“What do you mean?”

“We gitta dem people into trouble —­ maka big lot of money.”

“All right —­ I’ll do anything,” answered Baxter savagely.  “So they said I ought to be in jail, eh?  I’ll fix ’em yet!”

“You helpa me, I helpa you,” went on the wily French native.

He had his plan all ready, and, after sounding Baxter some more, revealed what was in his mind, which was simply to follow the Rovers into the interior and then make them prisoners.  Once this was done, they would hold the prisoners for a handsome ransom.

“That’s a big job,” answered the big youth.  “But I like your plan, first-rate if you can carry it out.”

“Trust me,” replied Captain Villaire.  “I have half a dozen of ze best of killowers-za, nevair fail me.  But as you knowa dem you will have to do ze lettair writing for us, so zat we git ze money from zare people at home.”

“Trust me for that,” responded Baxter quickly.  The plot pleased him immensely.  “You do the capturing and I’ll make Mrs. Rover or somebody else pay up handsomely, never fear.”

And so a compact was formed which was to give the Rovers a good deal of trouble in the near future.

CHAPTER XVI

THE START UP THE CONGO

“It was queer Dan Baxter should act so,” said Sam to his uncle, when Mr. Rover came back from his interview with the bully.  “I thought he wanted to, go the worst way.”

“He acted as if he had struck something else,” answered Randolph Rover.  “He didn’t even want the money I offered.  Perhaps he has received a remittance from home.”

“Who would send it to him?” put in Dick.  “His father is still in jail.”

“Perhaps he got Mumps to send it to him,” said Sam.  “But I forgot, Mumps is away.”

There was no time to discuss the situation further, for they were to start early on the following morning, and there were yet a dozen small matters which must be given attention.  All were busy, and it was not until after eleven that evening that they turned in.

The day for the departure from Boma dawned bright and clear, and Cujo appeared with his assistants while they were still eating breakfast.

“Werry good day for um journey,” he said, with a grin.  “Make good many miles if nothing go wrong.”

“You can’t do any too well for me,” answered Dick.  “I hope our expedition into the interior is both short and successful.”

At eight o’clock they were off.  At first they had thought to go on horseback; but this was abandoned by the advice of the native, who declared that horses would prove more of a drag than a help in many places.

“Horse canno’ climb tree bridge,” he explained.  “No climb high rock, no go around bad hill.  We go on foot an’ make better time.”

The town was soon left behind and they struck a highway which for several miles afforded easy traveling.  On all sides were dense groves of tropical growth, palms, mangoes, and the like, with enormous vines festooned from one tree to the next.  Underneath were a great variety, of ferns and mosses, the homes of countless insects and small animals.  The ground was black and wherever turned up gave forth a sickly odor of decayed vegetation.