The Major forms his Parties
Never before, perhaps, had the telephone system in the Panama Canal zone
been so busily employed as on the night of Sadie's abduction. The bell
of the instrument in Phineas's quarters seemed to ring without
cessation, while the Police Major had his ear glued to the receiver by
the ten minutes together.
"A crafty set of dogs," he declared, after one of these long
conversations with his office at Colon. "They laid their plans most
elaborately, and made every preparation to throw dust in our eyes. That
explosion way over at Pedro Miguel wasn't the only little bit of
by-play. It seems that they engaged a boatman to steal away from Colon
this evening, and give us the impression that they were aboard; but that
huge negro Tom put a spoke in their wheel. He happened to be in Colon,
and reported to the office at once that he had seen a fire signal up by
Gatun, way behind this house."
"And guessed it was meant for someone down by the sea?" asked Phineas,
rising from his seat at the receipt of such important information.
"Major, this Jim and his servants have done good service to our people
here. I'm glad that Tom has shown himself such an excellent constable."
"He's one of the exceptions one finds amongst big men," declared the
Major. "He's sharp, as sharp as a needle, for all his smiles and
easy-going manner. He spotted this flare way back behind us, and looked
well about him. He reported, a matter of two hours ago, that a boat had
put off with some four men in her. Two of the crew at least he knew to
be loafers about the streets of Colon, and one was the owner, a man of
bad repute. Still, the fourth might have been one of the rascals we are
after. So I sent out a steam launch, and her report has just reached
me."
"Well?" demanded Phineas shortly, while Jim leaned forward anxiously.
"It wasn't one of the rascals; it was a blind, as you've intimated."
The Police Major nodded promptly. "Number two of the schemes of those
rascals has failed. My people have just returned, and the sergeant has
'phoned me the news. He overhauled this boat and went aboard her. The
fourth individual was another well-known character from Colon, while the
owner of the craft, thinking perhaps that he would get into trouble, and
hoping to set matters right for himself, admitted that he had arranged
to slip off when a fire signal was lighted. The sergeant left him out
there to go where he liked, and steamed back as fast as his engine would
carry him. This time the pursuit will hardly be by way of the Atlantic."
"But perhaps by way of Panama, on to the Pacific," suggested Phineas.
"Or into the bush; that's where I imagine they may have gone," said Jim.
"It seems to me that we have every reason to suspect that that is the
course they will have followed."
His two companions in the room looked steadily at him. Before now they
had known our hero to give common-sense solutions when there was a
difficulty, and all through, since the moment when they had first known
him, he had proved himself to be possessed of a level head, of that
sharpness and shrewdness for which the American is notorious. It was
therefore with a feeling of interest that they waited for him to speak.
"Every reason to think they've gone into the bush," repeated the Major.
"I own that I have thought of the matter; but then, we all know the
bush. It isn't everyone who would willingly make a journey through it;
for fever frightens them, and besides, once you get a little distance
from the zone, there are natives. There aren't many men who can tell us
much about the latter. Of course it's part of my business to have found
out something; and I have ascertained that while some are friendly
enough, there are others who could not be trusted. They would kill a
white man for the clothes he stood up in. Then why do you consider that
they have gone by way of the bush?"
Jim stood up and walked the room backwards and forwards. Nerves were not
things that he had much acquaintance with, but the reader can well
excuse him if on this occasion he was fidgety. In fact, it was as much
as he could do to keep quiet. He longed to rush off and make some sort
of effort. It was only his solid good sense that restrained him, the
good sense that showed him clearly how a false start, pursuit along a
wrong line, might throw the game entirely into the hands of the
miscreants who had abducted Sadie. It was for her sake that he stayed
in the room, fidgeting at the delay, but waiting, waiting for some
definite information to show him where the tracks of the fugitives led.
And in his own mind he had traced those tracks.
"It seems clear to me, though of course I may be entirely wrong," he
said as he paced the room. "But those fellows have been proved to have
had dealing with the natives. The last time we chatted about the matter
you, Major, told us that you had certain information that they had been
selling guns, powder, and spirit to the natives along the coast. Then
see how those fellows we chased across the lagoon made friends with the
inhabitants of that part. It's perfectly plain that they had been
trading over there. That being the case, and perhaps because the police
have been careful to watch the various launches down at Port Limon,
these men decided not to fly by way of the ocean. They thought that the
bush offered better chances; but their destination is the same. They are
making for those parts where we did our fighting, and once they have
joined that tribe they imagine they will be safe."
