The extra men were packed into the already-overloaded canoes. Four of the cooking pans along with other equipment had gone with the canoe. There was now only one pan left to cook for twenty-four men. “All aboard. Let’s get going.” Another bad rapid loomed before them - one of the worst they had encountered. Wearily, doggedly they started the now familiar process. Hoist yourself over the side of the canoe into the water. Shoulder your share of the cargo. Struggle to the edge of the swift water. Trudge and slip. Catch yourself. Go on. Put down the cargo at a distance. Tie the canoes. Let one canoe down. Hold it. Hold it. Let it down slowly. Look out, there’s a stingray. And another one. While the struggle was going on, Rodriguez decided to walk ahead along the bank and see what lay before. A few minutes later he came running back, his face white. “The Xavantes are here!”
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