andstimulatedmycuriosity.HowIwishIcouldreproducetheglamourofhisdiscourses,thepeculiarmixtureofaccurateknowledgeandofracyimaginationwhichgavethemtheirfascination,untileventheProfessor'scynicalandscepticalsmilewouldgraduallyvanishfromhisthinfaceashelistened.Hewouldtellthehistoryofthemightyriversorapidlyexplored(forsomeofthefirstconquerorsofPeruactuallycrossedtheentirecontinentuponitswaters),andyetsounknowninregardtoallthatlaybehinditsever-changingbanks.
"Whatisthere?"hewouldcry,pointingtothenorth."Woodandmarshandunpenetratedjungle.Whoknowswhatitmayshelter?Andtheretothesouth?Awildernessofswampyforest,wherenowhitemanhaseverbeen.Theunknownisupagainstusoneveryside.Outsidethenarrowlinesoftheriverswhatdoesanyoneknow?Whowillsaywhatispossibleinsuchacountry?WhyshouldoldmanChallengernotberight?"AtwhichdirectdefiancethestubbornsneerwouldreappearuponProfessorSummerlee'sface,andhewouldsit,shakinghissardonicheadinunsympatheticsilence,behindthecloudofhisbriar-rootpipe.
Somuch,forthemoment,formytwowhitecompanions,whosecharactersandlimitationswillbefurtherexposed,assurelyasmyown,asthisnarrativeproceeds.Butalreadywehaveenrolledcertainretainerswhomayplaynosmallpartinwhatistocome.ThefirstisagiganticnegronamedZambo,whoisablackHercules,aswillingasanyhorse,andaboutasintelligent.HimweenlistedatPara,ontherecommendationofthesteamshipcompany,onwhosevesselshehadlearnedtospeakahaltingEnglish.
ItwasatParaalsothatweengagedGomezandManuel,twohalf-breedsfromuptheriver,justcomedownwithacargoofredwood.Theywereswarthyfellows,beardedandfierce,asactiveandwiryaspanthers.BothofthemhadspenttheirlivesinthoseupperwatersoftheAmazonwhichwewereabouttoexplore,anditwasthisrecommendationwhichhadcausedLordJohntoengagethem.Oneofthem,Gomez,hadthefurtheradvantagethathecouldspeakexcellentEnglish.Thesemenwerewilling