He hesitated. "They have their montarias; and should they have been
attacked, you can render them no assistance."
Still, I did not like the thought of deserting our friends, and
promised, should we not meet with them, to return at once. At last he
consented to our going; and turning the head of our canoe, we paddled
back towards the shore we had left. We had nearly reached it, when we
saw a boat approaching. It might have our friends on board, or might be
manned by natives. We approached cautiously, ready to turn round at a
moment's notice.
"Who goes there?" I asked.