to cut the plagued old
vine," said Lil Artha. "But I guess I hadn't ought to run the thing
down, because it served us a mighty good turn just now."

"Step in and cut the vine, Elmer," suggested Mark.

When, however, the young scout master had taken a step or two forward,
knife in hand, the woman's fears were once more aroused.

She threw herself forward, struggling violently to release her trapped
foot. But the vine proved as strong as a new clothesline, and held
tenaciously.

"Good gracious, what a silly goose!" exclaimed Lil Artha, "when all we
want to do is to set her free."

"But you see she don't look at it that way. The poor creature thinks
we're conspiring to turn the tables on her, just because she threatened
us with this knife. Here, hold it, Mark."

Elmer handed over the knife to his chum at a moment when he saw that the
woman's eyes were fastened upon him.

Then he held up both his hands as he smiled reassuringly. It was the
universal "peace sign" known throughout the world. Hardly a savage tribe
in the heart of Darkest Africa but would recognize the meaning it
expressed.

This time when he advanced the Italian woman did not struggle again. She
watched him. Curiosity was overcoming fear. Perhaps she had even begun
to realize that these dreadful soldiers did not present such a savage
front after all.

So Elmer dropped down on his knees, at a point where he could come in
contact with her imprisoned foot, and the wiry vine that gripped it.

A brief examination convinced him that since she had turned around
several times during her violent struggle to break away, the only means
of freeing the entrapped foot was to cut the vine.

Of course that meant the knife again, and if he asked Mark to hand it to
him, possibly the foolish foreigner would have another fit of terror.

So Elmer commenced to use tact again.

First of all he commenced to work at the vine, the woman watching him
eagerly.

"No use, pardner," remarked Lil Artha. "That thing is like steel bands,
and the old woman has managed to tie herself up handsomely. Nothing but
a knife, and a sharp one, too, will do the business."

"I know it," replied Elmer, quietly. "I'm only pretending to try and get
her foot out just to make her understand that we want to help her. Now
just watch me, and see how I manage."

Presently, as if despairing of success, he ceased his labor. Then he
pointed to the vine, and made several slashes across it with his