Captain. “But, padre, you cannot speak the language, which would render your expectations abortive, for a bargain is never closed in these countries without a great deal of word chaffering. A clear understanding of the language is absolutely necessary, for the inhabitants of the river towns are very apt to “fly” from a bad bargain when they find themselves caught and lightly held, so that the only safe way to secure them is to clip their wings and hood-wink them in black and white. But I can send you back without cost when we meet the next downward bound steamer; then you will have the advice and assistance of Mr. Welson, who perfectly understands the habits and customs of the people.”
Padre. “Well, I declare to gracious, I hardly know what to do?”
Captain. “Would you like employment on board? I think that there is a berth that would suit you! Besides it will afford you an opportunity to convince Dr. Baāhar of his errors; at the same time you can perfect yourself in speaking Spanish.”
Notwithstanding the captain’s quizzical looks and speech the padre thankfully accepted the proffered position of second officer, with the expressed hope that he might perform its duties in an acceptable manner. Captain Greenwood, although somewhat crispy in speech and austere in address, had a strong undertow of humorous appreciation when the shafts of irony were not directed against himself. His disinterested disposition, prompted by the padre’s kindly vis inertiæ, had suggested the offer; nevertheless he really desired a person capable of superintending small matters that would relieve him from a responsibility not greatly to his relish. The duties imposed by the captain were as follows: “You must be the first up in the morning and the last in bed at night. While on duty, see that everything in the way of labor is well done, and never interfere with advice when a helping hand is required. Lastly, never report to me necessary changes until after they have been made.”
Padre. “But, captain, if I am never to speak how am I to improve or correct to suit you?”
Captain. “With the moral influence of your head and hands, when you see anything necessary to be done!”
This settled the question of the padre’s new vocation, and he was forthwith introduced to the crew, who greeted his installation with marked approbation. At night, when he became genial in confessional overflow and dogmatic in argument, he was the source of humorous repartee and good-will among the passengers on the quarter-deck. His American birth having toned down the quarrelsome disposition legitimate as an inheritance to the native-born Irishman, when under the influence of whiskey, he indulged in quaint disputations, peculiar to his Yankee ingraft, in freedom from ill humor.
With this insight descriptive of mood foreign to the members of the corps, we will now resume our narration of events transpiring in the daily progress of the steamer’s river voyage.
May 28.—The banks of the river are now clearly defined, but the water still submerges the undergrowth that margins its lower stages in the season of drought; the more matured growths are already peopled with the smaller species of birds delighting in the bushy retreats overhanging the waters. Our naturalists’ eyes are now greedily engaged in busy search for new specimens of the feathered species.
May 29.—This morning we reached a sand-spit formed by a confluent stream, upon which the receding waters had left a wood-drift well suited for the steamer’s use, having been forced by the jam of flood-tide high out of the current. The eddies and backwater of the Pilcomayo’s stronger flow had carried the raft and lodged it high up above the mouth of the lesser stream, leaving an extension inter-stayed by the roots that reached into deep water; alongside of the raft, in the smaller stream, the steamer moored. The axes of the firemen and sailors were soon busy, wakening for the first time the forest echoes to the chucking sound of their strokes. The more active members of the corps volunteered their services in aid for speedy replenishment, deriving in recompense the invigorating novelty of exercise. While actively engaged with ready hands and merry voices they were suddenly startled with the scream of the steamer’s whistle, simultaneously accompanied with a flight of arrows from the ambush of the forest screen above the raft. Fortunately distance and trepidation from the unearthly screech of the whistle rendered their aim harmless; the check it afforded enabled the woodcutters to scramble up the sides of the steamer before the savages recovered from their surprise. When they realized that the shriek was harmless in effect, the Indians rushed forth from their concealment to secure the axes which had been abandoned by the men in their sudden fright, but were again momentarily intimidated by the rumbling sound of the gong, which Antonio, the steward, had seized to increase with concerted din the scream of the whistle. The savages’ hesitation was but momentary, seeing that like the former the steward’s overture was harmless in effect, then with a counter whoop of defiance they sprang forward to secure the coveted prizes. But the second diversion brought with it presence of mind and time for the use of more effective weapons than empty sound. One of the two howitzers, which had been taken as freight to Santa Anna, the commandante loaned to Captain Greenwood for the voyage; this had been loaded as