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"Wot kind of men do you suppose they are?" asked Red Sanders

"Malaysian head-hunters, unquestionably," replied Theriere

Red Sanders shuddered inwardly The appellation had a ruesome sound

"Come on!" cried Theriere, and started off after the ht in the thick forest

Red Sanders and Wison took a few steps after the French him, and then a turn in the trail hid theoin' to get oose chase as this," he said to Wison

"The girl's o," said the other

"Sure she is," returned Red Sanders, "an' if we go buttin' into that there thicket we'll be dead too Ugh! Poor Miller Poor Swenson It's orful Did you see wot they done to 'em beside cuttin' off their heads?"

"Yes," whispered Wison, looking suddenly behind hi in the direction that his companion had looked

"Wot was it?" he whiht I seen soet outen this," and without waiting for a word of assent from his co the little path toward the spot where Divine, Blanco, and Bony Saere stationed When they arrived Bony was just on the point of setting out for the spring to fetch water, but at sight of the frightened, breathless men he returned to hear their story

"What's up?" shouted Divine "You host Where are the others?"

"They're all murdered, and their heads cut off," cried Red Sanders "We found the bunch that got Miller, Swenson, and the girl They'd killed 'em all and was eatin' of 'em e jumps 'em Before we kneot had happened about a thousand ot us separated, and e seen Theriere and Byrne kilt we jest natch'rally beat it Gawd, but it was orful"

"Do you think they will follow you?" asked Divine

At the suggestion every head turned toward the trail dohich the two panic-stricken men had just come At the same moment a hoarse shout arose from the cove below and the five looked down to see a scene of wild activity upon the beach The defection of Theriere's party had been discovered, as well as the absence of the girl and the theft of the provisions