Part 9 (1/2)

”That I don't like the looks of that Portuguese fellow. If he got wind of what we are doing he would be likely to ruin the whole object of our expedition.”

”That's so. We'll have to get rid of him.”

”Well, we are going to, and if he won't go for gentle means we'll try rough ones.”

”Hullo, what's that?” exclaimed Harry suddenly.

The flap at the end of the tent toward which both of their backs had been turned had been suddenly drawn aside and in one quick, backward glance Harry made out the smiling figure of de Barros standing in the doorway. It might have been fancy, but he thought for a minute that the Portuguese had a peculiarly villainous expression on his dark, handsome features.

”Ah, senors,” he said, as Frank, with a quick movement swept the map off the table--but not before de Barros's quick eyes had spied it.

Fearing to replace the precious chart in the strong box, while the Portuguese lingered, Frank tucked it into his pocket.

”Ah, senors, good afternoon,” grinned the unwelcome visitor. ”I have come to say 'adios.' I am going up the river to-night and may not see you again for a long time.”

”I am sorry to have you leave,” said Frank with a heartfelt wish that de Barros would hasten his departure.

”I knew you would be,” smiled the Portuguese, ”but it is the lot of man to meet and part. Adios, senors, I go to make ready.”

He vanished as suddenly as he had come upon the scene.

”What do you make of that?” inquired Harry.

”I don't know what to think. I have an idea that he was listening to every word of our conversation just now and that he saw the map before I had time to sweep it off the table.”

Harry looked vexed.

”That's tough luck,” he said. ”If he overheard even a part of our talk he must realize the object of our presence in Africa. And,” he went on, ”I don't know a man on the Dark Continent whom I would trust less than Diego de Barros, even the little we've seen of him.”

”It can't be helped now,” said Frank briefly; ”come on, let's go and put the finis.h.i.+ng touches on the good old Eagle.”

They worked the rest of the afternoon putting the big aeroplane in shape for her flight to the Moon Mountains which it had been determined to make the next day. It was almost dusk when Harry, who was working over the engines, asked Frank for the reserve park-plug box.

”It's in one of the canoes. I'll go and get it,” said Frank, and at once set off toward the river bank for that purpose. His path led through a thick grove of bamboos which hid him from the view of the camp after he had traversed a short distance. As he merged on the river bank, whistling softly to himself, the young leader suddenly felt himself pinioned by arms that seemed of enormous strength-- though, as the attack had come from behind, he could not see the faces of his a.s.sailants. The next minute he was lying flat on his back, bound and helpless with a bit of greasy cloth shoved in his mouth for a gag.

”Keep still, senor, and you shall not be hurt;” said a quiet voice near at hand, and Frank saw bending above him the sallow features of the smiling Portuguese.

”I just have to trouble you for that map I saw you put in your pocket, that is all,” went on his captor, while the two huge negroes who had made Frank prisoner stood to one side immovable as carved figures,

”It is lucky for me that you came down to the river bank,” grinned the Portuguese as he ran his hand over Frank's clothes, to ascertain the hiding-place of the precious map of the ivory cache, ”otherwise I should have had to delay my departure till to-night, and possibly have cut your throat while you slept.”

Frank felt as if his heart would burst with rage and mortification as the greasy, smiling Portuguese deliberately drew out the priceless doc.u.ment and gazed at it in triumph. He laid it on the ground beside him while lie resumed his search for other clues.

”That ivory belongs to my master--Muley-Ha.s.san--now,” he sneered; ”did you think for a minute that we would ever let you white fools get it back again.”

It was well for the Portuguese that Frank's hands were not free then. Had they been the dark-skinned traitor would have had a fight on his hands in a few seconds. But suddenly events took a strange turn.

The two blacks uttered a sharp cry of warning as the bushes parted and a huge form dashed out, whirling about its head a glistening axe.