The object had disappeared, but there was a rustling under the dense foliage of the bushes.
"I'll have this out," declared Dave, and jumped to his feet and pulled aside the bushes.
Cowering on the ground, his face showing alarm and suffering, a pitiful, pleading look in his eyes, was a dusky native.
"The outcast--the man I saw with the priest of the tribe two days ago," exclaimed Dave. "Yes, it's the same man."
Dave was tremendously worked up at this recognition. He stood regarding the native speculatively. He fully realized that this meeting might mean a great deal to himself and his friends.
Had he not seen the person now before him give a lot of the treasure gold pieces to the priest of the tribe?
Was he not then as now persuaded that the outcast knew where the rest of the treasure was secreted?
"Why," said Dave, "this man holds the key to the whole situation. Now then, my friend, you and I must understand one another."
CHAPTER XXIX
FOUND!