Arthur O. Friel

“ Yaracuma watched me, and after a time his eyes smiled.
"Nama soon will mate," he told me.
"Is it so?" Perhaps I looked relieved, for the capitán now smiled with mouth as well as eyes.
"It is so," he replied. "For a time she dreamed she might mate with Loco León. The young sometimes dream foolishly. But the dream has passed."
I said nothing. Soon he went on.
"Before Loco León came to us Nama looked kindly on one of my young men. Then came Ramón Rodriguez like a spirit of evil, and Loco León like a spirit of good. In her dark hour her heart turned to Loco León. ”

“ In less than fifteen minutes from the time when Jaime stood up and drew his machete, he and all his gang had disappeared forever from the eyes of men. So had the treacherous mestizo who had led them there. So had the last of the Butcher's killers. They never would reach the Orinoco—the caribes would see to that. And only we men of the Ventuari knew what had become of them.
I looked up at Yaracuma, who stood quietly near me, armed with a stout bow and a full quiver of arrows. I glanced around at his men, carrying the weapons of their race, who now were soberly watching me. ”

“ But in the end she saw that Loco León did not want her. She saw that even if made black he would not want her; he would hate her with a bitter hate. She does not want Loco León ever to hate her. So the good counsel of her brother became strong in her mind. Her eyes were opened again, and she saw once more the young man she had forgotten, and she found him good. So there will be no more dreaming, and all is as it should be."
"Si," I agreed. "She has judged wisely and rightly. I shall be ever a friend to Nama, and to all the people of Yaracuma. ”