a precautionary measure the day previous, and intrusted to the charge of Jack and Bill, two sailors who had “shipped” on the river voyage for a “lark.” With thoughts trained to the duty of their charge they were the first that reached the steamer’s deck, and before the savages recovered from their second hesitation sighted the gun and answered their whoop with a discharge of grape, with an effect that left five of their number stretched on the logs, killed outright, the others in quick retreat leaving a trail of blood showing from its copious flow the infliction of dangerous wounds. The retreating savages in their turn dropped clubs, spears, blow-pipes, and arrows, so that there was but little danger of their return. But the premonition caused the captain to place a guard in a position to command the isthmus, accompanied by two hounds belonging to Mr. Dow. The dogs following the bloody trail soon gave intimation that they had discovered the wounded savages. Proceeding cautiously into the thicket beyond the abattis they found near together, an elderly savage and a boy of seventeen or eighteen years, both severely wounded. The padre, with heedless but kindly intention, attempted to raise the head of the old Indian upon his arm to relieve his uncomfortable position, while the others stanched his wounds. In a second from the time the padre’s arm came within reach of the savage, his teeth were fastened upon the arm above the elbow, while with working tenacity he used his utmost energy to penetrate the sleeve of his coat. His intention was evident from the greenish slaver that oozed from the corners of his mouth, betraying in appearance the characteristics of the dreaded poison. Bill, who was near at hand, relieved the padre from the danger of poisonous inoculation, before the teeth of the savage had penetrated the cloth, by the introduction of a marlin-spike with a decisive force that showed but little care for their preservation. The boy was more tractable, permitting his captors to handle him as they pleased. Two other savages were overtaken dragging themselves from bush to bush. When surrounded they were still defiant, threatening all who approached with spear-heads attached to short staffs; these were finally struck out of their hands, but they still repelled peaceful overtures, making a formidable show of resistance with teeth and nails. We had been specially warned against coming into close quarters with them by an old trader, who had frequently encountered their ferocious tendencies in his travels. Finding all our conciliatory attempts futile the wounded savages were left to their fate. Adopting the padre’s suggestion, the young Indian and his savage companion were taken on board, with the intention of trying the effect of kind treatment, but a lasso in the practiced hands of a guacho was required to persuade the latter to accept the proffered hospitality of the boat. Aside from the comparative docility of the boy, his lack of resemblance in feature and general conformation plainly declared that his subserviency to the will of his companion did not arise from parental affection. Shackling them to the windlass they were placed under the guardianship of the dogs, whose favorite lounge was on either side of the bowsprit heel beneath the shadow of the chocks. After they were secured, all hands, with the exception of the engineer, steward, and cooks, resumed their labors on the raft. As the padre insisted that it was a barbarous shame to throw the bodies of the dead savages into the water to become the food of alligators, when a few minutes’ labor would make them a decent grave in the sand, he was allowed the privilege of extending to the defuncts the rites of burial. As the spade in his hands had not been a favorite specialty during the more elastic periods of his existence under the benign influence of temperate heat, the torrid glow of the morning acting in concert with a stimulant he had taken to steady his nerves, caused a sweltering perspiration that in no way accelerated the progress of his pious undertaking. The sands having become quick from recent saturation were constantly caving, so that in addition to aggravation he was in danger of becoming a victim to his sextonic benevolence. While trying to extricate himself from the caving sand, the while vainly pleading for assistance from the laughing spectators of his disaster, his attention became fixed upon an array of yellow nuggets which he had overlooked when thrown from their bed with the sand. His silence and curious investigation with hands and eyes extorted the inquiry, “What is it, padre?” The laconic answer, “Gold!” brought the whole party to his rescue, including the sentinels from the logs above, while the engineer, steward, and cook deserted their posts in greedy haste. When the truth of his announcement was verified they with some difficulty dragged him from his grave, then oblivious to thoughts of savage surprise and poisoned arrows, they consigned the dead to the river, without remonstrance from the padre, and with flushed avidity commenced with spade and pan to unearth the precious metal. Mid-day, with its heat, found them still engaged, heedless of danger from the sun’s rays and the miasmic current converging upon the spit from the confluent streams. Silence alternating with wild bursts of hilarity, caused the captive savages, chained to the steamer’s windlass, to gaze with wondering looks of amazement.