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of 'em when we jumps 'em. Before we knew wot had happened about a thousand

more of the devils came runnin' up. They got us separated, and when we seen

Theriere and Byrne kilt we jest natch'rally beat it. Gawd, but it was orful."

Do you think they will follow you?" asked Divine.

At the suggestion every head turned toward the trail down which the two panic-

stricken men had just come. At the same moment a hoarse shout arose from the

cove below and the five looked down to see a scene of wild activity upon the

beach. The defection of Theriere's party had been discovered, as well as the

absence of the girl and the theft of the provisions.

Skipper Simms was dancing about like a madman. His bellowed oaths rolled up

the cliffs like thunder. Presently Ward caught a glimpse of the men at the top of

the cliff above him.

"There they are!" he cried.

Skipper Simms looked up.

The swabs!" he shrieked. "A-stealin' of our grub, an' abductin' of that there pore

girl. The swabs! Lemme to 'em, I say; jest lemme to 'em."

We'd all better go to 'em," said Ward. "We've got a fight on here sure. Gather up

some rocks, men, an' come along. Skipper, you're too fat to do any fightin' on that

there hillside, so you better stay here an' let one o' the men take your gun," for

Ward knew so well the mettle of his superior that he much preferred his absence

to his presence in the face of real fighting, and with the gun in the hands of a

braver man it would be vastly more effective.

Ward himself was no lover of a fight, but he saw now that starvation might stare

them in the face with their food gone, and everything be lost with the loss of the

girl. For food and money a much more cowardly man than Bender Ward would

fight to the death.

Up the face of the cliff they hurried, expecting momentarily to be either

challenged or fired upon by those above them. Divine and his party looked down

with mixed emotions upon those who were ascending in so threatening a manner.

They found themselves truly between the devil and the deep sea.

Ward and his men were halfway up the cliff, yet Divine had made no move to

repel them. He glanced timorously toward the dark forest behind from which he

momentarily expected to see the savage, snarling faces of the head-hunters

appear.

The Mucker