The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great Canal

  CHAPTER XVI

  The Major forms his Parties

  Never before, perhaps, had the telephone system in the Panama Canal zonebeen so busily employed as on the night of Sadie's abduction. The bellof the instrument in Phineas's quarters seemed to ring withoutcessation, while the Police Major had his ear glued to the receiver bythe ten minutes together.

  "A crafty set of dogs," he declared, after one of these longconversations with his office at Colon. "They laid their plans mostelaborately, and made every preparation to throw dust in our eyes. Thatexplosion way over at Pedro Miguel wasn't the only little bit ofby-play. It seems that they engaged a boatman to steal away from Colonthis evening, and give us the impression that they were aboard; but thathuge negro Tom put a spoke in their wheel. He happened to be in Colon,and reported to the office at once that he had seen a fire signal up byGatun, way behind this house."

  "And guessed it was meant for someone down by the sea?" asked Phineas,rising from his seat at the receipt of such important information."Major, this Jim and his servants have done good service to our peoplehere. I'm glad that Tom has shown himself such an excellent constable."

  "He's one of the exceptions one finds amongst big men," declared theMajor. "He's sharp, as sharp as a needle, for all his smiles andeasy-going manner. He spotted this flare way back behind us, and lookedwell about him. He reported, a matter of two hours ago, that a boat hadput off with some four men in her. Two of the crew at least he knew tobe loafers about the streets of Colon, and one was the owner, a man ofbad repute. Still, the fourth might have been one of the rascals we areafter. So I sent out a steam launch, and her report has just reachedme."

  "Well?" demanded Phineas shortly, while Jim leaned forward anxiously."It wasn't one of the rascals; it was a blind, as you've intimated."

  The Police Major nodded promptly. "Number two of the schemes of thoserascals has failed. My people have just returned, and the sergeant has'phoned me the news. He overhauled this boat and went aboard her. Thefourth individual was another well-known character from Colon, while theowner of the craft, thinking perhaps that he would get into trouble, andhoping to set matters right for himself, admitted that he had arrangedto slip off when a fire signal was lighted. The sergeant left him outthere to go where he liked, and steamed back as fast as his engine wouldcarry him. This time the pursuit will hardly be by way of the Atlantic."

  "But perhaps by way of Panama, on to the Pacific," suggested Phineas.

  "Or into the bush; that's where I imagine they may have gone," said Jim."It seems to me that we have every reason to suspect that that is thecourse they will have followed."

  His two companions in the room looked steadily at him. Before now theyhad known our hero to give common-sense solutions when there was adifficulty, and all through, since the moment when they had first knownhim, he had proved himself to be possessed of a level head, of thatsharpness and shrewdness for which the American is notorious. It wastherefore with a feeling of interest that they waited for him to speak.

  "Every reason to think they've gone into the bush," repeated the Major."I own that I have thought of the matter; but then, we all know thebush. It isn't everyone who would willingly make a journey through it;for fever frightens them, and besides, once you get a little distancefrom the zone, there are natives. There aren't many men who can tell usmuch about the latter. Of course it's part of my business to have foundout something; and I have ascertained that while some are friendlyenough, there are others who could not be trusted. They would kill awhite man for the clothes he stood up in. Then why do you consider thatthey have gone by way of the bush?"

  Jim stood up and walked the room backwards and forwards. Nerves were notthings that he had much acquaintance with, but the reader can wellexcuse him if on this occasion he was fidgety. In fact, it was as muchas he could do to keep quiet. He longed to rush off and make some sortof effort. It was only his solid good sense that restrained him, thegood sense that showed him clearly how a false start, pursuit along awrong line, might throw the game entirely into the hands of themiscreants who had abducted Sadie. It was for her sake that he stayedin the room, fidgeting at the delay, but waiting, waiting for somedefinite information to show him where the tracks of the fugitives led.And in his own mind he had traced those tracks.

  "It seems clear to me, though of course I may be entirely wrong," hesaid as he paced the room. "But those fellows have been proved to havehad dealing with the natives. The last time we chatted about the matteryou, Major, told us that you had certain information that they had beenselling guns, powder, and spirit to the natives along the coast. Thensee how those fellows we chased across the lagoon made friends with theinhabitants of that part. It's perfectly plain that they had beentrading over there. That being the case, and perhaps because the policehave been careful to watch the various launches down at Port Limon,these men decided not to fly by way of the ocean. They thought that thebush offered better chances; but their destination is the same. They aremaking for those parts where we did our fighting, and once they havejoined that tribe they imagine they will be safe."

