midday
Quashy was on his feet in a moment . `` Do n't rouse me till it 's time to start , '' added Pedro , who thereupon rolled into the vacant hammock , and was asleep -- perchance in the land of dreams -- almost as soon as his wearied head reposed on the negro 's pillow . Whether Pedro 's pursuers continued the chase as far as the Indian hunter 's hut we can not tell , for long before noon of the following day our travellers were far from the hunting-grounds of the gallant savage . Soon after the usual midday siesta , the canoe , which contained the whole of the hunter 's worldly wealth , was run on the beach near to the spot where dwelt his father-in-law with many members of his tribe . That worthy old man , in a light evening costume consisting of a cotton shirt and straw hat , came down to receive his children , who landed amid much noise with their boys and girls and household gods , including the red monkey , the parrot , the flamingo , the fat guinea-pig , the turtle , and the infant tapir . The old chief was quite willing to take care of the family during the absence of his son-in-law , and was very pressing in his offers of hospitality to the white travellers , but Pedro refused to delay more than an hour at the village . The old man also evinced a considerable amount of curiosity in regard to Manuela , and made one or two attempts to engage her in conversation , but on being informed by Pedro that she belonged to a tribe living half-way between his hunting-grounds and the regions of Patagonia , and that she did not understand his dialect at all , he forbore to question her , and satisfied himself with simply gazing .