III
AN INDIAN BOATMAN
The moment the decision was made Ken felt both sorry and glad. He got the excited boys outside away from the critical and anxious proprietor. And Ken decided it was incumbent upon him to adopt a serious and responsible manner, which he was far from feeling. So he tried to be as cool as Hiram Bent, with a fatherly interest in the two wild boys who were to accompany him down the Santa Rosa.
"Now, George, steer us around till we find a mozo," said Ken. "Then we'll buy an outfit and get started on this trip before you can say Jack Robinson."
All the mozos the boys interviewed were eager to get work; however, when made acquainted with the nature of the trip they refused point blank.
"Tigre!" exclaimed one.
"Javelin!" exclaimed another.
The big spotted jaguar of the jungle and the wild boar, or peccary, were held in much dread by the natives.
"These natives will climb a tree at sight of a tiger or pig," said George. "For my part I'm afraid of the garrapatoes and the pinilius."
"What 're they?" asked Hal.