"Be quiet my friends," he said calmly. "Kulki says we still have time to save her." Then he turned to the Gorol, "Are you sure? Tell us all you know!"
"Cimbula tell me all they said," went on Kulki. "Suli and Abdul are waiting for the arrival of Chief Mobogoma who wants the white princess for his bride. He is willing to give in exchange a hundred of his best slaves."
"Ah-woe! Ah-woe!" moaned the tribesmen.
"Suli and Abdul agreed to this, but the man-demon who flies on the back of the bird-demon appeared and said that was not enough. He demanded much ivory as well."
"Slythe! That was Jess Slythe!" exclaimed Dick Oakwood with indignation. "I might have known that he was somewhere around and had a hand in my affairs."
"There will be delay while they quarrel with words," continued Kulki with a groan.
A slave appeared with food and drink for the returned warrior. He gulped it hungrily. Dick questioned him further about the Arabs.
A shiver passed over the body of the Gorol, his eyes looked wild. "They tortured me and sent me back to say that Veena would be returned for two hundred Taharan slaves."
"Tahara have mercy! O Master, save us!" moaned the tribesmen. "What are we to do?"
"Send us, O Master," came the cry from many throats. "Let us be sacrificed, but bring back the little princess Veena."