"You think he had got ahead of us?"

"I did not say I thought so, I only say that it is possible that he
may have done so."

"How could he have got wind of our coming?"

"In Africa there is a sort of underground wire for news," replied
Frank. "I have no doubt that hundreds of natives far in the
interior are by this time apprised of our coming."

Harry looked alarmed.

"That's bad," he said.

"Well, it couldn't be helped: but we may have other enemies nearer
at hand."

"What do you mean?"

"That I don't like the looks of that Portuguese fellow. If he got
wind of what we are doing he would be likely to ruin the whole
object of our expedition."

"That's so. We'll have to get rid of him."

"Well, we are going to, and if he won't go for gentle means we'll
try rough ones."

"Hullo, what's that?" exclaimed Harry suddenly.