finding more fruit out in the forest, warning his companion, too,
every now and then about ant-hills and thorns, suddenly exclaimed,
"Wonder what luck Mr Brazier's had?" and almost directly after as they
entered an open place where orchids were growing, some of which had
suggested the man's last speech, he cried, "Why, hullo! Look here, Mr
Rob; look here," and as he pointed down at the dead leaves beneath their
feet, Rob started back with a shudder of horror, and looked wildly round
for the cause of that which he saw.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

A GAP IN THE RANKS.

That which Shaddy pointed out was startling enough to cause Rob a
shudder; for, plainly seen upon a broad leaf, trampled-down amongst
others that were dead and dry, were a few spots of blood.

But after the momentary feeling of dread caused by the discovery there
came a reaction, and Rob exclaimed eagerly, "Some wild beasts have been
fighting;" and then as his companion shook his head, the boy uttered a
forced laugh, and, to carry off the excitement, said:

"I know what it is, Shaddy: two monkeys coming home from school have had
a fight, and one made the other's nose bleed."

"Wish I could laugh and joke about it like you do, squire," said Shaddy
sadly, as he peered about. "It's serious, my lad. Something very
wrong, I'm afraid."

"Don't say that, Shaddy," cried Rob huskily. "I only tried to turn it
off because I felt afraid and didn't want to show it. Do you really
think there's something very serious?"

"I do, my lad."

"Not that Mr Brazier has been here?"

"That's just what I do think, my lad; and I feel as if it was my fault
for sending him hunting and collecting by himself, instead of us waiting
on him and watching him."

"Shaddy, don't say anything has happened to him!" cried Rob in horror.

"I don't say as there is," said Shaddy; "I don't say as there ain't, my
lad: but you see that," he said, pointing down, "and you know that Mr
Brazier's a fine brave English gentleman, but, like all the natural
history people I ever see, so full of what he's doing that he forgets
all about himself and runs into all kinds of danger."

"But what kind of danger could he have run into here?"

"Don't know, my lad--don't know. All I do know is that he has been here
and got into trouble."

"But you don't know that he has been here," cried Rob passionately.

"What's this, then?" said Shaddy, holding out a piece of string, which
he had picked up unno