This interference was too much for the foreman. “I see he is your friend,” he panted, “and I will have nothing to do with a savage. Go ahead, get the things. But remember, you will have to account to the boss for this whole thing.” David said nothing, but some of the men who were watching the encounter, whispered among themselves. They had noted how ready their leader was to attack a man smaller than himself and how quickly he stopped when the giant Indian intervened. “Come,” David said to the brown man. “Come with me. The others can wait here.” Together they went to the supply hut where the chief was invited to take his choice of the articles in stock. He selected a number of knives, hatchets and a few other objects he desired, after which David presented him with several pounds of tobacco, which he appreciated more than the other gifts. The Indians prepared to take their departure soon after, but not until the whole party had exchanged pledges of friendship with the Brazilians. Instead of shaking hands upon leaving they patted one another on the back, but when the chief came to Dom Carlos he walked haughtily past and as he did so he placed an arrow, point up, in the ground at his feet. That meant that he was an enemy of the Indians who would thereafter attack him on sight. Then the column formed and vanished in the forest. That night David and Miguel had little time for sleep. The men crowded about them and urged them to repeat again and again the story of their adventures. It was all so strange, so seemingly impossible they could not comprehend it fully, but they at no time doubted the narrative of their companions. “You got here just in time,” one of them said finally. “We start back in a week or less.” “To the ranch?” David asked eagerly. “Yes. The rains are overdue. When they begin they will come hard. We’re getting ready to leave now.” “That sounds too good to be true. We can’t start too soon to suit me.” The next day he saw what the preparations consisted of. The large balls of rubber were being carried to the riverbank. Thick ropes were passed through the holes in the center of the balls which had been left by the poles on which the latex was poured while being smoked. The number on the different strings varied, but when sufficient had been threaded the ends of the rope were tied together, forming a huge “necklace.” These, in turn, were pushed into the water, one within the other, so they formed groups of concentric rings known as rubber rafts.