The Village of Torture

           AsthelittleexpeditionofsailorstoiledthroughthedensejunglesearchingforsignsofJanePorter,thefutilityoftheirventurebecamemoreandmoreapparent,butthegriefoftheoldmanandthehopelesseyesoftheyoungEnglishmanpreventedthekindheartedD’Arnotfromturningback.

           Hethoughtthattheremightbeabarepossibilityoffindingherbody,ortheremainsofit,forhewaspositivethatshehadbeendevouredbysomebeastofprey.HedeployedhismenintoaskirmishlinefromthepointwhereEsmeraldahadbeenfound,andinthisextendedformationtheypushedtheirway,sweatingandpanting,throughthetangledvinesandcreepers.Itwasslowwork.Noonfoundthembutafewmilesinland.Theyhaltedforabriefrestthen,andafterpushingonforashortdistancefurtheroneofthemendiscoveredawell-markedtrail.

           Itwasanoldelephanttrack,andD’ArnotafterconsultingwithProfessorPorterandClaytondecidedtofollowit.

           Thepathwoundthroughthejungleinanortheasterlydirection,andalongitthecolumnmovedinsinglefile.

           LieutenantD’Arnotwasintheleadandmovingataquickpace,forthetrailwascomparativelyopen.ImmediatelybehindhimcameProfessorPorter,butashecouldnotkeeppacewiththeyoungermanD’Arnotwasahundredyardsinadvancewhensuddenlyahalfdozenblackwarriorsaroseabouthim.