The argument seemed to be clear enough, and for a while the Major stood
by the telephone thinking deeply. And the more Jim's suggestions
filtered through his mind, the more sure did he feel that there was
something substantial about them. At length he almost took it for
granted that the course outlined by our hero was actually the one which
the miscreants were following. Then the question arose: how could the
police best deal with the matter?
"See here, Jim," he said, after a while. "I believe you've just hit the
right nail on the head. Let us suppose that these men have gone by the
way of the bush, with the idea of joining hands with that tribe. What
course do you advise for those who follow?"
Jim gave his answer promptly. In fact, as the others admitted, there
could be little doubt as to the procedure to be adopted; but all
depended on one particular.
"How many men will you employ?" asked Jim.
"As many as are wanted. A dozen of my own men for certain, and I can get
a draft from the force of marines who are garrisoning the canal."
"Then I say that we ought to go in two parties. I with others will take
horses and push on through the bush, where Sam will be able to lead us;
the second party should make round by sea, cross the lagoon, and join
hands with us there. We shall, in that way, be able to take them between
us, and if one party is attacked first of all, it has the knowledge that
the other will come to support it."
The Major at once went to the telephone, and rang up his office. The
plan suggested seemed to him to be one of such common sense that it
needed little argument to convince him. Therefore, within ten minutes,
the officials down at Colon were making preparations.
"Meanwhile, those who are to follow by way of the bush had better be
making preparations," said Phineas, who was nothing if not practical.
"What have you to say, Major?"
"Just this, that I shall support you in every way. I shall command the
party which goes by sea, and Jim here had better take the other. Tom and
Sam can go with him, as well as Tomkins and four or five other
constables. You see, we can't send many round that way, for horses are
scarce hereabouts. Theirs must be in every sense a cutting-out
expedition. I take it that Jim made his suggestion with that in view.
What he wants to do is to rescue his sister. After that he will assist
us if possible, once he has made sure the girl is in safety."
"Then let us set to work with food and other things," cried Phineas.
"Look here, Jim, I can see that you're just fidgeting. Come along with
me; it'll settle you a little to have something to do."
They went off to the kitchen promptly, and with Ching to help them
quickly filled a sack with eatables. Meanwhile the Major again had
recourse to the telephone, had detailed the four men who were to
accompany Jim, and had asked for rations, arms, and ammunition.
"Not forgetting quinine," he told Jim and Phineas when they returned.
"If you'll take my advice you'll make every man of the expedition, white
or black, swallow two grains daily, just as a precaution. You can't be
too careful, especially if it happens to rain, as is probable."
It was wonderful how quickly all their preparations were completed; so
much so that when, an hour later, the diminutive Sam returned, Jim and
his whole party were collected at Phineas's quarters. The four policemen
had come up with ten horses all ready saddled and bridled.
"And we're lucky to have them," declared the Major. "I'm giving you ten
mounts, so that, although there will be only nine of you, you will have
a beast to carry blankets and ammunition. The men will carry their own
rations, which will last for almost a week. By then you will have to
fend for yourselves if you do not happen to reach us; but you should
manage that. The spot where our action took place is barely forty miles
distant. Of course, when you rescue the girl, you will put her on the
spare horse. Now let us interview Sam."
The little fellow was ushered into the room, still carrying his lantern.
Sam's face was sternly set, while his whole expression showed eagerness
and determination. Indeed the little negro would have done anything for
Sadie and for our hero. He put the lantern down on the floor and pulled
off the sack which covered his shoulders.
"Got um!" he cried jubilantly. "Dem fellers tink dey fool de lot ob us
nicely; but Sam tink otherwise. He get on de track ob one ob de men at
once, just as once before. Any fool able to follow; Sam manage him
blindfold. Him take Sadie way along at the back of Gatun, den him come
to a spot where horses waitin'. Dere are three. Sam count 'em. Dey ride
along towards Ancon, and me run all de way, followin'. Dere dey meet two
oders, and strike right off for de bush. I come back runnin'; time we
was after dem scum."
They gave the little fellow meat and drink instantly, for he was
exhausted after his efforts. Then the whole party mounted, Phineas
riding beside Jim, and just as the light was breaking they cantered
over the edge of the canal zone and plunged into the bush.
