Part 29 (1/2)

”Don't say a word,” groaned Aleck, who had actually turned pale.

”I vought shuah I was a goner, I did fo' a fac'! I don't want to meet no mo' snakes!”

The two boys reloaded their pistols with all rapidity, and this was scarcely accomplished when they heard Cujo calling to them.

Soon the native put in an appearance. When told of what had happened he would not believe the tale until he had gone back to look at the dead snake.

”You werry lucky,” he said. ”Him big wonder um snake didn't kill all of yo'!”

Cujo had made an important discovery. He had located Captain Villaire's party at the old fort, and said that several French brigands were on guard, by the trail leading from the swamp and at the cliff overlooking the river.

”I see white boy dare too,” he added. ”Same boy wot yo' give money to in Boma.”

”Dan Baxter!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Sam. ”Can it be possible that he is mixed up in this affair?”

”I can't understand it at all,” returned Tom. ”But the question is, now we have tracked the rascals, what is to be done next?”

After a long talk it was resolved to get as close to the old fort as possible. Cujo said they need not hurry, for it would be best to wait until nightfall before making any demonstration against their enemies. The African was very angry to think that the other natives had deserted the party, but this anger availed them nothing.

Four o'clock in the afternoon found them on the edge of the swamp and not far from the bank of the Congo. Beyond was the cliff, overgrown in every part with rank vegetation, and the ever-present vines, which hung down like so many ropes of green.

”If we want to get up the wall we won't want any scaling ladders,”

remarked Tom grimly. ”Oh, if only we knew that d.i.c.k and Uncle Randolph were safe!”

”I'm going to find out pretty soon,” replied Sam. ”I'll tell you what I think. I think they are being held for ransom.”

”I was thinking of that, too. But I didn't dream of such a thing being done down here although, I know it is done further north in Africa among the Moors and Algerians.”

Cujo now went off on another scout and did not return until the sun was setting. Again he was full of smiles.

”I can show you a way up de rocks,” he said. ”We can get to the walls of um fort, as you call um, without being seen.”

Soon night was upon them, for in the tropics there is rarely any twilight. Tom now declared himself able to walk once more, and they moved off silently, like so many shadows, beside the swamp and then over a fallen palm to where a series of rocks, led up to the cliff proper.

”Sh-ah!” came presently from Cujo. ”Man ahead!”

They came to a halt, and through the gloom saw a solitary figure sitting on a rock. The sentinel held a gun over his knees and was smoking a cigarette.

”If he sees us he will give the alarm,” whispered Tom. ”Can't we capture him without making a noise?”

”Dat's de talk,” returned Aleck. ”Cujo, let us dun try dat trick.”

Cujo nodded. ”Urn boys stay here,” he said. ”Cujo fix dat feller!”

And off he crawled through the wet gra.s.s, taking a circuitous route which brought him up on the sentinel's left.

Presently the sentinel started to rise. As he did so Cujo leaped from the gra.s.s and threw him to the earth. Then a long knife flashed in the air. ”No speak, or um diet” came softly; but, the Frenchman realized that the African meant what he said.

”I will be silent!” he growled, in the language of the African.

”Don't--don't choke me.”