guide them the long way.”

Urubu and Luiz were turning in the direction of the spot where the boys lay hidden. Biff whispered to Kamuka:

“Let’s crawl out of here fast—”

“Stay still!” Kamuka’s interruption came as a warning hiss. “Do not move—not one inch!”

Biff let his eyes turn in the direction of Kamuka’s stare. Despite the intense heat of the jungle, Biff could actually feel himself freeze. Coming straight toward them through the tall grass was the head of a huge snake!

Behind it, the grass rippled from the slithering coils that followed. Fully twenty feet in length, the gigantic creature could only be an anaconda, greatest of all boa constrictors.

To be caught within those crushing coils would mean sure death!

CHAPTER VIII A Traitor Strikes

CHAPTER VIII

“Do not move—not one inch!”

Kamuka repeated that warning as the snake’s long body slid slowly past. Whether or not the creature was in search of other prey, to move would be to attract it. Biff realized that from Kamuka’s tone as well as his words.

Gradually, the sliding coils slackened speed. It was Biff who spoke now, his own voice strained, but low:

“It’s turning now, Kamuka. It may be coming back.”

“Maybe, but stay still. One move, you are gone.”

Despite himself, Biff raised his head, only slightly, but enough to look beyond the long, hoselike body that was still gliding by. Aloud, Biff groaned:

“There is Luiz—coming straight toward us—”

Biff threw up his arms to ward off the great boa’s tail as it lashed past. Looking up, he saw the snake’s huge mouth yawning toward him. Biff shut his eyes, thinking there was no hope now. Then a wild scream came from just ahead.

Biff and Kamuka bobbed up from the grass and saw what had happened. The anaconda, on the rove for prey, had lashed out for the first moving thing that approached it—Luiz. Caught in the snake’s coils, the guide 

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