  The argument seemed to be clear enough, and for a while the Major stoodby the telephone thinking deeply. And the more Jim's suggestionsfiltered through his mind, the more sure did he feel that there wassomething substantial about them. At length he almost took it forgranted that the course outlined by our hero was actually the one whichthe miscreants were following. Then the question arose: how could thepolice best deal with the matter?

  "See here, Jim," he said, after a while. "I believe you've just hit theright nail on the head. Let us suppose that these men have gone by theway of the bush, with the idea of joining hands with that tribe. Whatcourse do you advise for those who follow?"

  Jim gave his answer promptly. In fact, as the others admitted, therecould be little doubt as to the procedure to be adopted; but alldepended on one particular.

  "How many men will you employ?" asked Jim.

  "As many as are wanted. A dozen of my own men for certain, and I can geta draft from the force of marines who are garrisoning the canal."

  "Then I say that we ought to go in two parties. I with others will takehorses and push on through the bush, where Sam will be able to lead us;the second party should make round by sea, cross the lagoon, and joinhands with us there. We shall, in that way, be able to take them betweenus, and if one party is attacked first of all, it has the knowledge thatthe other will come to support it."

  The Major at once went to the telephone, and rang up his office. Theplan suggested seemed to him to be one of such common sense that itneeded little argument to convince him. Therefore, within ten minutes,the officials down at Colon were making preparations.

  "Meanwhile, those who are to follow by way of the bush had better bemaking preparations," said Phineas, who was nothing if not practical."What have you to say, Major?"

  "Just this, that I shall support you in every way. I shall command theparty which goes by sea, and Jim here had better take the other. Tom andSam can go with him, as well as Tomkins and four or five otherconstables. You see, we can't send many round that way, for horses arescarce hereabouts. Theirs must be in every sense a cutting-outexpedition. I take it that Jim made his suggestion with that in view.What he wants to do is to rescue his sister. After that he will assistus if possible, once he has made sure the girl is in safety."

  "Then let us set to work with food and other things," cried Phineas."Look here, Jim, I can see that you're just fidgeting. Come along withme; it'll settle you a little to have something to do."

  They went off to the kitchen promptly, and with Ching to help themquickly filled a sack with eatables. Meanwhile the Major again hadrecourse to the telephone, had detailed the four men who were toaccompany Jim, and had asked for rations, arms, and ammunition.

  "Not forgetting quinine," he told Jim and Phineas when they returned."If you'll take my advice you'll make every man of the expedition, whiteor black, swallow two grains daily, just as a precaution.
You can't betoo careful, especially if it happens to rain, as is probable."

  It was wonderful how quickly all their preparations were completed; somuch so that when, an hour later, the diminutive Sam returned, Jim andhis whole party were collected at Phineas's quarters. The four policemenhad come up with ten horses all ready saddled and bridled.

  "And we're lucky to have them," declared the Major. "I'm giving you tenmounts, so that, although there will be only nine of you, you will havea beast to carry blankets and ammunition. The men will carry their ownrations, which will last for almost a week. By then you will have tofend for yourselves if you do not happen to reach us; but you shouldmanage that. The spot where our action took place is barely forty milesdistant. Of course, when you rescue the girl, you will put her on thespare horse. Now let us interview Sam."

  The little fellow was ushered into the room, still carrying his lantern.Sam's face was sternly set, while his whole expression showed eagernessand determination. Indeed the little negro would have done anything forSadie and for our hero. He put the lantern down on the floor and pulledoff the sack which covered his shoulders.

  "Got um!" he cried jubilantly. "Dem fellers tink dey fool de lot ob usnicely; but Sam tink otherwise. He get on de track ob one ob de men atonce, just as once before. Any fool able to follow; Sam manage himblindfold. Him take Sadie way along at the back of Gatun, den him cometo a spot where horses waitin'. Dere are three. Sam count 'em. Dey ridealong towards Ancon, and me run all de way, followin'. Dere dey meet twooders, and strike right off for de bush. I come back runnin'; time wewas after dem scum."

  They gave the little fellow meat and drink instantly, for he wasexhausted after his efforts. Then the whole party mounted, Phineasriding beside Jim, and just as the light was breaking they canteredover the edge of the canal zone and plunged into the bush.

