her way to the river. Here lay the canoes that had
been used in bringing the party from the opposite shore. They were
unwieldy things for a lone girl to handle, but there was no other way
and she must cross the river.

The landing place was in full view of the guard at the camp. To risk
the crossing under their eyes would have meant undoubted capture. Her
only hope lay in waiting until darkness had fallen, unless some
fortuitous circumstance should arise before. For an hour she lay
watching the guard, one of whom seemed always in a position where he
would immediately discover her should she attempt to launch one of the
canoes.

Presently Malbihn appeared, coming out of the jungle, hot and puffing.
He ran immediately to the river where the canoes lay and counted them.
It was evident that it had suddenly occurred to him that the girl must
cross here if she wished to return to her protectors. The expression
of relief on his face when he found that none of the canoes was gone
was ample evidence of what was passing in his mind. He turned and
spoke hurriedly to the head man who had followed him out of the jungle
and with whom were several other blacks.

Following Malbihn's instructions they launched all the canoes but one.
Malbihn called to the guards in the camp and a moment later the entire
party had entered the boats and were paddling up stream.

Meriem watched them until a bend in the river directly above the camp
hid them from her sight. They were gone! She was alone, and they had
left a canoe in which lay a paddle! She could scarce believe the good
fortune that had come to her. To delay now would be suicidal to her
hopes. Quickly she ran from her hiding place and dropped to the
ground. A dozen yards lay between her and the canoe.

Up stream, beyond the bend, Malbihn ordered his canoes in to shore. He
landed with his head man and crossed the little point slowly in search
of a spot where he might watch the canoe he had left at the landing
place. He was smiling in anticipation of the almost certain success of
his stratagem--sooner or later the girl would come back and attempt to
cross the river in one of their canoes. It might be that the idea
would not occur to her for some time. They might have to wait a day,
or two days; but that she would come if she lived or was not captured
by the men he had scouting the jungle for her Malbihn was sure. That
she would come so soon, however, he had not guessed,