a time as soon as the thin skin remaining was cut away. This, as they
told Stephen, would be but the work of a moment, for, starting at the top
together, they should run their knives round the edge of the hole down to
the ground, and let the whole of the wall so separated fall inside
together, when they could ease it down noiselessly to the ground. The
sounds in the village diminished, but they could, by listening
attentively, hear an occasional footstep outside.

"Will each of them watch at a given spot?" Stephen asked.

"No, there is no chance of that; the five or six men on guard will wander
round and round as they please, sometimes separately and sometimes
together--more often together, for they have never got over the mystery of
your arrival, and have, as I have noticed several times when I have
returned late, an objection to coming near the hut. I have often seen them
cross the road to the other side when they came along, in order to keep as
far away from the hut as possible. Of course, we have never given them any
explanation of your coming here, but have said that your memory is weak,
and that all we know is that you were with us at the mission, and that we
found you here."

Presently Pita announced that the time had come. He handed his gun to
Stephen, while Hurka swung his across his back. Each of them took up their
bows, drew half a dozen arrows from the quivers, and held them in
readiness for instant use. They then placed the bows against the wall,
close to the hole, opened their long knives and thrust them through the
thin wall together, then each swept his knife down until it reached the
ground, and cut along it until the inclosed strip gave way and fell
inwards. They caught it as it moved, lowered it gently down, and then
Hurka crept through the hole into the open air.

CHAPTER XIX.

IN BRAZIL.

Pita followed him, while close on the latter's heels Stephen came out, and
turning off at once behind the next hut, started at a run.

As he did so he caught the sound of the twang of a bowstring, followed by
a stifled cry and a fall, then came a loud yell, checked almost before it
was uttered. But the alarm had been given, and loud shouts rose from
several throats. He ran, as directed, some fifty yards behind the huts,
and then turned and struck off across the open towards the tree. No sooner
had he done so than he felt the justice of