selessly. The
chance is that neither of us will come out of that village alive, but
we must minimize that chance to the utmost if we are to serve Miss
Harding."

"Well, wot's de word?" asked the mucker, for he saw that Theriere was
right.

"The jungle approaches the village most closely on the opposite
side--the side in rear of the chief's hut," pointed out Theriere. "We
must circle about until we can reach that point undetected, then we may
formulate further plans from what our observations there develop."

"An' dis?" Byrne shoved a thumb at Oda Iseka.

"We'll take him with us--it wouldn't be safe to let him go now."

"Why not croak him?" suggested Byrne.

"Not unless we have to," replied Theriere; "he's just a boy--we'll
doubtless have all the killing we want among the men before we get out
of this."

"I never did have no use fer Chinks," said the mucker, as though in
extenuation of his suggestion that they murder the youth. For some
unaccountable reason he had felt a sudden compunction because of his
thoughtless remark. What in the world was coming over him, he wondered.
He'd be wearing white pants and playing lawn tennis presently if he
continued to grow much softer and more unmanly.

So the three set out through the jungle, following a trail which led
around to the north of the village. Theriere walked ahead with the boy's
arm in his grasp. Byrne followed closely behind. They reached their
destination in the rear of Oda Yorimoto's "palace" without interruption
or detection. Here they reconnoitered through the thick foliage.

"Dere's a little winder in de back of de house," said Byrne. "Dat must
be where dem guys cooped up de little broiler."

"Yes," said Theriere, "it would be in the back room which the boy
described. First let's tie and gag this young heathen, and then we can
proceed to business without fear of alarm from him," and the Frenchman
stripped a long, grass rope from about the waist of his prisoner, with
which he was securely trussed up, a piece of his loin cloth being forced
into his mouth as a gag, and secured there by another strip, torn from
the same garment, which was passed around the back of the boy's head.

"Rather uncomfortable, I imagine," commented Theriere; "but not
particularly painful or dangerous--and now to business!"

"I'm goin' to make a break fer dat winder," announced the mucker, "and
youse squat here in de tall grass wid yer gat an' pick off any fresh
guys dat get gay