had reported seeing the deer was
toward the south-west, and to that point the ape-man swung easily
through the tangled verdure of the forest.

And as he went there approached from the north a half-dozen
ill-featured men who went stealthily through the jungle as go men bent
upon the commission of a wicked act.

They thought that they travelled unseen; but behind them, almost from
the moment they quitted their own camp, a tall man crept upon their
trail. In the man's eyes were hate and fear, and a great curiosity.
Why went Kai Shang and Momulla and the others thus stealthily toward
the south? What did they expect to find there? Gust shook his
low-browed head in perplexity. But he would know. He would follow
them and learn their plans, and then if he could thwart them he
would--that went without question.

At first he had thought that they searched for him; but finally his
better judgment assured him that such could not be the case, since they
had accomplished all they really desired by chasing him out of camp.
Never would Kai Shang or Momulla go to such pains to slay him or
another unless it would put money into their pockets, and as Gust had
no money it was evident that they were searching for someone else.

Presently the party he trailed came to a halt. Its members concealed
themselves in the foliage bordering the game trail along which they had
come. Gust, that he might the better observe, clambered into the
branches of a tree to the rear of them, being careful that the leafy
fronds hid him from the view of his erstwhile mates.

He had not long to wait before he saw a strange white man approach
carefully along the trail from the south.

At sight of the new-comer Momulla and Kai Shang arose from their places
of concealment and greeted him. Gust could not overhear what passed
between them. Then the man returned in the direction from which he had
come.

He was Schneider. Nearing his camp he circled to the opposite side of
it, and presently came running in breathlessly. Excitedly he hastened
to Mugambi.

"Quick!" he cried. "Those apes of yours have caught Schmidt and will
kill him if we do not hasten to his aid. You alone can call them off.
Take Jones and Sullivan--you may need help--and get to him as quick as
you can. Follow the game trail south for about a mile. I will remain
here. I am too spent with running to go back with you," and the mate
of the Kincaid threw himself upon the ground, panti