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Van broached. the subject to the mate and Gregory,
and they readily agreed to it. : oe
“Very well,” said our. hero to-Howard, “your offer is
accepted. We join your party and proceed with you in
BRAVE AND BOLD.»
your explorations, so long as we do not turn fromthe’
' trail of Doc Clancy.” -
“We will follow him, even if he:goes to the very heart
of. this wild continent !? exclaimed Jack Howard, warmly:
The party remained: in camp until slightly~past noon,
and they would not have left it then had it not been that
an unforeseen circumstance took place. -
While they were eating dinner one of thé blacks came
rushing up with the intelligence that. the bad white men
had just gone up the river in their boat. - :
The river was nearly straight at this point, and, rush-~
ine down to the water’s edge, Van and Jack Howard saw
“Doc Clancy and his allies proceeding rapidly. up the
stream. oe ‘
Already they were over’ half a;mile away, and. our
friends did not deem it worth while to shoct at them. —
But the camp was quickly broken up and all its belong-
ings packed in the boat owned by the Englishmen, which -
was strong and commodious, and large enough for all
hands.
Deing aware of this fact, our hero concluded to leave
their boat where it was. _ oe : ;
When everything’ was in readiness all hands got into
the boat, and the blacks started to row up the river in the.
wake of Doe Clancy: nt
CHAPTER VI.
A SLIGHT ADVENTURE,
The boat owned by the explorers was. much heavier
than that in which Doe Clancy and his villainous crowd
_ had gene up the river.
Thus. the latter could be rowed faster, and it did not
take our friends long to see-that they were gradually
' being left behind.
“Our intention was to follow this river until we reached
the branch that flows northward,” said Jack Howard.
“We then would go,up.that as far as we could, and then
make the rest of our travels on foot. The/’man you
call Doc Clancy is leading us over the very course we
want to take, so far.” oe
“But he might change his course,” spoke up Van.
“Tt doesn’t matter whether he does or not,” returned
the young Englishman... “We will follow him wherever
he goes. The professor, doctor and myself came to
Africa principally for adventure, and I am sure we will
get enough of it if we keep on the trail of a marderer
and a number of scoundrels who are as bad as he is.”
They continued on their way up the river; keeping a
sharp lookout on either bank so as not to run in an
ambush. .
When night came they went ashore at a pleasant-look-
ing spot and pitched their camp. .— -
As soon as darkness set in the wild beasts of the forest
began to make themselves heard.
The blacks promptly built a number of fires to keep
them away. ; ,
The two tents were utilized by the six who constituted
the party of whites. ne
_or you die!”
~The air’ was very warm and. close, and the ceaseless
hum of the insects made it algsost impossible for Van'‘to
sleep during the first part of the night. .
As he was to-stand watch with Jack Howard the last
_four hours of the night, it behooved him to catch as much
- sleep as he could. ° vet i ewdt ess
It was past midnight when he fell'into.a doze. ~~
He was just dropping off into'a sound Slumber when
he was awakened by the shrill’ cry of a female in the
near vicinity. © + . 7 a ;
Quick as a flash, he sprang to-his feet and listened.
~“Help—help! Oh, save me!”
Again the cry was repeated.
In the twinkling of an eye the whole camp. was aroused.
Seizing their rifles, Van and Jack Howard: sprang
through the dense undergrowth in the direction the cries
came from. - oe :
It was tedious work forcing their way through the
thorns and dank weeds, but they accomplished it in short
order. . coe a /
As they emerged into an opening about two hundred
yards from their camp they beheld ‘a truly startling scene.
A young and beautiful girl was struggling in the midst
of four men, who had seized her and were making efforts
_to stifle her cries.
Both Van and Jack were astonished beyond measure
“when they beheld the fair creature, who was as.white and
as civilized in appearance as they were, in those wild parts.
But neither lacked in coolness, and the next instant
their rifles were leVeled at the men, while the voice of
Jack Howard rang out: oo :
“er yo
Hands up, you cowards! Unhand that lady at once,
_Had a bombshell exploded in their midst the four
villains could not have been more astonished. ,
With one accord they let go their hold upon. their
captive and turned their startled gaze upon, the intruders.
As they did so, Van gave a low cry of astonishment.
One of the men was no other than Doc Clancv!
As his- eyes rested upon the villain our hero forgot
and seized Clancy by the’ throat.
“I have got you at last, you murderous scoundrel!” he
cried. “Down on your knees, or I will choke the life
from you.” ; :
Again was Van Vincent too rash.
With a muttered oath Doe Clancy
the infuriated boy’s clutch and struck
" everything else, and, with a single bound, sprang forward |
fore himself from
him a fearful blow.
between the eyes.
\ Jack Howard was unable, at that- moment. to render
van any assistance, as he had caught the girl in his arms
keep her from falling to the ground,
By ‘the time he had gently deposited her upon the >
ground the four scoundrels were lost in the mazes of the |
forest, and Van was struggling to his feet in a dazed
manner. . ,
The whole thing took place in less than a minute, and
by the time the mate and the rest of those belonging to
the camp reached the scene, it was all over.
The mate and Prof, Drearland conducted .Van back
to camp, followed by Jack, who carried the unconscious
girl in his:arms.
They had-scarcely reached it when they heard the hur-
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