f
the white men had concentrated their fusillade at the front, they would
make a dash to the rear. That, it may be said, would be the second
step in the programme. It was calculated that the sudden volleys of
the rifles would draw all the natives thither, and then, after learning
what had taken place, a large part of them would rush back again.

The New Englander had been gone only a few minutes, when the Professor
saw evidences that the second step was about to be taken. The savages
were beginning to move back to the rear, though at a greater distance
then from the building than before.

All at once Grimcke ceased firing. While looking sharply out of the
door, he mechanically refilled the magazine of his rifle from his stock
of cartridges which was running low.

"Now or never!" he said to himself, and then, turning, he ran swiftly
through the two rooms to the rear door, through which he bounded
without a moment's hesitation.

He expected his flight would be announced by a series of shouts and a
storm of poisoned javelins. He held his breath, and, as the seconds
passed, began wondering whether there was a possibility after all of
successfully following the footsteps of his friend.

He was encouraged by the sounds of the deafening tumult from the front
of the house. The Murhapas had swarmed into the front-room, proving
that they had decided upon making the very rush of which the defenders
stood in such dread.

This, although only a momentary diversion, was immeasurably in favor of
the daring attempt of the flying fugitive.

Lest the reader may pronounce the escape of these two white men
incredible, we hasten to explain that which, if left unexplained, would
warrant such disbelief on the part of our friends.

The individual who gave the wild scheme an ending that otherwise it
never could have had, was Ziffak, the head chieftain of the Murhapas.
He proved to be the all-potent factor in the terrible problem.

From what has been related about these strange inhabitants of the Matto
Grosso, it need not be said that they were too cunning, if left to
themselves, to allow a door to stand open for their intended victims to
escape, after penning them in such a trap.

Ziffak was the shrewdest member of the Murhapa tribe and much more
fitted to be its ruler than King Haffgo. After bidding good-bye to the
lovers, he hastened back to the middle of the village, where he arrived
after the first disastrous repulse given