sion it was evident that Mak's eyes were too keen, and they saw him
approach cautiously, or creep round some clump of trees, with the result
that the little black figure started out again, and finally giving up
its efforts to conceal itself plunged right in amongst the close growing
trees of the forest which rose up beyond the low growth like a wall.

"Lost," said Mark sharply. "Mak won't be able to follow him there."

But he was wrong, for without a moment's hesitation their guide dashed
into the dark cover, while the boys stopped short on coming up to the
spot where he had disappeared.

They looked round, but Sir James and the doctor were out of sight. They
found too that they had left the waggons behind.

"Hadn't we better turn back?" said Dean.

"Well, I half think so," replied his cousin, "but I should like to have
a look at that chap. He was quite a little boy. I say, if we stop here
Mak will start him again directly, and then we can take him prisoner."

"What for?" asked Dean. "We don't want to take prisoners."

"I don't know, but I suppose Mak wants to catch him for some reason, to
ask the road, perhaps. Here, come on."

"Oh, I don't know," replied Dean. "See how thick the trees are."

"Yes, it is pretty dark," said Mark. "But we are not afraid of that."

"No, but if we go in there we are sure to lose our way."

"Very well, Miss Timidity, let's lose it. It will be another job for
Mak to find us again."

"I am no more timid than you are," said Dean coolly. "Come along;" and
stepping quickly before his cousin he plunged directly between two huge
trees whose branches on their side thickly interlaced and came close
down to the ground, while as soon as they had passed them it was to find
themselves confronted by tall columns standing as thickly as they could,
bare of trunk and branchless till about sixty or seventy feet above
their heads, where verdant roof was formed which completely shut off the
light save where here and there a thin streak or two of sunshine shot
down like an arrow, to form a little golden patch upon the floor of
withered leaves.

"What a change!" cried Mark, as the pair stopped short, trying to
penetrate the darkness; but this they found was impossible save in the
direction from which they had come.

"Isn't it strange?" said Dean, after walking in and out amongst the
trees for some twenty yards.

"Strange, yes," replied Mark. "Why, it wants a couple of hours to
mid-day