9

The Theft of the Jewels

For two days Werper sought for the party that had accompanied himfrom the camp to the barrier cliffs; but not until late in theafternoon of the second day did he find clew to its whereabouts,and then in such gruesome form that he was totally unnerved by thesight.

In an open glade he came upon the bodies of three of the yellows,terribly mutilated, nor did it require considerable deductive powerto explain their murder. 0f the little party only these three hadnot been slaves. The others, evidently tempted to hope for freedomfrom their cruel Arab master, had taken advantage of their separationfrom the main camp, to slay the three representatives of the hatedpower which held them in slavery, and vanish into the jungle.