“It should be worth hundreds of dollars,” she told herself. “It’s probably a wedding ring, a priceless possession. Somehow we must catch the monkey and take the ring from him. He may tire of it and hide it or throw it away.”
“How old it seems,” she told herself after a moment’s study. “All corroded. Can’t have been worn for years. But how the diamond sparkles!”
Again the white stone flashed, as the monkey uncovered his eyes to resume his worried study of these strangers who had invaded his domain.
Doris touched the drowsy Nieta on the arm. Then, after placing a finger to lips for silence, pointed up at the tree.
“Sh’sh! Don’t speak,” she whispered. “Look up, up there among the pods on that thick branch.”
Nieta did look up. She started suddenly and found herself staring and fully awake.
“See!” Doris whispered. “See that on his arm? It’s a diamond ring; must be. And we must get it. Think of the reward! Think—if we never found the owner at all! Think—
“Oh—Oh!” she fairly cried. “He’s gone! Hurry! Hurry!” she whispered excitedly. “Look! Look everywhere! We mustn’t lose him! Think Nieta, think of the reward. Think if we find no owner at all!”
The native girl’s eyes were bulging.
At that precise moment, Johnny Thompson came swinging down the trail.