  "Sam'll go ahead," said Jim promptly, reining back his mount. "Tomkinsand I will ride next; then, some twenty yards behind us, Tom and Ching,with two of the constables. Phineas, you take the rear with the last ofthe police, and ride within twenty yards of the main party. By dividingup like that we stand a better chance in case they try to surprise us.Now, Sam, we want to get ahead as fast as possible. The moon went downearly last night, and though it will have helped those rascals at thebeginning, they will have been forced to camp after a time. If, as Iimagine, they believe that we are not likely to follow through the bush,in fact that they have covered their trail, and sent us off after thatboat, they are not likely to push along very fast. That will be ouropportunity; by making the pace we may come up with them."

  Sam was like a dog as he followed. There was not the smallest doubt thatthe little fellow was gifted with the most wonderful power ofobservation, and with it that of deduction. For now that the sun was up,and the light strong, he led the party at a trot, never even requiringto climb out of his saddle. Dressed in tattered garments, which werestill drenched with the rain that had fallen upon him during theprevious night, the diminutive negro looked wonderfully woebegone; butthat was from behind. One must not always judge by the condition of aman's garments; for seen from the front the little fellow was evidentlyvery much alive. That same intent expression was on his face, while hispiercing eyes were glued to the track. It was half an hour later when hethrew up his hand and slid from his saddle.

  "Camp here, dem scum," he announced as Jim rode up. "Four ob de rascal,and missie. Yo not tink so? Den see here; dem's her footmarks."

  The most unbelieving person would have been convinced, for the groundbore undoubted witness to what had happened. It was thickly marked byhorses, while near at hand the animals had been tied to the branch of atree hanging close to the earth. A little camp had been formed within afew yards, and in and amongst the bootmarks of Jaime de Oteros and hisfellows were the smaller shoe impressions of Sadie. Jim glowered uponthem; his lips came firmly together, and with the impetuosity of youth,which brooks no restraint, he set his party in motion again. But whenanother two hours had passed Sam declared that the fugitives were stillfar ahead.

  "Yo watch de hollows de horses make," he said to Jim, inviting him tojoin him on the ground. "It rain hard for ten minutes two hours ago, yoremember."

  Our hero had not failed to recollect the fact. It was one of thoselittle cloudbursts so often experienced in the neighbourhood. A sharp,heavy shower had fallen, and then the clouds had cleared away as if bymagic, leaving a fine sky, with the sun floating in it.

  "But how can you say from that shower that they are still far ahead?" heasked the little negro.

  Sam screwed up his eyes before he answered, and then bent over one ofthe hoof impressions.

  "Dere's water here, in de hole," he said. "Suppose no hole, den nowater. Run 'way along de ground. Ebery one of dese marks here when datshower come, and de water fill um. Yo not tink dat? Den look here; dishorse go close under a tree, where de sun not manage to reach. What nowdo you tink?"

  Jim was wonderfully troubled. He had often read and heard of the ways oftrackers, and had imagined the art not so difficult; but here was aposer. Jim showed him the hoofmarks of one of the beasts ridden by thefugitives, pointing out that they lay beneath the shadow of a tree, andasked him wherein lay evidence that the fugitives were far ahead. It wasa conundrum; he shook his head impatiently.

  "Read it for me, Sam," he said, "and quick about it. How far behind themdo you reckon we are?"

  "Tree, four hour p'raps. I tell like dis; dese marks here two hour ago,when de rain fall. Dat sartin'; but yo look at de water in de holes.Where de sun able to reach it it almost gone, sucked up into de sky. Dattake little time, longer dan two hour. Under de tree de holes full to detop, 'cos dey dere like de oders when de rain fall, and de sun not ableto reach 'em. Dose men travelling quick."

  "Then so will we. Forward," commanded Jim.

  "Better go slow and sure than fast and knock up the horses," cautionedPhineas, riding up beside him. "Jim, if you'll take my advice, you'llset a steady pace, and keep going at it for the hour together; then givethe animals a rest for ten minutes. In the end we'll cover the groundquicker than those rascals, supposing them to be riding on directwithout halting."

  It was undoubtedly good advice, and our hero took it. He found it hardto curb his impatience, for he was eager to rescue Sadie from suchwretches. But he was sensible enough to recognize good advice when itwas given, and promptly issued his orders.

