Professor Thunder was quite convinced; he had not the slightest doubt but that Daniel meant business.  He gave Letitia his keys, and a few words of instruction, and the girl went to the caravan, and presently returned with the Professor’s zinc cash box and a chamois-leather bag containing a few rings and chains belonging to himself and Madame.

Dan Heeley placed his revolver to his hand on the stump by his side, and took up the cash box, but the next instant he snatched at his revolver again, and turned it upon a large, ungainly figure, that loped out of the bush, and stood grinning and chattering where the firelight faded into gloom.  It was Mahdi the Missing Link, in full dress.

“What’s that?” demanded Heeley, fiercely.

The figure leaped about in a foolish way, and rolled on the grass in unwield play.  Heeley burst into laughter.  “It’s that blanky monkey,” he said.  “D’yeh mean t’ say you leave four thousan’ quids’ worth o’ monkey run round loose in the bush like this?”

Mr. Heeley grinned amiably, replaced the revolver on the stump, and turned his attention to the cash box once more.  That cash box was decidedly heavy, but the Professor, whose heart had been in his boots at the prospect of a big loss, was now tremulous with hope, and watched the Missing Link anxiously.  Mahdi scraped and picked at the grass with a diverting show of monkey antics, sniffed at the boiler in which the leg of mutton had been cooked, and backed away nearer Heeley, with a yowl of consternation as his nose encountered the scalding water.  Dan Heeley was diverted, he laughed aloud, but he had a cautious eye on his victims the while, for all he held them cheaply.

Mahdi, the man-monkey, sniffed about the stump, and capered foolishly.  He looked with ape-like curiosity at Heeley’s horse, then made an impish jump at the animal, grinning and growling savagely.  The horse threw up his head, snorted in terror, and pulled back, dragging Heeley with him, broke free, and bolted into the night.  Cursing wildly, Heeley ran for his revolver.  He ran with his nose on to the barrel of it.

One was there before him—­the Missing Link.  The revolver was held in Mahdi’s shaggy paw, pointed straight at Heeley’s head, and the animal gibbered in guttural fury, snarling and showing ugly white fangs.  It was a sight to deter the boldest; it shocked Dan Heeley, the Bold Dan Heeley, who had never trembled at the sight of a living thing—­when he had the drop on it—­and he drew up sharply and recoiled a step.

Then he swore a big black oath, and his right hand went to his hip.  It was an unwise action; the Missing Link anticipated the evil intention and fired.  A second revolver fell from Mr. Heeley’s right hand.  Dan’s shooting arm was broken.

The Missing Link advanced with movements and howls significant of horrible ferocity.  Dan Heeley backed before it, white to the lips.  At this point the Professor plucked up courage and advanced upon Heeley.