakened, the steady sound made him think that he was back on -the plane above the Amazon. He opened his eyes expecting to see the -yellow sea far below. - -Instead, he saw black water streaming past the side of a boat, churning -white as it scudded back into the distance. When he turned his head, he -saw his father beside him. - -They were propped against some boxes near the front of a long cabin -cruiser, which had a permanent top stretched like a canopy over its -large, open cockpit, making it ideal for tropical travel. But there was -nothing ideal about Biff's present plight. - -Biff's hands were bound in back of him by a rough cord that chafed his -wrists. His ankles, too, were tightly tied. At a glance, Biff saw that -his father was in a similar situation. The thin, tough rope around Mr. -Brewster's ankles looked like a tropical vine. - -Biff tried to speak, but he found his lips too dry, his throat too -parched. He caught a warning headshake from his father, and following -the direction of Mr. Brewster's gaze, Biff saw two chunky men, clad in -baggy, sleeveless shirts and old khaki trousers cut off at the knees. - -The pair were standing guard like patient watchdogs, looking for any -move from the captives. They had black, straight hair and coppery skin; -those features, plus their stony, immobile expressions marked them as -Indians from the headwaters of the river, which, from its blackish -color, could only be the Rio Negro. - -One Indian spoke in a guttural dialect, and a shrill voice responded -from up ahead: - -"So they're awake now? Good! Igo, you take the wheel." - -One Indian moved forward. Moments later, a scrawny man with a crafty, -wizened face beneath a shock of whitish hair, stepped into sight. To the -other Indian, he piped: - -"Ubi, you stay here. You help me watch." - -Then, tilting his head in birdlike fashion, the white-haired man studied -the prisoners and demanded: - -"What were you two doing around that boathouse?" - -Mr. Brewster kept his lips tightly closed, his eyes staring straight -back toward the frothy wake from the cruiser's propeller. Biff, too, -ignored the question. - -"Maybe you'd talk if I gave you a drink of water," the scrawny man -suggested, "and maybe I ought to toss you in that big drink out -there"--he gestured toward the river--"and let you try to swim ashore. -You wouldn't get far, tied like that." - -The stolid silence of the Brewsters annoyed the white-haired man. His -voice rose to a still higher pitch: - -"I mean it, every word of it! I'll find a way to make you talk, as sure -as my name is Joe Nara!" - -Biff almost gulped the name, "Joe Nara!" before he caught himself. Then -he heard his father speak calmly in reply. - -"If you are really Joe Nara," stated Mr. Brewster, "I'll tell you all -you want to know. Only I don't believe that you are Joe Nara." - -Oddly, the wizened man's anger faded. His own tone became even as he -asked, "And why wouldn't I be Joe Nara?" - -"Joe Nara is a husky chap," returned Mr. Brewster, "with dark hair, a -bit gray, but not white. He's tough, but he doesn't get angry and -excited. He has too good a sense of humor." - -Biff saw a twinkle in the wizened man's eyes. The scrawny face relaxed -in a genuine smile. In a soft, faraway tone, he asked, "And who told you -all that?" - -"Joe Nara's partner, Lew Kirby, before he died." - -"So Lew is dead. I was afraid of that." - -As he spoke, the wizened man's expression became very sorrowful. He -gestured to Ubi, and the Indian cut the crude ropes that bound the -prisoners. - -"I _am_ Joe Nara," the white-haired man said. "I've grown a lot older in -the years since I saw Lew Kirby last. Kind of lost my sense of humor, -too, living upriver with nobody but Indians to talk to. What's your -name?" - -"Tom Brewster. And this is my son Biff." - -Mr. Brewster extended his own hand, palm up. Old Joe Nara slapped his -own hand palm downward, meeting Mr. Brewster's with a solid whack, -followed by a tight grip to which Mr. Brewster responded firmly. - -"That's how Lew and I always shook hands," declared Nara. "I guess you -and Lew were friends all right, or he wouldn't have shown you that -grip." - -Ubi was bringing gourds of water. Nara waited until Biff and his father -had slaked their thirst. Then, with a chuckle, the white-haired man -remarked: - -"I guess Lew must have told you about the time he and I went to Lake -Titicaca down in Peru to look for Inca gold?" - -"No, Kirby never told me that," returned Mr. Brewster, "because you -never went there. He said you planned the trip but gave it up. You came -up this way instead." - -"And where would we have found gold near the headwaters of the Rio -Negro?" - -"I can tell you in two words: El Dorado." - -That convinced Joe Nara. He opened a door beneath the short forward deck -and revealed a compact kitchen galley. He heated up a pot of _feijoada_, -a Brazilian dish of black beans cooked with dried meat. With it he -served bowls of _mandioca_, a mush made from the pulp of the _cassava_. - -Simple though the fare was, it tasted so good that Biff eagerly accepted -the second helping that Nara offered him. - -"I was really hungry," said Biff. "I feel as though I had been asleep -for hours." - -"You were," returned Nara. "That stuff you inhaled is a secret Indian -brew that acts like chloroform. Gives you an appetite, though, when you -do wake up." - -"And just why," asked Mr. Brewster dryly, "did you happen to try the -stuff out on us?" - -"I'll tell you why," asserted Nara. "Every now and then, I come down -from the mine with Igo and Ubi to buy supplies. Whatever I buy, I pay -for with these." - -From his pocket, Nara brought some small nuggets of pure gold which -clinked heavily when he trickled them from one hand to the other. - -"People have been trying to trail me back up to the mine," continued -Nara, "so I bought this boat, the _Xanadu_, from a rubber outfit that -had gone broke. I decided to come downriver to see who was spying on me. -Before I even got to Santa Isabel, I saw a crew unloading supplies at an -old abandoned camp." - -"Whitman's crew!" exclaimed Mr. Brewster. "I sent them up the Rio Negro -to wait for me, so I could start on a safari to find your mine." - -Nara gave an understanding chuckle. - -"I had Igo and Ubi talk to the natives," Nara said. "They learned that -the expedition had started from a boathouse outside of Manaus. So I came -all the way down the river to look into it. We were watching the -boathouse when you came along." - -"So you thought we were enemies--" - -"Not exactly enemies," corrected Nara. "Just suspicious characters. -After Igo and Ubi grabbed you, I decided to bring you along. Now that -you've explained yourselves, I'll turn around and take you back down to -Manaus if you want." - -"Now that we've started upriver," decided Mr. Brewster, "there is no -need to go back. We sent our luggage on to Santa Isabel by air, and we -intended to take a plane ourselves. But now we may as well keep on with -you." - -All that day, the _Xanadu_ sped swiftly up the Rio Negro. Biff took his -turn at the wheel and was pleased by the way the cruiser handled. At -intervals, the river became so thick with islands that it reminded Biff -of the famous Narrows that he had seen from the air above the lower -Amazon. But here on the Rio Negro, the channels were shallow as well as -twisty. Still, Biff found no difficulty in guiding the sleek craft -through the maze. - -"The _Xanadu_ was built to order for this river," Nara told Biff. -"That's why I bought her. Be careful, though, when we reach that island -dead ahead. The channel appears to split there--" - -[Illustration: _The_ Xanadu _thrummed upriver_] - -As Nara spoke, the palm-fringed island vanished. The whole sky had -opened in one tremendous downpour. Biff couldn't believe that it was -only rain. He thought for the moment that the _Xanadu_ had come beneath -a tremendous waterfall. Adding to the illusion was the sudden rise of -steam from the heated jungle that flanked the channel. Instantly, the -speeding cruiser was shrouded in a mist that swelled above it. - -"Swing her about!" shrilled Nara. "Our only chance is to turn downstream -before the flood hits us!" - -Mr. Brewster stepped up and took the wheel. Instead of taking Nara's -advice, he sped the boat straight upstream, picking his course in an -amazing fashion. Somehow, he must have gauged the exact position of the -threatening island, for he veered past it. New channels seemed to open -with each swerve of the cruiser's bow. - -Biff's father had seen Navy service in the South Pacific and was -familiar with jungle waterways as well as tropical storms. As a -Lieutenant, Junior Grade, he had been trained specially for jungle -fighting and had won medals for bravery, finally leaving the service as -a Lieutenant Commander. - -"It's better to buck the current," Mr. Brewster declared, "than to let -it carry us into something we can't avoid." - -Igo and Ubi were releasing curtains from beneath the permanent top, -giving the cruiser's interior the effect of a long, narrow tent, -completely sheltered from the terrific downpour, which like many -tropical rains, was coming straight downward. - -Some of the narrow channels were flooding rapidly, and there, big logs -and branches occasionally met the cruiser's rounded prow, only to glance -aside as Mr. Brewster deftly turned the wheel. They reached a wider -channel where a headland bulked suddenly in midstream; but it proved to -be a small floating island, composed of small palm trees sprouting from -a mass of soil and undergrowth that had come loose from an overhanging -bank. - -Biff could hear the chatter of monkeys and the screech of birds as the -passing branches scraped the hanging canvas on the cruiser's side. Then -the tiny islet and its excited living freight had drifted far -downstream. Still Mr. Brewster kept steadily to his course, staring -upstream through the cruiser's rainswept windshield. - -Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the rain ended, revealing a new maze -of channels that could be found only by looking for gaps among the tree -branches, so high had the water risen in this sunken area. Cutting the -speed, Mr. Brewster navigated the openings gingerly. That brought a -chuckle from Joe Nara. - -"Kind of lucky, weren't you?" he remarked. - -"Yes, I was rather lucky," acknowledged Mr. Brewster. "Like you and Lew -Kirby, when you stumbled onto that mine of yours." - -"We were more than lucky," retorted Nara. "We were smart. Didn't Lew -tell you how we doped it out?" - -"He said you ran into a tribe of Indians who were guarding a mountain -that they claimed was sacred." - -"That's right. Wai Wai Indians. Igo and Ubi are members of the tribe." -Nara gestured toward the stolid pair who now were rolling up the canvas -curtains. "What else did Lew say?" - -"He said you convinced the Indians that you were a powerful witch -doctor, so they led you to the lost mine." - -"From the tricks I showed them," chuckled Nara, "they thought I was El -Dorado the Original, and that the mine belonged to me and Lew. You know -the story of the man who turned all golden? Well, I proved it could be -done." - -Biff was hoping that Nara would give more details on that subject, when -suddenly, the white-haired man demanded: - -"Did Lew give you a map to locate the mine?" - -"Not exactly," replied Mr. Brewster. "He gave me one showing a route -from the mine to some waterways which he said led to the Orinoco River. -That was all." - -"That was enough. It proved there was a short way out." - -"Yes, but I still have to go over the actual route to make sure that -gold ore could be transported by it, down the Orinoco." - -"Do you have the map with you now?" - -"Only part of it." - -From deep in his pocket, Mr. Brewster produced the torn corner from -Kirby's map. - -"A prowler stole the rest from my hotel room," he explained. "I managed -to hold on to the part that shows the mine." - -Joe Nara stroked his chin in worried fashion. - -"If somebody showed me the rest of the map," he commented, "I might have -to believe them if they said they knew Lew Kirby, too." - -"I thought of that," returned Mr. Brewster calmly, "and I would be glad -if such a person should appear. It would be a case of a thief trapping -himself." - -Joe Nara nodded as though he agreed; but he immediately dropped the -subject of the map and the mine as well. - -During the next few days, the _Xanadu_ thrummed upriver, keeping to -broad channels instead of short-cuts between islands. This simplified -the handling of the cruiser during brief but heavy rainstorms. Biff -noted that after each rain the air soon became as humid as before. It -was hot at night as well as in the daytime, and while one member of the -group piloted the cruiser under the bright tropical moon, the others -slept in the ample cockpit; never in the tiny forward cabin. - -One evening when Nara was at the wheel, Biff and his father were seated -near the stern, far enough away for Biff to ask: - -"Do you think Joe Nara doubts your story, Dad?" - -"About the map being stolen?" returned Mr. Brewster. "He might be -wondering about it. After all, I could have torn the corner from a map -that belonged to someone else." - -"But you gave him Kirby's hand grip and when you mentioned 'El Dorado' -it was like a password." - -"I could have learned those from some other person. Nara has to be -cautious, with a gold mine at stake. I think he trusts me but wants to -sound me out. Watch him, and you'll see he is suspicious of everything." - -Biff noted that as the trip continued, Nara insisted upon giving other -river craft a wide berth. When occasional airplanes flew high above, -Nara always leaned out from beneath the canopy to study them -suspiciously, but the planes apparently took no notice of the boat -below. - -After the cruiser had passed Santa Isabel, Biff was taking his turn at -the wheel when Nara approached and remarked: - -"Pretty soon we'll drop you and your dad at the old rubber camp where -your friend Whitman is waiting for you." - -"Aren't you going to join us on the safari?" - -"Not there," returned Nara. "I'm taking the _Xanadu_ on to Sao Gabriel, -to see if we can buck the rapids and reach the upper river." - -Mr. Brewster had been close enough to hear Nara's comment. Now, he put -the query: - -"Then where will we meet you, Joe?" - -"At Piedra Del Cucuy," Nara replied. "You can see it for miles, a big -rock rising from the forest, where Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia all -meet up. By the time you arrive there, we will know if it is safe to go -on." - -"Why wouldn't it be safe?" asked Biff. - -"Because of the Macus, the head-hunters who raid the river settlements." -Nara turned to his two Indians and said: "Tell them about the Macus." - -"Macu very bad," stated Igo. - -"Macu kill for head," added Ubi. - -At last the _Xanadu_ reached an old, dilapidated landing, where half a -dozen men stood beside some huts on the high bank. Mr. Brewster -indicated one man who was wearing khaki shorts, white shirt, and pith -helmet. - -"That's Whitman," said Mr. Brewster. "He's too far away to hail him." He -brought out a leather case containing a flat metal mirror and handed it -to Biff. - -"Whitman understands Morse," Mr. Brewster said. "Signal him to send out -a boat for us, Biff." - -Biff turned the mirror toward the sun, then slanted it in Whitman's -direction. Covering the mirror with his hand, he flashed the message in -dots and dashes: S-E-N-D B-O-A-T. - -Whitman pointed to a canoe on the shore. Biff watched two figures hurry -down and clamber into the craft, a small figure at the bow, a big one in -the stern. They paddled out to the waiting cruiser and swung alongside. -The man in the stern, a husky, barrel-chested native, furnished a broad, -friendly smile. - -"Me Jacome," he announced. - -The bow paddler was an Indian boy about Biff's age and size. He was -wearing faded blue denim trousers, ragged at the knees, and a shirt that -matched it in color and tattered sleeves. He reached up to grab the -cruiser's side, adding, "I'm Kamuka." - -Biff extended his own hand and responded, "I'm Biff." In that unexpected -handshake, the two boys established an immediate friendship. They -grinned at each other as Biff helped Kamuka swing the canoe about so -that Jacome could hold the stern alongside. - -As soon as Biff and his father stepped into the canoe the _Xanadu_ sped -off like a startled creature. Joe Nara at the wheel, waved good-by, -while Igo and Ubi simply stared back like a pair of reversed -figureheads. Jacome and Kamuka did fast work with their paddles to -prevent the canoe from tipping in the cruiser's swell. Then they headed -toward the dock. - -Kamuka looked over his shoulder and said to Biff, "I like the way you -send message. You show me how?" - -Biff nodded. "I'll show you how." - -During the short paddle, Mr. Brewster talked to Jacome in Portuguese and -Biff, listening closely, understood most of what was said. Mr. Brewster -asked about the luggage and was told that it had arrived by air. Also, -he wanted to know if the safari was ready to start. Jacome told him yes, -that they had been waiting for him to arrive. - -When they reached the shore, Hal Whitman was still up by the huts -engaged with the natives in an excited conversation. Mr. Brewster -started in that direction, and Biff was about to follow when a hand -plucked his sleeve. It was Kamuka, with the request: - -"You spell message now?" - -"All right," agreed Biff. He produced the mirror, caught the sun's -glint, and focused it on the wall of a hut perhaps a hundred feet away. -"Now, watch--" - -Biff halted abruptly. A burly native, wearing baggy white shirt and -trousers, with a red bandanna tied about his head, had joined the -argument and was pushing Mr. Whitman back into the hut. - -"Urubu!" exclaimed Kamuka. "He make trouble!" - -Whitman came from the hut with a shotgun and gestured for the native, -Urubu, to be on his way. Instead, Urubu grabbed for the gun and snatched -it from Whitman's grasp, tripping him at the same time. Mr. Brewster was -starting forward on the run, but he was too far away to help Whitman. - -Urubu raised the gun butt to drive it down on Whitman's head. Biff could -see the savage look on Urubu's face. Kamuka gripped Biff's arm. The -native boy's voice was breathless: - -"Somebody must help Mr. Whitman! Quick!" - - - - - CHAPTER V - The Spotted Terror - - -That jog from Kamuka's hand gave Biff a sudden idea. Biff was holding -the mirror so it threw a big spot of sunlight on the hut wall. The spot -wavered when Kamuka jogged Biff's arm, and Urubu was only a dozen feet -from the corner of the hut. - -Biff changed the mirror's angle just a slight degree, spotting the light -square in Urubu's eyes. That reflected glint of the sun was enough. -Urubu dropped back, flinging his arm upward to shield his vision. Mr. -Whitman came to his feet and grappled for the shotgun. A few seconds -later, Mr. Brewster had pitched into the struggle. - -They disarmed Urubu, who stood by glaring sullenly. Biff and Kamuka -approached the group, and Jacome, who had pulled the canoe on shore, -came up behind them. - -"You know what the name Urubu means, Biff?" Kamuka asked. - -Biff shook his head. - -"It means vulture," the Indian boy said. - -A chuckle came from Jacome. "A good name for Urubu. He is like one -vulture!" - -At close range, Urubu looked the part. He had a profile like a -buzzard's. He stood by, a sullen look on his face, as Mr. Whitman told -Mr. Brewster: - -"I turned down Urubu as a guide because he lied to me. He said he had -guided safaris for the past five years, when part of that time he was in -jail. Then he told our porters that I lied to them--" - -"You did," put in Urubu. "You said that Senhor Brewster would arrive -three days ago. Instead he has arrived only now--as you can see." - -Urubu repeated those remarks to the native bearers in a mixture of -Portuguese and Indian dialect. He was dumfounded when Mr. Brewster spoke -to them in the same manner. Mr. Brewster's words brought a murmur of -approval. - -"They want to be paid for the days they waited," Mr. Brewster told Mr. -Whitman. "I said we would pay them, and they are satisfied. Do you need -Urubu as a guide?" - -"I should say not!" - -"Then we can send him away again." - -That was unnecessary. When Mr. Brewster turned to speak to Urubu, the -troublemaker was gone. He had made a quick departure by the nearest -jungle path. Mr. Whitman promptly called for Luiz, the new guide, to -step forward, and a small, bowing native came from the group of bearers. - -Since it was not yet noon, Mr. Brewster ordered Luiz to get everything -ready for an immediate start. Soon the native bearers, more than a dozen -in number, were hoisting their packs and other equipment. Meanwhile, -Biff was present at a last-minute conference between his father and Hal -Whitman. - -"We'll follow our original plan," stated Mr. Brewster. "If we strike off -to the northwest and follow the regular trails, we will appear to be -looking for _balata_ like any other rubber-hunting expedition." - -Biff knew that the term _balata_ referred both to the rubber tree and -its juice. He watched Hal Whitman mop perspiration from his forehead. -Whitman's worry seemed to vanish with that process. - -"We will be following the long side of a triangle," Biff's father -continued, "while Joe Nara is going around by the Rio Negro, turning -north after he passes Sao Gabriel. But we now know exactly where to meet -him. That will be at Piedra Del Cucuy." - -"That's better than floundering around the headwaters of the Rio Negro," -Whitman agreed. "I was afraid we would be on a wild goose chase, trying -to find him there. It's lucky that you met up with Nara." - -"Let's say that Nara met up with us," Mr. Brewster chuckled. "We'll meet -again at Piedra Del Cucuy, provided Nara dodges those head-hunters. -Since the rapids will delay him, we should reach the great rock as soon -as Nara does." - -"I'll talk to Luiz and see if he knows the best route--" - -"Not yet!" warned Mr. Brewster. "Wait until we are deep in the jungle, -with no chance of any spies being about, before we even mention Piedra -Del Cucuy. Do you understand?" - -The final query was meant for Biff as well as Mr. Whitman. Biff nodded, -then went to join Kamuka, who was waiting to help him get his pack on -his back. That done, they fell into the procession as it started out. - -The first few miles gave Biff the false impression that a jungle trek -was easy. The trail was smooth, well-trodden by multitudes of natives -who had scoured the back country in search of _balata_. But as paths -diverged, they became rougher. - -Biff began stumbling over big roots that crossed the path, and when he -kept his eyes turned down to watch for them, he lost sight of the -bearers ahead of him and had trouble getting into line behind them. -Once, Biff lost the trail entirely, and Kamuka overtook him just as he -was blundering squarely into a fallen tree. - -The obstacle was at shoulder level, and Kamuka, sighting the bearers -taking a turn in the path beyond, suggested: "We climb over. Take short -way back to trail." - -Biff pressed aside some projecting branches as he clambered across the -tree trunk, pack and all. His hands became sticky with some clinging -substance. - -"Spider web. Thick here," Kamuka said. He helped Biff brush away the -fine-spun threads, and pointed into the sunlight that filtered through -the jungle foliage. - -[Illustration: _Kamuka cleared the branches with hard, expert slashes_] - -Glistening between the tree branches were the largest, thickest spider -webs that Biff had ever seen. There were multitudes of them, forming -what at first glance seemed an impassible barrier. - -Kamuka settled that problem by clearing away the obstructing branches -with hard, expert slashes of his machete, taking the webs with them. - -The trail had become so irregular that the bearers frequently had to -hack their way through the thick growth. Kamuka did the same, and Biff -tried to copy the Indian youth's smooth style. Kamuka handled his -machete easily, despite the pack that he carried. But with Biff, the -pack shifted at every swing, and its straps cut into his back and -shoulders. - -Big Jacome was doing most of the trail blazing, with Kamuka close behind -him. Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman did their share, while urging the -bearers to take their turns at the work. All responded willingly, with -the exception of the guide, Luiz, who was lagging behind. - -"What's holding you back, Luiz?" Whitman demanded. "Why don't you get up -ahead and take a hand at cutting the trail?" - -"You pay others to cut trail, Senhor," returned Luiz. "You pay me to be -guide. _Nao?