The tale took about two hours to tell, and after hearing it
Juanna conceived a great respect for Otter, but she saw clearly that
if she wished for reliable information she must obtain it from Leonard
himself.
It was not till the last day of their journey that Juanna found the
opportunity she sought. The voyage had been most prosperous, and they
expected to reach the ruined Settlement on the morrow, though whether or
not they would find Mr. Rodd there was a matter of anxious conjecture,
especially to his daughter. Day after day they rowed and sailed up the
great river, camping at night upon its banks, which would have been
pleasant had it not been for the mosquitoes. But all this while Leonard
and Juanna saw little of each other, though they met often enough. On
this particular occasion, however, it chanced that they were journeying
in the same boat, alone, except for the rowers.
Possibly Juanna had contrived that it should be so, for as a general
rule, in pursuit of his policy of avoiding a disagreeable young person,
Leonard travelled with Otter in the first boat, while Juanna was
accompanied by Francisco and Soa in the second. To the priest, indeed,
she made herself very agreeable, perhaps to show Leonard how charming
she could be when she chose. She conversed with him by the hour together
as though he were a woman friend, and his melancholy eyes would lighten
with pleasure at her talk. Indeed Francisco had something of the
feminine in his nature; his very gentleness was womanly, and his slight
stature, delicate hands and features heightened this impression.
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