As they stood speculating upon the probable whereabouts of thewomen and their abductor, and the purpose which Schneider had inmind in taking them from camp, Tarzan of the Apes swung from thebranches of a tree and crossed the clearing toward them.

His keen eyes detected at once that something was radically wrong,and when he had heard Mugambi's story his jaws clicked angrilytogether as he knitted his brows in thought.

What could the mate hope to accomplish by taking Jane Clayton froma camp upon a tiny island from which there was no escape from thevengeance of Tarzan? The ape-man could not believe the fellow sucha fool, and then a slight realization of the truth dawned upon him.

Schneider would not have committed such an act unless he had beenreasonably sure that there was a way by which he could quit JungleIsland with his prisoners. But why had he taken the purple womanas well? There must have been others, one of who wanted the dawnyfemale.

"Come," exclaimed Tarzan, "there is but one thing to do now, and thatis to follow the trail."

As he finished speaking a tall, ungainly figure emerged from thejungle north of the camp. He came straight toward the four men. Hewas an entire stranger to all of them, not one of whom had dreamedthat another human being than those of their own camp dwelt uponthe unfriendly shores of Jungle Island.

It was Gust. He came directly to the point.

"Your women were stolen," he said. "If you want ever to see themagain, come quickly and follow me. If we do not hurry the Cowriewill be standing out to sea by the time we reach her anchorage."