"If he is not among them he is near them," was Lourenço's certain reply. "He has been seen both by other Blackbeards and by the Mayorunas. I, too, have seen him. He bears on his bones the sign that his mind is out of his skull. His eyes are green and his hair touched with white. Umanuh and his men know well that I speak true." The pause this time was longer than before. "There was such a man, but he is gone." "Then Makkay asks his friend Umanuh to find that one. A chief so wise can easily find him where others would see only water and mud." "If he could be found what would the great Blackbeard leader do with him?" Lourenço thought swiftly. To say the Raposa was McKay's friend would do little good. Friendship meant nothing to this unfeeling brute. Therefore the bushman insinuated something which his cruel mind could comprehend. "If a Red Bone man abandoned his people and went to another tribe, what would Umanuh do to him when he was found?" A cold glimmer in the chief's eyes showed that he thought he understood. Moreover, he would much like to see what sort of torture this hard-faced Blackbeard would use on a fugitive. It might be something even more fiendish than his own pastimes. So the next reply came promptly. "If that man is found the blackbeard will pay for him?" "There are gifts of friendship for Umanuh," Lourenço nodded. "The Blackbeard leader will pay more than the other Blackbeard?" Lourenço almost blinked. What other Blackbeard? The Raposa himself? But the Brazilian repressed his bewilderment. "Makkay will first see the man to make sure he is the Blackbeard whom Makkay wants," he dodged. "Then he will pay well." "Umanuh will see the gifts now." "The gifts cannot be shown now. They are packed away. When Makkay has looked on the man Umanuh shall look on the gifts." Another eye duel between the chief and McKay. As before, the captain's eye proved the harder. "Umanuh will think of the matter. Night comes. The man hunted by the Blackbeard is not here. The Blackbeard and his men may stay to-night across the water. When the sun rises again Umanuh will talk further." "It is well. Let Umanuh tell his men to stay on this side of the water, that we may not mistake them in the night for enemies." When Umanuh had hissed assent the old man stepped to the doorway and summoned the hatchet-faced warrior. To him instructions were given. He turned and carried the commands to the tribesmen. "Makkay wishes Umanuh peaceful rest," said Lourenço. With which he flicked his eyes toward the door. McKay, with stiff stride, stalked out. Lourenço followed. Both felt the snake eyes of the cadaverous chief dwelling on their backs.