Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/239

 float down to Borba; that is, if an alligator didn't get us,' I groaned.

"‘I'm sorry I brought you,' observed Tib, gravely. 'But let's to business. Here's our pack with fish-lines and hooks, some dried beef, and general tommy-rot. And, oh yes; here's six of those hand-bombs we use to explode at the evening performance of the circus. I thought we could use them to signal with if we got separated. Red, green, and yellow are the colors. They were in our baggage that Santos brought up to Obidos. Take three, but don't use one till I give the word.'

"‘I reckon these people are the Mundrucu, all right,' I observed, pushing the basket with my foot.

"‘I'm afraid they are,' sighed Tib. 'Head-hunters. Did you ever stop to think what a queer fad that is?'

"‘No,' I groaned, 'but I realize that you were away off in dividing these folks up into decimals. The population seems to be looking up.'

"‘Census-takers are liars,' declared Tib. 'Or else they've rung in repeaters from another ward.'

"‘Those large, smooth, open places on the map aren't all English lawns,' I moaned.

"Then we sat dumbly and nursed out despair. At last Tib broke the dismal silence by crying: 'I wonder what those imps are up to?'

"This last was called forth by a shrill shouting