We must have seen each other somewhere ?" "I do not think so," quickly answered Torres.
"I am always wrong!" replied Fragoso, and he hurried on to finish his task.
A moment after Torres continued the conversation which this question of Fragoso had interrupted, with: "How did you come from Iquitos ?" "From Iquitos to Tabatinga ?" "Yes." "On board a raft, on which I was given a passage by a worthy fazender who is going down the Amazon with his family." "A friend indeed!" replied Torres.

"That is a chance, and if your fazender would take me----" "Do you intend, then, to go down the river ?" "Precisely." "Into Para ?" "No, only to Manaos, where I have business." "Well, my host is very kind, and I think he would cheerfully oblige you." "Do you think so ?" "I might almost say I am sure." "And what is the name of this fazender ?" asked Torres carelessly.
"Joam Garral," answered Fragoso.
And at the same time he muttered to himself: "I certainly have seen this fellow somewhere!" Torres was not the man to allow a conversation to drop which was likely to interest him, and for very good reasons.
"And so you think Joam Garral would give me a passage ?" "I do not doubt it," replied Fragoso.

"What he would do for a poor chap like me he would not refuse to do for a compatriot like you." "Is he alone on board the jangada ?" "No," replied Fragoso.

"I was going to tell you that he is traveling with all his family--and jolly people they are, I assure you.

He is accompanied by a crew of Indians and negroes, who form part of the staff at the fazenda." "Is he rich ?" "Oh, certainly!" answered Fragoso--"very rich.