  "See here, Tomkins," he called out. "You come along with the main party.I'll go ahead with Sam, and one of your men can take your place. Then,in case there's need to change our plans, I shall be right at the headand able to stop the party."

  They pushed on after that at a steady pace, covering ground which forthe most part was only thinly studded with bush, and stretched out flatand level before them; but some five miles ahead a range of hills andbroken ground cropped up before them, hiding the country beyond.

  "Perhaps we shall be able to catch a sight of those rascals from thetop," thought Jim, as he rode along in a brown study. "In any casethere's much to be thankful for. That rainstorm has softened the groundand made it easy to follow; a little more this afternoon, or when thenight falls, would give us a fine line for to-morrow."

  Some two hours later they emerged at the top of the hilly ground, stillon the tracks of the fugitives, and at a sign from Sam dropped fromtheir horses.

  "Stop here," he said at once, raising a warning hand. "Not show up abovede skyline, else p'raps dem scum see us. Yo wait little while for me tosquint all round; but not t'ink I be able to see um. De bush down derevery dense."

  It was precisely as he had said, for as Jim laid himself flat in atangled mass of brier on the summit of the ridge, and wormed his wayforward till he was able to obtain a clear view beyond, he saw that thecountry down below was green with jungle. A vast sea of waving treetopslay below him, broken only here and there where rocky ground effectivelyopposed the irresistible march of creepers and verdure. The sight was,in fact, most beautiful, for the leaves shimmered and displ
ayed athousand different shades of green beneath the sun's rays, while, faroff to the left, there came the gleam and scintillation of light fallingon water.

  "De lagoon," declared Sam without hesitation, tossing a finger to thefront. "Not able to see de entrance, ob course, 'cos it too far away,and trees hide um; and not able to see where de riber lie for de samereason. But dat de lagoon. Sam stake him hat on it."

  "And those men we are after?" asked Jim, his eyes searching every footof the huge green vista.

  "Dey down dar somewhere. Not see um wid all dose trees; but dere fo'sure. To-morrow we come up with them."

  Our hero lay for a while gazing all round and thinking deeply. The sightof the lagoon shimmering and flashing beneath the sun had reminded himof those natives with whom the two rascals they had formerly followedhad struck up an acquaintance. Jim remembered that it was more than asimple acquaintance, for it had since been proved that Jaime de Oterosand his gang of evildoers had for long carried on an illicit trade inguns and spirit with the tribe in that neighbourhood. Obviously theywere making in that direction to join hands with them, and, once there,how was Sadie to be recovered?

  "It will be harder than I imagined," he told himself despondently. "Oncethese men reach the natives with their prisoner, nothing but a battleroyal and the defeat of the tribe can save her. If only I were nearenough to come upon them before they could reach their friends."

  Again he lay silent and thinking, till Sam looked at his young masterwondering. "Not good lie here and stare," he said. "Dat not de way tosave de missie. S'pose we make right way down de hill and get into thejungle. Dey down dere, I say. To-morrow dey come up wid the black men wefight wid way ober by de lagoon."

  "And once there Sadie is almost lost to us," cried Jim, a tone ofbitterness in his voice. "See here, Sam, I'm going to make a big effort.Tell me, can those fellows travel once the night falls? Can they push ontowards those natives?"

  "Dat not easy," came the answer. "Sam not tink dey try to do so. Forwhy? I tell yo. What fo' need hurry when dey tink no one follow? Backaway near de canal dey ride fast, 'cos p'rhaps someone discober wheredey gone, and follow quick; but dey seen no one to-day. Dat I sure ob,'cos dere tracks have never stopped fo' once; so dey t'ink dey got heapsob time and all de jungle to demselves. Why den hurry, and bash de headagainst a tree in de darkness? Dat not good enough fo' anyone; dat alltommy nonsense."

  "Then I shall do it."

  Jim stretched his head farther from between the brambles and stared downinto the jungle beneath, as if he were trying to penetrate it to thetree roots. As for Sam, the little fellow started, and looked queerly athis master, as if he half thought that anxiety and excitement hadunhinged his mind; but Jim returned his gaze coolly, and once morerepeated the statement.

