stating the truth about his knowledge of wireless the boy started to
send. He had in his mind the message he would try to get through:

"We have been attacked. Get help and follow us."

But he had hardly tapped out with a hesitating finger the first word
of his message when he felt a bullet whiz by his ear and the report
flashed so close to him that it deafened him and scorched his skin.

"Thought I was bluffing did you, eh?" sneered the Portuguese, "come
now, no tricks; send out what I tell you or the next bullet will
come closer."

And so it came about that the queer hesitating message that Frank
received at Moon Mountains was sent out.

Immediately it was dispatched Muley-Hassan gave the order to advance
and his ragged followers, carrying the worst wounded in improvised
litters, set out toward the northwest.

"We are going to the Moon Mountains," whispered Billy to Lathrop,
"at least it looks that way. I overheard Muley-Hassan say to Diego
that we'd have to hurry to get the ivory--"

Lathrop's reply was cut short by a scene that sent the angry blood
to both boys' faces.

Before the camp was abandoned for good and the plunge into the
forest began, Muley-Hassan gave a sharp order and directed several
of his men set about demolishing the camp. Diego himself smashed