things up
right, no doubt about that."

"He come pretty near doing us up right," grinned Jack. Then came a
flutter of the burnouses, those on the island waved, and the group of
camels moved away at an amazing speed, to the southwest.

"Probably going to circle around the hills and strike for the north,"
commented Charlie.

While daylight remained they did nothing save store the ivory in the
wagon and place the gold-dust in the brass trunk belonging to von Hofe.

It was decided to place the traps along the shore of the island near the
mainland, and all the men were called upon to make note of where they
were placed, as they would be left in position until the camp was
abandoned.

The injured Masai were slowly recovering from their hurts, for although
their wounds rapidly healed, the broken bones took longer. As they sat
around the dinner-table that night the four explorers decided that every
day spent in that country added to their danger, and that the search for
the rogue elephant should begin the next morning.

"I'm kind of disappointed," muttered Charlie to Jack, as they rolled up
that night with Schoverling on guard. "Aren't you? I thought that stuff
would be worth heaps o' coin, but according to the General's figures it
doesn't come to more'n five thousand iron men."

"What're you looking for?" retorted Jack wearily. "Four or five million?
S'pose we split up on that, it means a thousand each, easy. Why, I never
saw a thousand dollars in my life. It looks mighty good to me, Chuck."

"Oh, it looks good," admitted Charlie hastily. "But when you talk about
treasure you reckon in big figures. I'm not kicking, though,--not on
your life! Good thing you came in when you did with that splitting
proposition. How'd you happen to think of it?"

"Who wouldn't?" returned Jack. "Made me tired to hear 'em sit there and
argue back and forth, making threats and so on. No sense in it."

Nothing occurred that night to disturb the camp, although the Masai kept
up until late a dance and chant in triumph at having, as they supposed,
put the Arabs to flight. But in the morning Schoverling made an
announcement that roused everyone.

"About eleven last night," he said at breakfast, "I heard a big crashing
north of us, farther toward the head of the lake. Then came snorts, and
a single trumpet. Sounded as if the rogue elephant was out on a stroll
and had run into a buffalo or something."

"Then I feel very sorry for that buffal