Theriere had the bulk of the loot hidden in a rocky crevice just beyond the cliff’s summit.  Brush torn from the mass of luxuriant tropical vegetation that covered the ground was strewn over the cache.  All had been accomplished in safety and without detection.  The camp beneath them still lay wrapped in silence.

The march toward the new camp, under the guidance of Divine, was immediately undertaken.  On the return trip after the search for water Divine had discovered a well-marked trail along the edge of the cliffs to a point opposite the spring, and another leading from the main trail directly to the water.  In his ignorance he had thought these the runways of animals, whereas they were the age-old highways of the head-hunters.

Now they presented a comparatively quick and easy approach to the destination of the mutineers, but so narrow a one as soon to convince Theriere that it was not feasible for him to move back and forth along the flank of his column.  He had tried it once, but it so greatly inconvenienced and retarded the heavily laden men that he abandoned the effort, remaining near the center of the cavalcade until the new camp was reached.

Here he found a fair-sized space about a clear and plentiful spring of cold water.  Only a few low bushes dotted the grassy clearing which was almost completely surrounded by dense and impenetrable jungle.  The men had deposited their burdens, and still Theriere stood waiting for the balance of his party—­Miller and Swenson with Barbara Harding.

But they did not come, and when, in alarm, the entire party started back in search of them they retraced their steps to the very brink of the declivity leading to the cove before they could believe the testimony of their own perceptions—­Barbara Harding and the two sailors had disappeared.

CHAPTER X

BARBARA CAPTURED BY HEAD-HUNTERS

When Barbara Harding, with Miller before and Swenson behind her, had taken up the march behind the loot-laden party seven dusky, noiseless shadows had emerged from the forest to follow close behind.

For half a mile the party moved along the narrow trail unmolested.  Theriere had come back to exchange a half-dozen words with the girl and had again moved forward toward the head of the column.  Miller was not more than twenty-five feet behind the first man ahead of him, and Miss Harding and Swenson followed at intervals of but three or four yards.

Suddenly, without warning, Swenson and Miller fell, pierced with savage spears, and at the same instant sinewy fingers gripped Barbara Harding, and a silencing hand was clapped over her mouth.  There had been no sound above the muffled tread of the seamen.  It had all been accomplished so quickly and so easily that the girl did not comprehend what had befallen her for several minutes.