A few minutes later his quick ears caught the sound of men moving off at right angles to the river in a direction that would enable them to skirt the cliff and come upon the sleeping camp through the forest in its rear. In a flash he saw through their scheme. Bidding Pat in a whisper to follow him, he turned and hurried back, climbing the face of the cliffs with a panther's surefootedness, and racing along at his top speed as soon as he came to the downward slope. With Pat at his heels he dashed into Barney's tent.

"Etumba! Etumba!"[[3]] he exclaimed breathlessly. "Ba-lofúndú bao ya!"[[4]]

And Pat chimed in with three rapid barks.

[[1]] My father's younger brother.

[[2]] Good dog!

[[3]] Fight! (the natives' alarm signal).

[[4]] The villains are upon us!

CHAPTER V

The Order of Merit