eat was terribly oppressive. Thousands of insects droned about their ears. A thick mist hung u

he river valley, and unloading the canoes--which they hid in

one the Kru boys deserted them, to find their own way back to the coast. But both Cortes and Fernando proved loyal t

mountain grass and withered shrubs in sheltered places. Day by day they advanced with the ut

unger brother prided himself upon his skill as a runner. It was

ur of a great cloud-wrapped mountain when Cortes, who had been walking about fifty yards in advance of Harry and Jim, dropped suddenly upon his face

nd knees, they drew

, pointing towa

mountain goat with his great horns bran

he man to Harr

though perhaps not so good as that of the wild sheep, is by no means unwelcome

Gently he pressed the trigger, the rifle kicked, there came a sharp report, and the bullet sped upon its way.

!" crie

e's hit--he's wounded

do should go on ahead with the camp kit and cooking-utensils, whilst the younger brother accompanied Harry

ed. There, as the guide had predicted, there were drops of blood upon the stones. All that morning they follo

m, on the windward side. That meant they would have to mak

nderful eyesight, its still more wonderful sense of smell, and its ability to travel at the pace of a galloping horse across rugged cliffs and valleys, it is a prize

west. Here there was no chance of being seen or winded by the beast; and, since

e crest-line they sought cover behind great boulders, which lay scattered about in all directions as if they had been hurled down from the s

e thing had disappeared as mysterio

ry, with a feeling of

is feet, but the half-cas

. "Lie still! There are

ve you s

. "But the beast saw them, or got their

aid Harry, turning to Braid, the

ed at the

want," said the guide, "

y of their situation. They had either overtaken von Hardenberg and Peter Kle

he valley," said Harry

d Cortes; "we must rejoin my b

uage well, but with the strange, clipped words used by th

to get there

looked a

We must walk straight there. There are many things wh

already was conscious that h

y brother thought he heard a shot, far in the distance. Also," he added, "during

in words. As it is, we have barely

the double report of a rifle from far away in the hills, and a bullet cut

the guide, "