“But—but I don’t know you. Why didn’t you come to the hotel if you had anything to say to me?” asked the millionaire in a puzzled way.
“I wanted to talk to you in private about your brother,” was the reply.
“My brother! Why, we are searching for him now. That is the reason of our presence in the jungle. Do you know anything about him?”
“I do. It was he who sent me here.”
“Jerushah sent you?” the millionaire was fairly amazed now. “He is then alive?”
“Yes, but he is a prisoner and very sick. Through natives he heard of the arrival of your expedition and sent me even at this hour to bring you to him.”
“That is a strange story, my man,” said Mr. Jukes suspiciously. “I might say it is almost incredible.”
“I’ll admit it does sound strange,” said the other, “but strange things happen in this part of the world. I might add that the other Mr. Jukes wants to see you alone. Something about a pearl, I believe.”
Jack gave a tug at Mr. Jukes’ sleeve. The lad had been peering about him through the dark trees and had seen something the others had not. If his eyes had not deceived him, and Jack did not believe they had, several forms were moving about in the gloom beneath the interlaced branches.
“Mr. Jukes,” he whispered, “I don’t believe this man. I think we are in some sort of a trap. Why didn’t he come to the house with this cock-and-bull story?”