Where are Waggaman and Burkhardt ?" The native shook his head.

He had picked up his spear, but made no movement toward taking his departure.

Ashman hoped he would not, for everything said not only convinced him of the first importance of gaining the fellow's confidence, but encouraged him in the belief that he was fast doing so.

He resolved to leave no stone unturned looking to that end.
"Why did not your two white friends help you in the fight, to keep us from going further up the Xingu ?" "_Maybe they did_," replied Ziffak, with a significant glance up stream, which left no doubt that he referred to the conflict that had taken place there while the couple were talking on the margin of the river.
"I don't believe it," Ashman hastened to say, hopeful that such was the case; for, with two white men and their firearms, the peril of his friends must have been greatly increased.
"Why do you seek to enter our country ?" asked the dusky giant, after a brief pause.
"We want to learn about your people; but I pledge you we wish not to harm a hair of their heads." It was not to be expected that a savage who has heard nothing else for years except that any penetration of his territory by white men meant destruction, could give up that belief simply on the pledge of one of the race accused.
But it was equally clear that this particular savage was favorably disposed toward Ashman.

It may have been that his good will was won by the neat manner in which he had got the best of Ziffak, the most terrible warrior ever produced by that people.