The Land of Mystery

o try anything else. That the natives had discovered the explorers was proven

re by the rays of the moon: but, feeling that the situation was desperate, Ashm

can dodge among the trees again and pick our way ba

of something close to his ear left no doubt that one o

ribe nor identify. Johnston at the same instant uttered a suppressed exclama

e woods,

his right, halting after a couple of st

ked Johnston, speak

who seized it and silently drew h

sed by the singularity of his friend's actions, th

idently believing they would overtake the fugitives the next

detected the trick and turned about to catch the whit

"we are too close to the path,

stead of following him, sank hea

is the matter, Aaron

ble reply; "never mind me:

had been struck full in the back by one of the poisoned javelins. The exclamation which he uttered at the moment of receiving the wound was tha

ed, shaking his shoulder;

he realized that his companion was dead.

his shock, a muttered exclamation at his elbo

fly in the dark at the point where he knew several of his foes

k, and he followed it with a couple more shots, which

d panic. There is nothing go appalling as an unknown peril, and the flas

man's escape, but could he lea

d unless that were done within the ne

ope that it would remain unnoticed. Then he loosed the Winchester from the death grip, removed

into the gloom behind him; "the man they have kill

er from the poisoned arrows and spears, he yearned for

of volleys among the savages, and he longed for the opportunity; but the profound silence which foll

gu, and he was apprehensive of trouble at the camp, where the three native

ed to him his senses were strung to a higher pitch than ever before, for he had not walked far, whe

stake about the stealthy tread. He was sure, too, that sooner or later the

y himself," he added a moment later,

ground he knelt and sighted his own piece as best he could in the darkness. Where th

ame dimly outlined in the faint moonlight and

amation of disgust. He had driven a ball through the vitals of a South American cougar, instead of through

ddle of the path, rolled over on his back, clawed the air for a moment or two, and then became motionles

in the hope of catching sight or sound of his pursuers; but they were too thoroughly panic-strick

but to walk a short distance when the clear moonlight, unobstructed by cl

hman that he slowed his walk and stopped before emerging from the wood. He paused, however, at

hardly less than that produced among their countrymen by the discharge of the firearms of Ashman. They were in the act of shoving the canoe back into t

ung man, dashing from cover and hurrying down the