“Something has happened!” cried the boy.
He reached for his pistol, and hastily buckling it on, he was about to rush out of the hostelry when a wild figure appeared.
“Help! There’s murther goin’ on. Help!”
It was Muldoon, fleeing before three of Broom’s followers. But as the pursuers came in sight of the hotel they halted. The next moment they were in active retreat.
“What’s wrong? What’s happened?” gasped Raynor.
“Those spalpeens out yonder. They’ve captured Misther Jukes and Jack Riddy.”
“We must rouse the others at once and go in pursuit,” decided Billy.
He hurried off to awaken Captain Sparhawk, while Muldoon aroused Salloo, who in turn, soon had his native followers astir. It did not take Captain Sparhawk much longer to get into his clothes when he heard Billy’s alarming news than it did for the natives, who were not embarrassed by garments, to adjust what few they did wear.
It was well they had hastened, for the rascally landlord of the place had, by this time, aroused all the half-castes in the place and as, headed by Captain Sparhawk, they set off into the jungle, there was a scattering firing of shots behind them. Nobody was hurt, however, and they hastened forward to the place where Muldoon told them the capture had taken place.
Salloo was consulted and he made a careful examination of the surroundings. It was considered quite safe to make this halt, as the tumult behind them had died out and was probably only incited by the hotel owner in order to get them out of the village.