_" - -Biff's father overheard the argument and provided a prompt solution. - -"Since you are the guide," he told Luiz, "suppose you show us the trail. -Possibly we have lost it. You lead; we will follow." - -Mr. Brewster spoke in the Brazilian dialect that the bearers understood. -Their solemn faces broadened at the expense of Luiz. Angrily, the -undersized guide shouldered his way to the head of the line and began -hacking at the brush with Jacome. Biff caught up with Kamuka, who had -waited while Luiz went by. - -"You see his face?" asked Kamuka. "Luiz is very mad. He does not like -hard work." - -The glower that Luiz gave over his shoulder proved that Kamuka's opinion -was correct. The keen-eyed Indian boy was quick to note that Biff's face -also wore a pained expression, but for a different reason. -Understandingly, Kamuka said: - -"You have trouble with pack. I fix it." - -Expertly, he adjusted the straps to the fraction of an inch. From then -on, the pack seemed to fit to Biff's back, giving him no more aches. -What amazed Biff, though, was the fact that Kamuka's pack had no straps, -but was laced to his back by crude ropes made from jungle vines. Yet it -seemed to adjust itself to every move that Kamuka made. - -Soon, the going became easier underfoot, and the path was free of -obstacles. It was no longer necessary to hack through the jungle growth. - -"Luiz bring us back to better trail," Kamuka confided to Biff. "Less -work for Luiz." - -It was less work for Biff, too, though he didn't say so. He was pleased -because his father had handled the situation so neatly. Biff noted the -happy grins on the faces of the bearers every time Mr. Brewster moved -back and forth among them. Biff grinned, too, when his dad came by and -gave him an encouraging whack on the pack which now seemed molded to -Biff's body. - -"It takes a few days to get into the swing of a safari," Mr. Brewster -stated, "so don't be discouraged. Even the native bearers are struggling -a bit, though they won't admit it. We'll call it a day as soon as we -reach a suitable campsite." - -About an hour later, the safari halted. Gratefully, the bearers eased -their packs to the ground and began to set up camp at Whitman's -direction, on a high bank above a jungle stream. The insects were -bothersome, as they had been at intervals along the route, but the -expedition was equipped to meet that problem. The packs contained -netting for the sleeping hammocks, as well as insect repellent. - -The chief feature of the campsite was its closeness to a water hole. -Luiz approved this, making a great show of his official title of guide. -Biff, glad to be free of his pack, eagerly volunteered to help Kamuka -bring up pails of water from the stream below. Halfway down, Kamuka -hissed for a quick halt. - -"We go back up quick," he said to Biff. "We tell Senhor Brewster we see -tapir at water hole." - -Kamuka pointed out a pair of curious dark brown animals, with clumsy, -bulky bodies, stocky legs, and long-snouted heads. The creatures were -feeding on the leaves of young trees and appeared somewhat tame. Kamuka -took no chance on frightening them away, however, as he beckoned Biff up -the path. - -Mr. Brewster promptly picked up a loaded rifle and accompanied the boys -down the path. The tapirs were already lumbering into the brush when -Biff's father took quick but accurate aim on one of the animals and -fired. - -One tapir dropped in its tracks, while its companion crashed madly into -the jungle. The boys rushed down to the bank and found that the tapir -was shot squarely through the head. When Mr. Brewster joined them, he -smiled. - -"That's the only way to shoot a tapir," he declared. "Otherwise, they -blunder into the jungle wounded, and you can never find them. They have -thick hides like a hippopotamus. In fact, they belong to the same -family." - -That night, the members of the safari feasted on tapir steaks, which -they broiled on the prongs of long, forked sticks. Later, they went to -sleep around the same campfire. All day, Biff had listened to the -chatter of monkeys and the screech of birds. Now, howls of jungle -animals seemed tuned to the heavy basso chorus of frogs from the stream -below. - -But despite that, Biff was soon sound asleep, the crackle of the -campfire blending with his last waking moments. Some hours later, he -woke up suddenly. The jungle concert had ended, and the flames had -settled to a low, subdued flicker. Somebody should have tended the fire, -Biff thought. He recalled his father discussing that point with Luiz -shortly after they had finished dinner. Biff rolled from his hammock and -groped toward some logs that lay beside the fire. There, he halted at -sight of what appeared to be two live coals, glinting from a big log. - -Biff pulled back his hand just in time, as the log came alive with a -snarl. Biff realized that he had encountered some prowling beast of -prey. He raised the alarm with a loud shout: - -"Dad! There's something here by the fire--" - -Before Biff could complete the sentence, he saw that the creature was a -huge jungle cat, its tawny yellow coat spotted black. Already, it was -poising for a spring. Biff, caught unarmed, was confronted by an -attacking jaguar, one of the jungle's most ferocious killers. - -Biff heard an answering call from his father. Then, before Mr. Brewster -could have possibly found time to grab his gun, the jaguar sprang! - - - - - CHAPTER VI - Into the Quicksand - - -Biff flung his arms upward, as he tried to duck away. It was a hopeless -effort, for nothing could have saved him from those fierce claws, once -the jaguar reached him. What stopped the springing jungle cat was -another figure, small but chunky, that came flying out of the darkness, -feet first. - -It was Kamuka. The Indian boy had grabbed a long liana vine hanging like -a rope from a tree beside his high hammock. All in one motion, he had -swung himself across the jaguar's path just in time to ram the -creature's shoulder in mid-air and veer the big cat toward the fire. - -That gave Biff time enough to roll the other way, and Kamuka, as he -struck the ground, promptly squirmed about to dive off into the -darkness. The scene was momentarily illuminated by a shower of sparks -raised by the jaguar when it struck the fringe of the embers. With more -of a yowl than a snarl, the big cat cleared the fire at a single bound -and took off into the jungle. - -Mr. Brewster had his gun by then, but with so many figures bouncing in -the vague firelight, he couldn't risk a shot. By the time Biff and -Kamuka were out of the way, Jacome had come on the scene, swinging a big -club. Mr. Brewster had to wait until he was out of the path of aim, -before firing into the jungle. - -By then, Mr. Brewster might as well have fired blank shots. The jaguar -had vanished completely in darkness. Jacome threw some logs on the fire, -and as the flames took hold, he commented: - -"The tapir tiger--that is what we call the jaguar. A good name for him. -Look there and you see why!" - -Jacome indicated a chunk of cooked tapir meat, hanging from a tree -branch near the fire. The smell of its favorite food had evidently drawn -the "tapir tiger" in from the jungle. But that did not fully satisfy Mr. -Brewster. - -"Jaguars frequently kill and eat tapirs," Biff's father declared, "but -they also shy away from campfires. I gave orders that this fire should -be tended all night. Who neglected his duty?" - -The final words were addressed to Luiz, who had just joined the group. -The guide shrugged and gestured to some of the native bearers who were -coming sleepily from their hammocks. They stared dumbly at Luiz, until -Mr. Brewster queried them sharply in their dialect, getting headshakes -from all. - -"I will give the orders direct from now on," Mr. Brewster told Luiz -bluntly, "and I intend to see that they are carried out." He looked up, -noted the faint glimmer of daybreak through the high leaves, and added, -"It is after dawn. Let's break camp and start on our way." - -Biff expressed his thanks to Kamuka while the Indian boy was helping him -prepare his pack. - -"If you hadn't hopped to help me the way you did," asserted Biff, "I -would be just a chunk of tapir meat, or something a lot like it. I'll -remember what you did for me, Kamuka." - -"That is good," rejoined Kamuka solemnly. "I help you. You help me. That -is the way in the jungle." - -Biff felt that he was getting the knack of jungle ways during that day's -trek, but he was due for new surprises. As they hacked a path through a -thick growth of brush, he heard a sound that was sharply distinct from -the screeches of the vivid parrots and macaws that continually scolded -from the trees. - -It was exactly like a hammer striking an anvil or some other chunk of -solid metal. It came from well back in the jungle, and after it was -repeated, Biff said to Kamuka: - -"Hear that! There must be a village back there in the jungle!" - -Kamuka laughed as the clanging sound came again. - -"_El campanero_," he defined. "That is what some people call it. Others -call it the bellbird." - -"You mean it's only a bird?" - -As if in answer, the sharp note was repeated with methodical precision, -and Biff recognized that it had a quality that could be mistaken for a -bell rather than the clank of hammer on anvil. Biff kept looking for the -bird itself until Kamuka noticed it and told him: - -"Bellbird very hard to find. He may be far away when you think he is -close by." - -Other creatures were closer at hand. From up ahead, Jacome turned and -pointed to the path. He called something in his native tongue, and Biff -watched the bearers take quick sidesteps. Then Kamuka was nudging Biff -with his elbow and pointing out the reason. - -A procession of ants was moving along the trail as though keeping pace -with the safari. The insects were carrying thin green slivers that -wobbled above their bodies. Biff saw that those were tiny fragments of -leaves that the ants had gathered and evidently were going to store for -food. - -"Umbrella ants," defined Kamuka. "Be careful or they crawl up your leg -instead of along path. Umbrella ants can bite--hard!" - -From the way the ants had chopped the leaves they carried, Biff took -Kamuka at his word. He played hopscotch with the insects until they -veered off the trail. The going became easy again, except that the -atmosphere of the jungle was growing more humid. Even the chatter of the -birds and monkeys was silenced in the sultry calm. - -Then came a sudden rain as torrential as the big downpour that they had -encountered on the Rio Negro. With the jungle steam rising about them, -it was a case of groping along the trail, which soon became ankle deep -with water. As he sloshed through the muck, Biff told Kamuka: - -"Those ants are smarter than we are. They must have known this was -coming and carried their own umbrellas." - -Kamuka interpreted that to Jacome, who laughed and passed it along to -the bearers. The rain stopped suddenly at last, but although the heat -returned again, the path remained soggy underfoot. Luiz, it seemed, had -lost the trail during the rain and was marching the safari into a jungle -swamp. - -Mr. Brewster called a halt. It was not just a matter of getting back on -the trail; he wanted the best trail. For the first time, Biff heard his -father mention "Piedra Del Cucuy" to Luiz, who nodded that he -understood. - -"We go to Piedra Del Cucuy," assured Luiz. "That is easy, now I know. I -show you the best way." - -Biff's clothes were dry by now except for his shoes and socks, which -felt as if they were filled with lead weights as the march was resumed. -Luiz soon took the safari out of the swampy land to a dry path, but at -times, he showed hesitancy at places where the trail divided. Always, he -came finally to a definite decision, but Jacome began to eye him -suspiciously. - -"We all hear Senhor Brewster say we go to Piedra Del Cucuy," Jacome -confided to Biff and Kamuka. "Now we know we go there, Luiz is afraid to -take us on wrong trail. Some of us go to Piedra Del Cucuy before this. -We may remember way if Luiz 'forget' it." - -A little later, Biff fell in stride alongside his dad and told him what -Jacome had said. - -"I think there's no question but that Luiz is trying to delay us," -declared Mr. Brewster. "The only puzzle is his purpose. He may simply be -hoping to make more money by keeping us longer on the hike. Or he may -have deliberately stalled us in order to learn our exact destination. -That is why I told him. Now, I am forcing him to show his hand." - -Mr. Brewster's tactics paid off by mid-afternoon. The ringing cry of the -bellbird had begun again in the deep jungle, and Biff was still hoping -for a sight of the elusive _campanero_, when Luiz led the safari on a -short side trail that terminated in a clearing. There Luiz announced, -"We camp here tonight." - -"We could still go on a few miles farther," objected Mr. Brewster. "In -fact, we might stop almost anywhere on the trail." - -"Plenty of water here," argued Luiz. "Maybe not in other places." - -Jacome overheard that. The big man supplied a grim but knowing grin as -he muttered his own opinion to the boys. - -"Maybe and maybe not," said Jacome. "In wet season, we find water -everywhere; in dry season, no. But we came through big rain today, like -wet season." - -After brief deliberation, Mr. Brewster gave Luiz the nod. - -"We need water," he agreed, "and perhaps we are too tired to go on much -farther today. We will make camp here." - -Hardly had they unloaded their packs before Kamuka suggested to Biff, -"Come with me. Maybe we find bellbird." - -They started along a twisty jungle path in the general direction of the -distant metallic sound. Kamuka was moving so hurriedly that they were -out of sight of camp before Biff caught up with him and reminded him, -"They may want to send us for water, back at camp--" - -"That can wait," put in Kamuka. "We find bird first." - -"But you told me before that there was no use looking for the bellbird, -that the sound might be far away." - -"I know. But this is not real bellbird. Listen." - -Biff listened. The sharp note came clear again, from exactly the same -direction. Biff could detect no difference between it and the anvil -chorus of earlier in the day. But Kamuka could. - -"Somebody is hitting metal with hammer," the Indian boy insisted. "We -look for them. We find them--if we hurry." - -Kamuka waved his arm for Biff to follow, as he started a quick jog along -the jungle path, hoping to reach the source of the well-faked bird call -before the sounds ceased. Straight ahead, low tree branches formed a -thick green arch, darkening the path between two low banks that were -vivid with colorful flowers. - -Mostly, they were magnificent orchids that thrived on dampness as well -as heat, but Biff was unaware of that. Kamuka, though schooled in jungle -knowledge, ignored the flowers in his haste. He had turned his head to -see if Biff had responded to his call, when suddenly, the green -carpeting of the path gave way beneath his weight. - -A moment later, Kamuka was waist deep in slimy ooze, squirming, twisting -about to grab at bushes on the solid ground that he had left. The tufts -of grass that he clutched simply pulled loose from the soft earth. With -each quickly repeated snatch, he had still less chance of gaining a -hold, for he was sinking to his armpits as he panted: - -"Look out, Biff! Don't come close! Quicksand!" - - - - - CHAPTER VII - The Deadly Coils - - -Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging -from the mire, was frantically waving him back. Biff felt the soft bank -giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, -knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend. - -Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now. That -gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was -still a question. There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it -would be too flimsy. A tree branch would be better, but the only boughs -strong enough to support a person's weight were those that overhung the -mire itself. - -Biff couldn't wrench those branches loose from their trunks in time to -save Kamuka. In fact, to push anything out from the bank looked like a -hopeless plan. The best way to help would be by a pull straight up. Biff -realized that, when he saw Kamuka look up toward the lowest bough, six -feet or more above his head. - -[Illustration: _Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him_] - -If only Kamuka could reach that far! - -That thought gave Biff the answer. Skirting the quicksand, he climbed -one of the trees and started working out on its lowest thick branch, -hand over hand, toward the spot where Kamuka, now nearly shoulder-deep -in the muck, still looked up hopefully. - -So far, Biff had been worrying whether the bough would prove strong -enough. Now he was wishing that it would bend more. Biff was dangling -near Kamuka, but not quite above him; and it was impossible for the -Indian boy to shift his position in the quicksand. But Biff was able to -do the next best thing. - -Locking his hands over the thick branch, Biff began a pendulum swing, -out and back--out and back--bringing his ankles closer to Kamuka's -reach. Kamuka made one clutch and missed, but on the next swing Biff -practically placed his ankle in the Indian boy's grasp. - -Kamuka caught Biff's other ankle in the same fashion, and Biff, slanting -a glance downward, saw the other boy's face smiling grimly from between -those upstretched arms. Kamuka's voice came calmly. "Hold tight, Biff. I -will pull up slowly." - -Now Biff was glad that the bough was a stout one, for he could feel it -give under Kamuka's added weight. Biff tried to work himself higher by -bending his arms and turning them along the branch, so that he could use -his hands to grip his opposite wrists. - -That helped at first, but Kamuka's weight kept increasing as he emerged -gradually from the ooze, and the strain made Biff's shoulders feel as if -they would pull from their sockets. But by then, Kamuka had worked clear -of the quicksand's suction. He caught Biff's belt with one hand; then -the other. Next, he was clamping Biff's shoulder and finally the tree -branch. - -The strain lessened then, with both boys dangling from the bough. -Practically side by side, they made a hand-over-hand trip toward the -tree trunk and dropped to solid ground. There they sat a moment, panting -and rubbing their shoulders as they looked at each other, a bit -bewildered by their short but strenuous adventure. - -From the distance came that clear metallic note that they had heard -before. Kamuka looked at Biff. - -"We still go find it--maybe?" - -"All right, Kamuka. Let's go find it." - -They skirted the quicksand and took the path that Kamuka had missed in -his hurry. It divided into lesser paths, but they continued to pick a -course in the general direction of the clanging sound. - -"Somebody use that for a signal," declared Kamuka. "When we find it, you -will see that I am right--" - -"You _are_ right," Biff whispered. "Look there!" - -A figure had cut into the path well ahead of them and was continuing on. -Softly, Kamuka whispered the name: "Luiz!" - -The boys were fortunate. Luiz hadn't spotted them. Evidently, the guide -had left the camp by another path and had followed a roundabout course -to reach his present goal. Luiz, judging by the eager expression on his -scheming face, was also following the call of the false bellbird. -Cautiously, the boys took up Luiz's trail until he reached a clearing. -There, they sidled into a patch of jungle and spread the foliage just -enough to view the open space in front of them. - -A big man was sitting on a camp stool beside a tent. In front of him was -a small anvil, and he gave it a ringing stroke with a hammer as the boys -watched. Kamuka was the first to recognize the hawkish face that turned -in Luiz's direction as the guide approached. - -Kamuka whispered, "Urubu!" - -Biff had scarcely noticed Urubu. Instead, he was staring in total -amazement at two other men who had come from the tent. - -"One of those men is Nicholas Serbot," he told Kamuka. "The other is his -sidekick, Big Pepito. But they were in Manaus, the night we left there. -How did they get here?" - -"Airplane come upriver ahead of you," replied Kamuka. "Stop at _maloca_ -near rubber camp." - -By _maloca_ Kamuka meant a native village some distance back from the -Rio Negro. Quickly, Biff exclaimed: - -"That's where they met Urubu! They must have paid him to make trouble -for us!" - -Kamuka gave a chuckle. "Look like they pay Luiz, too." - -Urubu was introducing Luiz to Serbot and Pepito. In the background were -several native bearers, apparently under orders to keep their distance. -Serbot and Pepito were watching them to make sure they did. Biff took -advantage of that. - -"We can move up closer," he told Kamuka. "Maybe close enough to hear -what they are saying." - -Kamuka silently agreed, for he crawled along with Biff until they -reached the very fringe of the thinner brush, only a dozen yards from -where the four men stood. There, Kamuka whispered, "This far enough." - -The grass here was tall and studded with brilliant flowers and shrubs -that had cropped up since the brush was thinned. By keeping almost flat -on their stomachs, the boys remained completely hidden. Most of the -discussion was in Portuguese, with a sprinkling of dialect, so between -them Biff and Kamuka were able to understand most of what was said. - -"I come for money, Senhor," Luiz told Serbot. "Like Urubu said you would -give me if I delay safari." - -"You will get your money later," promised Serbot. "You can't spend it -here in the jungle anyway. If you even showed it, Brewster and Whitman -would wonder where it came from." - -Luiz started to babble an objection, only to have Urubu interrupt him. - -"You have only done half your job, Luiz," Urubu reminded him. "You gave -our safari time to catch up with yours. Now you must see that we have -time to get ahead." - -"For that," injected Luiz, "I should be paid double." - -"You will be," agreed Serbot, "if you can tell us where Brewster intends -to go, so we can get there ahead of him." - -Biff saw Luiz's teeth gleam in a knowing smile. The small guide spoke in -dialect to Urubu, who made a prompt reply. Kamuka understood the talk -and whispered to Biff: - -"Luiz says he can tell them what they want to know. He asks Urubu if he -can trust them. Urubu says yes." - -By then, Luiz had turned to Serbot. Biff's heart sank as he heard Luiz -triumphantly announce: - -"They go to Piedra Del Cucuy!" - -"The big boundary rock!" exclaimed Serbot. "That must have been Nara's -boat that took Brewster and the boy up the river. Now, they probably -plan to meet Nara there." He turned to Urubu. "Can you get us to Piedra -Del Cucuy first?" he demanded. - -"Easily," assured Urubu, "if Luiz takes them the long way." - -"Maybe I should leave them," put in Luiz, "and come with you. Then they -will have no guide and will not find the way at all." - -"That would be all right," decided Serbot, "but learn what else you can -first. Did Brewster mention the name Nara?" - -"_Nao_, Senhor." - -"Did he say anything about a map?" - -"_Nao_, Senhor." - -"Find out what you can about both. If you can get word to us, good. If -Brewster becomes suspicious, join us. But your big job is to delay their -safari. Use whatever way seems best." - -That ended the parley, except for parting words from Urubu to Luiz, -which greatly interested the listening boys. - -"Tomorrow, I signal before we start." Urubu gestured toward the hammer -and anvil. "If you do not come to join us, we will know you are staying -with the safari--to guide them the long way." - -Urubu and Luiz were turning in the direction of the spot where the boys -lay hidden. Biff whispered to Kamuka: - -"Let's crawl out of here fast--" - -"Stay still!" Kamuka's interruption came as a warning hiss. "Do not -move--not one inch!" - -Biff let his eyes turn in the direction of Kamuka's stare. Despite the -intense heat of the jungle, Biff could actually feel himself freeze. -Coming straight toward them through the tall grass was the head of a -huge snake! - -Behind it, the grass rippled from the slithering coils that followed. -Fully twenty feet in length, the gigantic creature could only be an -anaconda, greatest of all boa constrictors. - -To be caught within those crushing coils would mean sure death! - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - A Traitor Strikes - - -"Do not move--not one inch!" - -Kamuka repeated that warning as the snake's long body slid slowly past. -Whether or not the creature was in search of other prey, to move would -be to attract it. Biff realized that from Kamuka's tone as well as his -words. - -Gradually, the sliding coils slackened speed. It was Biff who spoke now, -his own voice strained, but low: - -"It's turning now, Kamuka. It may be coming back." - -"Maybe, but stay still. One move, you are gone." - -Despite himself, Biff raised his head, only slightly, but enough to look -beyond the long, hoselike body that was still gliding by. Aloud, Biff -groaned: - -"There is Luiz--coming straight toward us--" - -Biff threw up his arms to ward off the great boa's tail as it lashed -past. Looking up, he saw the snake's huge mouth yawning toward him. Biff -shut his eyes, thinking there was no hope now. Then a wild scream came -from just ahead. - -Biff and Kamuka bobbed up from the grass and saw what had happened. The -anaconda, on the rove for prey, had lashed out for the first moving -thing that approached it--Luiz. Caught in the snake's coils, the guide -was shouting: - -"Urubu! _Ajudo! Ajudo!