ands on Jess Slythe, I'll pay him out for
what he did to my sister."

Dick interrupted him.

"Quiet. Mahatma Sikandar looks worried. Maybe there is danger near
by."

The tracker spoke in Swahili, a dialect spoken by many tribes in
different parts of Africa, of which Dick understood a few words.

"Bwana Dick," he said earnestly. "We are near the place where we leave
the canoes. I have seen signs of enemies. So be quiet, Bwana Dick,
and tell your talkative friend to be silent."

Dick translated in whispers and Dan followed the warning.

Cautiously the canoe entered a wide part of the stream where vines and
bushes grew in a patch of sunlight.

Mutaba looked at the banks carefully for signs of footprints or broken
branches that would tell of intruders, then pointed to a certain spot
where the earth had been trodden by animals who came to drink.

"This is the place, Bwana Dick," he said. "I go first."

As the canoe touched the shore, the powerful native leaped to the bank
as lightly as a cat, crouched low as if smelling the ground and
examined every inch of the soil near him.

Then he peered into the forest depths carefully and finally raised one
hand as a signal.

His blacks, who had been holding their bows in readiness for an attack,
now followed him, and canoe after canoe unloaded.

Mutaba led the way by a narrow trail to a clearing where the forces
could assemble, and here the Taharans and the Gorols awaited orders
from the Mahatma.

The wise man came last. Even in the dense jungle he refused to walk,
so the litter was carried by his bearers, while hatchet-wielding
natives cut and slashed at the vines and brush.

But when he reached the clearing, Mahatma Sikandar refused firmly to
accompany the war party any further and ordered the litter set down
under a tree.

"My ways are the ways of peace," he said. "I remain here and my spirit
will direct you from afar."

"I wonder whether he's afraid," whispered Dan.

"Ssh," cautioned Dick. "There you go! Offending him again!"

For the Mahatma's dark eyes stared angrily in Dan's direction and he
beckoned the boys to come closer.

"Listen," he said. "I came from my own country in search of peace. A
voice led me for many weary miles over seas and strange lands, across
burning deserts and at last I was directed by my unseen guide to this
jungle tribe. The voice directed me to bring peace to the warlike
tribe of the Kungoras."

"And the natives u