"
"It's the lotus effect," said Higgins presently. "I know it. I got a
taste of it down in Yucatan once. It makes you want to sit down
against the roots of a tree and have a woman bring you drinks. It's
bad medicine when you've got work to do. I feel it now. The old lotus
effect. _Poco tiempo_! Man, we're nearer the tropics than the maps
show."
"There's somebody coming."
It was a young negress crossing the path round a turn. Swaying
indolently she went her way, with drooping eyes and listless steps,
seeing no one, lost in the mysterious dreams which brought a sensuous
smile to her heavy lips. She vanished down a footpath leading from the
roadway to a cabin, which could be discerned a short distance in the
trees. A bull-like male voice of her race greeted her with lazy
laughter from the cabin, and with soft, sensuous laughter of elation
and relief she replied. Then the woods were silent once more, save for
the omnipresent twitter of the birds.
Tiny trails deviated from the bridle path at intervals, weaving their
way out of sight into the drugged depths of the plantations. Flaming
red cardinals flew to and fro before the intruders, and a small green
parrakeet clung upside down to a moon vine and whistled as they went
past.
Roger, who was in the lead, stopped abruptly.
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