"Sam'll go ahead," said Jim promptly, reining back his mount. "Tomkins
and I will ride next; then, some twenty yards behind us, Tom and Ching,
with two of the constables. Phineas, you take the rear with the last of
the police, and ride within twenty yards of the main party. By dividing
up like that we stand a better chance in case they try to surprise us.
Now, Sam, we want to get ahead as fast as possible. The moon went down
early last night, and though it will have helped those rascals at the
beginning, they will have been forced to camp after a time. If, as I
imagine, they believe that we are not likely to follow through the bush,
in fact that they have covered their trail, and sent us off after that
boat, they are not likely to push along very fast. That will be our
opportunity; by making the pace we may come up with them."
Sam was like a dog as he followed. There was not the smallest doubt that
the little fellow was gifted with the most wonderful power of
observation, and with it that of deduction. For now that the sun was up,
and the light strong, he led the party at a trot, never even requiring
to climb out of his saddle. Dressed in tattered garments, which were
still drenched with the rain that had fallen upon him during the
previous night, the diminutive negro looked wonderfully woebegone; but
that was from behind. One must not always judge by the condition of a
man's garments; for seen from the front the little fellow was evidently
very much alive. That same intent expression was on his face, while his
piercing eyes were glued to the track. It was half an hour later when he
threw up his hand and slid from his saddle.
"Camp here, dem scum," he announced as Jim rode up. "Four ob de rascal,
and missie. Yo not tink so? Den see here; dem's her footmarks."
The most unbelieving person would have been convinced, for the ground
bore undoubted witness to what had happened. It was thickly marked by
horses, while near at hand the animals had been tied to the branch of a
tree hanging close to the earth. A little camp had been formed within a
few yards, and in and amongst the bootmarks of Jaime de Oteros and his
fellows were the smaller shoe impressions of Sadie. Jim glowered upon
them; his lips came firmly together, and with the impetuosity of youth,
which brooks no restraint, he set his party in motion again. But when
another two hours had passed Sam declared that the fugitives were still
far ahead.
"Yo watch de hollows de horses make," he said to Jim, inviting him to
join him on the ground. "It rain hard for ten minutes two hours ago, yo
remember."
Our hero had not failed to recollect the fact. It was one of those
little cloudbursts so often experienced in the neighbourhood. A sharp,
heavy shower had fallen, and then the clouds had cleared away as if by
magic, leaving a fine sky, with the sun floating in it.
"But how can you say from that shower that they are still far ahead?" he
asked the little negro.
Sam screwed up his eyes before he answered, and then bent over one of
the hoof impressions.
"Dere's water here, in de hole," he said. "Suppose no hole, den no
water. Run 'way along de ground. Ebery one of dese marks here when dat
shower come, and de water fill um. Yo not tink dat? Den look here; dis
horse go close under a tree, where de sun not manage to reach. What now
do you tink?"
Jim was wonderfully troubled. He had often read and heard of the ways of
trackers, and had imagined the art not so difficult; but here was a
poser. Jim showed him the hoofmarks of one of the beasts ridden by the
fugitives, pointing out that they lay beneath the shadow of a tree, and
asked him wherein lay evidence that the fugitives were far ahead. It was
a conundrum; he shook his head impatiently.
"Read it for me, Sam," he said, "and quick about it. How far behind them
do you reckon we are?"
"Tree, four hour p'raps. I tell like dis; dese marks here two hour ago,
when de rain fall. Dat sartin'; but yo look at de water in de holes.
Where de sun able to reach it it almost gone, sucked up into de sky. Dat
take little time, longer dan two hour. Under de tree de holes full to de
top, 'cos dey dere like de oders when de rain fall, and de sun not able
to reach 'em. Dose men travelling quick."
"Then so will we. Forward," commanded Jim.
"Better go slow and sure than fast and knock up the horses," cautioned
Phineas, riding up beside him. "Jim, if you'll take my advice, you'll
set a steady pace, and keep going at it for the hour together; then give
the animals a rest for ten minutes. In the end we'll cover the ground
quicker than those rascals, supposing them to be riding on direct
without halting."
It was undoubtedly good advice, and our hero took it. He found it hard
to curb his impatience, for he was eager to rescue Sadie from such
wretches. But he was sensible enough to recognize good advice when it
was given, and promptly issued his orders.
