"Did they come to trade?"
"Oh yes, boss."
This was no unusual thing, for they often displayed their little cargoes of nuts and fruits and vegetables upon the water-front. Inocencio rose lazily and stretched, then, calling the woman, explained the tidings to her.
"I will go see them," he announced, finally.
"Oh, boss," cried the black man, "they will kill you!"
He shrugged his brawny shoulders and, thrusting the machete beneath his arm, took the trail out through the mangrove swamp.
Straight to the Colon water-front he went, and there flaunted himself before the men from down the coast. Here and there he strolled, casting back their looks of hatred with a bravado that attracted all the idlers in the neighborhood. Wenches nudged one another and tittered nervously, pointing him out and telling anew the story of his daring. Men watched him with wondering admiration, and he heard them murmuring:
"Ah, that Inocencio!"
"El diabolo!"
"And so brave! He would fight an army."