"THIS HE KEPT UP UNTIL THE PADDLE HAD A THICK COATING OF RUBBER."
Vicente then made another fire of nuts and the wood of the motacu[5] under a jug-shaped calabash, the smoke coming out through the neck. This smoke hastens the drying of the liquid rubber, and makes a better quality than can be obtained in any other way.
"I don't see how that stuff that looks like cream can ever be made like rubber," said Affonzo.
"Watch Vicente," said his father, "and you will see." As he spoke, Vicente dipped a long paddle into the liquid, and then held it over the smoke. It quickly dried and he dipped the paddle into the juice again, repeating the process of drying. This he kept up until the paddle had a thick coating of rubber, like a large, flattened ball. Then he split the ball open along one side, and pulled the paddle out.
"There now!" said the Senhor. "The rubber is all ready to go to market. Perhaps some day you will bounce a ball or wear a pair of goloshes made of this very rubber."
"Won't that be fine!" said Affonzo. "What are you going to do now," he asked, as his father rose as if to go.
"As soon as Vicente has finished cooking, we will go to the river, and go home by water," said the Senhor. "Then you will see some of the wood your uncle and I mean to export."
"That will be much better than tramping," said Affonzo, whose short legs began to be stiff and sore with all the walking he had done.
Vicente soon finished cooking his rubber, and put up the utensils before following Affonzo and the two men down the path to the river.