ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
Grosso. What had already been done by the Salesians 
was amazing. No doubt, with their great enterprise, they 
would certainly continue their good work of civilization 
and science combined. 
Although the Salesians tried hard to induce men to 
accompany my expedition, their efforts were rewarded 
with no success; so that I had to be content with the 
handful of men I had with me. I foresaw disaster from 
that moment, for thirty was the least number of men I 
needed to carry out my work properly — and thirty good 
men at that. Instead, I had only six men, two of them 
extraordinarily plucky but quite uncontrollable; the 
others absolutely worthless. 
Had I been a wise man I should have turned back. 
But I am not a wise man, and I never turn back; so that 
there only remained one thing to do—go on as best I 
could, come what might. 
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