ir stomachs by the spring, dipping up the
water in their hands and drinking with loud sucking noises. It was
hard for both man and beast to restrain the desire to overdo, for their
parched throats seemed never to get enough.

As soon as the quickly prepared meal was over, the men stretched out on
the green grass beneath the palms and slept.

Long before daylight the tribesmen were up, making ready for the second
day's march toward the jungle. Dick and Dan were weary and sore from
the journey but there were no complaints from either of them. They
swung into their saddles and taking the lead, raced their horses over
the desert, making the most of the cool morning, knowing that as soon
as the sun rose the heat would be almost unbearable.

It was late on the third day when they reached the lowlands which lay
at the beginning of the jungle. Already the atmosphere had changed.
It was oppressive and humid. Directly in front of them was a path
leading to the wilderness of trees and overgrowing trailing plants.
The stars were just appearing in the sky and Dick ordered his men to
make camp, feeling safer to sleep in the open. He put Kurt and Kurul,
his most trustworthy warriors, to stand guard. But Dick could not
sleep. The sound of jungle life came to him, the sharp cries of night
birds, the yelping of wild animals. The Boy King felt the menace of
the jungle.

But after hours of listening the sounds seemed to grow fainter as if
the wild life were going far, far away. His eyes closed. But just as
he might have dropped off to sleep, he was awakened by Dan's hand on
his face.

"I don't want to frighten you, Dick, but do you see those two greenish
lights at the edge of the trees? Look!"

"They are probably stars," replied Dick sleepily. Dick rubbed his
tired eyes and sat up. Dan pointed out the glowing sparks. The boys
did not move, for they saw that Kurt and Kurul were aware of the
intruder. They stood motionless near a jungle tree.

"It's a leopard, Dick, I'm sure of it," said Dan. "Where's your Arab
gun?"

"It's here," replied his chum. "But wait! Kurt and Kurul are on
guard. They have a plan. I will not interfere with them."

Slowly the lights grew larger. Two more appeared, and soon two others,
and one could see the dim shapes of animals crouching low and wriggling
from the tangle of vines and creepers, scarcely making a sound.

Kurt and Kurul stood tense and alert, their bows were drawn back r