who had escaped from Numabo's village might fall into Usanga's hands and then indeed would he be able to learn how to fly. It was in this hope that Usanga spent so much time in the vicinity of the plane, reasoning as he did that eventually the white man would return in search of it.
And at last he was rewarded, for upon this very day after he had quit the machine and entered the jungle with his warriors he heard voices to the north and when he and his men had hidden in the dense foliage upon either side of the trail, Usanga was presently filled with elation by the appearance of the British officer and the white girl whom the black sergeant had coveted and who had escaped him.
The Negro could scarce restrain a shout of elation, for he had not hoped that fate would be so kind as to throw these two whom he most desired into his power at the same time.
As the two came down the trail all unconscious of impending danger, the man was explaining that they must be very close to the point at which the plane had landed. Their entire attention was centered on the trail directly ahead of them as they momentarily expected it to break into the meadowland where they were sure they would see the plane that would spell life and liberty for them.
The trail was broad and they were walking side by side so that at a sharp turn the parklike clearing was revealed to them simultaneously as were the outlines of the machine they sought.