"See here, Tomkins," he called out. "You come along with the main party.
I'll go ahead with Sam, and one of your men can take your place. Then,
in case there's need to change our plans, I shall be right at the head
and able to stop the party."
They pushed on after that at a steady pace, covering ground which for
the most part was only thinly studded with bush, and stretched out flat
and level before them; but some five miles ahead a range of hills and
broken ground cropped up before them, hiding the country beyond.
"Perhaps we shall be able to catch a sight of those rascals from the
top," thought Jim, as he rode along in a brown study. "In any case
there's much to be thankful for. That rainstorm has softened the ground
and made it easy to follow; a little more this afternoon, or when the
night falls, would give us a fine line for to-morrow."
Some two hours later they emerged at the top of the hilly ground, still
on the tracks of the fugitives, and at a sign from Sam dropped from
their horses.
"Stop here," he said at once, raising a warning hand. "Not show up above
de skyline, else p'raps dem scum see us. Yo wait little while for me to
squint all round; but not t'ink I be able to see um. De bush down dere
very dense."
It was precisely as he had said, for as Jim laid himself flat in a
tangled mass of brier on the summit of the ridge, and wormed his way
forward till he was able to obtain a clear view beyond, he saw that the
country down below was green with jungle. A vast sea of waving treetops
lay below him, broken only here and there where rocky ground effectively
opposed the irresistible march of creepers and verdure. The sight was,
in fact, most beautiful, for the leaves shimmered and displayed a
thousand different shades of green beneath the sun's rays, while, far
off to the left, there came the gleam and scintillation of light falling
on water.
"De lagoon," declared Sam without hesitation, tossing a finger to the
front. "Not able to see de entrance, ob course, 'cos it too far away,
and trees hide um; and not able to see where de riber lie for de same
reason. But dat de lagoon. Sam stake him hat on it."
"And those men we are after?" asked Jim, his eyes searching every foot
of the huge green vista.
"Dey down dar somewhere. Not see um wid all dose trees; but dere fo'
sure. To-morrow we come up with them."
Our hero lay for a while gazing all round and thinking deeply. The sight
of the lagoon shimmering and flashing beneath the sun had reminded him
of those natives with whom the two rascals they had formerly followed
had struck up an acquaintance. Jim remembered that it was more than a
simple acquaintance, for it had since been proved that Jaime de Oteros
and his gang of evildoers had for long carried on an illicit trade in
guns and spirit with the tribe in that neighbourhood. Obviously they
were making in that direction to join hands with them, and, once there,
how was Sadie to be recovered?
"It will be harder than I imagined," he told himself despondently. "Once
these men reach the natives with their prisoner, nothing but a battle
royal and the defeat of the tribe can save her. If only I were near
enough to come upon them before they could reach their friends."
Again he lay silent and thinking, till Sam looked at his young master
wondering. "Not good lie here and stare," he said. "Dat not de way to
save de missie. S'pose we make right way down de hill and get into the
jungle. Dey down dere, I say. To-morrow dey come up wid the black men we
fight wid way ober by de lagoon."
"And once there Sadie is almost lost to us," cried Jim, a tone of
bitterness in his voice. "See here, Sam, I'm going to make a big effort.
Tell me, can those fellows travel once the night falls? Can they push on
towards those natives?"
"Dat not easy," came the answer. "Sam not tink dey try to do so. For
why? I tell yo. What fo' need hurry when dey tink no one follow? Back
away near de canal dey ride fast, 'cos p'rhaps someone discober where
dey gone, and follow quick; but dey seen no one to-day. Dat I sure ob,
'cos dere tracks have never stopped fo' once; so dey t'ink dey got heaps
ob time and all de jungle to demselves. Why den hurry, and bash de head
against a tree in de darkness? Dat not good enough fo' anyone; dat all
tommy nonsense."
"Then I shall do it."
Jim stretched his head farther from between the brambles and stared down
into the jungle beneath, as if he were trying to penetrate it to the
tree roots. As for Sam, the little fellow started, and looked queerly at
his master, as if he half thought that anxiety and excitement had
unhinged his mind; but Jim returned his gaze coolly, and once more
repeated the statement.