_" - -Urubu took one quick look and relayed the call for help. Serbot and -Pepito came from the tent, saw what was happening, and dashed back for -their guns. Biff didn't wait to watch what followed. He grabbed Kamuka's -arm and exclaimed, "Let's go!" - -They went. Behind them, they heard a burst of gunfire. Those first shots -must have wounded the anaconda or frightened it away, for the next -volley whistled through the foliage as Biff and Kamuka dived into the -jungle. The boys found their path and raced along it until the shooting -dwindled far behind them. - -Breathless, they slackened their pace to a walk and talked over what had -happened. In a worried tone, Biff said: - -"They must have seen us or they wouldn't have fired after us. I hope -they didn't know who we were." - -"More likely," observed Kamuka seriously, "I think they don't know what -we were." - -"You mean they mistook us for some jungle animals?" - -"Why not? We were gone quick--_pouf_! Maybe we were gone quicker than -_sucuria_." - -By "sucuria" Kamuka meant the anaconda. He was referring to the giant -water boa by its more popular Brazilian name. Kamuka's comment brought a -smile from Biff. - -"I wonder if they shot the anaconda," he speculated, "or whether it -managed to get away." - -"Perhaps Luiz will tell us," rejoined Kamuka, grinning, "when he gets -back to our camp." - -"If Luiz ever gets back there at all!" - -The boys lost no time in getting back to camp themselves. There, they -told Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman all that had happened. - -"Serbot must have learned a lot from somebody down in Minas Geraes," -decided Mr. Brewster, "though how, I can't quite understand. I checked -everyone who had talked with Lew Kirby, and I felt sure he had confided -in me alone." - -"And how did Serbot hear about Joe Nara?" queried Mr. Whitman. "There -have been rumors of head-hunters and abandoned rubber plantations off in -the jungle. But no talk of prospectors and gold mines--at least none -that reached me." - -"There were rumors farther up the river," Biff's father said, "according -to what Nara told us. When Joe bought that cruiser and came down to -Manaus, he turned rumor into fact." - -"Nara found out about us," Hal Whitman pointed out, "so why shouldn't -Serbot find out about Nara? Or about us, for that matter? We know now -where the leak came. Through Urubu." - -Mr. Brewster weighed that statement, then slowly shook his head. - -"Urubu couldn't have sent word to Serbot that fast," he declared, then, -turning to Biff, he queried: "You are sure Serbot told Luiz to find out -what he could about Nara?" - -"Yes," replied Biff, "and about the map, too." - -"Then it wasn't Serbot's man who stole the map," mused Mr. Brewster, -"unless he wants that missing corner that I still have. Or else--" - -Mr. Brewster interrupted himself, as sounds of excitement came from the -bearers, who were busy thatching palm leaves to form a shelter. Their -babble of dialect included the name "Luiz," and a couple of the bearers -were running to help the guide as he came limping into camp. - -"Say nothing," warned Mr. Brewster. "Just listen to what Luiz has to -tell us." - -Luiz had plenty to tell when they formed a sympathetic group around him. - -"I look for water hole," Luiz told them, "and I meet _una grande -sucuria_--one big anaconda! He grab me around my body, like this!" - -Graphically, Luiz gestured to indicate how the snake's coils had -encircled his body. - -Biff and Kamuka kept straight, solemn faces as Luiz continued. - -"I pull my gun quick!" Luiz thrust his hand deep in his trouser pocket -and brought out a small revolver. "I fire quick, until the gun is -empty." He clicked the trigger repeatedly; then broke open the revolver -and showed its empty chambers. "Still, anaconda hold me, until I draw -knife and stab him hard!" - -From a sheath at the back of his belt, Luiz whipped out a knife that -looked far more formidable than his puny gun. He gave fierce stabs at -the imaginary anaconda, his face gleaming with an ugly smile that was -more vicious than triumphant. Luiz looked like a small edition of Urubu, -whose ways he seemed to copy. - -"Big snake go off into jungle," added Luiz, wiggling his hand ahead of -him to indicate the anaconda's writhing course. "Hurt bad, I think. -Maybe it is dead by now. But the animals were still afraid of it. I hear -them run." - -His sharp eyes darted from Biff to Kamuka, but neither boy changed -expression. Clumsily, Luiz pocketed the revolver with his left hand and -thrust the knife smoothly back into its sheath with his right. He rubbed -his side painfully, then beckoned to two of the natives and said, "We go -look for water hole again." - -A short while later, the boys had a chance to exchange comments while -they were gathering palm fronds for the shelter. After making sure that -no one else was nearby, Kamuka confided: - -"Luiz had no gun at start of safari. Urubu must have given gun to him." - -"To explain the shots if any of our party heard them!" exclaimed Biff. -"And did you see the way Luiz looked at us when he mentioned scared -animals? Maybe they glimpsed us going into the brush." - -"Maybe," agreed Kamuka. "I think they shoot anaconda, or big _sucuria_ -would not let Luiz go so easy." - -"That's another reason why Luiz claimed he shot it," added Biff. "We -might come across the anaconda and find the bullet marks." - -Shortly afterward, the boys found a chance to repeat those opinions to -Mr. Brewster, who added a few points that they had overlooked. - -"Luiz couldn't possibly have brought the gun from his pocket, as he -claimed," stated Mr. Brewster, "because the snake was already coiled -about his body. For that matter, he could not have drawn his knife, -either. - -"However, from the clumsy way he showed us the gun and put it back in -the wrong pocket, you could tell he had never handled it before. In -contrast, he was smooth and quick with his knife, which is obviously his -customary weapon." - -One question still perplexed Biff. - -"That other camp is a good way off, Dad," Biff said, "yet we heard the -anvil strokes before we started out. How come you didn't hear the -gunfire later?" - -"Urubu may have made the first strokes closer by," replied Mr. Brewster. -"The anvil sound is also sharper than a gunshot and should carry -farther. That is probably why they chose it as a signal. Kamuka did well -to detect it." - -That evening, Biff was glad there had been time to build the thatched -shelter, for a tropical dew had begun to settle, almost as thick as a -dripping rain. It was less damp beneath the shelter, where Biff and -Kamuka had slung their hammocks. - -Mr. Brewster, however, had inflated a rubber mattress and had placed it -near the fire, stating that he would use a poncho to keep off the -moisture. From his hammock, Biff watched his dad arrange small logs and -palm stalks as spare fuel. As he closed his eyes, Biff could hear his -father talking to Luiz, who was standing close by. - -"I will watch the fire tonight," announced Mr. Brewster. "You have been -hurt. You need rest more than I do." - -"But, Senhor," objected Luiz. "Suppose you fall asleep--" - -"I am sure to wake up at intervals. I always do. But you must get some -sleep, Luiz. We need you to guide us to Piedra Del Cucuy. You are sure -you know the way?" - -"Most certainly, Senhor. But it may take longer than you expect." - -A pause--then Mr. Brewster asked bluntly, "Why?" - -"Because the shortest way is not the best way," returned Luiz. "We might -meet floods, or streams where the piranha may attack us. They are very -dangerous fish, the piranha--" - -"I know," interrupted Mr. Brewster impatiently, "but we have no time to -waste." - -"You are meeting someone at Piedra Del Cucuy?" - -"Yes," replied Mr. Brewster. "A man named--" He caught himself, then -said in a blunt tone: - -"I won't know our plans until we get there. We will continue on up the -river. That is all that I can tell you." - -"Don't you have a map, Senhor?" - -Biff opened his eyes at Luiz's question. He saw his father start to -reach into his inside pocket, then bring his hand out empty. Shaking his -head, Mr. Brewster said: - -"No, I have no map. Go get some sleep, Luiz. You will need it." - -Biff glimpsed Luiz's face as the sneaky guide turned from the firelight. -Beneath the hatbrim, Luiz wore that same ugly smile that showed his -satisfaction. Obviously, Luiz was planning his next move, probably for -tomorrow. - -When it came, his father would be ready for it, Biff felt sure. Soon -Biff drifted into a fitful sleep from which he awoke at intervals. -Sometimes he heard the crackle of the fire and decided that his father -must have thrown on a log and then gone back to sleep. For, each time, -Biff saw the figure of Mr. Brewster covered by the rubber poncho, near -the pile of logs that had become much smaller during the night. It must -have been the fourth or fifth awakening, when Biff saw someone move into -the firelight's flicker. - -It was Luiz. He crept forward. Crouched above the quiet form, Luiz -thrust his hand downward as if to reach into the sleeper's pocket. - -The figure under the poncho seemed to stir. Luiz recoiled quickly and -sped his hand to his hip. Before Biff could shout a warning, Luiz had -whipped out his long knife into sight and driven it straight down at the -helpless shape beneath him. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - The Shrunken Heads - - -Wildly, Biff tumbled from his hammock to the soggy ground. Coming to his -hands and knees, he started forward just as another figure sprang into -the firelight, too late to halt Luiz's knife. The newcomer grabbed -Luiz's shoulders and spun the little man full about. For a moment, Luiz -poised his blade as though planning to counter the attack. - -Instead, he uttered an unearthly shriek, as though he had seen a ghost. -Biff was startled, too, but his cry was a glad one. Etched against the -firelight, Biff saw his dad's face looking down at Luiz. - -Tom Brewster himself was the man who had interrupted Luiz's deadly work. -The figure under the poncho, Biff realized, must be a dummy. - -As the two men struggled for possession of the knife, they kicked the -dummy apart with their feet. Suddenly Luiz managed to wrench free and -dashed off into the jungle. - -Mr. Brewster didn't bother to start after the terrified guide. But Hal -Whitman came rushing from the shelter waving a revolver. Mr. Whitman -fired a few wild shots in the direction that Luiz had taken. The -crackling of jungle plants came back like echoes, indicating that the -gunfire had spurred Luiz's mad flight. - -"That's enough, Hal," laughed Mr. Brewster. "The fellow is so badly -scared he won't stop running until he reaches Serbot's camp." - -"And the more he runs," returned Mr. Whitman, "the more difficulty he -will have finding it in the dark. Well, if Luiz gets lost in the jungle, -he won't talk to Serbot." - -"I don't think it matters much, Hal. Luiz has already told Serbot all he -knows." - -"Except that we found out his game. Now he will tell that to Serbot, -too--if he finds him." - -By the flickering firelight, Biff saw his father's face take on a -troubled expression. - -"You're right, Hal," decided Mr. Brewster grimly. "I hadn't thought of -that. It would be better to catch Luiz and take him along with us. It's -probably too late now, but it may be worth a try." Mr. Brewster turned -to Jacome. "Call Luiz, and see if he answers." - -Jacome gave a long call: "Luiz! Luiz!" Faintly, like a faraway echo, a -voice responded: "_Ajudo! Ajudo!_" - -In the firelight, Biff and Kamuka exchanged startled glances. Both had -the same sudden thought, but it was Biff who exclaimed, "The quicksand! -Luiz must have taken the same path that we did this afternoon!" - -Jacome was calling "Luiz!" again, but this time there was no response. -Mr. Brewster gave the prompt order: - -"Bring lights and hurry!" - -From the way the path showed in the gleam of their flashlights, it was -plain that Luiz could have followed it rapidly in the dark, for it -formed the only opening through the brush. Biff and Kamuka, racing along -beside Jacome, were the first to reach the arch of trees above the -quicksand. - -They halted there, but saw no sign of a human figure in the muck. The -glare revealed nothing but floating water flowers until big Jacome -pointed out what appeared to be a lily pad. Biff exclaimed: - -"Luiz's hat!" - -It was lying brim downward in the ooze, beyond the bough from which Biff -had rescued Kamuka. This time it was Kamuka who scrambled along the -branch and used a big stick that Jacome tossed him to prod the -quicksand, but with no result. - -From the bank, Mr. Brewster studied the scene grimly, noting that the -farther out Kamuka jabbed the stick, the easier and deeper it went. - -"That cry from Luiz was his last," decided Mr. Brewster. "In his flight, -he must have plunged much farther than Kamuka did this afternoon. That -is why the quicksand swallowed him much faster." - -From the bank, Jacome and other natives dragged the mire with stones -attached to long liana vines, but received no answering tugs from the -pulpy quicksand. When they pushed long sticks down into the mire, they -went completely out of sight, to stay. - -"There's no reclaiming anything lost in those depths," Biff's father -said soberly. "That goes for Luiz, too." - -When they returned to the campsite, Mr. Brewster dismantled the crude -dummy that he had placed beside the fire. It was formed from wads of -grass, palm stalks, and small logs, which had made it bulky enough to be -mistaken for a sleeping figure in the uncertain firelight. - -"After what you told me," Mr. Brewster said to Biff and Kamuka, "I -decided to test Luiz. I did everything but mention Joe Nara by name. I -made this dummy figure so I could watch Luiz if he tried to steal the -map he had been told I carried. At the same time, I was guarding my life -against his treachery." - -"But, Dad!" exclaimed Biff. "Serbot never told Luiz to kill you. He -simply told him to delay our safari." - -"And to Luiz's way of thinking," declared Mr. Brewster, "the simplest -way of accomplishing that would be by killing me. Here in the jungle, -people think and act in very direct terms, particularly the natives." - -Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman began a discussion of the next steps to be -taken. They agreed that the sooner the safari moved along, the better. -Mr. Brewster put a question to Jacome. - -"You have been to Piedra Del Cucuy before, Jacome. Could you find your -way there again?" - -"I think so, Senhor." - -"Then you will be our guide as far as the big rock. Have the bearers -ready to move at dawn." - -Daylight was tinting the vast canopy of jungle leaves when the safari -started back toward the main trail. The setting was somber at this early -hour, but the silence was soon broken by some scattered jungle cries. -Then, clear and sharp, came the metallic note of the bellbird. Mr. -Brewster waved the safari to a stop and said: - -"Listen." - -The call was repeated. Mr. Brewster turned to Kamuka and asked: - -"What kind of bird is that? _Campanero_ or Urubu?" - -Biff smiled at the way his father used the term for "bellbird" along -with Urubu's nickname of "vulture." But Kamuka kept a very serious face -as he replied. - -"It is Urubu. Look, Senhor. I show you why." - -He pointed to a white-feathered bird that formed a tiny spot on the high -branch of a tree. - -"There is real _campanero_," declared Kamuka. "He is saying nothing. He -would answer if he heard real call." - -Mr. Brewster studied the bellbird through a pair of binoculars and -promptly agreed with Kamuka. He handed the glasses to Biff, who noted -that the bird, which was something like a waxwing, but larger, had an -appendage that extended from its forehead and draped down over its bill. -This ornament, jet-black in color, was starred with tiny tufts of -feathers. Mr. Brewster called it a caruncle and explained that it was -commonly seen on various species of tropical birds noted for their -ringing cries. - -But this bellbird remained silent, even when the distant anvil sound -clanged anew. - -"Urubu is signaling for Luiz," declared Mr. Brewster. "He may wait an -hour or so and try again. When Serbot finally decides that we have moved -on, he will think that Luiz is taking us the long way. We should get a -good head start, right now." - -The safari pressed forward at a quick pace which was maintained most of -the day. The going was not as hard as Biff had anticipated. Luiz's talk -of a tough trail had been a sham, so that the party would be willing to -take the long route. - -Even some of the streams they encountered were already bridged with -fallen trees, making crossing easy. After one such crossing, Jacome -suggested stopping to eat. Mr. Brewster opened some canned goods, but -most of the bearers preferred bowls of coarse cereal, made from the -manioc or cassava plant. This formed their chief diet. - -Jacome gnawed on a large bone of left-over tapir meat. When he had -finished half of the meat, he suddenly tossed the bone into the stream. -Instantly, the water flashed with silvery streaks in the shape of long, -sleek fish that fought for the bone and tore the remaining meat to -shreds. - -"Piranha," grunted Jacome. "They rip anybody who goes in water. If we -chop away tree, Urubu will have to stop to build new bridge to get -across." - -"Serbot might suspect something," objected Mr. Brewster. "If they guess -that we are on the same trail _ahead_ of them, they will hurry. It is -better to let them think that they can take their time." - -Jacome still found time to fish for piranha during the short rest. The -cannibal fish practically leaped from the water to take the bait. Jacome -took no chances with the sharp teeth that projected from their bulldog -jaws. He cut the lines and tossed the fish into a basket, hooks and all. -When the safari made camp at dusk, they cooked the piranha, and the fish -proved a tasty dinner, indeed. - -Mr. Brewster kept the safari at a steady pace during the next few days -in order to stay ahead of Serbot's party. Jacome proved an excellent -guide, remembering every landmark along the trail. One afternoon, a rain -ended as they trudged beside the bank of a sluggish stream and Jacome -pointed into the distance with the comment: - -"Big rock. There." - -It was Piedra Del Cucuy, a huge, stumpy shaft of granite, towering -hundreds of feet above the forest. The rock was streaked with tiny trees -that looked like sprinklings from the vast green vegetation that spread -beneath. Though the natural boundary marker was still a day's march -away, the mere sight of it spurred on the safari. - -In the light of dawn, the big rock seemed much closer, and within a few -hours' trek, even its cracks and furrows showed sharply. Trails began to -join, and suddenly the trees spread as the safari emerged upon a sandy -beach lapped by the black water of the Rio Negro. - -There wasn't a sign of a boat nor of any habitation until Kamuka pointed -to a movement in the brush, a few hundred feet downstream. Mr. Brewster -stepped forward, spreading his arms with a wide sweep. - -"If it's Joe Nara," Mr. Brewster told Biff, "he will recognize us. If -not, be ready to get back to shelter!" - -Two figures bobbed into sight, and Biff recognized the squatty forms of -Igo and Ubi. They turned and gestured. A few moments later they were -joined by Joe Nara. All three came forward to meet the safari. Nara was -carrying a small package under his arm. - -The bearers were laying down their packs and other equipment when Nara -cried excitedly: - -"We hoped it would be you, Brewster, but we weren't sure. The Macus have -been attacking villages up and down the river. Everywhere, we have heard -the cry: 'Macu! Macu!' until we--" - -"Hold it, Nara," broke in Mr. Brewster. "We have more important things -to talk about first." - -The native bearers were coming forward silently, and Biff realized that -they were drawn by that dreaded word, Macu. But Mr. Brewster wasn't able -to hush Joe Nara. - -"What's more important than Macu head-hunters?" the old man demanded. -"If you don't believe me, Brewster, look at what I picked up downriver!" - -Before Mr. Brewster could stop him, Joe Nara ripped open the package -that he carried. Under the eyes of the native bearers who now were -crowding close about him, Nara brought out a pair of shrunken human -heads, triumphantly displaying one in each hand! - - - - - CHAPTER X - Trapped by the Head-hunters - - -From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been -done. The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and -ready to attack them. They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from -which the safari had come. Out of their excited chatter, Biff could -distinguish the words: - -"Macu here! We go home--quick!" - -Biff, meanwhile, was studying the shrunken heads in amazement. Reduced -to the size of baseballs, their human appearance was preserved in -miniature form. Cords closed the lips, and feathered ornaments hung from -the ears of these grotesque trophies. - -Though Biff had heard how head-hunters dealt with their victims, he had -thought of shrunken heads as curios rather than as something gruesome. -But here, on a tropical riverbank, where the deadly Macus might pop up -in person, the grisly trophies were fearful things indeed. - -When Biff looked from the tiny heads in Nara's hands to the scared faces -of the clustered natives, he noted a striking similarity between them. -He knew that the natives saw it, too, each picturing himself as a -head-hunter's prospective victim. Mr. Whitman and Jacome were trying to -quiet the wild babble but to no avail. Mr. Brewster gestured to the -shrunken heads and told Nara: - -"Put those away." - -Old Joe wrapped the souvenirs with a chuckle, as though he relished the -confusion he had caused. Jacome approached and spoke solemnly to Mr. -Brewster. - -"It is no good," Jacome said. "They want pay. They want to go back to -Santa Isabel--far away from Macu." - -"What about you, Jacome?" inquired Mr. Brewster. "Do you want to go with -them?" - -"I want to go, yes," admitted Jacome, "but I want more to stay with you. -So I stay." - -Mr. Brewster turned to Kamuka. "And you, Kamuka?" - -"I stay with Biff." - -"Good boy!" Biff clapped Kamuka on the shoulder. "I knew a couple of -little shrunken heads wouldn't scare you." - -"I have seen such heads before," rejoined Kamuka calmly, "but always -heads of men. Never any head of a boy. So why should heads scare me?" - -Mr. Brewster paid off the bearers in Brazilian _cruzeiro_ notes, saying -he would give them double if they stayed with the safari, but there were -no takers. In English, Mr. Whitman undertoned the suggestion: - -"Keep talking to them. They still may stay." - -"No, it must be voluntary," returned Mr. Brewster, "as with Jacome and -Kamuka. Otherwise, they will desert us later." - -The bearers hastily packed their few belongings, took a supply of food, -and started back along the trail. Mr. Brewster remarked to Joe Nara, -"Now I suppose we shall have to go upriver in the _Xanadu_." - -"We can't," returned Nara. "We had to haul the cruiser up on shore below -the big rapids. The friendly natives who helped were the ones who told -us about the Macus and gave us the shrunken heads. We've come the rest -of the way in a canoe." - -Nara paused and gestured down the