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Billy crept closer to the village Shelter was abundant He saw no sign of sentry and wondered why they should be so lax in the face of almost certain attack Then it occurred to hi he and Eddie had heard earlier in the day far down aht have meant the extermination of the Americans from El Orobo

"Well, I'll be next then," mused Billy, and wormed closer to the huts His eyes were on the alert every instant, as were his ears; but no sign of that which he sought rewarded his keenest observation

Until ht he lay in concealment and all that ti Then, one by one, they entered their huts, and silence reigned within the village

Billy crept closer He eyed each hut with longing, wondering gaze Which could it be? How could he deter than the others He had noted those to which Indians had retired There were three into which he had seen none go These, then, should be the first to undergo his scrutiny

The night was dark Theand uncertain light upon the scene Through the shadows Billy Byrne crept closer and closer At last he lay close beside one of the huts which was to be the first to clai intently for any sound which ht come from within; but there was none He crawled to the doorway and peered within Utter darkness shrouded and hid the interior

Billy rose and walked boldly inside If he could see no one within, then no one could see him once he was inside the door Therefore, so reasoned Billy Byrne, he would have as good a chance as the occupants of the hut, should they prove to be ene often to listen At last he heard a rustling sound just ahead of hihtened upon the revolver he carried in his right hand, by the barrel, clublike Billy had no intention ofany more noise than necessary

Again he heard a sound frohtened gasp of a worowl, in fair iain the gasp, and a low: "Go away!" in liquid felish!

Billy uttered a low: "S-s-sh!" and tiptoed closer Extending his hands they presently came in contact with a human body which shrank from him with another smothered cry