CHAPTER VIII 
Fourteen Long and Weary Days — Disappointment — Criminals 
as Followers 
I HAD entertained hopes of finding suitable followers 
in the city of Goyaz to accompany my expedition. 
The officials in Rio de Janeiro had given me glowing 
accounts of the bravery of the people of Goyaz. Accord¬ 
ing to them, those settlers of the interior were all 
daredevils, courageous beyond words, and I should have 
no difficulty whatever in finding plenty of men who, for 
a consideration, would join the expedition. 
“ They will one and all come with you,” a well-known 
Colonel had exclaimed enthusiastically to me in Rio — 
“ and they will fight like tigers.” 
I carried the strongest possible, although somewhat 
curiously worded, credentials from the Federal Govern¬ 
ment to the Presidente and other officials of Goyaz, the 
letters, which had been handed to me open, stating that 
the Presidente was earnestly requested to do all in his 
power to help to make the expedition a success. When 
I presented these documents, I explained clearly to the 
Presidente that all I wished was that he should help me 
to collect thirty plucky men, whom I would naturally 
pay, and pay well, out of my own pocket, feed, and 
clothe, during the entire time the expedition lasted, 
as well as pay all their expenses back and wages 
up to the day of reaching their original point of 
departure. 
“ I cannot help you; you will get nobody. Besides, 
I have received an official but confidential message from 
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