CHAPTER VII "To-morrow we Disappear into the Unknown"

theworld,andveryespeciallyofSouthAmerica,issurprising,andhehasawhole-heartedbeliefinthepossibilitiesofourjourneywhichisnottobedashedbythesneersofProfessorSummerlee.Hehasagentlevoiceandaquietmanner,butbehindhistwinklingblueeyestherelurksacapacityforfuriouswrathandimplacableresolution,themoredangerousbecausetheyareheldinleash.HespokelittleofhisownexploitsinBrazilandPeru,butitwasarevelationtometofindtheexcitementwhichwascausedbyhispresenceamongtheriverinenatives,wholookeduponhimastheirchampionandprotector.TheexploitsoftheRedChief,astheycalledhim,hadbecomelegendsamongthem,buttherealfacts,asfarasIcouldlearnthem,wereamazingenough. ThesewerethatLordJohnhadfoundhimselfsomeyearsbeforeinthatno-man's-landwhichisformedbythehalf-definedfrontiersbetweenPeru,Brazil,andColumbia.Inthisgreatdistrictthewildrubbertreeflourishes,andhasbecome,asintheCongo,acursetothenativeswhichcanonlybecomparedtotheirforcedlaborundertheSpaniardsupontheoldsilverminesofDarien.Ahandfulofvillainoushalf-breedsdominatedthecountry,armedsuchIndiansaswouldsupportthem,andturnedtherestintoslaves,terrorizingthemwiththemostinhumantorturesinordertoforcethemtogathertheindia-rubber,whichwasthenfloateddowntherivertoPara.LordJohnRoxtonexpostulatedonbehalfofthewretchedvictims,andreceivednothingbutthreatsandinsultsforhispains.HethenformallydeclaredwaragainstPedroLopez,theleaderoftheslave-drivers,enrolledabandofrunawayslavesinhisservice,armedthem,andconductedacampaign,whichendedbyhiskillingwithhisownhandsthenotorioushalf-breedandbreakingdownthesystemwhichherepresented. Nowonderthattheginger-headedmanwiththesilkyvoiceandthefreeandeasymannerswasnowlookeduponwithdeepinterestuponthebanksofthegreatSouthAmericanriver,thoughthefeelingsheinspiredwerenaturallymixed,sincethegratitudeofthenativeswasequaledbytheresentmentofthosewhodesiredtoexploitthem.OneusefulresultofhisformerexperienceswasthathecouldtalkfluentlyintheLingoaGeral,whichisthepeculiartalk,one-thirdPortugueseandtwo-thirdsIndian,whichiscurrentalloverBrazil. IhavesaidbeforethatLordJohnRoxtonwasaSouthAmericomaniac.Hecouldnotspeakofthatgreatcountrywithoutardor,andthisardorwasinfectious,for,ignorantasIwas,hefixedmyattentionandstimulatedmycuriosity.HowIwishIcouldreproducetheglamourofhisdiscourses,thepeculiarmixtureofaccurateknowledgeandofracyimaginationwhichgavethemtheirfascination,untileventheProfessor'scynicalandscepticalsmilewouldgraduallyvanishfromhisthinfaceashelistened.Hewouldtellthehistoryofthemightyriversorapidlyexplored(forsomeofthefirstconquerorsofPeruactuallycrossedtheentirecontinentuponitswaters),andyetsounknowninregardtoallthatlaybehinditsever-changingbanks. "Whatisthere?"hewouldcry,pointingtothenorth."Woodandmarshandunpenetratedjungle.Whoknowswhatitmayshelter?Andtheretothesouth?Awildernessofswampyforest,wherenowhitemanhaseverbeen.Theunknownisupagainstusoneveryside.Outsidethenarrowlinesoftheriverswhatdoesanyoneknow?Whowillsaywhatispossibleinsuchacountry?WhyshouldoldmanChallengernotberight?"AtwhichdirectdefiancethestubbornsneerwouldreappearuponProfessorSummerlee'sface,andhewouldsit,shakinghissardonicheadinunsympatheticsilence,behindthecloudofhisbriar-rootpipe. Somuch,forthemoment,formytwowhitecompanions,whosecharactersandlimitationswillbefurtherexposed,assurelyasm