nce, and almost frantic. John and the scouts then broke
into a run, and Harry turned with them.

That instant a shot rang out. "That must be George," exclaimed John.
"Forward as quickly as possible."

The party turned the bend of the river. All along this part of the
stream the banks were cut up by ridges and diminutive cliffs, and in
many places were large shelving rocks which came up close to the stream.

Immediately after the shot John stopped, and listened for some sound,
and the natives, usually so alert to recognize noises, did likewise.

"That shot means that George is in some danger," said John.

"But why does he not answer the whistle? Why should he shoot, and then
not call to us, if there is any danger," said Harry in despair.

They turned the bend, and searched to and fro. The shot could not have
been more than eight hundred feet away. The searchers spread out into a
fan-shaped formation. One of the scouts ran up hurriedly and called to
John, who went forward, and there, alongside of a huge rock, where there
was little grass, he saw unmistakable evidence of a scuffle.

"These are the footprints of George's shoes," remarked Harry.

"Yes, and here are the prints of the native feet," said John, as one of
the scouts distinctly pointed out two or three well defined marks.

"They are, undoubtedly, near at hand. We must now be on our guard," said
John, as he pondered on the situation.

"I wonder why they didn't attack us?" asked Harry.

"The reason, no doubt, is that it is a small party. A larger body would
not have attempted to capture one of us by stealth."

John turned to Hasmo, one of the fleetest runners, and instructed him to
go back to the landing place at once, and advise Uraso to bring his men
and provisions, as well as additional ammunition, and to hold the ship
until additional word should be sent.

Hasmo was off in an instant, and then John issued additional
instructions. "It is evident," he said, "that we must look for the
people to the east or, more likely, toward the southeast. That is the
reason why I had the boat held at the place where we have just landed.
There is also another reason why I think the tribes, if there are any,
are to the south, and that is, in this latitude they are much less
exposed to the effects of the great winds that occur at certain portions
of the year."

Harry wandered about, not knowing what to do, at this terrible
catastrophe. George in the hands of the sava