ces.

"Sure they are!" whispered Pat, and they set off again.

Working their way painfully through the jungle, falling now and then
over long vines, coming into contact with great trees and swinging
parasites which brushed against their faces like snakes, the boys
pressed on as rapidly as possible, but ever the sounds of pursuit came
closer! The pursuers were more familiar with jungle methods than they,
and no pretense of secrecy was made.

"Have you got a gun?" whispered Jimmie.

"I haven't even got a toothpick," was the reply.

"We'll have to fight before long," Jimmie said, panting with the
exertion of the unfamiliar struggle with the jungle.

"There's plenty of hollow trees about," suggested Pat. "Why not hide in
one of them until they pass?"

The suggestion seemed a good one, for a moment. Then the uselessness of
such an effort at concealment became apparent. With sinking hearts the
boys heard the low whine of a hound!

"I wonder how they managed to track us so easily," Jimmie said.

"Give me the bolo," Pat said. "I'll split the dog's head open if he
comes near us. Use your gun on the men."

The boys did not give up hope of final escape, but pressed on for a
time. However, the acclivity they were ascending grew steeper as they
advanced, and they were obliged to stop now and then to rest. On one of
these occasions they heard a commotion in the jungle just ahead of them.
This was disheartening!

"They've flanked us!" whispered Pat.

The pursuers were carrying a torch which, in the rain, gave a dim light,
but still served to direct their steps, and the glow of the flame now
reached to the very spot where the lads stood. The bushes behind them
parted and the glowing eyes of the hound looked up in their faces. Then
the call of the beast told the men following that he had at last sighted
his prey.

The boys turned to flee again, but came up against an almost
perpendicular wall of rock. The pursuers saw them now and came on with
cries of victory.

"Guess they've got us!" Pat said.

"Not yet!" Jimmie answered.

But, however courageous the lads might have proved themselves to be,
they would have been taken in a moment had they not received unexpected
assistance. The hound was almost at their feet when a shot was heard and
the great beast fell to the ground, struggled for an instant, and lay
still.

Another shot followed the first instantly, and the torch dropped from
the uplifted hand of the evil-face