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and volubly； damned each separate hair in the heads of the faithless
Barunda and the traitorous Ninaka。 Then he resumed his watch for the
friendly prahu； or smaller sampan which he knew time would eventually
bring from up or down the river to his rescue； for who of the surrounding
natives would dare refuse succor to the powerful Rajah of Sakkan！
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At the long…house which harbored Ninaka and his crew； Barunda and
Bulan stopped with theirs to obtain food and rest。 The quick eye of the
Dyak chieftain recognized the prahu of Rajah Muda Saffir where it lay
upon the beach； but he said nothing to his white companion of what it
auguredit might be well to discover how the land lay before he
committed himself too deeply to either faction。
At the top of the notched log he was met by Ninaka； who； with horror…
wide eyes； looked down upon the fearsome monstrosities that lumbered
awkwardly up the rude ladder in the wake of the agile Dyaks and the
young white giant。
〃What does it mean？〃 whispered the panglima to Barunda。
〃These are now my friends；〃 replied Barunda。 〃Where is Muda
Saffir？〃
Ninaka jerked his thumb toward the river。 〃Some crocodile has feasted
well；〃 he said significantly。 Barunda smiled。
〃And the girl？〃 he continued。 〃And the treasure？〃
Ninaka's eyes narrowed。 〃They are safe；〃 he answered。
〃The white man wants the girl；〃 remarked Barunda。 〃He does not
suspect that you are one of Muda Saffir's people。 If he guessed that you
knew the whereabouts of the girl he would torture the truth from you and
then kill you。 He does not care for the treasure。 There is enough in that
great chest for two； Ninaka。 Let us be friends。 Together we can divide it；
otherwise neither of us will get any of it。 What do you say； Ninaka？〃
The panglima scowled。 He did not relish the idea of sharing his prize；
but he was shrewd enough to realize that Barunda possessed the power to
rob him of it all； so at last he acquiesced； though with poor grace。
Bulan had stood near during this conversation； unable； of course； to
understand a single word of the native tongue。
〃What does the man say？〃 he asked Barunda。 〃Has he seen anything
of the prahu bearing the girl？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the Dyak。 〃He says that two hours ago such a war
prahu passed on its way up riverhe saw the white girl plainly。 Also he
knows whither they are bound； and how； by crossing through the jungle on
foot； you may intercept them at their next stop。〃
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Bulan； suspecting no treachery； was all anxiety to be off at once。
Barunda suggested that in case of some possible emergency causing the
quarry to return down the river it would be well to have a force remain at
the long…house to intercept them。 He volunteered to undertake the
command of this party。 Ninaka； he said； would furnish guides to escort
Bulan and his men through the jungle to the point at which they might
expect to find Muda Saffir。
And so； with the girl he sought lying within fifty feet of him； Bulan
started off through the jungle with two of Ninaka's Dyaks as guides
guides who had been well instructed by their panglima as to their duties。
Twisting and turning through the dense maze of underbrush and close…
growing； lofty trees the little party of eight plunged farther and farther into
the bewildering labyrinth。
For hours the tiresome march was continued； until at last the guides
halted； apparently to consult each other as to the proper direction。 By
signs they made known to Bulan that they did not agree upon the right
course to pursue from there on； and that they had decided that it would be
best for each to advance a little way in the direction he thought the right
one while Bulan and his five creatures remained where they were。
〃We will go but a little way；〃 said the spokesman； 〃and then we shall
return and lead you in the proper direction。〃
Bulan saw no harm in this； and without a shade of suspicion sat down
upon a fallen tree and watched his two guides disappear into the jungle in
opposite directions。 Once out of sight of the white man the two turned
back and met a short distance in the rear of the party they had desertedin
another moment they were headed for the long…house from which they had
started。
It was fully an hour thereafter that doubts began to enter Bulan's head；
and as the day dragged on he came to realize that he and his weird pack
were alone and lost in the heart of a strange and tangled web of tropical
jungle。
No sooner had Bulan and his party disappeared in the jungle than
Barunda and Ninaka made haste to embark with the chest and the girl and
push rapidly on up the river toward the wild and inaccessible regions of
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the interior。 Virginia Maxon's strong hope of succor had been gradually
waning as no sign of the rescue party appeared as the day wore on。
Somewhere behind her upon the broad river she was sure a long； narrow
native prahu was being urged forward in pursuit； and that in command of
it was the young giant who was now never for a moment absent from her
thoughts。
For hours she strained her eyes over the stern of the craft that was
bearing her deeper and deeper into the wild heart of fierce Borneo。 On
either shore they occasionally passed a native long…house； and the girl
could not help but wonder at the quiet and peace which reigned over these
little settlements。 It was as though they were passing along a beaten
highway in the center of a civilized community； and yet she knew that the
men who lolled upon the verandahs； puffing indolently upon their
cigarettes or chewing betel nut； were all head hunters； and that along the
verandah rafters above them hung the grisly trophies of their prowess。
Yet as she glanced from them to h