vestigator should be in need of assistance.

When sufficiently restored, Dick Selmes was able to explain how he came
to be there, and this he did somewhat shamefacedly. He had suspected
that Greenoak was going to make some such investigation, and resented
not being allowed to share in the adventure. Accordingly, he had
pretended to go and hunt in a contrary direction, but had soon slipped
round, so soon indeed as almost to reach Slaang Kloof first. He had
entered the kloof not far behind him, and had kept him in view.

"Well, it nearly cost you your life, young fellow," said Hesketh. "Tell
you what. You must have learnt something if you could keep Harley
Greenoak in sight without his knowing it. What were you shooting at,
Greenoak?"

"The mystery of Slaang Kloof is cleared up," answered the latter,
laconically.

"I knew you'd do it if any one could. Well, what was it?"

"I'll show you later on. Now then, Dick. Take some more stuff, and
walk quicker."

Harley Greenoak was not one to be hurried, but when they did return to
investigate, he took them straight to where he had fired his first shot
under the shade of the yellow-wood trees.

"Why, this is where I first felt queer," said Dick.

"No doubt," stooping down and picking up something that looked like a
bit of stick about six or eight inches long. "See that?" showing a tiny
needle-like point. "That's what made you feel queer, and all the others
too. It's tipped with a strong and subtle poison."

"By Jove! You don't say so."

"Rather. I've got a theory that your clothes helped to save you. You
were saying, Hesketh, that the only one of those who came to grief here
and recovered consciousness was a Hottentot. Well, he would have had
clothes on, and the Kaffirs wouldn't."

"Something in that, may be," answered the old man.

A little farther on he picked up another of the tiny arrows. This one
was sticking in the ground.

"The one I dodged," he said. "Come on further."

He led the way. Suddenly Dick Selmes gave a start.

"What's that?" he said. "Ugh!"

"The mystery," answered Greenoak.

The monkey-like shape lying there looked more hideous and horrible in
death, if possible than when it skipped along the tree-tops.

"But what is it?"

"A survivor of the original Bushmen who lived among the holes and caves
of these mountains. He adopted this method of setting up a scare in
order to have the run of this place unmolested. You see,