for gold. To offer it to
him would only confirm his suspicions that we must have awakened when
we were talking to him before his tent. If we got away with our lives,
then, we should be fortunate."

"Well, try bribery, then," assented Jenssen.

But bribery failed--grewsomely. The tool they selected after a stay of
several days in their camp outside the village was a tall, old headman
of The Sheik's native contingent. He fell to the lure of the shining
metal, for he had lived upon the coast and knew the power of gold. He
promised to bring them what they craved, late that night.

Immediately after dark the two white men commenced to make arrangements
to break camp. By midnight all was prepared. The porters lay beside
their loads, ready to swing them aloft at a moment's notice. The armed
askaris loitered between the balance of the safari and the Arab
village, ready to form a rear guard for the retreat that was to begin
the moment that the head man brought that which the white masters
awaited.

Presently there came the sound of footsteps along the path from the
village. Instantly the askaris and the whites were on the alert. More
than a single man was approaching. Jenssen stepped forward and
challenged the newcomers in a low whisper.

"Who comes?" he queried.

"Mbeeda," came the reply.

Mbeeda was the name of the traitorous head man. Jenssen was satisfied,
though he wondered why Mbeeda had brought others with him. Presently
he understood. The thing they fetched lay upon a litter borne by two
men. Jenssen cursed beneath his breath. Could the fool be bringing
them a corpse? They had paid for a living prize!

The bearers came to a halt before the white men.

"This has your gold purchased," said one of the two. They set the
litter down, turned and vanished into the darkness toward the village.
Malbihn looked at Jenssen, a crooked smile twisting his lips. The
thing upon the litter was covered with a piece of cloth.

"Well?" queried the latter. "Raise the covering and see what you have
bought. Much money shall we realize on a corpse--especially after the
six months beneath the burning sun that will be consumed in carrying it
to its destination!"

"The fool should have known that we desired her alive," grumbled
Malbihn, grasping a corner of the cloth and jerking the cover from the
thing that lay upon the litter.

At sight of what lay beneath both men stepped back--involuntary oaths
upon their li