"Then I shall do it," he said. "Listen here, Sam, and tell me what you
think of the idea. You admit that these men will camp for to-night,
satisfied that they are not followed, and that they can easily reach
their native friends to-morrow. Once there, you can see that Sadie will
be surrounded, and that rescue will be almost impossible. Well now, I'm
going to push along through that jungle as quickly as horses can take
me, and as quickly as the undergrowth will allow. This evening, the
instant night falls, I shall go on on foot, taking the lantern. There's
not much danger of the light being seen with all those trees about, and
there is a good chance of being able to come up with the fugitives. If I
do, I'll snatch my sister away, and return towards our party, who will
mount and ride at the first dawn."
The little negro gasped as he heard the plan outlined. It was not that
the danger of such an attempt staggered him; it was the shrewdness of
the suggestion. He pinched himself as punishment for not having produced
it himself, and turned upon his master with a flash in his eye which
showed his pleasure.
"By lummy, dat fine!" he cried. "Dat de only way to do um. S'pose dem
scum camp as I say--I shore dey do it. But s'pose dey don't, and ride
right on, den no harm done; but if dey camp, den yo have de one chance
of savin' missie. Ob course I hab to go with yo; yo not able to follow
de trail widout Sam. And Tom extry strong, and able to creep along right
well, in spite of his size; besides, he able to carry missie once we
have managed to rescue her. Den Ching know de ways ob de jungle; he
mighty fine fighter. Him----"
Jim stopped the garrulous little fellow with a movement of his hand.
Suddenly his finger shot out from the brambles, and he pointed towards
the huge sea of waving palms and forest trees, all thickly clad in
green. But it was not the jungle to which he drew Sam's attention; it
was a wide patch of yellowish-white that cropped up amidst the green
some miles away, direct in the line of the lagoon.
"Watch that spot," he ordered curtly. "I saw something moving, but the
distance is too great for me. What do you see?"
Eagerly he awaited the answer, but it was more than a minute before the
negro ventured to open his mouth. He plucked Jim by the sleeve and drew
him backward, sliding through the briers himself as if he were a snake.
"Dat extry lucky," he suddenly whispered, when they had withdrawn from
the skyline, and as if he were afraid someone beyond would overhear him.
"Dat special fortunate, I tell yo. Fo' down dere on dat patch am de mens
we follow. Yo see de little game, eh? Not see um? Den I gib yo dere
reason. Dem scum now well away from de canal, and ride hard all de
while. Dey say to demselbes: 'Stop little bit here, let de hosses hab a
rest while watch de hill. If police follow, den sure to come by de way
of de tracks we leab. Good! We see um come ober de hill. If dey come, we
mount and push along; if not, take him easy, ride 'way on a little, and
den sleep."
"Then we will take good care not to show ourselves; but advance we
must," cried Jim. "See here, Sam, find a way over for us where we can
pass without anyone being able to see us. If necessary I'll push on with
a small party afoot and leave the horses to come later; but I'd rather
take the whole lot on their mounts, because then we shall be able to get
nearer to those ruffians. Look around and choose a likely spot."
He crept back to the party, while the negro stole off along the ridge,
keeping well away from the skyline. In ten minutes he was back with
them, his face shining under the sun, a hopeful smile on his lips.
"Come 'long, and lead de hosses," he whispered. "Sam make along de side
ob de hill and find a place where we can slip to de bottom; but not
ride. Ground very rough and full ob stones and holes."
They followed him in silence, each man leading his own horse, while the
huge Tom led also the beast which carried their blankets and ammunition.
And a very business-like party they looked as they filed away amongst
the bushes; for each one carried a rifle slung across his shoulders, the
muzzle sticking up well above his head, while a pouch attached to the
belt about his waist was filled with cartridges. Khaki clothing was
chiefly worn, for since the British introduced the colour many nations
have adopted it for their uniforms. Water bottles were slung to the
belts, and every member of the band was provided with a revolver.
"Best take 'em," said the Major, just before the expedition started. "I
grant that a rifle is useful most anywhere; but there are times when it
is apt to get into the way, and in case such a time should turn up you'd
better carry shooters."
"Halt! Not come too fast," said Sam suddenly, when he and Jim had
arrived at a rocky crevice which broke its way into the side of the
hill. "Plenty hole-and-corner 'way in here, and mind yo go very careful.
Yo Chinaboy, don't yo smile as if yo was clever'n anyone; yo hab a bad
fall if yo not extry cautious."
