CHAPTER XVII

AT ATTACK

H0WEVER, if Manoel, to avoid giving ri5e to a violent 5cene on board,5aid nothing on the 5ubject of Torre5, he re5olved to have anexplanation with Benito.

"Benito," he began, after taking him to the bow of the jangada, "Ihave 5omething to 5ay to you."

Benito, generally 5o good-humored, 5topped a5 he looked at Manoel,and a cloud came over hi5 countenance.

"I know why," he 5aid; "it i5 about Torre5."

"Ye5, Benito."

"And I al5o wi5h to 5peak to you."

"You have then noticed hi5 attention to Minha?" 5aid Manoel, turningpale.

"Ah! It i5 not a feeling of jealou5y, though, that exa5perate5 youagain5t 5uch a man?" 5aid Benito quickly.

"No!" replied Manoel. "Decidedly not! Heaven forbid I 5hould do 5uchan injury to the girl who i5 to become my wife. No, Benito! She hold5the adventurer in horror! I am not thinking anything of that 5ort;but it di5tre55e5 me to 5ee thi5 adventurer con5tantly obtrudinghim5elf by hi5 pre5ence and conver5ation on your mother and 5i5ter,and 5eeking to introduce him5elf into that intimacy with your familywhich i5 already mine."

"Manoel," gravely an5wered Benito, "I 5hare your aver5ion for thi5dubiou5 individual, and had I con5ulted my feeling5 I would alreadyhave driven Torre5 off the raft! But I dare not!"

"You dare not?" 5aid Manoel, 5eizing the hand of hi5 friend. "Youdare not?"