Hal undressed with alacrity and said nothing until after he had crawled into his bunk.

“You feel all right about everything, huh, Unk?” he asked thoughtfully. “That is—I mean you don’t think that these revolutionary fellows would have any reason to get after you, huh?”

Denis Keen laid his shoes aside carefully and then got into the bunk above his nephew.

“My mind’s at peace with all the world,” he chuckled. “I’m not interested in the revolutionary fellows—I’m interested in trailing down Renan to find out how, when and where he gets in communication with American munitions men. That’s my job, Hal. It’s the American munitions men that the U. S. government will eventually handle satisfactorily, and I’ve got to find who they are. As for Renan—if he’s a U. S. citizen and we can get him on U. S. territory—well, so much the better. But if not, Brazil has reason enough to hold him, and if I can help them to do it, I will. Of course, in sifting things down to a common denominator, the Brazilian rebels wouldn’t have any reason to think kindly of me. My presence in their country is a warning that their munitions supply will shortly be cut off.”

“Then the Brazil-nut—if he is a spy, would have reason enough to want to find out what you know, huh?”

“If he is a spy, he would. If he could decipher my letter he would find out that the Brazilian Government has reason to believe that Renan is in a jungle spot many miles back from the Rio Yauapery. It is in a section still inhabited by wild tribes. But Renan wouldn’t worry about a little thing like that. If he’s visiting General Jao Ceara, commanding the rebel forces, then the savage element is twofold. From all accounts, Ceara’s got a wild lot of men—half-castes for the most part—he’s one himself.”

“Man, and we’ve got to go to a place like that!”

“Maybe not. If I know these half-castes as well as I think I do, they can be bribed into giving me a little information. In that way I can find out when and where the next munitions shipment is due and lo, to trace the rest of the story, both before and after, will be comparatively easy.”

“I hope so, Unk. Gosh, there’s promise of thrills, though, huh?”

“Some. We’ve been promised adequate military protection. We’re to work out of Manaos. Now I’ve told you all I know, Hal, so put your mind at rest for the night. My precious code letter is safe in my pajama pocket. Go to sleep. I can hardly talk, I’m 

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