r direction, without
endangering the fugitives in the least.

It was a marvellous deliverance, indeed, for our friends, and they
understood the part the giant head chieftain had taken in extricating
them from the peril. Their hearts glowed with gratitude to the savage,
whose friendship for them they could not understand, but who had proven
it in such a striking manner.

But it could not be said that they were yet free from danger; and there
was much to do before they could breathe freely.

It needed but a brief consultation to agree that after what had taken
place, it was the height of madness to attempt to push on to the
enchanted lake and burning mountain. King Haffgo was so roused that
there was not the slightest chance of escape. The only earthly
probability of accomplishing anything in that direction, was by
bringing a force strong enough to sweep the warlike Murhapas from their
path.

Thankful would the little party of explorers be if they were permitted
to get out of the Matto Grosso with their lives.

They waited in the margin of the wood until the return of Ziffak and
his baffled company. It was easy to understand the clever trick played
by the chieftain upon his followers, and Grimcke and Long were
convinced that no further attempt, at least for a time, would be made
to capture them.

But being free to attend to their own safety, their thoughts naturally
turned to the missing members of the company, especially to Ashman, who
unquestionably was involved in the most imminent peril.

It was clear that his two friends could do nothing in his behalf. They
did not know where to look for him, and such an attempt was sure to be
followed by disastrous consequences to themselves.

It was a singular conclusion to which Grimcke and Long arrived and yet
perhaps it was natural. They believed that Ashman had escaped before
they did themselves, and that he was probably waiting at some point
down the Xingu for them. They decided to pass in the same direction
and strive to open communication with him.

How little did they suspect that though he was for the time out of the
power of his enemies, yet the Princess Ariel was his companion, and
that instead of seeking to flee from the dangerous country, he had
actually penetrated farther into it.

After carefully reconnoitering their surroundings, therefore, the
Professor and Long approached the Xingu at a point a third of a mile
below the Murhapa village. Everyt