  "Then I shall do it," he said. "Listen here, Sam, and tell me what youthink of the idea. You admit that these men will camp for to-night,satisfied that they are not followed, and that they can easily reachtheir native friends to-morrow. Once there, you can see that Sadie willbe surrounded, and that rescue will be almost impossible. Well now, I'mgoing to push along through that jungle as quickly as horses can takeme, and as quickly as the undergrowth will allow. This evening, theinstant night falls, I shall go on on foot, taking the lantern. There'snot much danger of the light being seen with all those trees about, andthere is a good chance of being able to come up with the fugitives. If Ido, I'll snatch my sister away, and return towards our party, who willmount and ride at the first dawn."

  The little negro gasped as he heard the plan outlined. It was not thatthe danger of such an attempt staggered him; it was the shrewdness ofthe suggestion. He pinched himself as punishment for not having producedit himself, and turned upon his master with a flash in his eye whichshowed his pleasure.

  "By lummy, dat fine!" he cried. "Dat de only way to do um. S'pose demscum camp as I say--I shore dey do it. But s'pose dey don't, and rideright on, den no harm done; but if dey camp, den yo have de one chanceof savin' missie. Ob course I hab to go with yo; yo not able to followde trail widout Sam. And Tom extry strong, and able to creep along rightwell, in spite of his size; besides, he able to carry missie once wehave managed to rescue her. Den Ching know de ways ob de jungle; hemighty fine fighter. Him----"

  Jim stopped the garrulous little fellow with a movement of his hand.Suddenly his finger shot out from the brambles, and he pointed towardsthe huge sea of waving palms and forest trees, all thickly clad ingreen. But it was not the jungle to which he drew Sam's attention; itwas a wide patch of yellowish-white that cropped up amidst the greensome miles away, direct in the line of the lagoon.

  "Watch that spot," he ordered curtly. "I saw something moving, but thedistance is too great for me. What do you see?"

  Eagerly he awaited the answer, but it was more than a minute before thenegro ventured to open his mouth. He plucked Jim by the sleeve and drewhim backward, sliding through the briers himself as if he were a snake.

  "Dat extry lucky," he suddenly whispered, when they had withdrawn fromthe skyline, and as if he were afraid someone beyond would overhear him."Dat special fortunate, I tell yo. Fo' down dere on dat patch am de menswe follow. Yo see de little game, eh? Not see um? Den I gib yo derereason. Dem scum now well away from de canal, and ride hard all dewhile. Dey say to demselbes: 'Stop little bit here, let de hosses hab arest while watch de hill. If police follow, den sure to come by de wayof de tracks we leab. Good! We see um come ober de hill. If dey come, wemount and push along; if not, take him easy, ride 'way on a little, andden sleep."

  "Then we will take good care not to show ourselves; but advance wemust," cried Jim. "See here, Sam, find a way over for us where we canpass without anyone being able to see us. If necessary I'll push on witha small party afoot and leave the horses to come later; but I'd rathertake the whole lot on their mounts, because then we shall be able to getnearer to those ruffians. Look around and choose a likely spot."

  He crept back to the party, while the negro stole off along the ridge,keeping well away from the skyline. In ten minutes he was back withthem, his face shining under the sun, a hopeful smile on his lips.

  "Come 'long, and lead de hosses," he whispered. "Sam make along de sideob de hill and find a place where we can slip to de bottom; but notride. Ground very rough and full ob stones and holes."

  They followed him in silence, each man leading his own horse, while thehuge Tom led also the beast which carried their blankets and ammunition.And a very business-like party they looked as they filed away amongstthe bushes; for each one carried a rifle slung across his shoulders, themuzzle sticking up well above his head, while a pouch attached to thebelt about his waist was filled with cartridges. Khaki clothing waschiefly worn, for since the British introduced the colour many nationshave adopted it for their uniforms. Water bottles were slung to thebelts, and every member of the band was provided with a revolver.

  "Best take 'em," said the Major, just before the expedition started. "Igrant that a rifle is useful most anywhere; but there are times when itis apt to get into the way, and in case such a time should turn up you'dbetter carry shooters."

  "Halt! Not come too fast," said Sam suddenly, when he and Jim hadarrived at a rocky crevice which broke its way into the side of thehill. "Plenty hole-and-corner 'way in here, and mind yo go very careful.Yo Chinaboy, don't yo smile as if yo was clever'n anyone; yo hab a badfall if yo not extry cautious."

