"Try them with bread," said Ruberta to the cook, who took a steaming cake from his frying-pan and threw it on the bank. But no one picked it up. Already the smoke from the engine-funnel had surprised if not terrified them. "They think it is alive," said the Quiteño, "because it steams. They are not men, Señors; they are monkeys; they do not understand half what I say to them, and I suggest that your excellencies should kill them all." Hutchinson had already taken it for granted that they did not understand all that was said, for accustomed to listening attentively to uncivilised speech, he had detected in theirs that continual repetition of certain sounds, which argues a scanty vocabulary. When breakfast was finished he filled his pipe, and Ruberta rolled up a cigarette; this brought the Indians a pace nearer again, and made them stand on tiptoe; but when one of the white men struck a match they sprang back again, and, at sight of the smoke issuing from the strangers' lips, they set up a chorus of little shrieks that suggested even more fear than surprise; and was repeated with double vigour when the Quiteño and the crew also "lit up." That an Indian, of all people, had never seen smoking told a tale in itself. "Now draw in, Pedro," said Ruberta to his engineer, who backed his engine, making towards a natural landing-place which had been observed on the previous night. "Diego; tell them once more we will not hurt them." The Quiteño repeated the message, which seemed to be received with indifference; but, as he leapt ashore, every spear was poised, and levelled at him. "Come back. Ask them what's the matter," said Hutchinson. Diego jumped back to the deck. "They are saying that I want to kill them with my spear and arrows." "Well, then, let them see you lay them down." "I cannot go without my arms, Señor." "Stupid fellow; borrow Señor Pedro's revolver, but hide it in your pouch; if they see it, they'll want it, because it shines." Then the explorer, versed in the ways of such people, held up a string of bright beads. He might as well have held up a turnip, for all the excitement or cupidity it created; and some scarlet cloth met with no better reception. "Shall I try them with these, Señor?" said the Zambo cook, coming aft with a small basket of yesterday's fish which he had been keeping for bait. _That_ they understood; their eyes brightened a little--a very little; and, as the half-breed threw each raw and anything but fresh fish to them, it was scrambled for and greedily devoured. The Quiteño now jumped a second time; the Indians started distrustfully, but did not threaten him with their spears, and the two white men followed him, their hands prudently on their hidden revolvers. The savages chattered excitedly, but still made no offensive motion. "Ask them about the cotton, Diego," said the Argentino. "Tall yellow flowers, with purple spots, tell them."