riverbank. - -"We hid it there," he added, "so we could wait for you." - -"We have rubber boats in our equipment," stated Mr. Brewster. "We can -inflate them for the trip upriver." - -"But there are many more rapids," objected Nara, "with no natives to -help you carry the boats past them. You will have to go overland by a -back trail." - -"Where will we find new bearers?" - -"From a native village a mile or so in there." Nara gestured to another -jungle path. "I'll send Igo and Ubi along to introduce you." - -Mr. Brewster delegated the task of hiring the bearers to Hal Whitman, -who left, accompanied by Jacome and Nara's two Wai Wai Indians. Biff and -Kamuka took a swim in the safe water of the river. As they sat drying -themselves in the sun, the boys watched Nara describe the route to Mr. -Brewster. With a stick, old Joe drew a wiggly line in the sand and said: - -"This here is the Rio Negro. I keep going up it until I turn east on -another river." Nara made a line that wiggled to the right. "I don't -know its right name--if it has any--but the natives call it--" - -"Rio Del Muerte," interposed Mr. Brewster. "The River of Death." - -"Lew Kirby told you that, did he?" - -"Yes. That's where he said I'd find you. Somewhere up the Rio Del -Muerte." - -Nara showed a pleased smile at this new token of a bond between his -former partner, Lew Kirby, and Mr. Brewster. - -"Your trail will bring you to the Rio Del Muerte," resumed Nara, "but -you will strike it many miles above the mine." - -"How many miles above?" - -"I wouldn't know. I have never gone by that route. But the native -bearers will know when they reach the Rio Del Muerte." - -"And then?" - -"Then you follow it downstream until you meet me." - -"Where will that be?" - -Nara eyed Mr. Brewster in quick, birdlike fashion, then decided to -answer the question. - -"At a split rock on the north bank," stated Nara, "They call it La Porta -Del Diablo, or the Devil's Gate. Come through the gateway and continue -up the ravine. It leads to El Dorado. I will meet you on the way." - -Mr. Whitman and Jacome were coming from the jungle with a crew of -natives. Mr. Brewster spoke quickly to Nara. "Don't show those shrunken -heads to these chaps!" - -This time old Joe kept his shrunken heads out of sight. He and his two -Wai Wais left to get their canoe, and soon the Indians were paddling up -the Rio Negro. Joe Nara was waving from between two heaps of packs and -luggage. - -Mr. Brewster, meanwhile, had opened a box of trinkets that he was -distributing to create good will. Eagerly, the natives accepted colored -marbles, bright shiny beads, little round mirrors, and other geegaws. -Biff saw Kamuka looking longingly at the eye-catching gifts and -mentioned it to his father, who promptly gave some to the Indian boy. - -Kamuka took some marbles and a mirror, but with a slight show of -reluctance. It was evident that he valued things that were useful as -well as showy. Among the assortment, Biff found a small microscope. He -handed it to Kamuka with the comment: - -"Here's something you will really like. This glass makes little things -look big." Biff held the lens above an ant that was crawling along a -dried palm leaf. "Here, see for yourself." - -Kamuka tried the simple microscope and smiled when he saw that the -insect appeared larger. - -"I like it," he declared, "but I like mirror better, because I can flash -sunlight, like you did." - -"You can use this glass with the sun, too," Biff said. "Hold it close to -the leaf--that's right--now tilt it so the sun shines through. Keep it -that way and wait." - -Kamuka didn't have to wait long. The sun's focused rays soon burned a -hole in the leaf. Kamuka tried another leaf with the same result. He -turned to Biff and remarked: - -"With a lot of dry leaves, all in one pile, you can start big fire with -this--maybe?" - -"You catch on fast, Kamuka," complimented Biff. "Yes, a burning glass is -often used to start a fire. It's a right handy thing to have." - -Kamuka pocketed the microscope along with the mirror and his other new -possessions. In a serious tone, he said, "Time to get ready for trail -now." - -Biff noted that Jacome was assigning the new bearers to their packs and -other equipment. - -"Yes, recess is over," acknowledged Biff. "Let's get our packs and join -the parade." - -The boys found, much to their relish, that they were not needed as pack -carriers. Mr. Whitman had hired a few spare bearers at the village, and -since this new crew was fresh, with less than a half day's journey -before sunset, Mr. Brewster had decided to let them take the full load. - -"You two can go ahead," Mr. Brewster told Biff and Kamuka. "The -villagers tell me that the trail is well marked, so you won't miss it. -But there may be short stretches that need clearing before we come -along." - -It worked out as Mr. Brewster anticipated. At a few spots, Biff and -Kamuka encountered tangled undergrowth which they managed to hack away -with their machetes, by the time the safari caught up with them. As they -were starting ahead again, Mr. Brewster noted the position of the sun. - -"Allow about an hour," he told the boys. "Then start looking for a good -campsite. You can wait there for us." - -Biff enjoyed the carefree, late-afternoon hike through the vast green -vault of the jungle, particularly with Kamuka, who was quick to spot all -forms of wild life. Once, Kamuka pointed to a curious creature with a -huge shell that was moving across the trail. Biff looked just in time to -see it roll up into a solid ball and play dead. - -The thing was an armadillo, the most heavily armored denizen of the -jungle. Again, Kamuka called a halt while they watched what looked like -a Teddy bear with white legs attached to a gray, black-banded body. It -was attacking a huge anthill, darting a long, thin tongue from its -snouted muzzle. The creature was a giant anteater, feeding on its -favorite prey. - -[Illustration: _Up popped a group of tawny natives_] - -Kamuka was quick as well as accurate with the machete. Once, while -slashing at a low bush, he changed the direction of his swing. The long -blade whisked within inches of Biff's shin. As Biff sprang back, he saw -the actual target of Kamuka's quick aim. - -The machete had clipped the head from a snake which had been rearing to -strike at Biff's leg. Pale yellow in color, with brown, diamond-shaped -spots, it somewhat resembled a rattler, except that it had sounded no -loud warning. - -"_Mapepire_," defined Kamuka. "Very bad. Worse poison than _curare_, -like Macu use on arrows." - -Biff decided that the snake was a species of bushmaster, one of the most -deadly of tropical reptiles. - -"Neat work, Kamuka," Biff exclaimed gratefully. "You sure were -johnny-on-the-spot that time!" - -"Johnny-on-the-spot," repeated Kamuka. "What does that mean?" - -"Somebody who is around when you need them most." - -A troop of red howler monkeys were hopping from one high tree to -another, sometimes hanging on to branches only by their tails. The boys -were watching those acrobatics, when a sudden stir occurred in the brush -around them. - -Up from the bushes popped a group of tawny natives, wearing odd-shaped -aprons made of hides decorated with bright feathers and large, dull -beads. Their faces and bodies were streaked with scarlet dye that looked -like war paint. - -Some were holding bows, with arrows on drawn strings. Others were -raising long blowguns to their lips. All were aimed toward a central -target; the spot where Biff and Kamuka stood. - -Biff felt himself sink inwardly as he heard Kamuka gasp the word: -"Macu!" - - - - - CHAPTER XI - A Sudden Surprise - - -Slowly, the Macu warriors closed in on the two boys. The sharp eyes that -glared from painted faces were on the watch for even the slightest move. - -Kamuka muttered to Biff, "Drop machete. Right away." - -As Kamuka let his machete fall, Biff did the same. The inner circle of -Macus dropped their own weapons and sprang forward upon the boys. - -The two were captured without a struggle. The Macus brought out rawhide -bowstrings and tied the wrists of the prisoners behind them. They also -tied their ankles together, but in hobble fashion, far enough apart so -that they could still take short steps. - -Two of their captors picked up the machetes. Another snatched Biff's -wrist watch and tugged it loose. Next, they were finding prizes in the -pockets of the prisoners: Biff's scout knife and his father's metal -mirror; the marbles and the little mirror that Kamuka had been given -earlier in the day. - -Kamuka seemed indifferent to all that happened. He braced his feet so -that the Macus had trouble pushing him around. Biff copied that -procedure and found that it helped. Their captors were in a hurry -because all the while, the cries of the howler monkeys were becoming -louder. Above the din, Kamuka said calmly, "If they hear this back at -the safari, they will know that we are having trouble. They will come to -help us." - -"But how will they know what is happening?" - -"You will see why. Soon." - -Leaping monkeys formed dark red streaks against the deep green of the -jungle foliage. A few Macus were guarding Biff and Kamuka. The rest -spread out through the brush, where they squatted as they had -originally. Gradually, the commotion lessened up in the treetops. Then, -as the monkeys returned to normal, the Macus bobbed up again. - -Now, their bows and blowguns were pointed upward. The air was suddenly -filled with arrows and darts that found their marks high above. Monkeys -began tumbling from the trees, while the rest scattered, howling louder -than before. From the distance came answering chatter, like an alarm -spreading through the jungle. - -"The Macu come across river to hunt monkeys," Kamuka told Biff. "We -heard monkeys talk. I should have known Macu were here." - -The Macus gathered up the dead monkeys and marched Biff and Kamuka back -along the trail. New howls were coming from far off. - -"You see?" undertoned Kamuka. "Maybe safari will hear and come fast." - -"Or go the other way faster," put in Biff. "Those villagers are scared -by the very thought of meeting up with Macus." - -"But your father will come, with Mr. Whitman--" - -"I only hope they won't fall into the same trap." - -"They will not fall into trap. They will have Jacome with them. He will -be on watch." - -Biff's hopes rose at Kamuka's words, only to fall again as their Macu -captors turned suddenly from the trail. Instead of trampling the side -path, the Macus moved stealthily in single file, pushing the captured -boys into the line ahead of them. They spread the jungle plants as they -moved through them, then let them fall back into place, leaving no trace -of their route. - -Literally, the entire party was swallowed by the jungle. Biff groaned -loud enough for Kamuka to hear. - -"Fine chance we have now!" Biff said. "They will never find us, unless -the natives know where the Macu village is." - -"Macu never make village," replied Kamuka. "All they do is tear down -huts that belong to other people." - -The procession was moving straight westward toward the setting sun. -That, at least, made sense to Biff, for it proved that the Macus had -come from across the Rio Negro, as they usually did. Evidently they had -found the fishing poor, so had gone on a monkey hunt instead. - -Soon, the procession reached the Macu camp. This was a small natural -clearing where the Macus had chopped down a few palm trees. Women of the -tribe were sewing palm leaves together to form roofs for crude shelters -around a central fire. - -While the hunters skinned monkeys for the evening meal, other tribesmen -gathered around Biff and Kamuka, prodding them as if they were -curiosities. Their hands were finally released and they were allowed to -eat. Biff was glad that they were fed left-over fish instead of monkey -meat. - -Then they were marched to two small trees. Biff's wrists were tied -behind him around a tree, and he was allowed to slide down to a sitting -position. Kamuka was tied in the same fashion to another tree only a few -feet away. Liana ropes were used instead of thongs, but the knots were -very tight and solid. - -Other Macus tied their ankles in the same manner, so that escape would -be difficult, if not impossible. As the Macus moved away and gathered -around the slowly dying fire, Biff saw their ruddy faces and spoke to -Kamuka. - -"They sure look bloodthirsty, with their faces all done up in war -paint." - -"That is not for war," said Kamuka. "It is for hunger. They will wear -the paint all night, for luck in catching monkeys tomorrow." - -Biff and Kamuka were not too uncomfortable that night. They slept -fitfully until dawn, when the women brought them water but offered them -no food. When they were alone again, Biff asked: - -"What do you think about head-hunters now, Kamuka? Will they let us grow -up before they shrink our heads?" - -"Maybe," returned Kamuka. "Sometimes they take prisoners for members of -the tribe. But I do not want to be Macu. I want to be -johnny-on-the-spot." - -"You're on the spot all right. We both are. If I only had something to -cut these ropes!" - -"I have something Macu did not find. I have it in back pocket where I -can get it easy. Burning glass." - -Kamuka's words roused Biff to an eager pitch. - -"Get it, Kamuka!" he exclaimed. "Try to hold it into the sunlight and -turn it toward my hands." - -"But it will burn your hands--" - -"Not long, it won't. I'll tell you when to move it and which way to tilt -it." - -Kamuka soon had the little microscope tilted toward the sun. Biff -repressed a sudden "Ouch!" and then said calmly, "Just a little higher, -Kamuka. Hold it there a moment. No, a little more. Now, the other way--" - -"I smell rope burning!" Kamuka said. - -"Hold it just as it is," urged Biff. - -Soon Biff, too, could smell the burning rope. A minute later, he found -that the bonds yielded when he tried to pull his wrists apart. Finally -the rope broke completely, and with one hand free Biff was able to take -the microscope and work on Kamuka's bonds. - -By now, most of the Macu hunters had left the camp, and the few who -remained were still asleep. The boys worked on their ankle ropes, -unnoticed, but found them so tight that they had to take turns burning -them. Finally free, they realized that their biggest problem lay ahead. - -"We can't both make a run for it at once," whispered Biff, "or they -might wake up and spot us. You slide for the brush first, Kamuka. If -they still see me, they may not notice that you have gone." - -"But I can't leave you here alone, Biff." - -"You won't be leaving me. I'll give you time to work around the -clearing. Then if they see me start to leave, you can raise a yell and -draw them your way." - -"Very good, Biff. We try it." - -The ruse worked better than they had hoped. Kamuka gained the edge of -the clearing with ease. Biff gave him due time to get properly posted, -then followed the same route. They had chosen it well, for it was not -only the closest edge of the clearing; it was directly toward the rising -sun, which would tend to dazzle anyone who looked that way. - -Once in the jungle, Biff kept close to the clearing as he circled it, -calling softly to Kamuka until they finally met. Again, the sun proved -helpful. They had been headed toward it when they were brought here as -prisoners, late in the previous afternoon. So now, they had only to move -toward the morning sun to reach the jungle trail. - -It was slow going, as they had to be wary of animals in the brush, yet -all the while they felt the urge to hurry in case their escape had been -discovered back at the Macu camp. At last, however, they came upon the -trail. Then came the question: Which direction should they take? - -"The safari must have come as far as we did," declared Biff, "in fact -probably a lot farther, as they were supposed to keep on coming until -they overtook us." - -"But when they didn't find us," said Kamuka, "they must have turned back -to look." - -"You may be right," decided Biff. "They could have figured, too, that we -missed the trail somewhere along the line. I'll tell you what. Let's go -back along the trail a couple of miles anyway. If we don't meet them, -we'll know they are up ahead." - -"And all the time," added Kamuka, "we keep good sharp look for Macu!" - -That final point was so important that both Biff and Kamuka kept paying -more attention to the bordering jungle than to the trail itself. Every -sound, from a bird call to a monkey howl might mean that Macu hunters -were about. So could the slightest stir among the jungle flowers and the -banks of surrounding plants, where at any moment, painted faces topped -with wavy hair might come popping into sight as they had the afternoon -before. - -But there wasn't a trace of motion in all that sultry setting until the -boys reached a place where the trail took a short, sharp turn around the -slanted trunk of a fallen ceiba tree. Biff, in the lead, gave a quick -glad cry as he saw native bearers coming toward them, bowed under the -weight of the packs they carried. - -At the head of the column strode a white-clad man wearing a tropical -helmet. At sight of him, Biff turned and called to Kamuka: - -"Here's Mr. Whitman coming with the whole safari! We're safe now, -Kamuka! Come on!" - -With that, Biff dashed forward, only to be caught by the shoulders and -spun full about, his arm twisted in back of him. Biff's captor shoved -him straight toward the leader of the safari, and the boy saw for the -first time that the man in white wasn't Mr. Whitman. - -Looking down from beneath the pith helmet was the ever-smiling face of -Nicholas Serbot, tinted an unearthly green in the subdued glow of the -jungle. Over Biff's shoulder leered the face of his captor, Big Pepito! - - - - - CHAPTER XII - Between Two Fires - - -Biff's first concern was for Kamuka. He managed to dart a quick look -along the trail hoping to shout a warning to his companion. Then, Biff -caught himself, fearful that such a call would turn attention in -Kamuka's direction. - -The warning wasn't needed. Kamuka had witnessed Biff's rapid capture and -had taken action on his own. With uncanny instinct, Kamuka had found an -opening in the seemingly solid wall of jungle and had already dived from -sight. - -One man, however, had seen the green mass close behind Kamuka's -quick-moving form. That man was Urubu. He raised his rifle and fired -into the thick foliage, three times in quick succession. - -As Urubu paused, Biff appealed frantically to Serbot: - -"Don't let him shoot again--" - -Serbot ordered Urubu to lower his rifle, which the guide did. At the -same time, Urubu grinned, for he had seen no ripple in the jungle leaves -beyond the spot where he had first aimed. - -"Perhaps," purred Serbot, "Urubu is trying to shoot an anaconda, the way -he did the other day." - -"Or some other jungle creature," added Pepito, over Biff's shoulder, -"like those that we heard run away." - -Biff guessed that they were trying to draw out facts from him, to learn -if he and Kamuka had followed Luiz and listened in on the discussion -that had shaped the later events. As Biff tightened his lips, determined -not to answer, Urubu became impatient. - -"And maybe," put in the leering guide, "I just now try to kill some -person, the way Luiz was chased and killed." - -"What happened to Luiz was his own fault," Biff argued hotly. "He tried -to kill my father first, with a knife." - -"Your bearers did not tell us that," stated Serbot smoothly. "We met -them on their way back to Santa Isabel, and they told us that Whitman -had fired at Luiz, who ran into quicksand--" - -"Where we tried to save him. Did they tell you that?" - -"Yes, they told us that. But not that Luiz had tried to kill your -father." - -"That happened before they even woke up. By then, Luiz had started to -run, so naturally Mr. Whitman went after him." - -"The boy lies," snarled Urubu. "The bearers did not give you foolish -talk like this." - -"They gave us other foolish talk," reminded Serbot. "They scared our -crew by saying there were Macus around here." - -"But there are Macus around!" exclaimed Biff. "Their camp is only a few -miles away from here. I know, because the Macus had me tied up as a -prisoner all last night!" - -The effect on Serbot's party was electric. Even before Urubu could -translate the words to the bearers, they were dropping their packs, -ready to take to flight, for they recognized the name "Macus" when Biff -mentioned it. - -But Serbot, raising his smooth tone to a surprisingly strong pitch, -spoke in a mixture of Portuguese and native dialect that Biff managed to -understand. - -"Where will you go?" demanded Serbot. "Do you think you will be safe by -running away like frightened deer, while the Macus are looking for just -such prey? If there are Macus all around, as the boy says, there is -nothing for us to do but go on and be ready for them!" - -All this while, Pepito had retained his grip on Biff, but had been -gradually relaxing the hold. Now, at Serbot's order, he released Biff -entirely, but still kept a wary eye on him. Biff longed to dash into the -jungle and look for Kamuka, but again he managed to restrain himself. - -The chances were that Urubu's shots had missed and that Kamuka was lying -low in the motionless foliage. To race after him and draw new gunfire -would be the worst thing that Biff could possibly do. So he waited -patiently until the safari started on. - -Then Serbot took the lead, telling Biff to stay beside him, while Pepito -guarded one flank and Urubu the other, all three carrying ready rifles. -The bearers stepped along close together, eager to get through the Macu -territory. - -"Keep a sharp watch," Serbot told Biff. "The Macus caught you yesterday. -Don't let them trap you again today." - -Occasionally, Biff managed to look back, hoping that Kamuka had come -from cover and was stealing along behind the safari. Soon Biff gave that -up, realizing that if Kamuka had decided to follow them, he would be -staying completely out of sight. - -When they reached the spot where the Macus had bobbed up the day before, -Biff recognized it. He turned to Serbot and said, "This is where the -head-hunters were yesterday." - -Serbot swung about and ordered the safari to halt. As the bearers set -down their packs, Biff studied their faces and realized that some were -members of the group that Whitman had organized, the natives who had -started home when Joe Nara had exhibited the shrunken heads. - -Their meeting with Serbot's safari must have scared some of Serbot's -crew into going back to Santa Isabel. But Serbot or Urubu must have -talked some of Whitman's men into coming along as replacements. Now Biff -understood how Serbot had learned so much about Luiz. - -After a brief rest, Serbot asked Biff, "Were there many head-hunters -here?" - -"Yes," replied Biff. "A lot of them." - -"And which way did they take you?" - -Biff pointed to the west. Smoothly, Serbot asked, "If there were so -many, how did you manage to escape today?" - -"Because most of them had left before dawn to go hunting," replied Biff. -"That's why I was afraid of running into them." - -"Good. We'll be on the watch for them." - -Serbot ordered the safari forward. At the end of another mile, they came -to a side trail, which cut sharply in the direction of the Rio Negro. -After a rapid discussion with Urubu, so thick with dialect that Biff -could not understand it, Serbot decided to take the river route. - -As they started along it, Serbot spoke to Biff, using the smooth, easy -tone that reminded Biff of their first meeting in the airplane above the -Amazon. - -"If the Macus are hunting along the main trail," declared Serbot, "they -will never bother to come this way. That makes it all the safer for us. -Anyone taking the main trail would be gone, for certain." - -That was passed along by Urubu to the bearers, who not only were -pleased, but quickened their pace, hoping to get out of Macu territory -all the faster. But Biff's heart sank, for he was afraid there would be -no catching up with his own safari now. - -Then Biff noted that Serbot was studying him steadily. Evidently, the -smiling man was anxious to learn which way the other safari had gone, -and was hoping that Biff's change of manner would give the fact away. - -Suddenly, there came an interruption that gave Biff a cause for real -alarm. - -"Listen!" he exclaimed. - -From the treetops came a running chatter that seemed to carry like a -wave from somewhere off in the jungle. Biff recognized the excited -gabble. - -"The howler monkeys!" he told Serbot. "That's the way they acted after -the Macus