A grim smile lit the usually saturnine face of Tomkins, the surly
policeman; and indeed anyone could have been excused for merriment. For
Sam's importance, his high-flown language, to which we cannot here
venture to give outlet, and the quick way in which he flashed round upon
the harmless Chinaman, was most amusing. However, Tom quickly silenced
the little fellow.
"Yo leab dis Chinaboy alone," he cried, looking fiercely at Sam, but
showing his teeth in a grinning smile for all that. "Yo look to yoself,
little man. If dere holes way in dere, p'raps yo fall into one; den lost
fo' good. No Sam to be found. All de boys call out hooray! Yo get along,
young feller."
That set Tomkins grinning more than ever. To do the man but common
justice, he was an excellent fellow at heart, though his taciturnity and
the shortness and crispness of his remarks made people consider him to
be surly. No one saw the humour of the thing sooner than he did, and no
one was more ready to smile. He turned upon the two negroes a scowl
which would have scared them, had they not been accustomed to the
constable,
"See here, you two sons of guns," he cried, "there'll be something bad
happenin' ef we have more of your lip. Get in at it; we ain't here to
listen to darkies chatterin' as if they was monkeys."
Sam glowered upon the man, and looked as if he would be glad to do him
an injury; but Tom gave vent to a roar, and, dragging his horses after
him, stood to his full height within a foot of Tomkins. It looked for a
moment as if there was to be a fracas, for the two men, white and black,
glared at one another furiously; but no one could expect the jovial Tom
to wear such an expression for long. He burst out laughing, and,
swinging round, placed himself side by side with Tomkins.
"Oh, yo heard dat?" he called out. "He tink us like monkeys. Den yo say,
Massa Jim, who de most handsomest, Tom or Tomkins."
But Jim was in no mood for jesting. He sent the huge Tom to the rear
with an impatient movement of his hand, and then bade Sam push forward.
A moment later he was following, holding his horse by the bridle. For
the next half-hour silence again settled down upon the party, though in
place of the sound of their voices there came the slither of hoofs on
rocks, the crash of boulders falling, and now and again a sudden
exclamation as a man just saved his animal from falling; for the gully
which Sam had found and selected was rough, to say the least of it.
Probably in the wet weather it was nothing but a watercourse. Now it
displayed huge holes where the rains had washed the soil away, while
every few feet the members of the party had to negotiate boulders,
sometimes causing their animals to squeeze round them, and at others
having to urge them over the obstruction. Finally they all arrived at
the bottom, where they were thickly surrounded by jungle.
"Forward," said Jim at once, seeing the whole party mounted. "I suppose
the first thing is to get back on the track, and then ride for that
yellowish-white patch where we saw figures moving. Perhaps we'll get
there before those rascals leave; if not, we can but follow."
Some three hours later, after making but slow progress through a jungle
which was very dense in parts, and after having crossed a stream, the
bed of which was soft and boggy, they came to the rocky part where no
vegetation had succeeded in growing. It was almost dark then, and
experience told them that within a few minutes it would be impossible to
see more than a foot or two before them; for in jungle countries, even
under a brilliant moon, the shadows beneath the trees are of the
densest. No light can penetrate those thick masses of leaves and the
thousands of gaily flowered creepers which cling to the branches. Here
and there, perhaps, where the leaves give back from one another, or
where a veteran of the forest has fallen to the ground, some few rays
will filter through, making the trunks beneath look strangely ghostly,
but for the most part there is dense darkness, the kind of darkness
which one can almost feel.
"Here we camp for the night," said Jim, slipping from his saddle.
"Tomkins, I am going ahead with the two negroes and the Chinaman. I
leave Mr. Barton in charge of the whole party remaining; but of course,
if there is fighting, you will handle your men. See here, I'm going to
try to come up to the camp those fellows will have formed and snatch
away their prisoner. Whatever happens, ride at the first streak of light
and follow our tracks; we'll take good care to make them clear and open.
Tom shall blaze the trees as we pass."
Some fifteen minutes later, having meanwhile partaken of a hurried meal,
Jim, with Sam and Tom and Ching, slipped away from the little camp where
their friends were lying. For a minute, perhaps, the gleam of the lamp
that Sam carried remained visible; then the jungle swallowed it
effectually, so that presently our hero had disappeared entirely. He was
gone on an expedition which might bring success or failure, and which in
any case meant danger for him and his little party.