native tongue. Who could he be! What was he
doing upon their island!

As she watched his face he suddenly turned his eyes down upon her, and
as she looked hurriedly away she was furious with herself as she felt a
crimson flush mantle her cheek. The man only half sensed, in a vague
sort of way, the meaning of the tell tale color and the quickly averted
eyes; but he became suddenly aware of the pressure of her delicate body
against his, as he had not been before. Now he kept his eyes upon her
face as he walked, and a new emotion filled his breast. He did not
understand it, but it was very pleasant, and he knew that it was
because of the radiant thing that he carried in his arms.

The scream that had startled von Horn and Professor Maxon led them
along the trail toward the east coast of the island, and about halfway
of the distance they stumbled upon the dazed and bloody Sing just as he
was on the point of regaining consciousness.

"For God's sake, Sing, what is the matter?" cried von Horn. "Where is
Miss Maxon?"

"Big blute, he catchem Linee. Tly kill Sing. Head hit tlee. No see
any more. Wakee up--all glone," moaned the Chinaman as he tried to
gain his feet.

"Which way did he take her?" urged von Horn.

Sing's quick eyes scanned the surrounding jungle, and in a moment,
staggering to his feet, he cried, "Look see, klick! Foot plint!" and
ran, weak and reeling drunkenly, along the broad trail made by the
giant creature and its prey.

Von Horn and Professor Maxon followed closely in Sing's wake, the
younger man horrified by the terrible possibilities that obtruded
themselves into his imagination despite his every effort to assure
himself that no harm could come to Virginia Maxon before they reached
her. The girl's father had not spoken since they discovered that she
was missing from the campong, but his face was white and drawn; his
eyes wide and glassy as those of one whose mind is on the verge of
madness from a great nervous shock.

The trail of the creature was bewilderingly erratic. A dozen paces
straight through the underbrush, then a sharp turn at right angles for
no apparent reason, only to veer again suddenly in a new direction!
Thus, turning and twisting, the tortuous way led them toward the south
end of the island, until Sing, who was in advance, gave a sharp cry of
surprise.

"Klick! Look see!" he cried excitedly. "Blig blute dead--vely muchee
dead."

Von Horn rushed forward to where