They kept their places in the boat and listened and wondered in silence.
The Professor hoped for the best, though he admitted that there was something inexplainable in the business.

He had spent hours in examining the strange fish of the Upper Xingu, in inspecting the remarkable plants, which he saw for the first time, and in studying the zoology and mineralogy of the region.

He had been delighted and puzzled, over and over again, but all of these problems combined failed to astonish him as did the action of Ziffak and the story he told.
Ashman was the most hopeful of all.

He had been with the native more than the rest, and was given the opportunity to study him closely.

He was confident that he read the workings of his mind aright, and that the fellow would be their friend to the end.
Jared Long, the New Englander, was equally positive in the other direction.