"It will be too late then," said Brown. "I reckon it's too late now. She was so little and delicate. She couldn't have stood very much. She probably is dead by this time." He stopped speaking and turned away. "Perhaps she's better off dead," he added.
In silence the four ate of what little they had to eat, and then set out once more on their seemingly hopeless journey.
There were few attempts at conversation. The four seemed stunned by the series of calamities that had overtaken them. Suspicion, fear, and distrust dogged their footsteps; and beside them stalked the shadow of the nameless menace that had snatched Annette away.
Brown suffered more than the others, so much so that his mind was numb even to his hatred of Alexis. So completely did he ignore him that it was as though the man did not exist.
Jane walked at the rear of the column. Her tread was firm and light; but Alexis, who was directly in front of her, was footsore and weary. He was, however, no worse off than Tibbs for whose soft muscles continued exercise was little better than torture.
"Jane," said Sborov, after they had walked a long way in silence, "haven't you any idea what it was took Annette away?"
Jane shook her head. "All I know is that I don't believe in ghosts, and that no animal could have done it; therefore it must have been a man, but what sort of man, I have no idea. Whatever it was must have been as agile as a monkey, and for that reason I cannot bring myself to believe that it was a member of any native tribe—they are, as a rule, far from being excellent climbers; and I never heard of one who travelled through the trees as this—creature must have to reach our camp and depart again with Annette without leaving any spoor on the ground."
"But you are willing to believe now, that it was not I?" queried Sborov.
"There is no reason to believe that you did it," replied Jane.
"Then why not give me the benefit of the doubt in the other matter. You must know that I couldn't have killed Kitty."
"What does it matter what I think?" asked Jane. "That is a matter for the court to decide."
"Your opinion matters a lot to me, Jane. You have no idea how much." She looked at him shortly. "I have no desire to know."
The note of finality in her tone was lost on Sborov. "But I want you to know," he persisted. "I've never known anyone like you; I'm mad about you, Jane. You must have seen it."
The girl shook her head impatiently. "That will be about enough of that, Alexis," she said. "Our situation is sufficiently difficult without your making it any worse."
"Does it make it any worse for you to know that someone is with you who loves you very much?" he demanded.
"Oh, Jane," he cried, "I could make you very happy." Then he seized her arm and tried to draw her to him.
Once again she wrenched herself free; once again she struck him heavily in the face with her open palm. Instantly his expression changed. His face became contorted with rage.
"I'll get you for this, you little—"
"You'll do what?" demanded a man's voice angrily.
The two looked up. Brown was striding toward them, followed by Tibbs. The hand-axe swung at the pilot's side in his right hand. Sborov cowered and backed away.
"I'm going to finish you now, once and for all," said Brown.
Jane stepped between the two men. "No, Brown," she said, "we can't take the law into our own hands, as much as we'd like to."
"But you're not safe as long as he's alive; none of us is."
"I can take care of myself," replied Jane; "and if I can, I guess the rest of you can."
Brown hesitated, but finally he acquiesed. "Very well," he said, "I can wait." There seemed a world of meaning in those few words, nor was it lost on Sborov.
That night they camped again near the little river whose winding the trail followed.
The instant that they stopped, Sborov and Tibbs threw themselves upon the ground thoroughly exhausted.
"If I may say so, Milady," said the latter, "I fancy I couldn't carry on for another half hour if my life depended upon it. Tomorrow you had better go on without me; I'm afraid I can't keep up, ma'am; and I'm only delaying the rest of you."
"You're doing splendidly, Tibbs," said Jane, encouragingly. "I know it's hard on you now; but you'll be surprised how quickly your muscles will toughen as they get accustomed to the work, and then you'll be able to keep up with any of us."
"I 'ope so, Milady, but the way I feel now I don't believe I'll be able to go on."
"Don't worry, Tibbsy, we'll stick by you," said Brown, reassuringly.
"It's mighty good of you, Mr. Brown, but——"
"But nothing," said Brown. "We could get along with one less member in this outfit," and as he spoke, he stared straight at Sborov, "but it ain't you, Tibbsy."
"Now," said Jane, "I'm going out to look for meat. I want you men to promise me that you will not quarrel while I'm gone. We have already had too much bloodshed and disaster."
"Tibbsy don't never fight with no one," said Brown, "and I won't be here; so you won't have to worry."
"You won't be here?" demanded Jane. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going with you, Miss."
"But you can't. I can't hunt with you along."
"Then you won't do no hunting," said Brown, "because I'm going with you. You may be boss, but there's one thing you ain't going to do no more."
"What is that?" asked the girl.
"You ain't going off alone by yourself, again, after what happened to Annette."
"If I may say so, Milady, I think Mr. Brown is quite right. We can't take any chances with you, Milady."
Jane shrugged. "Perhaps you're right," she said, "from your point of view, but really I'm much better able to take care of myself in the jungle than any of you."
"That ain't neither here nor there," said Brown. "You just ain't going into the jungle alone, and that's that."
"All right," said Jane, with a laugh. "I suppose I'll have to give in. Come ahead then, Brown; we'll see what we can find."
Tibbs and Alexis watched them depart, and then the former turned to the prince. "Beg pardon, sir," he said, "but hadn't we better start building a boma and gathering firewood?"
"Yes, you had," said Alexis; "and you'd better hurry up about it as it will soon be dark."
"You're not going to help me, sir?" demanded Tibbs.
"Certainly not, my man. I'm far too tired."
"And 'ow about me, sir? I'm tired, too." Tibbs was surprised at his own temerity.
"You've no business to be tired. I'm not paying you to be tired. I'm paying you to work. Come, get busy; and don't be impudent. You seem to be forgetting yourself, Tibbs."
"If I may make so bold as to say so, your 'ighness, if you're not careful, I shall."
"What do you mean, you impertinent puppy?" demanded Alexis.
Tibbs sat down on the ground and leaned his back against the tree. "I mean, sir, that if you don't help and do your share there won't be any boma and there won't be any firewood when Lady Greystoke and Brown come back to the camp. I daresay they'll both be very angry, especially Brown. If I were you, sir, I wouldn't antagonize him any more. I suspect that he does not like you; and out here in the jungle sir, where there ain't no laws nor no Bobbies, he wouldn't need much more of an excuse to kill you."
For a minute or two Alexis sat in silent thought; then he rose painfully and slowly. "Come on, my man," he said, "and I'll give you a hand with the boma."
It was almost sunset when Jane and Brown returned with a small antelope, slices of which Tibbs was soon grilling before a cooking fire, while the others sat silently waiting.
There was little conversation as they ate their slender meal. It was an ill-assorted company, with little in common among them other than the grim disasters which had befallen them and which made such depressing conversation that they were taboo as though by a tacit understanding. The girl and Brown each found the other the most congenial member of the party; and what little talk there was passed between these two; but very soon even they were silent; and presently all slept, except Tibbs who had the first watch.