And sometimes it was hard to conceal this fury
that burnt in me; sometimes I felt an impulse to spring like a
tiger on one of the Indians, to hold him fast by the throat until
the secret I wished to learn was forced from his lips, then to
dash his brains out against the stone. But they were many, and
there was no choice but to be cautious and patient if I wished to
outwit them with a cunning superior to their own.
Three days after my arrival at the village, Kua-ko returned with
his companion. I greeted him with affected warmth, but was
really pleased that he was back, believing that if the Indians
knew anything of Rima he among them all would be most likely to
tell it.
Kua-ko appeared to have brought some important news, which he
discussed with Runi and the others; and on the following day I
noticed that preparations for an expedition were in progress.
Spears and bows and arrows were got ready, but not blow-pipes,
and I knew by this that the expedition would not be a hunting
one. Having discovered so much, also that only four men were
going out, I called Kua-ko aside and begged him to let me go with
them.
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