  A grim smile lit the usually saturnine face of Tomkins, the surlypoliceman; and indeed anyone could have been excused for merriment. ForSam's importance, his high-flown language, to which we cannot hereventure to give outlet, and the quick way in which he flashed round uponthe harmless Chinaman, was most amusing. However, Tom quickly silencedthe little fellow.

  "Yo leab dis Chinaboy alone," he cried, looking fiercely at Sam, butshowing his teeth in a grinning smile for all that. "Yo look to yoself,little man. If dere holes way in dere, p'raps yo fall into one; den lostfo' good. No Sam to be found. All de boys call out hooray! Yo get
along,young feller."

  That set Tomkins grinning more than ever. To do the man but commonjustice, he was an excellent fellow at heart, though his taciturnity andthe shortness and crispness of his remarks made people consider him tobe surly. No one saw the humour of the thing sooner than he did, and noone was more ready to smile. He turned upon the two negroes a scowlwhich would have scared them, had they not been accustomed to theconstable,

  "See here, you two sons of guns," he cried, "there'll be something badhappenin' ef we have more of your lip. Get in at it; we ain't here tolisten to darkies chatterin' as if they was monkeys."

  Sam glowered upon the man, and looked as if he would be glad to do himan injury; but Tom gave vent to a roar, and, dragging his horses afterhim, stood to his full height within a foot of Tomkins. It looked for amoment as if there was to be a fracas, for the two men, white and black,glared at one another furiously; but no one could expect the jovial Tomto wear such an expression for long. He burst out laughing, and,swinging round, placed himself side by side with Tomkins.

  "Oh, yo heard dat?" he called out. "He tink us like monkeys. Den yo say,Massa Jim, who de most handsomest, Tom or Tomkins."

  But Jim was in no mood for jesting. He sent the huge Tom to the rearwith an impatient movement of his hand, and then bade Sam push forward.A moment later he was following, holding his horse by the bridle. Forthe next half-hour silence again settled down upon the party, though inplace of the sound of their voices there came the slither of hoofs onrocks, the crash of boulders falling, and now and again a suddenexclamation as a man just saved his animal from falling; for the gullywhich Sam had found and selected was rough, to say the least of it.Probably in the wet weather it was nothing but a watercourse. Now itdisplayed huge holes where the rains had washed the soil away, whileevery few feet the members of the party had to negotiate boulders,sometimes causing their animals to squeeze round them, and at othershaving to urge them over the obstruction. Finally they all arrived atthe bottom, where they were thickly surrounded by jungle.

  "Forward," said Jim at once, seeing the whole party mounted. "I supposethe first thing is to get back on the track, and then ride for thatyellowish-white patch where we saw figures moving. Perhaps we'll getthere before those rascals leave; if not, we can but follow."

  Some three hours later, after making but slow progress through a junglewhich was very dense in parts, and after having crossed a stream, thebed of which was soft and boggy, they came to the rocky part where novegetation had succeeded in growing. It was almost dark then, andexperience told them that within a few minutes it would be impossible tosee more than a foot or two before them; for in jungle countries, evenunder a brilliant moon, the shadows beneath the trees are of thedensest. No light can penetrate those thick masses of leaves and thethousands of gaily flowered creepers which cling to the branches. Hereand there, perhaps, where the leaves give back from one another, orwhere a veteran of the forest has fallen to the ground, some few rayswill filter through, making the trunks beneath look strangely ghostly,but for the most part there is dense darkness, the kind of darknesswhich one can almost feel.

  "Here we camp for the night," said Jim, slipping from his saddle."Tomkins, I am going ahead with the two negroes and the Chinaman. Ileave Mr. Barton in charge of the whole party remaining; but of course,if there is fighting, you will handle your men. See here, I'm going totry to come up to the camp those fellows will have formed and snatchaway their prisoner. Whatever happens, ride at the first streak of lightand follow our tracks; we'll take good care to make them clear and open.Tom shall blaze the trees as we pass."

  Some fifteen minutes later, having meanwhile partaken of a hurried meal,Jim, with Sam and Tom and Ching, slipped away from the little camp wheretheir friends were lying. For a minute, perhaps, the gleam of the lampthat Sam carried remained visible; then the jungle swallowed iteffectually, so that presently our hero had disappeared entirely. He wasgone on an expedition which might bring success or failure, and which inany case meant danger for him and his little party.