are to Europeans. Kovudoo made no mention of
his prisoner and from his generous offers of guides and presents seemed
anxious to assure himself of the speedy departure of his guests. It
was Malbihn who, quite casually, near the close of their talk,
mentioned the fact that The Sheik was dead. Kovudoo evinced interest
and surprise.

"You did not know it?" asked Malbihn. "That is strange. It was during
the last moon. He fell from his horse when the beast stepped in a
hole. The horse fell upon him. When his men came up The Sheik was
quite dead."

Kovudoo scratched his head. He was much disappointed. No Sheik meant
no ransom for the white girl. Now she was worthless, unless he
utilized her for a feast or--a mate. The latter thought aroused him.
He spat at a small beetle crawling through the dust before him. He
eyed Malbihn appraisingly. These white men were peculiar. They
traveled far from their own villages without women. Yet he knew they
cared for women. But how much did they care for them?--that was the
question that disturbed Kovudoo.

"I know where there is a white girl," he said, unexpectedly. "If you
wish to buy her she may be had cheap."

Malbihn shrugged. "We have troubles enough, Kovudoo," he said,
"without burdening ourselves with an old she-hyena, and as for paying
for one--" Malbihn snapped his fingers in derision.

"She is young," said Kovudoo, "and good looking."

The Swedes laughed. "There are no good looking white women in the
jungle, Kovudoo," said Jenssen. "You should be ashamed to try to make
fun of old friends."

Kovudoo sprang to his feet. "Come," he said, "I will show you that she
is all I say."

Malbihn and Jenssen rose to follow him and as they did so their eyes
met, and Malbihn slowly drooped one of his lids in a sly wink.
Together they followed Kovudoo toward his hut. In the dim interior
they discerned the figure of a woman lying bound upon a sleeping mat.

Malbihn took a single glance and turned away. "She must be a thousand
years old, Kovudoo," he said, as he left the hut.

"She is young," cried the savage. "It is dark in here. You cannot
see. Wait, I will have her brought out into the sunlight," and he
commanded the two warriors who watched the girl to cut the bonds from
her ankles and lead her forth for inspection.

Malbihn and Jenssen evinced no eagerness, though both were fairly
bursting with it--not to see the girl but to obtain possession of her.
Th