little or no doubt. The only other explanation was that Nu had, as Curtiss had suggested, stolen her from the vicinity of the bungalow, killed her, and taken his spear and her coat back to his cave with him; but that did not account for the presence of the hound or the beast's evident loyalty to the man. Nu had turned from the veranda and entered the bungalow. Barney followed him. The cave man was hunting about the house for something. "What are you looking for?" asked the American. "My spear," replied Nu. "What do you want of it?" "I'm going to find Nat-ul." Barney laid a hand upon the other's arm. "No," he said, "you are not going away from here until we find my sister—you are a prisoner. Do you understand?" The cave man drew himself to his full height. There was a sneer upon his lip. "Who can prevent me?" Barney drew his revolver. "This," he said. For a moment the man seemed plunged in thought. He looked at the menacing gun, and then off through the open windows toward the distant hills. "I can wait, for her sake," he said. "Don't make any attempt to escape," warned Barney. "You will be watched carefully. Terkoz will give the alarm even if he should be unable to stop you, though as a matter of fact he can stop you easily enough. Were I you I should hate to be stopped by Terkoz—he is as savage as a lion when aroused, and almost as formidable." Barney did not see the smile that touched the cave man's lips at this for he had turned away to resume his chair upon the veranda. Later Barney told the others that Nu seemed to realize the futility of attempting to get away, but that night he locked their door securely, placed the key under his pillow and drew his cot beneath the double windows of their room. It would take a mighty stealthy cat, thought he, to leave the apartment without arousing him, even were Terkoz not stretched beside the prisoner's cot. About midnight the cave man opened his eyes. The regular breathing of the American attested the soundness of his slumber. Nu extended a
Prev.
Back
Top