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〃What name that fella Kwaque he no stop along you？〃 he demanded。
A babel of excited voices attempted an answer。
〃Shut 'm mouth belong you altogether；〃 Sheldon commanded。
He spoke roughly； living up to the role of the white man who must
always be strong and dominant。
〃Here； you fella Babatani； you talk 'm mouth belong you。〃
Babatani stepped forward in all the pride of one singled out from
among his fellows。
〃Gogoomy he finish along Kwaque altogether；〃 was Babatani's
explanation。 〃He take 'm head b'long him run like hell。〃
In brief words； and with paucity of imagination； he described the
murder； and Sheldon and Joan rode on。 In the grass； where Joan had
been attacked； they found the little shrivelled man； still chattering and
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grimacing； whom Joan had ridden down。 The mare had plunged on his
ankle； completely crushing it； and a hundred yards' crawl had convinced
him of the futility of escape。 To the last clearing…gang； from the farthest
edge of the plantation； was given the task of carrying him in to the house。
A mile farther on； where the runaways' trail led straight toward the
bush； they encountered the body of Kwaque。 The head had been hacked
off and was missing； and Sheldon took it on faith that the body was
Kwaque's。 He had evidently put up a fight； for a bloody trail led away
from the body。
Once they were well into the thick bush the horses had to be
abandoned。 Papehara was left in charge of them； while Joan and Sheldon
and the remaining Tahitians pushed ahead on foot。 The way led down
through a swampy hollow； which was overflowed by the Berande River on
occasion； and where the red trail of the murderers was crossed by a
crocodile's trail。 They had apparently caught the creature asleep in the
sun and desisted long enough from their flight to hack him to pieces。
Here the wounded man had sat down and waited until they were ready to
go on。
An hour later； following along a wild…pig trail； Sheldon suddenly
halted。 The bloody tracks had ceased。 The Tahitians cast out in the
bush on either side； and a cry from Utami apprised them of a find。 Joan
waited till Sheldon came back。
〃It's Mauko；〃 he said。 〃Kwaque did for him； and he crawled in there
and died。 That's two accounted for。 There are ten more。 Don't you
think you've got enough of it？〃
She nodded。
〃It isn't nice；〃 she said。 〃I'll go back and wait for you with the
horses。〃
〃But you can't go alone。 Take two of the men。〃
〃Then I'll go on；〃 she said。 〃It would be foolish to weaken the pursuit；
and I am certainly not tired。〃
The trail bent to the right as though the runaways had changed their
mind and headed for the Balesuna。 But the trail still continued to bend to
the right till it promised to make a loop； and the point of intersection
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seemed to be the edge of the plantation where the horses had been left。
Crossing one of the quiet jungle spaces； where naught moved but a velvety；
twelve…inch butterfly； they heard the sound of shots。
〃Eight；〃 Joan counted。 〃It was only one gun。 It must be Papehara。〃
They hurried on； but when they reached the spot they were in doubt。
The two horses stood quietly tethered； and Papehara； squatted on his hams；
was having a peaceful smoke。 Advancing toward him； Sheldon tripped
on a body that lay in the grass； and as he saved himself from falling his
eyes lighted on a second。 Joan recognized this one。 It was Cosse； one
of Gogoomy's tribesmen； the one who had promised to catch at sunset the
pig that was to have baited the hook for Satan。
〃No luck； Missie；〃 was Papehara's greeting； accompanied by a
disconsolate shake of the head。 〃Catch only two boy。 I have good shot
at Gogoomy； only I miss。〃
〃But you killed them；〃 Joan chided。 〃You must catch them alive。〃
The Tahitian smiled。
〃How？〃 he queried。 〃I am have a smoke。 I think about Tahiti； and
breadfruit； and jolly good time at Bora Bora。 Quick； just like that； ten
boy he run out of bush for me。 Each boy have long knife。 Gogoomy
have long knife one hand； and Kwaque's head in other hand。 I no stop to
catch 'm alive。 I shoot like hell。 How you catch 'm alive； ten boy； ten
long knife； and Kwaque's head？〃
The scattered paths of the different boys； where they broke back after
the disastrous attempt to rush the Tahitian； soon led together。 They
traced it to the Berande； which the runaways had crossed with the clear
intention of burying themselves in the huge mangrove swamp that lay
beyond。
〃There is no use our going any farther；〃 Sheldon said。 〃Seelee will
turn out his village and hunt them out of that。 They'll never get past him。
All we can do is to guard the coast and keep them from breaking back on
the plantation and running amuck。 Ah； I thought so。〃
Against the jungle gloom of the farther shore； coming from down
stream； a small canoe glided。 So silently did it move that it was more
like an apparition。 Three naked blacks dipped with noiseless paddles。
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Long…hafted； slender； bone…barbed throwing…spears lay along the gunwale
of the canoe； while a quiverful of arrows hung on each man's back。 The
eyes of the man…hunters missed nothing。 They had seen Sheldon and
Joan first； but they gave no sign。 Where Gogoomy and his followers had
emerged from the river； the canoe abruptly stopped； then turned and
disappeared into the deeper mangrove gloom。 A second and a third
canoe came around the bend from below； glided ghostlike to the crossing
of the runaways； and vanished in the mangroves。
〃I hope there won't