iry made by Manoel, ascertained that she and her children would be permit

ore. Minha and Lina kept near her, waiting for the

ld still find her the devoted wife and br

enito joined Manoel and Fragoso, who

he, "I have a f

t is

u too,

ice, Mr. Benito,"

his friend, whose expression was that of a ma

ather's innocence? Is

"Rather I think it was I

mence on the project I

t Torres?"

Did he know it before? I cannot understand it, for my father never left Iquitos for more than twenty yea

on; and besides, neither Manoel nor Fragoso

art in a minute or two. It will not do to wait till Torres has left Manaos. He has

ded on the bank of the Rio N

and lojas where the adventurer was most likely to put up. There could hardly be a doubt that the ex-captain of the woods would not have given his name; he might have personal reasons for avoiding all communication with the police. Nevertheless, unless he had le

of the tradesmen in their shops, the tavern-keepers in their cabarets, and even the bystanders,

ld they have to give up all

, whose head seemed on fire. Cost w

m, and it was Fragoso who

he people received of the adventurer, they replied that the in

ep here?" a

ered the ta

e her

has go

s bill, as a man would

about an hour ago, and he will

t road he took w

going through the lower town, and you

A few seconds afterward he rejo

on the

re!" excla

they have seen him walking ac

!" repli

he shortest way was for them to take the le

f the town behind, and followed the bank, making a sl

the view extended across the flat, where cul

of them went along and looked about on all sides as they traversed the space between the bank of the Rio N

, and one of them at length told him that a man, such as he described, had just p

le movement, strode to the front, and his two comp

e off. A sort of cliff appeared ahead, hiding a part of the h

on disappeared behind o

el to Fragoso. "We must not l

g along when a shout

rres? What had he seen? Had B

swiftly running round one of the spurs of the bank

Torres a

sed that in Benito's state of excitement he would be unable to restrain himself w

certain that he could not escape, a complete change took place in his m

one another for a few

, and, in the impudent ton

s it, Mr. Be

osta!" answered

Benito Dacosta, accompanied by Mr.

, Fragoso, who was by no means loath to do him some damage, was abo

laimed Torres, retreating for a few steps.

d at will for offense or defense, which a Brazilian is never without. And then, s

said Benito, who had not stirred in t

er. "It is not very difficult to find m

what you appear to know of

all

were prowling about our fazenda in the forest of Iq

was waiting to get a passage on the jangada, and I went on board with the intentio

it no longer. With pale face and e

very means of conciliation,

anoel!" he said.

en con

ssessed of a secret which was doubtless given to you, you wanted to make

is it,

ecognized Joam Dacosta in

no reason why I should tell you. The important fact is, that I was not m

aimed Benito, who began to

into his family! Well! now that his secret is known, now that he is a prisoner, it is I who refuse to ent

ho drew his manchetta from his b

a similar movement, qui

nst one!" s

nst one!" ans

an assassination would have b

"defend yourself, or I wil

res. "But I bite, Benito Daco

chetta, he put himself on guard

tepped back

ou were the guest of my father, you threatened him, you betrayed him, you denounc

ea of stopping any struggle between Benito and him, and he could have done so. In fact he had seen th

ire to wait till the very last moment, so as to get the very best price for the document he possessed, the recollection of

e, the adventurer was strong, active, and artful, so that against an adversary who was scarcely tw

ished to insist on fighti

alone to avenge my father, and as everything her

nit

ll not refuse if I ask you t

office of honor. Without the least ceremony," he

on the top of a cliff rising perpendicularly some fifty feet above the Amazon. The river

d the combatant who was the first to give wa

Manoel, and Torres and

is coolness was unruffled, much more so than that of Torres, whose conscien

en jumped back, but almost at the same instant they rushed together, and wit

o could not quite parry. His left side was touched, and his poncho was reddened

his very heart. Visibly the scoundrel began to quail. He recoiled little by little, pressed back by his implacable foe, who was more determined on taking

ung the river. He perceived the danger; he tried to retake the offensive and regain the lost ground. His agit

!" exclaim

oint of the manchetta was stopped by a hard subs

ersary, felt himself lost. He was again obliged to retreat. Then he would have s

ling him, he was precipitated down the cliff. As a last effort his hands convulsively clutched at

grasped his hands. He would not even give his compa

a!" he said, "

deep emotion followed hi

ich the raft was moored. Benito and Manoel rushed into the room

!" "My

uttered at th

rison!" s

come!" rep

along his mother, and half an hour l

rriquez they were immediately admitted, and con

sta saw his wife, his son,

Joam!" excla

plied the prisoner, who opened his

am, in

d avenged!"

What do

d, father; kil

sped Joam Dacosta. "My s