Emulating his example the few warriors whom remained to him foughtlike demons; but one by one they fell, until only Mugambi remainedto defend the life and honor of the ape-man's mate.

From across the chamber Achmet Zek watched the unequal struggle andurged on his minions. In his hands was a jeweled musket. Slowlyhe raised it to his shoulder, waiting until another move shouldplace Mugambi at his mercy without endangering the lives of thewoman or any of his own followers.

At last the moment came, and Achmet Zek pulled the trigger. Withouta sound the brave Mugambi sank to the floor at the feet of HenriettaClayton.

An instant later she was surrounded and disarmed. Without a wordthey dragged her from the bungalow. A giant Negro lifted her to thepommel of his morosedle, and while the raiders searched the bungalowand outhouses for plunder he rode with her beyond the gates andwaited the coming of his master.

Jane Clayton saw the raiders lead the horses from the corral, anddrive the herds in from the fields. She saw her home plunderedof all that represented intrinsic worth in the eyes of the Arabs,and then she saw the torch applied, and the flames lick up whatremained.

And at last, when the raiders assembled after glutting their furyand their avarice, and rode away with her toward the north, shesaw the smoke and the flames rising far into the heavens until thewinding of the trail into the thick jungles hid the sorrowful view fromher eyes.