"I know, I know, Ann," he interrupted. "Only, we haven't time to think
now, nor time to talk. Call mammy. Remember, we have but the one wagon.
Pack carefully."

He himself hurried off to arouse the stable-hand. The stable-hand had
not been to Manoel's house. He knew nothing of what had happened. He
worked most of the night cheerfully, preparing for the welcome
camping-trip.

By noon on the following day, when streets and country roads lay
deserted under the tropic sun, the cavalcade was off. The wagon, drawn
by two mules in charge of the stable-hand, led the way. It was laden
with tent, baggage, and the women-folk, Ann, Natalie, and mammy. Behind
followed Leighton on his favorite horse and Shenton and Lewis on their
ponies. By sundown they reached the banks of the Tieté. It took men and
boys an hour to set the big bell tent.




CHAPTER VII


Because the road led north, they traveled north. Week after week, month
after month, sometimes by hard, long stretches where water was scarce,
sometimes lingering where pasturage was good, sometimes halting to let a
fever run its course, they pushed northward. The farther they went, the
more barren became the wilderness. The feudal mansions of the wealthy
coffee-planters gave way to the miserable abodes of a land of drought.