Arthur O. Friel

“ The Maquiritares stared and muttered, and I scowled and swore. Had Yaracuma become a fool? Or had the Butcher found them, slaughtered them, burned their camp? Or, perhaps, had the canoes arrived, and was this a signal for us to come in? We did not know. But we started at once for the Iurebe.
I told the fastest man in the little party to push ahead as swiftly as possible, leaving with us everything but his bow and a few arrows, and learn what was taking place. The rest of us held to a steady, rapid walk.
The smoke kept rising hour after hour, too steadily to be that of a destroyed camp. ”

“ But, though the men who had met us would give me no satisfaction, they told something in their own tongue to the Maquiritares with me. My companions grunted, and all looked up-stream. I looked also, of course, but saw nothing new. And then we entered the trees.
At the camp I found Yaracuma and the rest. All looked a little amused when I demanded why that smoke had been sent up.
"It is nearly time for the boats," Yaracuma answered calmly.
"Diablo! Do I not know it?" I snapped. "But they are not yet here, and why in el infierno do you blacken the sky?"
"It is time for my men to be here." ”

“ We kept on without a pause to eat, gnawing at chunks of cooked meat as we walked. And about the middle of the afternoon we approached the camp.
The runner had not come back. But now, as we slowed and spread out in order to come upon the little settlement quietly, several men of Yaracuma's emerged from the edge of the bush and walked toward us as if they had been waiting. They showed no hurry or concern, and when they came near they grinned.
"What is wrong?" I demanded.
"Nothing. All is well," one answered.
"Then why was all the smoke?" ”