shot some of them with arrows yesterday!" - -Serbot tried to gauge the direction of the sound, then ordered the -safari onward, faster. They followed the rough, irregular trail until -they reached a spot where the chatter lessened and finally quieted -altogether. Serbot waved for the bearers to set down their packs. - -The order came just in time. The bearers themselves pointed to heads and -shoulders that bobbed from behind trees and bushes. Terrified, the -bearers shouted, "Macu!" - -Serbot dived behind a pack, to use it as a shelter. Pepito and Urubu did -the same, expecting Biff to join them with the huddling bearers, for -spears, arrows, and darts were now skimming toward them. Instead, Biff -acted upon sudden impulse and raced along the jungle trail. He heard -guns blast in back of him, but knew Serbot and the others were too busy -shooting at the attacking head-hunters to worry about him. - -Biff passed a turn in the trail and knew then that he was safe from -gunfire, but he had his eye on an opening in the jungle another hundred -feet ahead. There, Biff was sure that he could duck from sight the way -Kamuka had. But Biff was becoming too hopeful too soon. - -Less than halfway to the spot, Biff halted in his tracks as the foliage -parted and a painted Macu warrior loomed in sight. Armed with bow and -arrow, the deadly marksman was already taking aim at Biff with his -bowstring fully drawn. - -Another moment, and the poison-tipped arrow would be in flight, allowing -Biff no chance of escape at such close range! - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - The River of Death - - -The twang of the head-hunter's bowstring was drowned by an explosive -burst from farther up the trail. With it, the Macu marksman gave an -upward, sideward jolt at the very instant the arrow was leaving his bow. - -The feathered missile zimmed high and wide by a matter of scant inches, -for Biff could hear it whirr past his ear and stop with a sharp thud in -a tree trunk just behind him. - -A piercing yell seemed to echo the timely gunshot. The Macu had dropped -his bow and was gripping his left arm with his right hand as he dived -off into the jungle. The bullet had jolted the bow from the Macu's -grasp, sending the arrow wide. - -Now, looking up the trail, Biff saw his father hurrying in his -direction, rifle in hand. Biff started to meet him, shouting, "Dad!" -only to have Mr. Brewster wave him back. Next, Biff saw his father take -a quick shot at another Macu huntsman who had popped up in the brush, -only to drop from sight again. - -Now, from the other side of the trail, a brown head and arm poked from -among a mass of blossoms that sprouted from the thin bark of a fallen -tree trunk. Biff heard the familiar call: "Biff, come this way! Quick!" - -It was Kamuka. Biff vaulted the log and took shelter behind it, but -tried to shake off Kamuka's restraining hand as he saw his father come -along the trail with Mr. Whitman and Jacome. All three were taking -long-range shots at distant Macus. - -"I have to warn Dad," Biff explained. "Serbot's party is just around the -bend." - -"He knows," assured Kamuka. "We were coming back when we heard their -guns. So we hurry fast." - -"Coming back along this trail?" - -"That's right. When they couldn't find us on the main trail, they think -maybe we take this one. So today, they take it to look for us." - -"Then you sneaked ahead of Serbot's party after you ducked from sight. -But how did you know to take this side trail when you reached it?" - -"Jacome leave special message that I understand. Twist of grass and -broken jungle branch are as good as mirror signal, sometimes." - -Mr. Brewster and his fellow-marksmen had rifles with a longer range than -the Macu weapons. Also, they were able to shift positions along the -trail, preventing the Macus from picking a point of attack. - -Serbot's party, on the contrary, had first let the Macus close in on -them. Then, in solidly entrenching themselves, they had lost all chance -of mobility. Soon they would have been surrounded if Mr. Brewster and -his companions hadn't come along to scatter the foe. Kamuka called -Biff's attention to that fact. - -"Macu run like scared deer," said Kamuka. "But now your father is -telling Mr. Whitman and Jacome to stop shooting. Why?" - -"I guess Dad wants to keep the Macus around as a threat," returned Biff -grimly, "until he sees what Serbot intends to do. Urubu might take a pot -shot at anybody." - -Kamuka gave a knowing nod. "You tell me!" - -"Then you saw it was Urubu who fired after you?" - -"Sure, Biff. I look long enough to see him aim. I tell Mr. Brewster all -that happened, too." - -Evidently, Mr. Brewster had profited by Kamuka's report. He had reached -the bend where he was in direct sight of Serbot's entrenched party, but -he was motioning for Whitman and Jacome to stay behind him. - -Serbot looked up from behind a pack, then gave a wary glance in the -direction the Macus had gone. A few arrows came whizzing from high among -the tree boughs, but they landed wide. They were sufficient, however, to -shape Serbot's next decision. - -Serbot ordered Pepito and Urubu to resume their shooting after the -Macus. At the same time, Serbot clambered over the packs and came along -the path to meet Mr. Brewster, who in his turn ordered Mr. Whitman and -Jacome to renew their fire on the distant head-hunters. Rifles barked in -unison. - -Biff and Kamuka joined their party in time to catch a last glimpse of -the routed head-hunters. - -"They won't stop until they reach their camp," declared Biff, "and maybe -they'll still keep on going from there." - -"Until they reach the Rio Negro," added Kamuka, "and maybe they swim it -quick." - -Mr. Brewster's meeting with Serbot resulted in an immediate, though -guarded truce. Mr. Whitman and Jacome moved up to back Mr. Brewster, -while Serbot was beckoning for Pepito and Urubu to come and join him. -The boys stayed in the background as did Serbot's bearers, none of whom -had been injured in the brief fray. - -How many head-hunters might be lying dead in the brush or limping away -wounded, there was no telling, but the battle had been won rapidly and -effectively. Serbot seemed duly appreciative as he purred: - -"We owe you much, _amigo_. You have helped us. Perhaps there is some way -we can help you." - -"None at all," Mr. Brewster said curtly. "Now that we have driven off -the Macus, we can go our separate ways." - -"But how can you go anywhere? You have no bearers." - -"They are waiting farther up the main trail, with our equipment. We left -them while we came back to look for the boys." - -Serbot promptly raised a new line of inquiry. - -"Perhaps you are surprised to see me here," he suggested, "So far from -Manaus, where we last met." - -"Why should I be surprised?" returned Mr. Brewster. "We are both looking -for _balata_, aren't we?" - -"I am not looking for rubber," Serbot declared. "I am looking for a man -named Joe Nara, who claims to have a gold mine somewhere near the -headwaters of the Rio Negro. He came down to Manaus in a fast boat -shortly before you left your hotel." - -"Who told you I had left?" - -"The manager at the Hotel Jacares. He also said that your room appeared -to have been robbed. The next day your jeep was found near an empty -boathouse. I learned that Senhor Whitman had started from there on a -rubber exploration trip upriver." - -"And you thought I had joined him?" - -"Exactly, Senhor. So I came by plane to find you." - -Biff realized that Serbot's plane must have been one of those that had -passed over Nara's cruiser on the trip up the Rio Negro. - -"After I hired Urubu as a guide," continued Serbot, "I learned that you -had arrived on Nara's cruiser. So I assumed that you planned to meet -Nara later." - -"So you bribed Luiz to kill me, to make sure of meeting Nara first." - -"No, no, _Senhor_. I only wanted Luiz to delay your safari, as Pepito -and Urubu will tell you." - -Serbot gestured to the pair, and Pepito smiled broadly while Urubu -showed his usual ugly grin. - -"I wanted to talk to Nara," continued Serbot earnestly, "because I had -heard that he was willing to sell his gold mine to the highest bidder. -That is, if he really has a gold mine. Perhaps you could tell me that?" - -"I wouldn't know," returned Mr. Brewster. "As you say, I am only -interested in rubber. And it's time that I was starting off to look for -some." - -With that parting, Mr. Brewster motioned his companions back toward the -main trail. They had only gone a dozen paces, when Mr. Brewster -undertoned: - -"Take turns glancing back to see what that crowd is doing. I don't trust -any of them, particularly Urubu." - -Biff took the first look and reported that Urubu, like Serbot and -Pepito, was leaning on his gun while the trio apparently discussed what -to do next. Soon Kamuka reported the same thing. Then Mr. Whitman looked -back and announced that the group was now out of sight. - -Mr. Brewster called for a quicker pace, and when they reached the main -trail, they moved even faster--so fast in fact, that Biff and Kamuka had -to jog along to keep up with the three men. - -"We came back to look for you at dawn," Biff's father told the boys, "so -our bearers will be packed and waiting for us when we reach our last -night's campsite. If Serbot pushes his crew to overtake us, they will be -worn out, while we'll be starting fresh." - -Mr. Whitman was feeling the heat, for he removed his white helmet to mop -his forehead. - -"More likely," he said, "Serbot will try to overtake Nara by going up -the bank of the Rio Negro. That makes all this hurry useless." - -"No, we still must keep ahead of Serbot," Mr. Brewster insisted. "If -Serbot has guessed where Nara is going, he will move up the Rio Del -Muerte while we are coming down it." - -The bearers were waiting when they reached the campsite, and fell -promptly into line. There was little difficulty in spurring them on. The -mere mention that the Macus were behind them was enough. During the next -few days, the bearers toiled steadily along the inland trail. -Apparently, there was nothing that they feared more than the Macus. - -Nothing, at least, until the safari reached a deep but narrow stream -that the bearers promptly identified as Rio Del Muerte. Then they broke -into a babble of Indian talk that only Jacome was able to translate. - -"They say they leave us here," declared Jacome. "It is death, they say, -to go down this river." - -Mr. Brewster studied the narrow trail that flanked the riverbank and -dwindled off into the thick green of the jungle. - -"Tell them that if they go back the way they came, they may meet the -Macus." - -Jacome translated Mr. Brewster's comment. The bearers chattered back -excitedly, and Jacome announced: - -"They say they would rather meet Macu than stay near Rio Del Muerte. -They say they go home now." - -While Jacome spoke, the bearers picked up their few belongings and -started on their homeward trek. Biff and Kamuka noted that they did not -even stop to fill their water bags from the stream that they seemed to -dread so much. - -"What do you make of it, Kamuka?" Biff asked. - -"I do not know," Kamuka replied. "I cannot even understand the things -they say to Jacome, except that they are afraid to go downriver." - -However, the expedition was far from being stranded. The pack bags that -the native bearers had abandoned contained three rubber boats, complete -with aluminum seats and paddles. Biff and Kamuka helped pump them full -of air, so that they took on a squatty, roundish shape. - -Then, after a survey of the rubber flotilla, Mr. Brewster decided to -take Biff and Kamuka with him in one boat, while Mr. Whitman and Jacome -manned the second, each carrying whatever equipment it could bear. The -third boat was converted into a raft and loaded with all the remaining -packs. Biff's father took it in tow, letting Hal Whitman pace the trip -downstream. - -To Biff, this was a fine change after the long, sweaty hours on the -trail when he and Kamuka had helped relieve the bearers. They were -floating through a maze of jungle green that at times actually arched -into a tunnel above them. - -Though heavily loaded, the boats moved easily, more swiftly as the -jungle banks narrowed and the river itself deepened. Whitman was waving -back cheerily as they skimmed off the mileage. Suddenly they saw him -rise and wag his paddle frantically as he shouted: - -"Stay back--stay back--" - -His words were drowned by a mighty roar as they turned the bend and saw -what Whitman had already viewed. No wonder the natives called this the -Rio Del Muerte, the River of Death! Just ahead, a curved crest of foam -showed where the stream took a sudden drop in the form of a mammoth -waterfall--a sheer plunge to doom on the rocks a hundred feet below! - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - The Devil's Gateway - - -"Paddle hard on the right, boys--with all your might!" - -Mr. Brewster shouted the order above the river's tumult, and all three -bent to the task. They brought their boat broadside to the approaching -brink and drove it toward the left bank of the stream, which here was -scarcely a hundred feet wide. - -It was a gruelling race against death. There was no escaping the -powerful current that seemed to draw them with a suction pull. Yet the -jungle bank was coming closer with every stroke. - -They were almost there now, but Biff, in the bow, had no chance to catch -the first projecting tree, as the boat was swept past it. He worked -madly with the paddle instead, for here the bank was eaten away by the -current, and there was nothing to grab. - -It seemed certain now that the boat would be carried over the falls, -when suddenly it began to swirl about, and another few strokes brought -them into the last big clump of overhanging brush. - -Biff and Kamuka managed to grab hold and cling there, while Mr. Brewster -worked the boat into the bank itself. Then new disaster loomed in the -shape of the pack boat which had been following them on its towline. As -the other boat spun past, its line went taut before Mr. Brewster could -cut it. - -Biff's shoulders seemed to wrench half from their sockets, and he felt -the bush pull loose from the soil. Then the tug ended as the other boat -came full about, giving them a soft thump. Churned into this new -position, it bulked in between the bank and their own craft, almost -wedging them loose and out into the stream. - -Mr. Brewster made a quick leap across the baggage and up on to the high -bank, carrying the slack line which he hitched over a tree bough. That -secured both boats, while the boys clambered ashore. - -In cutting away the bank, the current had created an eddy which -accounted for the final swirl that had carried both boats to safety. Yet -only a dozen feet away, the tangled jungle growth actually quivered on -the fringe of the falls that dropped in one huge deluge into the dizzy -depths below. - -It was from there that they first looked for Whitman's boat, expecting -to see it bobbing somewhere in the rocky gorge a hundred feet below. The -rising mist obscured the bottom of the falls where the terrific torrent -would by now have battered the bodies of Mr. Whitman and Jacome into a -pulp. - -Or so they thought, until Mr. Brewster stepped closer to the overhanging -bushes and gained a full view of the crescent-shaped brink. He beckoned -to the boys and exclaimed: - -"Look there!" - -Caught between two low rocks, Whitman's boat was jammed on the brink, -its two occupants still alive, temporarily at least. Heavily loaded, -wide of beam and flexible because of its inflated sides, the rubber boat -had snagged where almost any other craft would have cracked up and gone -over the crest. - -Other low rocks jutted at close intervals along the foamy brim. Biff -noticed them when he saw Mr. Whitman rise in the boat to point them out -to Jacome. - -"Those rocks are like steppingstones, Dad!" exclaimed Biff. "If we throw -a line to them, maybe we can haul them ashore--" - -An interruption came as the boat wabbled on its precarious perch, due to -Mr. Whitman's shift of weight. It settled back again, as Whitman plopped -down into the stem. From the shore, Biff's father gestured for Whitman -to stay down and received a nod in reply. Turning to Biff, Mr. Brewster -declared: - -"Throwing them a line won't help. If they missed their footing, they -would be swept away in spite of it. We'll have to carry it across to the -other bank and moor it there." - -From the pack boat, Mr. Brewster produced a coil of thin, strong rope -which he estimated as more than long enough to bridge the stream and -return. He looped the center around a tree trunk and gave the ends to -Kamuka, motioning him into the empty boat. Then, with Biff helping, Mr. -Brewster kept working his way up along the bank, pulling the boat from -the shore, while Kamuka nimbly grabbed at passing branches. - -After they were a safe distance upstream, Mr. Brewster brought Biff into -the boat with him and told the boys: - -"Paddle hard on the left, this time. Try to swing the boat upstream--and -don't stop, not for one instant!" - -Again, they were in the swirl of the swift-flowing current where Biff, -paddling bow, found it impossible to bring the boat about, even with -Kamuka working valiantly to help him. But Mr. Brewster had allowed for -that. Their efforts, plus his own, brought them to the far bank, still -well above the falls. - -There, the boys warped the boat downstream while Biff's father hauled in -the floating rope. Picking a landing spot, they carried one end of the -rope about a tree, where they drew it taut and tied it to the other end. -The rope now followed the slight curve of the cataract's brim from the -opposite bank as far as Whitman's stranded boat. - -Mr. Brewster then took a loop of rope around a paddle and began to twist -it, winch fashion. He let the boys take over, one at each end of the -paddle, while he waved to the boat and pointed to the water. Whitman and -Jacome understood the plan at once and caught on to the rope as it -emerged. - -Rapidly, the boys turned the paddle, tightening the rope until it looked -like a suspension cable, except for its outward curve. Mr. Whitman and -Jacome, rising gradually from the boat, gripped the center of the double -line. - -Jacome took to the steppingstones first, moving in limber, catlike -fashion as he left the boat. Mr. Whitman, who had settled low to offset -the loss in weight, watched every move, still clutching the center of -the rope, which also helped to steady the boat. - -Hand over hand, Jacome followed the rope, swinging from one projecting -rock to the next, or actually leaping a space where the water gushed -through. It became easier as Jacome neared the bank where the pack boat -was moored. There, Jacome swung on the shore and waved for Whitman to -follow. - -As before, Whitman rose too rapidly. This time, the boat skidded out -from under him; as it did, he hopped to the nearest rock and balanced -there by clinging to the rope. Biff saw the boat slide over the falls, -tumbling from sight with the light luggage it contained. - -Breathlessly, Biff watched Hal Whitman swing to the next broad stone, -where he swayed dangerously while Mr. Brewster and Jacome, tightening -their ends of the rope, helped to steady him. What had been child's play -for Jacome would have meant disaster for Whitman, without that timely -aid. - -The last leap, that looked the easiest, was the most dangerous of all. -Where Jacome had swung himself clear up on the bank, Whitman dropped -short, but not into the sweeping current that fringed the shore. Jacome -had wisely edged the pack boat into the gap. Whitman landed on the -luggage, and Jacome pulled him up to the bank above. - -During the next few hours, the party worked its way down the steep walls -that flanked the waterfall. This might have been impossible, except for -the holds afforded by the heavy jungle growth. The boats were deflated -and lowered by ropes. Then, when Biff and Kamuka reached the gorge, they -found a shallow stretch where they waded and swam the river, to receive -the luggage from the pack boat that Mr. Whitman and Jacome lowered from -their side. - -Farther downstream, the boys found Whitman's boat, still intact, along -with its baggage, which Jacome had tied inside the rubber craft before -abandoning it. Biff and Kamuka hauled it ashore and spread the contents -of the bags so they could dry. - -That night, they camped within sound of the big waterfall, and the -muffled roar seemed almost musical, now that its hazard had been passed. -But Hal Whitman, seated by the campfire, spoke bitterly about his -harrowing experience. - -"I blame Joe Nara for all this," he declared. "I believe he is our real -enemy, not Nicholas Serbot." - -"How do you figure that, Hal?" inquired Mr. Brewster. - -"First, Nara must have snooped a lot more than he let on," argued -Whitman, "in order to learn about that boathouse down in Manaus. Am I -right?" - -"You may be right," conceded Mr. Brewster. "Go on." - -"And by checking on me," continued Whitman, "he found out about you. He -learned that you were staying at the Hotel Jacares. So he sent one of -his Indians to steal your map--" - -"Wait, Hal," interposed Mr. Brewster with a smile. "How could he have -known that I even had the map?" - -"He knew Lew Kirby made a deal with somebody. You were the logical man, -or you wouldn't have gone to all the trouble and expense of sending me -up to Santa Isabel to organize a safari." - -"But if Nara knew I had the map, why would he want to steal it? Lew -Kirby was his partner. Remember?" - -"I remember." Mr. Whitman smiled grimly. "What's more, so does Joe Nara, -and that's probably the one thing he'd like most to forget." - -"So he wouldn't be bound by any deal that Kirby made?" - -"Exactly. Without the map, you haven't any claim. If Kirby signed over -his share of the mine to you, you would need the map to prove it." - -"I still have part of it, Hal." - -"Yes," acknowledged Whitman, "but I'll bet that Joe Nara only let you -keep it because he decided it wouldn't do you any good. Think it over, -and you'll see I'm right." - -Whether or not Mr. Brewster thought it over during the night, Biff -certainly did. When they were loading the boats at dawn to resume their -trip downriver, Biff asked his father: - -"Do you think that Mr. Whitman is right about Joe Nara?" - -"There may be something in what he says," admitted Mr. Brewster. "Nara -may have been keeping something from us." - -During the day, they made speedy progress down the river, hugging the -bank at every bend to avoid new waterfalls. But the trip proved smooth, -which only brought more grumbles from Whitman. - -"Nara sent us down this river to get rid of us," he declared, as they -paddled along. "It wasn't his fault that the Rio Del Muerte failed to -live up to its name. As for that gateway where we're supposed to meet -him--El Porto Del Diablo--I don't think there is such a place." - -One hour later, those doubts were dispelled. As the boats passed a bend, -they came to an opening in the jungle that looked like the dry bed of a -stream that had once joined the Rio Del Muerte. Then, amid the thick -green foliage, loomed the very rock that Nara had mentioned, split like -a huge gateway, a short distance up the ravine. - -They pulled the boats up on the low, sandy shore, where Mr. Brewster -decided to leave the packs and other equipment, though not for long. - -"Nara said to come through the gateway," he said, "and meet him -somewhere up the ravine. If we don't see him soon, we can come back and -bring the luggage in relays." - -The trail narrowed at the end of half a mile and veered sharply beneath -a high, bulging cliff that slanted back like a gigantic brow, cutting -off the sunlight. Mr. Brewster, well in advance, had reached the turn in -the ravine, when Jacome, bringing up the rear of the procession, gave a -loud, warning shout. - -The rest looked up in time to see the tiny, squatty figures of six men -drop suddenly behind a row of rocks that resembled the top edge of a -castle tower. But that impression was a brief one. As the group stared -from below, they saw the rocky summit topple forward. - -Those watchers on the cliff top had launched a mass of bounding boulders -that encountered bigger chunks of granite and carried them along, with -the earth in which they were imbedded. An avalanche of stone and dirt -was gaining size as it roared down the slope, threatening to block the -narrow ravine and bury every member of the party that had come into its -path! - - - - - CHAPTER XV - Fabulous El Dorado - - -While the others stood