The next day, considering the unusual surroundings, was uneventful. Jed helped fashion a hardwood, waist high, mortar and pestle used in cracking the hulls of rice so the chaff could be winnowed by tossing the grain in the air. The Choco´ seemed to be impressed with his skill with the broad axe, which followed the machete in importance on Jed's informal inventory of outside implements this tribe possessed. The other trade items used seemed to be aluminum pots, stainless steel spoons, 22 caliber rifles, hunting knives, colorful cotton cloth, and strangest of all, skin diver's face masks used for spear fishing.

With a chuckle, he realized that after the morning's swim, he had not bothered with trousers. He had laughed at the story of the female anthropologist baring her breasts, and here he was running around in his red and blue "Superman" underwear.

Jenny hadn't gone native past the point of shorts and brassiere. But she did try to follow the role of a Choco´ woman. She spent the afternoon helping wash, peel, slice, and lay plantain out to dry.

Jed and Jenny's efforts were appreciated, but this did not make any difference when asking questions concerning Castle de Oro. The breakthrough came the following morning, in an unexpected way. Artillio, accepting that the outsiders had become more or less permanent dwellers of the village, suggested that since he wasn't of any use, he be allowed to take time off, without pay, to go hunting. Jed declined his offer of stopping the time clock, and asked if he could tag along.

"Great," was Arty's buoyant, translated answer. "I'll borrow some horses. You know how to ride?"

"A little," Jed replied.

It wasn't false modesty that had compelled Jed to understate his equestrian capabilities. He has observed that he had made the most points with the Choco´ through a native form of "one upmanship." Since the men couldn't compete by owning the fastest sports car in the neighborhood, or by wearing a Norm Thompson Irish Mist hat, the score was tallied according to a person's physical accomplishments. As he had discovered, prowess was identified by temporary nicknames. His had been changed from Senor Chicken, to Duro.

"Jed, you're going to need roller-skates," Jenny exclaimed, when the horses were led out."Kind of small, compared to my Big Enough."

"They are," he answered, suppressing a whistle, "but you just happen to be looking at $2,000 bucks each, or more, on the hoof in the U.S.A."

"What!"