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Again the natives conferred in whispers. Finally he who had acted as spokesman

before turned toward the strangers.

"We shall not harm you," he said, "so long as you do not harm Oda Iseka; but we

shall watch you always until you leave the island, and if harm befalls him then

shall you never leave, for we shall kill you all."

Barbara translated the man's words to the mucker.

Do youse fall fer dat?" he asked.

I think they will be careful to make no open assault upon us," replied the girl;

but never for an instant must we cease our watchfulness for at the first

opportunity I am sure that they will murder us."

They turned back to Theriere now. The man still lay, unconscious and moaning,

where Byrne had deposited him. The mucker removed the gag from Oda Iseka's

mouth.

Which way is water? Ask him," he said to Barbara.

The girl put the question.

He says that straight up this ravine behind us there is a little spring," translated

the girl.

Byrne lifted Theriere in his arms, after loosening Oda Iseka's feet and tethering

him to his own belt with the same grass rope; then he motioned the youth up the

ravine.

"Walk beside me," he said to Barbara Harding, "an' keep yer lamps peeled

behind."

Thus, in silence, the party commenced the ascent of the trail which soon became

rough and precipitous, while behind them, under cover of the brush, sneaked

four trailing samurai.

After half an hour of the most arduous climbing the mucker commenced to feel

the effects of loss of blood from his many wounds. He coughed a little now from

the exertion, and when he did the blood spurted anew from the fresh wound in

his breast.

Yet there was no wavering or weakness apparent to the girl who marched beside

him, and she wondered at the physical endurance of the man. But when at last

they came to a clear pool of water, half hidden by overhanging rocks and long

masses of depending mosses, in the midst of a natural grotto of enchanting

The Mucker