rooted, staring upward, Biff looked for his -father, in the frantic hope of giving him some last-moment warning. Up -ahead, Mr. Brewster was waving for them to join him. Biff grabbed -Whitman by the arm and tried to start him forward, at the same time -yelling to Kamuka and Jacome: - -"It's our only chance! Maybe Dad can get us past the turn in the -ravine!" - -They all were starting forward before Biff finished speaking, but their -chance faded as the landslide's roar increased. Spreading as it came -over the cliff edge, the first wave of dirt and stone was not only -peppering them; it was pouring into the side passage that seemed their -only refuge. - -Fortunately, none of them was hit by that first spray of smaller stones. -Whitman stumbled, but Jacome overtook him and helped him regain his -footing. Then they had reached Mr. Brewster, who was blocking them from -the side passage where Biff thought he wanted them to go. - -Instead, Biff's father now was rushing them beneath the overhanging -cliff, where they huddled against the rocky wall and turned to witness -the havoc that they had so narrowly escaped. From this hollow, open -space where Mr. Brewster had guided them, they watched tons of dirt and -stone drop down in a solid curtain, only a dozen feet away, for the -bulge of the cliff above was comparatively slight. - -Yet it jutted enough to send the tremendous landslide cascading out -beyond them, something on which Mr. Brewster had counted when he made -his quick decision. But after the roar had finally subsided, Biff's -father disclaimed any special credit for the rescue. - -"I was close enough to see that this pocket offered us our only chance," -stated Mr. Brewster. "As it was, your own prompt response saved your -lives. Otherwise, you would now be under there." - -Mr. Brewster gestured significantly to the mound of earth and rock that -had piled many feet above their heads. Carefully, they worked their way -up over it and down a long slant to the main ravine, which they followed -back to the river. - -On the way, they looked up to the brow of the great cliff, but saw no -human figures there. They noted though, that the landslide had turned -the ravine into a dead-end, with no trace of the narrow passage that -angled off to the right, the route that they would have taken. - -Back at the river, Biff's father sat on a pack and commented rather -ruefully: - -"I guess this about ends our quest for El Dorado." - -"I'm afraid so," Whitman agreed. "I've told you all along that Joe Nara -was a phony." - -"You mentioned a few reasons why you thought so," reminded Mr. Brewster. -"But they were hardly sufficient, Hal." - -"All right," retorted Whitman, "I'll add a few clinchers. Nara said his -men were Wai Wai Indians, didn't he?" - -"That's right." - -"Well, the Wai Wais come from clear over in British Guiana, not from -around here. And you remember those shrunken heads he showed us? To -prove that Macus were around?" - -Mr. Brewster nodded. - -"Those were Jivaro heads," declared Whitman, "from somewhere up the -Amazon itself. Macus don't shrink heads. All Nara wanted was to scare -our bearers back to Santa Isabel and chase us off into the jungle. Right -now, he's probably still down on the Rio Negro, making a deal with -Serbot, somewhere near Piedra Del Cucuy, learning what the competition -has to offer--" - -Whitman cut off, his mouth wide open as he looked downstream. The others -turned and saw a dugout canoe approaching, with Joe Nara reclining -comfortably against the pack bags in its center, while Igo and Ubi were -paddling him up the Rio Del Muerte. Old Joe was smiling as he stepped -ashore, but he became solemn when he saw the accusing eyes that were -fixed upon him. - -"I don't wonder you're annoyed," apologized Nara. "I should have gotten -here first--" - -"You didn't expect us to get here at all," Hal Whitman broke in. "Those -directions of yours were a one-way ticket over the falls on the Rio Del -Muerte!" - -"You tried to come down the river by boat?" Nara paused and stared at -the rubber boats. "I didn't know you had these with you. I said to -follow the river, that was all. Remember?" - -"I remember," returned Mr. Brewster. "You also told us to go up through -the gateway to the ravine--" - -"No, I didn't!" interrupted Nara. "I said for you to come up through--" - -"What would be the difference?" - -"Why, if you came up through," explained Nara, "I would have been there -to meet you. But if you had gone up through ahead of me"--he shook his -head--"well, thank heavens, you didn't try it!" - -"Why not?" - -"Because the tribe that guards El Dorado would have let loose a -landslide if they saw strangers coming their way. I was mighty glad to -find you waiting here. I knew you couldn't have gone up through El Porto -Del Diablo." - -"But we did go up through." - -As Joe Nara stared incredulously, Mr. Brewster described all that had -happened. - -"Now that the ravine is blocked," he finished, "I suppose you can't take -us to your fabulous El Dorado." - -"On the contrary," returned Nara, with a quick smile, "I can take you to -the mine by the short way." He spoke to Igo and Ubi in dialect; then, as -the Indians went to the split rock, Nara announced, "I told them to -summon some bearers." - -Igo and Ubi shouted up through the ravine, and their calls seemed to -echo back. Soon, squatty Indians appeared from the Devil's Gateway until -a dozen of them had lined silently in front of Joe Nara. Kamuka -undertoned to Biff: - -"These are the men who pushed stones from hill." - -"I figured that," said Biff. "I wonder whether they are surprised or -sorry to see us still alive." - -"They are neither. They think Nara has made us live again because we are -his friends. They think Nara is El Dorado." - -From the furtive glances that the squatty Indians gave toward the -Brewster party, along with the way they were awaiting Nara's bidding, -Biff decided that Kamuka had guessed right. - -At Nara's command, the Indians did the unexpected. They began replacing -the packs and other equipment in the rubber boats, while Nara suggested -that Mr. Brewster and his party get on board. Then the Indians brought -dugouts from the bushes, and soon they were all paddling up the Rio Del -Muerte, with Nara's canoe in the lead. - -The going was easy, for the current was sluggish here. After about two -miles, Igo and Ubi drove Nara's dugout to a low bank where the jungle -appeared to be the thickest. With their paddles, they raised a tangle of -roots as they would a curtain, and worked the boat through. - -The others followed into a channel wide enough to accommodate the rubber -boats with ease. When the foliage had been dropped behind the final -canoe, Biff looked back and saw that the mouth of this stream was as -completely hidden as before. - -They emerged from the jungle near a towering rock that looked like the -one from which the Indians had launched the landslide. They pulled up -the boats beside the stream and took to a steep trail that brought them -up behind the rock, past the far end of the blocked ravine. - -The trail climbed steadily, with more slopes rising ahead. Beyond them -were mountain peaks, some looming blue and cloud-capped in the distance, -overlooking a vast, unexplored region. The chunky bearers marched -steadily onward, crossing logs over deep ravines and following ledges -hewn in the mountainsides. Biff kept his eyes fixed on the backs of the -trudging Indians to avoid any dizziness from looking below. - -"We are now in the Parima Mountains," Joe Nara told them. "This part of -the range is in Venezuela." - -"I know," acknowledged Mr. Brewster. "We crossed the border from Brazil -soon after we left Piedra Del Cucuy." - -"What about these Indians of yours?" Hal Whitman put in. "You say they -are Wai Wais, Nara, but that tribe lives over in Guiana." - -"The main tribe does," returned Nara, "but this one group remained here -to guard the sacred mountain, where El Dorado is located. They believed -that Daipurui, the Spirit of Evil, would go on a rampage if anyone found -the mine." - -"And how did you get around that?" - -"I figured out a trick," chuckled Nara, "that made them think I was El -Dorado himself, the original Golden Boy in person. So they took Lew -Kirby and me up to the mine, the same way they're going now." - -Single file, the Wai Wais were climbing steps cut in a cliff, gripping -liana vines as handrails to balance the weight of their packs. As Biff -began the climb, the bearers looked like big, bulging beetles crawling -toward the skyline. One by one, they dropped from sight as did the -others in the party. Biff learned the reason, when he reached a slanted -ledge, like a niche hacked in the cliff, and found the Wai Wais -squatting there. - -Kamuka came just behind Biff, then others of the party, and finally Joe -Nara. Evidently, the Wai Wais were awaiting him, for they began an odd -chant that included the words, "El Dorado--El Dorado--" and continued as -the shock-haired prospector strode past them. - -Nara paused where the ledge burrowed at a slant into the cliff and -beckoned for everyone to follow, which they did. They entered a gloomy -mine shaft, so low that all members of the party had to stoop, except -the boys. The Wai Wai bearers, already bending under their burdens, -followed the route automatically as though the passage had been cut to -their size. - -Daylight showed where the shaft opened into a great cavern. There, the -sun shone through cracks and other openings in the ceiling. It glinted -on chunky rock walls that fairly burned with vivid golden yellow. - -All the tales that Biff had ever heard of hidden treasure had suddenly -become real. This was a wonderland of wealth, with glittering side -shafts going deeper into the mountain, promising new finds for anyone -who followed them. Kamuka, awed by the yellow glitter, asked in -breathless tone: - -"How much you think this worth, Biff? A million _cruzeiro_--maybe?" - -"A lot more, if it's gold ore," returned Biff. "But it's worth -practically nothing if it is simply yellow quartz. A lot of that is -found in Brazil, in places easier to reach than this. What's just as -bad, it may be fool's gold." - -"Fool gold? What is that?" - -"A mineral called pyrite," exclaimed Biff, "usually iron, mixed with -sulphur. It often fools people who think that it is gold. But it is more -the color of brass than gold, and it leaves a green streak when you rub -it on something smooth." - -As Biff picked up a chunk of yellow rock to examine it, he caught a nod -of approval from his father. Biff had repeated facts that Mr. Brewster -had told him regarding metals. Now, Biff's father indicated a stretch of -rocky wall, where patches of yellow shone from a background of milky -white. He asked: - -"What do you make of this, Biff?" - -"It looks like gold quartz for sure, Dad!" exclaimed Biff. "There's no -chance of mistaking that. Or is there?" - -"In this case, there is no mistake." Mr. Brewster was studying the milky -quartz as he spoke. "Undoubtedly, this shaft was first mined centuries -ago, for it resembles old Indian mines that I have inspected. But -although it yielded gold years ago, I doubt that its wealth has even -begun to be tapped." - -"You're right about that," chuckled Joe Nara, who was standing by. "Look -there--and there--and there--" - -Nara had turned on a powerful flashlight, and with each announcement, he -pointed its beam down another rough-hewn shaft that branched from the -main corridor. Each time, the glare was reflected with a new burst of -brilliance. - -"The gold of El Dorado!" boasted Nara. "A mountain full of it and a lot -more that cropped over, as I'll show you!" - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - Surrounded! - - -From the great central room, Joe Nara led his companions down through a -maze of shafts and tunnels. Each passage joined with another, and -frequently the links were steep steps worn smooth by the feet of native -miners, hundreds of years before. - -At intervals, daylight showed through shafts that had been driven down -through the mountain to tap a vein of gold. Always, the passages led -finally into new corridors that glittered with rich ore. At last, a long -straight tunnel brought the party out on the far side of the mountain, -hundreds of feet below the starting level. - -The slope was gradual here, featured by dirt gullies leading down to a -grassy valley, with the jungle beyond. As they followed the bed of one -dry stream, Joe Nara pointed to the sparkle in its sands. - -"That's where I've picked up some of these," he chuckled, bringing some -small gold nuggets from his pocket and displaying them in his open hand. -"But mostly I find them up some of the smaller stream beds. The gold -just kind of oozes out of the mountain." - -Near the bottom of the slope was a shallow depression that nestled like -a bowl in the curve of the mountainside. - -"That's where the lake was," declared Nara. "The lake where El Dorado -used to take a dip and come out all covered with gold. It's dried up, -now, but there's still plenty of gold down in those sands." - -Mr. Brewster studied the lake bed carefully. Biff saw his father look -beyond, as though following a sandy course that led down to the grassy -area that fringed the jungle. - -"You are probably right," Mr. Brewster told Nara. "The lake was -artificially formed, and once the dam was broken, the water found its -way down into the jungle." - -"And it joined a stream there," added Nara, "as I'll show you. Do you -know why this all happened?" Tilting his head, he darted one of his -birdlike glances at Whitman, then back to Mr. Brewster. "I'll tell you -why. When the Indians found that the Spaniards and the English were -going after El Dorado as well as after each other, they closed up shop. - -"That's what they did. Just closed up shop. They busted the dam and got -rid of the lake, so nobody could find it. They covered over all the -shafts so nobody could find them either. They started rumors about El -Dorado being somewhere else, to send all the explorers on a wild-goose -chase. Then they kept guard over the real El Dorado to scare away -anybody who stumbled on it by mistake." - -"All quite logical," agreed Mr. Brewster. "That is the way the Indians -would act." He turned to Whitman and asked: "You agree, don't you, Hal?" - -"I agree," nodded Whitman. "_Now_ I know why Nara showed us those -shrunken heads. He did want to scare our bearers so they would run back -to Santa Isabel. But it was because his Wai Wais would have made trouble -if we brought a strange tribe here." - -"They made trouble enough as it was," declared Nara, with a dry chuckle. -Then, turning to Mr. Brewster, he said, "Let's see what's left of that -map Lew Kirby gave you. Then we can figure what to do next." - -Mr. Brewster produced the torn corner from the map. It showed the mine, -the stream bed, the lake, and the trail that continued into the jungle, -where it reached a river that was marked on the map. - -"The route is an easy one," stated Nara, "as you can see. But first, I -want you to estimate the value of the mine. Then pick out the ore you -want, so we can take it to the river. From there, we will go downstream -to the Casiquiare Canal and work our way through to the Orinoco River." - -They camped that night beneath the trees that fringed the jungle. The -next day, Mr. Brewster returned to the mine and studied it in detail. -They stayed in the same camp another night and on the following day, the -Indians brought down loads of ore that Mr. Brewster had selected. - -Those loads were carried several miles through the jungle to the river -that Nara had mentioned. Biff and Kamuka helped make a new camp there. -Then they swam in the river while they waited for the Indians to bring -the packs. The water was very clear, and the boys brought up handfuls of -glittering sand from the bottom. When Mr. Brewster saw it, he commented: - -"There's a fortune in gold to be dredged from this stream. But we still -have the problem of getting it down the Orinoco." - -Joe Nara had the answer to that problem. His Indians showed up with a -small flotilla of odd-looking craft that resembled the _monterias_ of -the Amazon. Nearly thirty feet long, each boat had an open cockpit at -the front with a thatched cupola at the stern, serving as a sort of -cabin. - -Nara's boats were different, however, from the more antiquated river -craft. His boats were low in the stern, so that the big steering paddle -could be replaced by a sizable outboard motor. Nara had such motors and -the gasoline to fuel them. - -"Every trip I made downriver," explained Nara, "either over the mountain -and down the Rio Negro, or down this stream to the Orinoco, I bought -motors and gasoline and brought them back here. I knew that some day, -Lew Kirby would talk some company into a big deal for our mine. - -"What's more, I knew the first thing they would ask would be if they -could transport either the gold or the ore once they mined it. My answer -is, yes, and I've got the boats to prove it--and the motors, too. I've -kept them for a long time." - -Judging by the appearance of the motors, that was true. Some were twenty -years old, but all proved serviceable when attached to the loaded boats. -The four boats that formed the strange flotilla started out at a slow -but steady speed down the narrow jungle river that marked the first -stage of a long, adventurous journey. - -Each boat carried a crew of three. Biff and Kamuka were in one boat with -Mr. Brewster. Jacome and a Wai Wai Indian were in another with Hal -Whitman. The third boat was Nara's, with Igo and Ubi as its crew. The -fourth, which served as a kitchen boat and carried the food supply, was -manned by three Wai Wai tribesmen. - -The packs, which included tents and other equipment, were in the boats -commanded by Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman. The ore from the mine was -mostly in Nara's boat, which squatted lower in the water due to its -added weight. But it maintained the same speed as the other craft for -the simple but sufficient reason that Nara had equipped it with the -largest of his old-model motors. - -The containers of gasoline were distributed among the boats, and all -were careful not to waste any of the precious fuel. At times, they used -the oars or let the current carry them. When they encountered channels -that were narrow or shallow, they poled the boats through. - -They were deep in the jungle when the river opened into a fair-sized -lake, where Nara pulled his boat alongside of Mr. Brewster's, to check -the map again. - -"This is one of the lagoons that connects with the Casiquiare Canal," -explained Nara. "Actually, the Casiquiare is an overflow from the -Orinoco that reaches the headwaters of the Rio Negro, forming a link -with the Amazon. But sometimes the canal backs up and flows the wrong -way. The important thing is that it is always navigable, clear to the -Orinoco." - -The job now was to work from one lagoon to another, through channels -that would have been shown on the missing portion of Kirby's map. Nara -knew the route from memory, and fortunately he had been over it several -times. But he still had trouble picking his way through a lot of lesser -channels, and at times he called upon Mr. Brewster to check the course -by compass. - -"Taking a boat through a jungle," declared Nara, "is just like going for -a hike in the woods. First thing you know, you're traveling in a circle. -Only you don't ever really know it, because wherever you are, it always -looks the same." - -The more Biff thought that over, the more true it seemed. But when he -discussed it with Kamuka, the Indian boy disputed the notion. - -"One place is not like another," declared Kamuka. "I look there, and I -see so many trees. I remember them like picture. You show me another -place, the picture is different." - -"In that case," said Biff, "I suppose you can never get lost in the -jungle." - -"I get lost easy," returned Kamuka. "Too easy. Any place I do not know, -I am lost--maybe. But I never get lost in the same place where I was -before." - -Biff decided to test that out in a simple but effective way. As they -chugged along, he made notes of certain spots and told Kamuka to -remember them on his own. When they reached a similar place, Biff asked -Kamuka to tell him the difference. Always, Kamuka came up with some -slight variation that tallied with Biff's list. - -When they swung into a small cove past a jutting point with an odd -overhanging tree, Biff was sure that they had seen the place before. -This time, Kamuka couldn't come up with enough differences in the -scenery. Triumphantly, Biff was saying: - -"You see, Kamuka? This could be the same place where we were an hour -ago, or enough like it so you can't tell the difference--" - -"Except," said Kamuka, "that there was no smoke in trees, no campfire -with people around, no boats coming out from shore--" - -Biff looked up in surprise. He saw more boats, a whole batch of them, -shooting out from opposite points to block off any retreat. - -More than a dozen in number, those boats were filled with natives who -shouted savage war cries as they closed in on Nara's flotilla, forcing -the heavier boats toward the shore. There was no avoiding the camp where -warlike natives waited, armed with spears, for now other canoes were -darting out from hiding places to complete the rapid roundup. - -Rather than be boarded by the natives, Mr. Brewster ordered the boats to -the shore. There, he and Whitman sprang out with loaded rifles. Biff and -Kamuka followed, bringing their machetes. Jacome joined them, armed in -the same fashion. Immediately, they were surrounded by a dozen silent -natives, who stood ready with poised spears. - -"Be careful," warned Jacome. "Do not make move. Big pot on fire is used -to cook _curare_. Spear point poison--maybe." - -Between the circling natives, Biff saw the fire and the pot that Jacome -mentioned. It was a big, crude kettle, steaming over the log flames. - -"I'm glad they're just cooking _curare_," Biff whispered to Kamuka. "I -thought maybe they were boiling some special stuff to shrink our heads." - -"Maybe they do just that," returned Kamuka solemnly. "I do not like -this. Not one bit, Biff." - -A tall chief with a drooping feathered headdress and a plumed belt had -taken charge, and was ordering Nara and the Wai Wais from their boats. -Nara's Indians brought their machetes, but old Joe came entirely -unarmed. He jabbered dialect at the feathered chief. Then, finding that -he didn't understand, Nara let Igo and Ubi take over as interpreters. - -After a brief talk, Nara turned to Mr. Brewster. - -"They are Maco Indians," stated Nara. "They were told that we intend to -attack their village." - -"Macus," Biff's father groaned. "I knew they would catch up with us." - -"Not Macus," corrected Nara. "_Macos_, who live on the upper Orinoco. -But they can be just as dangerous, now that they're sure we are their -enemies." - -"Where did they get that idea?" asked Mr. Brewster. - -"From three men who stopped at their village near the Casiquiare," -explained Nara, "and told them that we would come sneaking through the -backwaters to the spot where we are now." - -"Serbot, Pepito, and Urubu," Mr. Brewster decided grimly. "It must have -been Pepito who stole the map in Manaus. They were unable to locate the -mine on their portion of it, but they cut across our route and stirred -up this tribe against us." - -"What do we do now?" put in Whitman. "Give them presents and send them -away happy?" - -"They won't be happy unless they take us, too," declared Nara. "They -want us to accompany them to their village, so that their king can hear -our story. He will decide whether we are guilty or innocent." - -"That means he will either find us guilty," observed Mr. Brewster, "or -he'll put us through some ordeal where we will come out more dead than -alive. Should we make a stand for it here?" - -"Not a chance," returned Nara. "Those spear tips are already poisoned. -That's why they're boiling water, to cook up a new brew after they've -used their spears. One false move now, and we're goners." - -From the bristling appearance of the spears and the glares of the two -dozen spearmen who now surrounded the party, it looked as though Nara -was right. Impatient mutters were coming from the tribesmen while the -feathered chief awaited a reply. - -"We can't fight them," declared Mr. Brewster, "and we can't go with -them. What choice does that leave us?" - -"Only one," replied Nara calmly. "We must convince them that we have a -right to be here, more right, in fact, than they