with rifles ready.

The reeds blazed up quickly for a width of a hundred feet, beyond which
they managed to keep the fire under control, for had it spread to the
country behind it would have worked sad havoc with animal life.
Gradually the smoke died down without anything having happened. But a
moment later there was a rustling of the reeds and grass off to the
right, and a cry broke from the Masai as a tremendous python swept
toward them.

The heavy guns roared out instantly. With its head blown to pieces, the
huge snake lashed around for a few moments and then lay still. When they
advanced to measure it the boys could hardly believe their senses. The
python was a good forty feet in length, and while the excited Masai
danced around, von Hofe took photographs eagerly.

"We'll get over to that island to-morrow." Schoverling peered through
his glasses as the sun sank below the hills. "No trees on it, but you
can make out the ruins of the place that Mowbray burned. We'll have to
make sure the oxen can get across that thirty yards of water, too."

Von Hofe and Gholab Singh were on guard that night, but the dawn came
without any disturbance. The first move was to make sure that the cattle
and wagon could get across the strip of water to the island; if not,
then all their plans would have to be changed. Fortunately, they had met
with no crocodiles in the country.

Schoverling and the boys, right after breakfast, rode down to the shore.
The burned patch of reeds had left the lake clear before them, and as
they urged the reluctant horses down into the water, they were gratified
to find that it was shallow--at the deepest part there was only three
feet of water. Without returning, they shouted to Gholab to lead on, for
the bottom was sandy and strewn, with small rocks.

On these one of the oxen went down, but without injury. With the Masai
tugging at the wheels to help, the wagon soon rolled up on the shore
where the three were waiting, and they turned to look ahead. The island
seemed bare of trees, which fact was explained later; only thorn-bushes
clustered around them, the ground gently rising.

"There's the stronghold Mowbray talked about," exclaimed Charlie as they
urged their horses to the crest of the little rise on the bank. Ahead of
them lay the ruins of a burned building, black and desolate. Others
could be seen behind, while around the first was a ring of half-burned
stakes that had at one time formed a strong