"But they have no wish to use them against your people; we would be their friends, and it pains us to do them harm; we would not have done so had they not compelled us."
Ziffak stood a moment as motionless as a statue, with his piercing black eyes fixed with burning intensity on the white man. The latter would have given much could he have read his thoughts, of which an intimation came with the first words that followed.
"Waggaman and Burkhardt told our people that if we allowed the white folks to come into our country, they would bring others and slay all our men, women and children."
"Who are Waggaman and Burkhardt?" asked the explorer, uncertain whether he was awake or dreaming.
"They have lived with the Murhapas for years; they are white men, but they are our friends."
Ashman recalled the story told by Bippo and his companions earlier in the evening. It must be that the names mentioned belonged to those two mysterious individuals, who beckoned them across the Xingu. For some reason of their own, they wished to keep all others of their race out of the country.
It was plain that Ziffak was a remarkable person and the explorer determined to use every effort to win his good will.
"Waggaman and Burkhardt have told you lies; we are your friends."
"Why do you not stay at home and leave us alone?"
"We expect to go back, after ascending the river a short distance further; nothing would persuade us to live here, and, as I have told you, we would not harm any person if they would leave us alone."