"It is agreed," answered Diogo, and he threw away the gag.
Strange anomaly of character in certain men, and which is so often met with, especially among the Brazilian half-castes; with them their word is everything, nothing will induce them to break it.
Diogo knew so well that he could trust to that word, that he accepted it without hesitation.
"I leave you, Malco," said he to him; "do not distress yourself too much."
"Go to the devil; but remember that I have promised to kill you."
"Bah, bah!" answered the other; "You say that now because you are furious. I suppose you think, as you have not succeeded against me today, that you will be more fortunate another time."
"I hope so," said the half-caste, gnashing his teeth.
Diogo easily caught the horse, which was not very far off, and started off.
As soon as the captain had reached the bank he abandoned the horse, entered the water, and commenced to swim.
Although this river literally swarmed with alligators, the captain had not hesitated to enter it. He knew by experience that alligators rarely attack man.