have." He turned to Ubi -and Igo and announced importantly: "Tell them who I am." - -Igo and Ubi babbled in dialect with the title "El Dorado" sprinkled -through it, bringing echoing exclamations of "El Dorado" from the Maco -tribesmen. At the finish, Igo spoke simply to Nara: - -"They say they like to see you show them." - -"I'll show them!" Nara made a spreading gesture with his arms. "Tell -them to clear the way to that big pot up there by the fire, and I'll -show them I'm El Dorado!" - -As Igo translated the statement, the Maco chief ordered his followers to -clear a path, which they did. Old Joe Nara strode forward, nodding his -head as though his triumph was already assured. - -"I hope," said Kamuka, "that Senhor Nara can do something to help, like -real El Dorado would." - -"Whatever he does," added Biff fervently, "it will have to be good, if -it's going to help at all!" - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - The Man of Gold - - -When Joe Nara reached the big campfire, he extended his hands above the -simmering kettle and swept them back and forth in slow, impressive -fashion. His back was toward the half-circle of tribesmen, but now, he -changed position. - -First to the right, then to the left of the fire, Nara repeated his odd -ritual. Finally, he stepped beyond the fire and turned to face the group -through the rising steam which wavered and curled about his arms as he -repeated his ceremony. - -Two savage spearmen had stepped up to flank him with poised weapons, but -Nara paid them no attention. Biff looked slowly around and saw that he -and his father were under similar guard. So were Kamuka and Hal Whitman, -as well as Jacome and the other natives. Whatever Nara might do, there -would be no chance to make a run for the boats. - -Now Nara was drawing his shirt sleeves clear up past his elbows. He -looked like a wizened wizard as he showed one bare arm and then the -other, holding his upraised hands with widespread fingers. Looking -toward the sun, which was almost overhead, Nara made a clutching motion -with his right hand; then a downward throw toward the kettle, as though -flinging blobs of sunlight into the bubbling liquid. - -Then, he boldly drove his right arm shoulder deep into the kettle, -keeping it there while he stirred the boiling water with his bare arm. -The tribesmen began an excited babble when they realized that Nara was -unharmed. It became a shout when Nara brought his hand from the kettle -and raised it high, for all to see. - -From fingertips to above his elbow, Nara's hand and arm glittered like -burnished gold, catching the sparkle of the sunlight which he had -seemingly captured to transform his flesh into that precious metal. Now -the tribesmen were shouting recognition: - -"El Dorado! El Dorado!" - -Nara apparently had turned legend into fact. To prove his power, he -repeated the process with his left arm. He showed it bare and white, -dipped it deep into the hissing water and brought it out all golden like -his right. - -The cry of "El Dorado! El Dorado!" increased as Nara stalked among the -Maco tribesmen, showing them his hands and arms at close range. The -warriors were awed, from their chief down to the pair of spearmen who -were supposed to keep Nara a prisoner--something which they had now -forgotten in their amazement. - -The Wai Wais remained silent. Igo, Ubi, and Nara's other followers had -seen him perform this wonder. They took his power for granted. Now, at a -word from Nara, Igo and Ubi gathered up small pebbles which they showed -to the Maco tribesmen. - -Nara went back to the big kettle, and there he took pebbles first from -Igo, then from Ubi, promptly dipping them in the bubbling brew. As he -brought out the pebbles, he held them in the sunlight, showing them to -be pure gold. Nara gave the magic stones to Igo and Ubi to distribute -among the Maco warriors, who crowded forward to receive the gifts. - -Biff found himself practically alone beside his father. In an awed tone, -Biff asked, "How did Nara work that trick, Dad?" - -"He stirred the water to reduce its temperature," explained Mr. -Brewster. "It had begun to boil at the top, but was still cool below. -I've seen the Fiji Islanders do a similar stunt." - -"But how did he turn his hands and arms all golden?" - -"With some dye, probably, that he dropped into the water while he was -making passes over it." - -"I still can't see how he managed to fool those natives into thinking -that those colored pebbles are real gold." - -"They are real gold," Biff's father stated, with a smile. "Remember all -those nuggets that Nara carries? I think he has been palming them from -his pockets. Every time he dips a pebble into the kettle, he lets it -drop and brings out a nugget instead." - -Biff watched Nara give the dip treatment to a few more pebbles, then -nodded. - -"I think you're right, Dad," said Biff, "but Nara is mighty clever at -it. Only why is he handing out so many nuggets?" - -"To buy our freedom, son," returned Mr. Brewster. "Look. Nara is -bargaining with the chief right now." - -The nuggets apparently weren't enough, for the Maco chief was shaking -his head emphatically. Nara promptly came up with a much bigger offer. -He picked some stones the size of hen's eggs and began passing them -among the tribesmen, who nodded eagerly. - -"Nara can't possibly be carrying nuggets the size of those stones," -declared Mr. Brewster. "They'd weigh him down so he couldn't walk. Get -ready now to run for it." - -Biff passed the word to Kamuka, who relayed it to Whitman. By then, the -Maco chief had accepted the ransom offer, but wanted the big stones -turned to gold. Nara went to the kettle, pretended to throw in more -fistfuls of sunlight, then turned to the chief and made a beckoning -gesture, as he cackled: - -"Come and get it!" - -Headed by the chief, the tribesmen made a charge for the magic kettle, -all anxious to turn their stones into gold before the pot ran out of -concentrated sunlight. Nara stepped away to let them pass, then waved -for Mr. Brewster and the rest to begin their own dash the opposite way. - -They raced for the boats and were clambering on board, with Nara only a -few yards behind them, when the milling tribesmen noticed their flight. -Still, the natives were too busy to be bothered until they found that -the stones refused to turn to gold. Then they threw them down and -grabbed up their spears instead, but by that time the motors were -spinning and the boats were under way, with Igo hauling Nara over the -side of their _monteria_ while Ubi handled the helm. - -Some of the natives started a pursuit in their canoes, but the outboards -soon outdistanced them. All seemed safe and serene during the next half -hour, while they followed deep though sometimes narrow channels. Then, -from far in the jungle behind them, came the _bom-bom-bom_ of a savage -drum. - -Nara signaled for the boats to draw together for a conference. In a -worried tone, old Joe announced: - -"Maco drums. You can hear them for thirty or forty miles. They are -telling other tribes to be on the watch for us. So be ready for -trouble." He paused, then asked Mr. Brewster in a low, confidential -tone, "How did you like the golden arm trick?" - -"Very good," replied Mr. Brewster. "But these natives use paints -themselves to color their faces and bodies, so I can't understand how -you fooled them with a dye." - -Biff was close enough to hear Nara's chuckle. - -"I didn't use dye," Nara stated. "I used a fine powder made from dried -plants, sprinkled with tiny flakes of gilt, that spreads on the water -like a dust. Dip your hand in and bring it out, the stuff gathers and -clings like a snug rubber glove. After it dries, you wipe it off." - - [Illustration: Canoes on the river] - -Nara showed his hands, now perfectly clean; then added, "I sprinkled -just about enough for myself, so those Indians didn't get any on their -own hands. They still think that I alone have the golden touch, but even -my being El Dorado won't help us now that they feel I robbed them." - - [Illustration: Drummers] - -An hour later, the drums were still throbbing when Joe Nara pointed -above the jungle to a huge, flat-topped mountain that towered like a -mighty mesa above the wavy green. - -"Cerro Duida," called Nara, from his boat. "One of the biggest mountains -in the Parima chain, about a mile and a half high. It was a long time -before anybody climbed it, because Indians are afraid to go with them, -on account of the spirits they think live on top. It's kind of tied in -with the El Dorado story. Anyway, Cerro Duida is close to the Orinoco -River--" - -Nara broke off as some canoes came scooting from the canal banks, filled -with armed natives. Motors were opened to the full, and the flotilla -again outdistanced the native dugouts. But Biff, at the bow of his -father's _monteria_, saw new problems ahead. - -"We've missed the main channel, Dad," Biff called to the stem. "It's -shallow ahead, with a lot of sandbars." - -Mr. Brewster cut off his motor and signaled for the other boats to do -the same. - -"We'd better pole our way through," he decided. "We still have time -before those natives catch up with us, and we can't risk getting -stranded on a sandbar." - -"Watch where you push pole," Kamuka advised Biff. "Big _sucuria_ may -wrap around it." - -As Kamuka pointed, Biff saw a huge anaconda lazily sunning itself on a -sandbar near the canal bank. Beyond that were others; in fact, the area -was alive with the giant snakes, though none appeared to be active. - -Carefully, the boats were poled through the channels without disturbing -the basking boas. Biff looked back and counted a dozen of them, still in -repose. Snakes as well as shallows had been avoided, when Nara's boat -ran on a hidden sandbar that the others had crossed. With its heavy -cargo of ore, Nara's _monteria_ refused to budge. - -Mr. Brewster attached lines to Nara's boat, so that the others could -haul it free. He told everybody to pole at once, and his plan seemed -certain of success, when Nara shrilled: - -"Look back there!" - -Native canoes had come around the bend. Seeing the flotilla stuck among -the sandbars, the tribesmen increased their paddle strokes. Nara grabbed -a rifle and shouted to Mr. Brewster: - -"Get your boats clear! I'll fight them off!" - -"Keep going!" ordered Mr. Brewster. Then, to Nara, he called: "Don't -start shooting! They outnumber us ten to one, and those spears of theirs -have poison tips. Once they start throwing them, we won't have a -chance--" - -It was too late. Joe Nara couldn't be stopped, once his mind was made -up. He opened fire at the canoes when they reached the first sandbar. -Two dozen warriors rose to fling their deadly spears! - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - Urubu Again - - -With the first crackle of Nara's rifle, Mr. Brewster shouted, "Down -everybody--and get ready for them!" That, Biff knew, could be more than -just a shower of spears. The warriors themselves would be arriving next, -with other weapons. The only hope would be a few more pole thrusts, but -while that might save some of the party, it wouldn't help Joe Nara. - -It happened though, that Nara had helped himself. Those crazy shots that -peppered the sandbars without coming near a canoe, unleashed a terrific -force that took the native warriors by complete surprise. As they poised -their spears, the sandbanks sprang into life before their eyes. - -Roused by the blasts of Nara's guns and the ping of the bullets in their -sandy sunning spot, the anacondas lashed their way straight downstream -in a broad horde of writhing fury that seemed to stretch like a -monstrous ribbon, two hundred feet in length. - -The stampede of mighty boa constrictors swept everything from their -path. Their thick bodies and lashing coils spilled the canoes and -plunged the native warriors into the canal, spears and all. - -The snakes didn't stop their mad rush. They whacked natives as well as -boats when they passed them and left the canoes drifting in a churn of -foam that made the canal look like a rapids clear beyond the bend. Then -the living tidal wave was gone as quickly as it had begun. But Mr. -Brewster wasn't waiting for the natives to reclaim their canoes and -spears so as to return to action. - -"Back to the poles!" he ordered. "Heave away--away, everybody--and you, -too, Nara!" - -Old Joe, his face gleaming in happy surprise at the thing he had touched -off, now laid aside his rifle and helped pry the barge from its sandy -perch. By the time the hostile tribesmen were wading up on the sandbars -that the anacondas had left, Nara's boat was free. Outboards roared anew -as the flotilla plowed its way to the main channel and on to the -junction of the Casquiare and the Orinoco, where they headed downstream. - -The rhythmic beat of distant tom-toms could still be heard that evening, -when the motors were stopped and the boats allowed to drift down the -river under a brilliant tropical moon. By morning, the drums had ceased, -indicating that the Maco tribe had either given up the chase or that the -flotilla was beyond the danger zone. - -From then on, the expedition traveled mostly by day and picked suitable -campsites overnight. Biff and Kamuka fished frequently and replenished -the food supply by catching huge river turtles as well as a tasty -species of catfish called _cajaro_. Biff landed one that measured well -over three feet in length. - -Some nights, the boats were lashed side by side and moored near river -settlements where they formed what Hal Whitman termed a "floating -mansion," complete to the kitchen. At one village, Joe Nara bought -stacks of huge cassava cakes. These measured two and a half feet across, -but were only a half-inch thick. They had been brought upriver wrapped -in plantain leaves. - -These formed the main food for the Wai Wais accompanying Nara, and -Jacome and Kamuka liked them too, though Biff found them rather -tasteless. In contrast were some cayman eggs, which the boys dug up on a -sandy shore while hunting turtles with Jacome. The Indians, Kamuka -included, found them tasty indeed, but they were too strong in flavor to -suit Biff. - -Caymans were the great menace of the Orinoco, so the boys were duly -warned against them. Closely resembling alligators, they were supposed -to measure twenty-five feet or more in length. But when Kamuka called, -"There's a big one!" and Mr. Brewster promptly drilled it with a rifle -shot, the cayman measured only twelve feet, when it was hauled on board -the kitchen _monteria_. - -"When you see a creature in motion," Mr. Brewster told the boys, "and -particularly a bird, or its cousin, a reptile, you always gain an -exaggerated idea of its length." - -"Eggs-aggerate?" Kamuka repeated the unfamiliar term. "You mean eggs -look long too?" - -"Not eggs-actly," put in Biff, with a smile, "but if we'd looked much -longer at those cayman eggs, they would have hatched." - -Mr. Brewster smiled at the jokes, then became serious. - -"You must learn what it means to gauge speed in terms of distance," he -declared. "When we reach the rapids where the Ventuari flows into the -Orinoco, you boys can take the boat down through." - -When they reached the rapids, Mr. Brewster gave the helm to Biff, then -told Kamuka to mind the bow and watch for rocks. Mr. Brewster went into -the thatched cabin, but from there, he kept a sharp lookout in case the -boys ran into trouble. - -Biff realized that his dad was standing by in case of emergency, but -unless something of the sort developed, Biff knew he would be on his -own. What a thrill it was! - -Kamuka watched like a cat, to copy any move made by Jacome and the -stolid natives who were warding off rocks from the bows of the other -boats. Biff kept an eager eye on Whitman, Joe Nara, and the Wai Wai who -was piloting the kitchen barge. When Biff saw that they were watching -the man in the bow, he did the same. - -Time and again, Kamuka would raise his paddle to jab at a threatening -rock. Always, Biff handled the helm accordingly. Kamuka nodded his head -admiringly. He was crediting Biff with being a wonderful pilot, never -realizing that he was furnishing the tip-off that enabled his friend to -demonstrate such skill. - -Twice, though, it was Kamuka's quick work with the paddle that staved -off a crash on the rocks before Biff could bring the helm about. When at -last they were drifting in the calm water below the rapids, Biff sprang -forward over the thatched cabin and grabbed Kamuka's hand, exclaiming: - -"Great work, Kamuka! We make a perfect team!" - -Kamuka smiled solemnly as he repeated: - -"We make--perfect team." - -Mr. Brewster came from the cabin and clapped a hand on each boy's -shoulder. - -"You do make a perfect team," he complimented. "Just remember it." - -They remembered it, several nights later, when they sat around the -campfire after a _cajaro_ dinner. - -"Tomorrow," stated Mr. Brewster, "we come to the Maipures Rapids." - -"Can we take the boat down through them?" queried Biff. "I mean, Kamuka -and I?" - -"None of our boats will shoot the Maipures," said Mr. Brewster. "They -are impassable. So are the rapids of the Atures, forty miles below. A -road has been built around both rapids, so that trucks can transport us -with our boats." - -Joe Nara gave a high-pitched snort. - -"That's where Serbot will be waiting for us," he declared. "That's for -sure." - -"I'm not so sure," put in Hal Whitman. "After he sold us out to those -Indians on the Casquiare, he probably headed back the other way, down -the Rio Negro." - -"Not if he figured we'd be coming down the Orinoco." - -Whitman and Nara both turned to Mr. Brewster, to see if he could settle -the argument. As he lighted his pipe, Mr. Brewster stated calmly: - -"It's about an even chance that Serbot came this way. If he did, he will -probably be watching the road to see if we come through." - -"That's right," declared Nara. "We'd better keep a sharp lookout when we -reach that portage." - -"Serbot may be watching for us," agreed Mr. Brewster, "but he won't be -able to make trouble for us there." - -"After what he's already done," argued Nara, "he might give us trouble -anywhere." - -When they reached Sanariapo, the tiny village at the head of the upper -rapids, Biff and Kamuka noticed some natives watching Igo and Ubi carry -sacks of ore up over the sloping rock between the river and the highway, -where transport trucks were waiting to load the boats as well as the -cargo. - -The boys reported this to Biff's father, who talked with the truck -drivers and learned that the hangers-on were simply hoping to pick up a -few _bolivars_ in Venezuelan money by helping load the trucks. But that -didn't satisfy Joe Nara. - -"If they can't make a _bolivar_ one way," he argued, "they may try -another. Like telling people about our gold ore." - -"Here at Sanariapo," stated Mr. Brewster, "there is no one for them to -tell." - -"They might pass the word along to Puerto Ayacucho, below the lower -rapids," returned Nara. "I'll go ahead on the first truck with Igo and -Ubi, so I can check on any rumors." - -It took most of the day to make trucking arrangements, and to transport -boats as well as cargo over the modern highway that spans the -intervening streams on big steel bridges. Biff found the trip -interesting, with stretches of open country and barren hills as well as -wooded slopes and forested areas. - -The highway followed the right bank of the Orinoco, which belongs to -Venezuela, while the land on the other side of the river is part of the -Republic of Colombia. At Puerto Ayacucho, they found Igo and Ubi waiting -to load the ore sacks into Nara's _monteria_, when it arrived. But there -was no sign of Nara. - -According to Igo and Ubi, Nara had gone somewhere immediately after -arriving in Puerto Ayacucho. But Mr. Brewster, inquiring at stores, -hotels, and elsewhere, was unable to find anyone who had even seen the -old white-haired prospector. - -"The only place left," Mr. Brewster declared, chuckling, "is the -governor's office. Maybe Joe Nara is having lunch with His Excellency. -Should we try there?" - -"I don't think so," returned Hal Whitman dryly. "From the way Nara looks -for trouble, we might do better if we asked at the local calaboose." - -Mr. Brewster smiled at that reference to the town jail. - -"I've already asked there," he said. Then, turning to the boys, he -added, "Look around for Nara, and if you don't have any luck, I guess -we'll have to call on the governor's office to help us find him." - -Kamuka noticed some natives lounging near an old shack on the high bank -of the river. - -"Maybe they have seen Senhor Nara," Kamuka said to Biff. "But you will -have to ask them. They do not speak Portuguese as I do. They talk -Spanish, which you understand." - -When they approached the group, Biff addressed the nearest native, who -was huddled by the wall, his chin buried deep in his red bandanna -neckerchief and his gaze turned toward the river. - -"_Oiga, amigo_," began Biff. "_Soy buscando un viejo son pelo bianco_--" - -Biff was saying that he was looking for an old man with white hair, but -he got no further. The slouchy native came to his feet and spun about -with a snarl. - -As Biff dropped back, he found himself staring into the vicious, hawkish -face of Urubu! - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - Partners in Crime - - -"Look out, Biff! He may have a knife!" - -The warning came from Kamuka as the Indian boy grabbed Biff's arm, -hauling him away from Urubu. But there was no way for them to dodge, -except toward the wall, as Urubu was between them and the corner of the -building. - -Then, from around that very corner came a limber figure, a thin man clad -in dungarees and a big sombrero, whose tight fists moved like pistons as -they jabbed at Urubu's face. Jolted backward, Urubu dropped the knife -that he was pulling from beneath his shirt. Warding off a few blows, he -turned and ran wildly for a landing below the riverbank. - -The boys turned to thank their rescuer, who had lost his big sombrero -and was stooping to pick up the wide-brimmed hat. They were amazed when -they saw his smiling face and white hair. The man who had routed Urubu -was Joe Nara. - -"The way to spot snoopers," advised Nara, "is to go snooping for them. -Nobody would know old Joe Nara in this outfit, particularly with his -white hair out of sight." - -Nara chuckled as he put on the sombrero, showing how quick and complete -the change was. Then Nara pointed to the river where a small, squat -motorboat was scudding downstream. - -"There goes Urubu," said Nara, "with another rat who was waiting for -him, probably Pepito. They're going to tell their boss Serbot that the -gold rush is coming his way." - -The boys couldn't see the boat closely, because they faced the glare of -the late afternoon sun. When they told Mr. Brewster what had happened, -he agreed with Nara. - -"We'll keep going downstream, though," Mr. Brewster decided, "until we -reach the rapids above Puerto Carreno, the only town on the Colombian -side of the river." - -"Can we go through those rapids?" asked Biff. - -"Yes, they are quite navigable," his father replied, "but that is where -Serbot and his crew will be waiting to attack us. If we get by the -rapids, we'll be all right, because Mr. Stannart should be at Puerto -Carreno in his yacht, by this time." - -"Can he come that far up the Orinoco, Dad?" - -"Yes, he can make it," replied Mr. Brewster. "And in his letter he said -he would, unless we met him farther downriver. Since we have taken -longer than the time he allotted us, we should find him there. Then -we'll close the mining deal with you, Joe." - -"If we get there," put in Nara glumly. "We can't go around those rapids -unless we take a back trail, and Serbot will be watching that, too." - -As the loaded flotilla continued down the river, Mr. Brewster continued -to weigh the coming problem. He was hoping that a solution might crop -up, and as the expedition approached the rapids, the answer came. - -Back from the river on the Venezuelan side stood an old, abandoned -blockhouse flanked by a few dilapidated mud huts. - -"We'll make camp there," Mr. Brewster decided. "We can bring enough -supplies into the blockhouse to hold Serbot off if he tries to attack -us." - -"Do you think he has spies watching for us now?" asked Biff. - -"Very probably," his father rejoined. "And when he learns that we aren't -coming down the river, he will have to come up here to find us." - -Mr. Brewster signaled the other boats to shore, and when they landed, he -explained full details of his plan. - -"Tomorrow, Nara," stated Mr. Brewster, "I