he house among the thick jungle.

"That's d----d curious!" said Blount, turning to Banderah and speaking
in English; and then the chief took him by the arm and pointed towards
the shore--the boat, pulled by Schwartzkoff and Bur-rowes, with Captain
Bilker sitting in the stern, had just touched the beach. Then it flashed
across his mind in an instant why the natives had left so suddenly--they
were lying in ambush for the three men!

"By God! bad as they are, I can't let them walk to their deaths," said
Blount, jumping outside, so as to hail and warn them. But before he
could utter a sound, Banderah sprang upon him and clapped his hand to
his mouth.

"Challi," he said, "they must die. Try to save them, and we all perish.
For the sake of thy daughters and of thy sons, raise not thy voice nor
thy hand. Must all our blood run because of these three dogs' lives?"

Even as he spoke the end came. Staggering up the beach in drunken
hilarity, the three whites did not notice, as they headed for the path,
a file of natives, armed with spears and clubs, walk quietly along
between them and the water's edge. There they sat down and waited. But
not for long, for presently from out the thick, tangled jungle in front
came a humming whirr of deadly arrows and in a few seconds the three
white men were wallowing in their blood. Then came that bloodcurdling
shout of savage triumph, telling those who heard it that all was over.
Before its echoes died away the bleeding bodies were carried to where a
thick, heavy smoke rising from the jungle told the shuddering missionary
that the awful feast was preparing. When he looked again not a native
was in sight.

Standing apart in the room from the others, Blount and Banderah spoke
hurriedly together, and then the trader came to the missionary.

"Mr. Deighton, if you wish to save your wife's and your own life, and
escape from this slaughterhouse, now is your time. As God is my judge I
believe we shall never be safe again, and I would gladly go with you if
I could. But my daughter Nelly is at Lak-a-lak, and--well, that settles
it. Banderah here will tell you that he dreads your staying, as the
priests may plot your death at any moment. I implore you, sir, to think
of your wife. See, there is the boat, drifting along the beach with
the tide. For God's sake be advised and get on board the schooner, and
whatever port you do reach, send a vessel to take me away!"

Then, before the missionary and his w