A MADMAN 
After those words, which I had spoken with gentleness, 
I turned, and for the first time since they had been with 
me, in a stern tone of voice, I ordered Filippe and Antonio 
to take their big knives and proceed to cut down ten or 
twelve of the straightest trees they could find. They 
refused. I quietly walked to the rifle which I generally 
used for shooting game, and inserted in it a clip of five 
cartridges. I cocked the rifle, and, placing my watch 
before me on a stone, gave the men five minutes to decide 
whether they would cut the trees or be shot. I also said 
that if any of them moved their rifles they would have a 
bullet put through them. 
Filippe and Antonio dropped their rifles on the 
ground, reluctantly took the knives and walked away, 
while I pointed out to them the tall trees which I wanted 
cut. I then ordered Alcides to take one of the axes and 
cut thirty rollers, each about five feet long. The men 
were silent and yellow-faced with rage. 
The trees in that region were easily cut down. After 
a few minutes down came a tree with a crash, and shortly 
after another. I walked to the men and patted them on 
the back, assuring them again that if they obeyed my 
orders we should soon proceed on our journey and should 
certainly arrive safely at a point where they could return 
home and be happy. 
Alcides thereupon turned round to ask me whether 
I intended them to cut down the entire forest and then 
request them to pierce a tunnel through the hill range, or 
perhaps I might want the whole hill range flattened down 
for my convenience! 
I paid no attention, but ordered him to cut sixty rollers 
instead of thirty. I had to keep a sharp watch on my 
men that day, and I had fully decided, if any disobedience 
took place, I would shoot them. I think they thoroughly 
realized that, because they carried out all my instructions 
to the letter. 
175 