want you to move your Wai Wai -Indians down by a back trail to the rapids. They should be able to creep -up on Serbot's crew without his knowing it." - -Nara nodded agreement. - -"As soon as Serbot becomes impatient and starts up here," Mr. Brewster -went on, "the Wai Wais can spring a surprise attack on any men that he -leaves there. Then, before Serbot has time to attack us here, we'll come -down the river in the boats. We'll pick your men up at the rapids, where -they will have cleared the way for us." - -"But what about my _monteria_?" asked Nara, tilting his head in canny -style. "It has all the gold ore. Remember?" - -"We'll bring it with the other boats," promised Mr. Brewster. "It means -more to me than to you, Nara, because you have lots more back at El -Dorado. But these are the samples that I need to show Mr. Stannart and -close the deal for Ajax." - -"But suppose Serbot does attack here?" - -"We'll drive him off from the blockhouse. When he sees that we are well -fortified, he is sure to withdraw until he can bring up more men. Your -Wai Wais will have taken care of them. That's when we'll surprise him by -dashing out to the boats and starting down the river." - -They spent the rest of the day bringing the supplies in from the boats -and putting the blockhouse into shape. The small windows of the square, -squatty building were equipped with screens, but most of them were in -poor condition. Mr. Brewster insisted upon repairing them first. - -"Let's get fortified against mosquitoes and other insects for tonight," -he suggested. "During the evening, we can strengthen the shutters and -fix loopholes so as to fight off Serbot and his pests tomorrow or -whenever they come this way." - -While the others worked late into the evening, Joe Nara strode about -wearing a gun belt with two revolvers poking from its holsters, ready -for trouble. Later Nara and his Wai Wais slept under netting on their -_monterias_, so as to get a good rest. - -In the blockhouse, the other members of the party took turns at guard -duty through the night. At dawn, Jacome awakened Biff, who was scheduled -to take over at that time. From one of the screened windows, Biff saw -the squatty figures of Igo and Ubi emerge from Nara's _monteria_. They -roused the other Indians, and soon were stealthily moving off among the -trees, to seek a trail to the rapids. - -The next few hours were the longest that Biff had ever experienced. The -others woke up, had breakfast, and strolled about the camp. But the very -air seemed charged with expectancy. It would probably be mid-afternoon, -perhaps even later in the day, before a move came from the other -camp--if a move came at all. - -Mr. Brewster, Hal Whitman, and Jacome were all carrying their rifles, -fully loaded, but that was purely a matter of precaution. - -"Nara's party can't have reached the rapids yet," Mr. Brewster told Biff -and Kamuka. "Even so, they won't make a move unless Serbot starts out -with his main force. If he sends some men ahead, they may try some -sniping so, naturally, we must be ready. But that will show their -hand--" - -A sudden interruption came from the surrounding trees, the blasts of a -dozen guns or more. Mr. Brewster wheeled and fired back from the spot -where he was standing, midway between the blockhouse and the boats. Mr. -Whitman and Jacome were nearer the blockhouse. They turned and fired, -too. - -A bigger volley answered from a wider angle, accompanied by the whine of -bullets that were high, but close. Whitman was shouting from near the -blockhouse: - -"This way! Quick, or you'll be cut off! Serbot is here with his whole -outfit!" - -Amid new gunbursts, Mr. Brewster made a rapid decision. He pointed the -boys to the shore and told them: - -"Quick! Get to Nara's _monteria_. Start it down the river, and don't -stop until you reach Stannart's yacht!" - -The boys were on their way, and Mr. Brewster was dashing back to the -blockhouse, to join Whitman and Jacome. He made it safely, although he -drew the fire of Serbot's followers, who were now visible as they came -clambering, shouting, from the surrounding brush. - -But Biff and Kamuka were now beyond the range of immediate gunfire when -they boarded the _monteria_. Then they had the big motor started, and -the heavily loaded boat was plowing its way out to the middle of the -Orinoco. - -When Biff looked back, he saw tiny figures on the shore, but the boat -was now half a mile away, too far for bullets to reach it. - -"Serbot staged a surprise attack of his own," Biff told Kamuka, who was -with him in the stem. "And Dad had promised Nara that he would get this -_monteria_ down the river. So here we are!" - -"Soon we reach rapids," was Kamuka's comment. "I better get ready so we -can work like team." - -The space under the thatched cabin was stacked with packs as well as -sacks of ore, so Kamuka didn't try to crawl through it to reach the bow -of the boat. Instead, he scrambled over the low roof, picked up a paddle -from the forward cockpit, and waved back to Biff as he took his -position. - -Soon the white foam of the rapids showed ahead. Biff steered for what -looked like the main channel, and the _monteria_ was swept into a series -of whirlpools that licked the sides of jutting black rocks. The contrast -in color helped Kamuka ward off those obstacles, while Biff did some -fancy piloting to keep to the channel. - -Then, as Biff veered from a new hazard in the shape of a sandbank, he -saw what he had feared most. Human figures rose from the tall grass -beyond the sandy shoal and aimed rifles directly at the swift-moving -boat and the boys who manned it. - -They were Serbot's reserves, Biff realized, stationed here to block the -flotilla if it came down the rapids, and Biff was sure he saw the -gleaming face of Urubu in the midst of the group. Urubu was finding it -an easy task with only a single _monteria_ coming his way. He waved his -hand as a signal to fire. - -As the rifles barked, Biff gunned the motor, adding enough speed to -carry the boat from the path of fire. But Urubu's crew was aiming again, -this time at point-blank range. Fortunately their fire never came. The -tall grass stirred behind them, and from it sprang Igo, Ubi, and the -rest of Nara's Indians. - -The Wai Wais had been stalking Urubu's riflemen to the edge of the -sandbank. The first blast of gunfire had given away the position of -Urubu's men. Now, the Wai Wais were engulfing them like a human tidal -wave, while Biff and Kamuka resumed their battle with the rapids, -keeping the big, clumsy boat clear of the rocks and sand. - -Finally, the water subsided, and they were chugging peacefully down the -river past the little settlement of Puerto Carreno and a great jutting -point of sand where the Meta River flowed in from the left to join the -Orinoco. - -Kamuka waved his paddle and pointed ahead. Moored well away from the -channel was a sleek white craft that could only be Mr. Stannart's yacht, -the _Coronet_. Though small, it had a trim build that marked it -seaworthy, capable of braving the Caribbean, yet also suited to river -travel. - -Smiling men in trim uniforms appeared on deck as Biff maneuvered the -_monteria_ alongside the yacht. The boys made their boat fast and -clambered up a rope ladder to find Mr. Stannart coming from his cabin to -greet them. Biff introduced Kamuka, then started to pour out his story -in one breath: - -"Dad's upriver in a lot of trouble. Old Joe Nara is somewhere along the -rapids. But we've brought the gold ore from the mine, down there in the -boat--" - -Mr. Stannart smilingly interrupted with a wave toward the cabin as he -suggested: - -"Step in there and tell me all about it. I have a friend who would like -to hear it too. You will agree when you meet him--" - -The boys entered the compact cabin, then stopped short in amazement. Mr. -Stannart's friend was smiling, too, but in a way that was anything but -pleasant. For both Biff and Kamuka had seen that fixed smile before. - -The man who awaited them in the cabin was Nicholas Serbot! - - - - - CHAPTER XX - The Tables Turn - - -Gripped by utter astonishment, Biff could only stare from Serbot to -Stannart. When he found his voice, he blurted out accusingly: - -"You two must have been working together from the very start!" - -"Not quite," declared Mr. Stannart dryly, "although I must say that Mr. -Serbot and I have continually operated along similar lines. However, it -wasn't until after your father told the Ajax Corporation about Lew Kirby -and his wonderful mine that I even heard of Nicholas Serbot." - -"And I," rejoined Serbot, with his same fixed smile, "had never heard of -the Ajax Mining Corporation." - -"Despite the fact that your father was impressed by Kirby's story," -Stannart told Biff, "Ajax still had to investigate it. Kirby had samples -of gold that might have come from many places, and his map could have -meant nothing. It was necessary to obtain some reports from the upper -region of the Rio Negro. I learned that certain European interests were -checking on the same story." - -"And I," added Serbot, "happened to represent some of those interests." - -"So while the directors of the Ajax Corporation dawdled," continued -Stannart, "I contacted the competition. I had much to offer that they -needed, as Mr. Serbot will agree." - -"And I," said Serbot, "advised them to meet the price, which -included--this." - -By "this" Serbot referred to the stolen portion of Kirby's map, which he -spread on the desk in front of him. Biff started to say something, then -caught himself. Gregg Stannart recognized what was in Biff's mind and -promptly expressed it. - -"I needed a go-between," Stannart asserted. "Some way to enable Serbot -to use the information I could give him without bringing suspicion on -myself." - -"So you gave me that letter!" exclaimed Biff. He turned accusingly -toward Serbot. "And you tried to steal it from me on the plane! It was -all arranged beforehand!" - -"All very nicely arranged," agreed Stannart, "because I wanted to keep -my job with Ajax if the El Dorado story proved to be a hoax." - -"Since I might have seen the address on the envelope you carried," -Serbot told Biff, "you and your father guessed that I sent Pepito to -steal your precious map, which was exactly what I wanted. What you -didn't guess was that Stannart was in on the game. The funniest -part"--for once, Serbot's smile seemed real--"was that I had a carbon -copy of Stannart's letter to your father, here in my pocket all the -time!" - -Biff swelled with indignation until he happened to glance toward Kamuka. -All this talk had left Kamuka totally unimpressed. In Kamuka's eyes, -Biff saw only the same appeal that had been present that day when Biff -had pulled the other boy from the quicksand. Biff suddenly realized that -now they both were in something equally deep and probably just as -deadly. Since he couldn't say anything that would help, Biff said -nothing. - -Stannart turned to Serbot and put the question: - -"What should we do with these boys?" - -"I don't know," returned Serbot harshly. "Maybe they should have upset -their boat and drowned, coming down through those rapids. If something -like that had happened--" - -"No, no," Stannart interrupted. "Your men will have taken care of -Brewster and his party by now. But we still need the boys to help us. -Suppose we take them up the river, as far as the torn portion of your -map--" - -Stannart was leaning forward, pointing to the map with one hand, but he -had his other hand in his pocket, as though gripping a gun. - -"Of course!" exclaimed Serbot, who had one hand in a pocket, too. "Then -they could take us back to where they came from, to this El Dorado that -Nara talked about." - -Both Stannart and Serbot were glaring hard at Biff as though now it was -his turn to speak. Biff's throat was dry, for he realized that these two -men, in their desire for gold, would think nothing about snuffing out -his life and Kamuka's. Somebody had to speak for Biff right then--and -somebody did, from the door of the cabin. - -"Nobody talks about El Dorado," a crackly voice announced, "except Joe -Nara, the man who owns it." - -There in the doorway stood old Joe, both his guns drawn from their -holsters, one fixed on Stannart, the other on Serbot. At Nara's nod, the -two men brought their hands from their pockets empty. They knew the old -man meant business. - -"Pretty smart, both of you," Nara said. "I never even guessed your game, -Stannart, probably because I never met you before. But having seen you -now, I think I would have known you for a rat from away back. - -"But I figured you out, Serbot. I knew what you were after--that cargo -of mine. So I stayed with them." Nara gave his head a quick tilt, to -smile at Biff and Kamuka. "Yes, boys, I sent my Wai Wais down to the -rapids, while I stayed in the cabin of my _monteria_. - -"Next thing I knew"--Nara gave a chuckle--"you were bringing me -downriver, and a right good job you were making of it, too. Finally, you -hauled up beside this yacht and went on board. When you didn't come -back, I reckoned you might be needing old Joe, so I moseyed on board, -and here I am." - -Still keeping Stannart and Serbot covered with his guns, Nara shifted -his elbow toward his hip pocket to indicate a coil of rope that -projected there. - -"Take that rope," Nara told the boys, "and tie them up tight. Gag them, -too, with their handkerchiefs. If they don't have any, use your own. -Make a good job of it. I want them to be here when I send around for -them." - -Biff and Kamuka followed Nara's instructions eagerly. They did a good -job with the gags, too, while Nara, brandishing his guns, kept talking -to Stannart and Serbot in an accusing tone. - -"I figured you out before I ever met you," declared Nara, "because I -knew I'd be meeting up with rats some time, and you just happened to be -it. You figured you'd get rid of me if you could, and even if you -couldn't you'd jump my claim. After all, who was Joe Nara? Just some -crazy guy who thought he'd found El Dorado. - -"Crazy, yes, but like a fox. I came down the Orinoco more than once to -make sure my claim was registered after each political shakeup in -Venezuela. I didn't even take any chances on this last trip." - -Nara paused, then chuckled as he turned to the boys who had finished -tying Stannart and Serbot in their chairs. - -"Remember how I dropped from sight in Puerto Ayacucho?" asked Nara. "Do -you know where I was most of the day? Having lunch with His Excellency, -the governor of the Amazonas Territory, that's where. I told him some -people were trying to steal my claim. He said he wouldn't let them get -away with it. - -"After I left his office, I snooped around and happened to be handy when -you ran into trouble with Urubu. I'd finished my business with the -governor. He said if he didn't hear from me, he'd send some soldiers -downriver to look me up." - -Nara examined the knots that the boys had tied and gave an approving -nod. He beckoned them out through the cabin door, which he closed behind -him. The yacht's crew suspected nothing, for they helped Nara and the -boys over the rail and down into their waiting _monteria_. - -As they started up the broad Orinoco, Nara pointed to some boats that -were coming toward them. - -"Government boats," he chuckled, "bringing those soldiers I spoke -about." - -When they met the boats, they found the other _monterias_ with them, -manned by Biffs father, Mr. Whitman, and Jacome. The Venezuelan troops -had arrived at the blockhouse during the battle and had helped rout -Serbot's followers, who were commanded by Pepito. - -In the rapids, they had contacted Nara's Wai Wais, who had overpowered -and captured Urubu and his crew. Igo and Ubi would be along later, Mr. -Brewster stated, bringing their prisoners with them. - -"But we saw no sign of Serbot," declared Mr. Brewster. "I think we -should offer a reward for his capture. I'll talk to Mr. Stannart about -it, when I see him on the yacht." - -"You better wait, Dad, till we tell you what happened," Biff advised -soberly. - -Mr. Brewster was shocked when he heard Biff's story. "I can hardly -believe it!" he exclaimed. "Gregg Stannart, of all men! But now that I -think of it," he added thoughtfully, "there's been a piece missing from -the puzzle right along--and Stannart was it!" He shook his head. "I -still can't believe it." - -Now Mr. Brewster was more eager than anyone to take Stannart and Serbot -into custody. As they approached the _Coronet_, they noticed excitement -on the deck. Mr. Brewster studied the yacht through his binoculars and -announced: - -"I see Stannart and Serbot, both of them. The crew must have found them -in the cabin and released them." - -A fast boat containing a squad of Venezuelan soldiers sped ahead to -board the yacht. Sight of the military uniforms must have quenched any -desire for fight in Stannart and Serbot, for suddenly a little motor -launch scooted from the far side of the yacht and bounded through the -choppy waves toward the left bank of the river. - -Only Stannart and Serbot were in the tiny tender. The boat with the -Venezuelan soldiers turned to pursue it, opening rifle fire, but the -fugitives kept on. Then, just as it seemed sure they would be overtaken, -the chase ended. The soldiers, about to fire at close range, suddenly -lowered their rifles. - -"It's too late," declared Mr. Brewster glumly. "They can't be captured -now. They have passed the middle of the river and are across the -international line, in Colombian jurisdiction." - -The captain of the yacht was astonished when told the reason for -Stannart's flight. He and his crew had known nothing about Stannart's -double-dealing. They had supposed that Serbot was simply a friend who -had come on board to meet the owner. They had been puzzled to find the -pair bound and gagged after Nara and the boys had left. - -Stannart had claimed that Nara and the boys had tried to rob him. The -yacht captain had accepted that explanation until Stannart and Serbot -saw the Venezuelan soldiers and suddenly took flight. Then it was plain -that something was wrong. - -Contact was made with Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and from there, -radiograms were relayed to and from New York. Word finally came from the -directors of the Ajax Mining Corporation, stating that they had checked -their accounts and found that Stannart had taken most of the available -funds before starting on his Caribbean yacht trip. - -The Ajax Corporation obtained an order enabling them to take over the -_Coronet_, and the yacht was placed in Mr. Brewster's charge. They also -authorized Mr. Brewster to complete the transaction with Joe Nara on -whatever terms might be mutually satisfactory. - -That was done on board the _Coronet_, which was still anchored near the -junction of the Meta and the Orinoco. Mr. Brewster set the date when the -Ajax Corporation would take over the mine with a down payment of a -quarter of a million dollars to Joe Nara and a block of El Dorado stock -that would guarantee him a share of all future profits. - -That same day, Joe Nara prepared to start back up the Orinoco with Igo, -Ubi, and the other Wai Wais, who were eager to rejoin their fellow -tribesmen as the guardians of El Dorado. Hal Whitman arranged to go -along to represent the Ajax Company, taking Jacome with him. Kamuka -packed his few belongings, expecting to accompany them. The Indian boy -was saying a reluctant good-by to Biff on the deck of the yacht, when -Mr. Brewster quietly commented: - -"You don't have to go, Kamuka, if you'd rather come with us." - -Kamuka's eyes popped wide with eager surprise. Biff showed the same -feeling, when he exclaimed, "You really mean it, Dad?" - -"I do," rejoined Mr. Brewster. "Hal Whitman told me he has made plans to -send Kamuka to a new school that is opening in Brasilia, the capital of -Brazil. But Hal can't possibly get down there for the next few weeks, or -more. So there's no reason why Kamuka can't come home with us. Then he -can fly to Brasilia after Mr. Whitman arrives there." - -Biff turned and clapped Kamuka on the shoulder. - -"Will we have fun, Kamuka! First, the yacht will take us out into the -Atlantic Ocean--" - -"I have heard of it," put in Kamuka. "They say it is bigger than a -thousand Amazons." - -"And you'll see New York, which is more wonderful than any El Dorado!" - -It was hard to tell which boy felt the greater thrill. Each was glad to -continue a companionship in which they had shared so many adventures, -forming the bonds of a friendship that would last always. - -Mr. Brewster was the most pleased of all. He stood at the stem of the -yacht with Biff and Kamuka, while they were churning their way down the -broad Orinoco toward Ciudad Bolivar, the largest port on the river. It -was then that Biff turned to his father and said, very seriously: - -"Dad, I can't see how Stannart and Serbot missed out. When they used me -as a go-between, they had everything so easy." - -"So easy, Biff?" - -"Yes. I must have been a big handicap to the safari. I'd never even seen -a jungle, let alone run into the sort of dangers we found there." - -"But you learned to meet those dangers, and more." - -"Well, yes. I certainly did learn some things." - -"And so did the rest of us," declared Mr. Brewster. "Our enemies put us -in spots where we had to pull one another out. That was their big -mistake. The situations that we overcame early sharpened us for the -problems we met later. That's why we won out." - -As Biff nodded slowly, his father added with a smile: - -"Think back, Biff, and you'll see how it adds up." - -Biff gazed back at the wide Orinoco, tapering to the dim, distant scenes -of those final adventures, and he knew that his dad was right. - - - _A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure_ - BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY - - By ANDY ADAMS - -"Guard this letter as you would your life!" - -With these words ringing in his ears, Biff Brewster boards the -Brazil-bound plane to join his father on a safari to the headwaters of -the Amazon River--a safari that, to Biff's amazement, becomes a deadly -contest for fabulous riches. - -From the beginning, Biff, his father, Biffs friend Kamuka, and the rest -of the party find their path menaced by an enemy who never reveals -himself. Is it Nicholas Serbot, the suave stranger whom Biff first meets -on the plane? Or is it Joe Nara, the eccentric old prospector, the only -white man alive who knows the route to the almost legendary El Dorado -gold mine? - -Biff and Kamuka find their days crowded with the hazards and thrills of -jungle travel as they trek through a wilderness echoing with the threat -of "Macu"--the dreaded head-hunters. And waiting for them at the end of -the trail are a shock and a surprise beyond their wildest dreams. - -Young readers will love this lively, adventure-filled story with its -combination of realism and fantastic mystery. Here is the first exciting -book in a brand-new series for boys. Other Biff Brewster stories are -also available at your booksellers. - - - _NEW!_ BIFF BREWSTER - Mystery Adventures - - By ANDY ADAMS - - [Illustration: Biff Brewster] - -Biff Brewster, sixteen, is a tall, strongly built blond youth who lives -In Indianapolis, Indiana, with his parents and the eleven-year-old -twins, Ted and Monica. Because his mother and father believe that travel -is as important to education as formal schooling, Biff is encouraged to -travel to various countries during the vacation months. His experiences -in these lands, and the young people he meets there, form the basis of a -new series for adventure-loving readers. In every journey there is a -strong element of mystery, usually a direct result of conditions -peculiar to the region in which he is traveling. Thus, in addition to -adventure, these books impart carefully researched information about -foreign countries. - -_Start reading one today_-- - - (1) BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY - (2) MYSTERY OF THE CHINESE RING - (3) HAWAIIAN SEA HUNT MYSTERY - (4) MYSTERY OF THE MEXICAN TREASURE - (5) AFRICAN IVORY MYSTERY - (6) ALASKA GHOST GLACIER MYSTERY - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, Inc. Publisher - New York 10, N. Y. - - [Illustration: Endpapers] - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery, by Andy Adams - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY *** - -***** This file should be named 51538.txt or 51538.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/5/3/51538/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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