Jack made no reply; but after dinner he ran his hands through his pockets in search of some trifle that he might give the girl for her attentions to them. He could find nothing more suitable than his silver match-box; it made the little Indian's eyes sparkle when he handed it to her.
The afternoon's search was no more successful than the morning's, and early in the evening all the occupants of the hut lay down in their hammocks. Jack found that a small piece of mosquito-netting, large enough at any rate to cover his face, had been put in his hammock to help keep off the mosquitoes, and he saw that there was none in any of the other hammocks; but he made no remarks about it.
Before sunrise in the morning the others were all astir, but Jack felt sore and stiff, and he lay still.
"I'm afraid that hot sun rather knocked me out yesterday," he said to Ned. "I think I'll stay here a little while, and try to get another nap."
Ned anxiously felt his brother's temples and pulse, for such symptoms have to be watched in tropical countries; but finding no signs of fever, he went out and down the hill to look after the canoe before breakfast. Felipe also strolled out, leaving Maria in the hut getting the things ready for breakfast. In a few minutes, however, Felipe returned, and said something angrily to the girl. Receiving no reply, he seized her by the arm and gave her a violent shake, and slapped her on the side of the head.
Jack could not help seeing it, and his blood began to boil. He lay still a moment longer, however, till Felipe reached up into the thatching and drew out a long heavy switch that he had evidently used before. This was more than Jack could stand, and he sprang out of the hammock.
"Hi, you Greaser!" he cried, in English, for he was too mad to bother with Spanish, "if you hit that girl again I'll spread you all over the bluff!"
Felipe did not understand the words, but Jack's attitude was plain enough to him. The boy stood in front of him with fists clinched, ready for instant battle.
Although only fourteen, Jack was several sizes larger and much more muscular than the half-breed, and in a fist fight would have whipped him in a minute. Besides, he was an American boy defending a helpless girl, and his blood was up. But Felipe had no fancy for such an encounter. He let go his hold and retreated a step, and with the instinct of his race his right hand went up to his bosom, and he drew out a long knife.
For an instant Jack did not know what to do. He was entirely unarmed, for Ned carried the only revolver they had, and Felipe with a knife was a dangerous customer. But it was only for an instant, for his eye fell upon a machete sticking in a leather cleat against one of the posts that supported the roof.