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you see it。 It ban you kid。〃
Quick hands snatched the bundle from the cook； and hungry
mother arms folded the sleeping infant to her breast；
while hot tears of joy ran down her cheeks and her whole
frame shook with the emotion of the moment。
〃Come！〃 said Anderssen。 〃We got no time to vaste。〃
He snatched up her bundle of blankets； and outside the
cabin door his own as well。 Then he led her to the ship's side；
steadied her descent of the monkey…ladder； holding the child
for her as she climbed to the waiting boat below。 A moment
later he had cut the rope that held the small boat to the
steamer's side； and； bending silently to the muffled oars；
was pulling toward the black shadows up the Ugambi River。
Anderssen rowed on as though quite sure of his ground；
and when after half an hour the moon broke through the
clouds there was revealed upon their left the mouth of a
tributary running into the Ugambi。 Up this narrow channel
the Swede turned the prow of the small boat。
Jane Clayton wondered if the man knew where he was bound。
She did not know that in his capacity as cook he had
that day been rowed up this very stream to a little village
where he had bartered with the natives for such provisions
as they had for sale； and that he had there arranged the details
of his plan for the adventure upon which they were now
setting forth。
Even though the moon was full； the surface of the small
river was quite dark。 The giant trees overhung its narrow
banks； meeting in a great arch above the centre of the river。
Spanish moss dropped from the gracefully bending limbs；
and enormous creepers clambered in riotous profusion from
the ground to the loftiest branch； falling in curving loops
almost to the water's placid breast。
Now and then the river's surface would be suddenly broken
ahead of them by a huge crocodile； startled by the splashing
of the oars； or； snorting and blowing； a family of hippos would
dive from a sandy bar to the cool； safe depths of the bottom。
From the dense jungles upon either side came the weird
night cries of the carnivorathe maniacal voice of the hyena；
the coughing grunt of the panther； the deep and awful roar
of the lion。 And with them strange； uncanny notes that the
girl could not ascribe to any particular night prowlermore
terrible because of their mystery。
Huddled in the stern of the boat she sat with her baby
strained close to her bosom； and because of that little tender；
helpless thing she was happier tonight than she had been for
many a sorrow…ridden day。
Even though she knew not to what fate she was going； or
how soon that fate might overtake her； still was she happy
and thankful for the moment； however brief； that she might
press her baby tightly in her arms。 She could scarce wait
for the coming of the day that she might look again upon the
bright face of her little； black…eyed Jack。
Again and again she tried to strain her eyes through the
blackness of the jungle night to have but a tiny peep at those
beloved features； but only the dim outline of the baby face
rewarded her efforts。 Then once more she would cuddle the
warm； little bundle close to her throbbing heart。
It must have been close to three o'clock in the morning
that Anderssen brought the boat's nose to the shore before a
clearing where could be dimly seen in the waning moonlight
a cluster of native huts encircled by a thorn boma。
At the village gate they were admitted by a native woman；
the wife of the chief whom Anderssen had paid to assist him。
She took them to the chief's hut； but Anderssen said that they
would sleep without upon the ground； and so； her duty having
been completed； she left them to their own devices。
The Swede； after explaining in his gruff way that the huts
were doubtless filthy and vermin…ridden； spread Jane's
blankets on the ground for her； and at a little distance
unrolled his own and lay down to sleep。
It was some time before the girl could find a comfortable
position upon the hard ground； but at last； the baby in the
hollow of her arm； she dropped asleep from utter exhaustion。
When she awoke it was broad daylight。
About her were clustered a score of curious natives
mostly men； for among the aborigines it is the male who
owns this characteristic in its most exaggerated form。
Instinctively Jane Clayton drew the baby more closely to her；
though she soon saw that the blacks were far from intending
her or the child any harm。
In fact； one of them offered her a gourd of milka filthy；
smoke…begrimed gourd； with the ancient rind of long…curdled
milk caked in layers within its neck； but the spirit of the giver
touched her deeply； and her face lightened for a moment with
one of those almost forgotten smiles of radiance that had
helped to make her beauty famous both in Baltimore and London。
She took the gourd in one hand； and rather than cause the
giver pain raised it to her lips； though for the life of her she
could scarce restrain the qualm of nausea that surged through
her as the malodorous thing approached her nostrils。
It was Anderssen who came to her rescue； and taking the
gourd from her； drank a portion himself； and then returned
it to the native with a gift of blue beads。
The sun was shining brightly now； and though the baby
still slept； Jane could scarce restrain her impatient desire to
have at least a brief glance at the beloved face。 The natives
had withdrawn at a command from their chief； who now
stood talking with Anderssen； a little apart from her。
As she debated the wisdom of risking disturbing the child's
slumber by lifting the blanket that now protected its face
from the sun； she noted that the cook conversed with the
chief in the language of the Negro。
What a remarkable man the fellow was； indeed！ She had
thought him ignorant and stupid but a short day before； and
now； within the past twenty…four hours； she had learned that
he spoke not only English but French as well； and the primitive
dialect of the West Coast。
She had thought him shifty； cruel； and untrustworthy； yet
in so far as she had reason to believe he had proved himself
in every way the contrary since the day before。 It scarce
seemed credible that he could be serving her from motives
purely chivalrous。 There must be something deeper in his
intentions and plans than he had yet disclosed。
She wondered； and when she looked at himat his close…set；
shifty eyes and repulsive features； she shuddered； for she
was convinced that no lofty characteristics could be hid
behind so foul an exterior。
As she was thinking of these things the while she debated
the wisdom of uncovering the baby's face； there came a little
grunt from the wee bundle in her lap； and then a gurgling
coo that set her heart in raptures。
The baby was awake！ Now she might feast her eyes upon him。
Quickly she snatched the bla