“To Akwar.”

“Why there?”

“To place you among friends that your enemies may not reach you.”

“Why not take me to my home?”

“It has been burned and the men are hiding among the trees that they may slay you when you and your father return.”

After a moment’s hesitation she obeyed, taking the path along which her parent soon after pressed in the desperate effort to recover her from her captors.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Doctor and patient.

The bright wits of Miss Marlowe were active.  Mustad took the lead along the path, she following next, while Almos, the leader of the Ghoojurs, and his three companions, brought up the rear.  Like most of the trails through the Asiatic jungles, this was inclosed on each side by a growth of trees, undergrowth and matted vegetation of such density that it was next to impossible for any one to pick his way forward or backward except by keeping within the path itself.  To step aside into the jungle would immediately involve one in so inextricable a tangle that he could move only with the greatest difficulty.

An attempt to escape, therefore, by darting to one side was not to be thought of, and she knew that her only hope lay with her absent friends.  She was confident that they would speedily return, and, finding her gone, start in immediate pursuit.  A collision between them and the Ghoojurs was imminent.

The latter acted as if their only interest lay in their prisoner.  So far as she could judge no attention was paid to the rear, whence the danger of attack threatened.  The place of Mustad, at the head, confirmed her suspicion that he had been playing the part of guide for the rest from the first.

She did not doubt that her home and its contents had been burned by the wretches, but under the circumstances the matter gave her little concern.  She was inclined to believe that her captors meant to conduct her into the town of Akwar, nearby, and with her knowledge of the fanatical hatred of the population against all Christians she still hoped to find some friends there who would protect her from harm.  And thus it was that she was not in the state of collapse or despair that might be supposed.

Suddenly a pistol was fired from some point at the rear beyond her captors, and out of sight.  All the men instantly stopped, grasped their arms and looked back, the young woman doing the same.  Her thought was:  “That was father or Jack, but he did not hit any one; therefore, it wasn’t Jack.”

While the six were looking expectantly to the rear Dr. Marlowe, his face flushed, and his whole appearance, showing his intense excitement, came into sight.  He was panting from his severe exertion, and raised his hand as a signal for the Ghoojurs to wait for him.  It is probable that he would have received a shot, but for an interruption that was as unexpected as it was remarkable.  Almos, the leader of the Ghoojurs, emitted a yell that could have been heard a half-mile away, and leaped several feet in the air, while his companions with exclamations of terror hastily recoiled from him.