uess I pulled another boner," he said. "Sherlock Holmes was on to
his job after all."

"That ends our surprise attack!" Dick exclaimed. "The Muta-Kunga
warriors will know we are on our way. That fellow may be at the camp
already, and warning the tribe."

"Tough luck!" said Dan.

"The worst is that they may rush the prisoners to some other hiding
place in the jungle."

"Or they may ambush us at some spot and shoot us full of arrows without
warning."

"It's a bad break for us, either way," admitted Dick. "But it's too
late to turn back now. We'll just have to take a chance."

"Why couldn't the Mahatma have foreseen this in his crystal?" Dan
growled.

"You expect too much. The Hindu can't see _everything_."

"Well, it's up to him to make good," Dan persisted. "He said we would
rescue Ray and your father and Veena, and if he lets us down, I'll make
him sweat for it!"

The war party proceeded more cautiously than before. Word had spread
through the little army that a spy had been shot at but had escaped, so
every man was on his guard for attackers.

For some time nothing unusual happened, though there was a constant
feeling of dread. At any moment a shower of arrows and spears might
bring death to the invaders. The forest seemed more terrifying than
ever and even the Kungoras, who would rather fight than eat, showed the
nervous strain.

Finally Mutaba stopped short in his tracks with a sharp "_Psst!_" and
held up his hand.

"What is it now?" gasped Dan, fitting an arrow to his bow.

Dick brought his clumsy Arab gun level for a shot at the hidden enemy.
But this time the foe was not human.

Through the tangle of vines and saplings a huge head loomed above the
party. It was an enormous elephant that faced them with murderous rage
in its little bright eyes.

Its trunk raised high, the creature trumpeted angrily, while its ears
stood out like wings on both sides of its head.

"Jehosephat!" gasped Dan. "Now we are done for!"

In his excitement he let fly the arrow he was holding, but it bounced
off the tough hide of the bull elephant as though it had struck a brick
wall.

At this annoyance, the elephant trumpeted more furiously than before,
and from behind him other huge forms crowded to dispute the path of the
warriors.

"It's a whole herd of 'em," cried Dan. "We'll be trampled to pulp."

But though his voice trembled Dan Carter did not become panic-stricken.
He looked to his friend Dick