Further Foolishness

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 210, 6 September 1938, Page 17

Further Foolishness

Prodded, pushed and kicked, the hunters were hurried forward, etumbling, tripping over dead branches and boulders, and tearing their skin with briars they eventually arrived at the village. Then- eaptors brought them roughly to a halt, and jerking the bandages from their eyes, they motioned them inside a small thatched hut and shut the door. "Well," said Bret, gazing at hi* wounds tenderly, ."they're a nice lot." The Russian was loosening the ropes which secured hi* hands. Bret followed hk example, and a minute later both men were free. The Russian walked over to a email window in the side of the hut and peered out. Bret casually pushed the door. To his surorlse it fell open. "That's funny," he remarked. His companion nodded, "There's something queer going on here," he said. "Ffrst of all we are allowed to elip our bonds without difficulty. Then we're placed in a hut without a guard and the door open. I wonder what it's all about!" "Well, for Mike's sake, Whisky, let's go while we've got the chance," said Bret. "1 don't like those dwarfs, anyway." He put his head cautiously round the door. "All clear," he said, and the two hunters stepped softly out of their prison. There was not a sign of movement In the village. In the centre four pygmies sat.on guard round a biasing fire. Their short spears were at their sides and their tiny bodies were wrapped in coloured blankets. "They won't bother us. They're asleep," whispered the Russian. He led the way to the shadow of a neighbouring hut, and with a final glance at the guards he advanced towards the jungle. Then eiiddenly he stopped short, pulling Bret back behind a hut. "I understand now," he said "why they left us unguarded, and especially why they blindfolded us." His hand was at hie neck. "They took the compass," he added'. "What fools we Were not to have thought of it before." "What' do you mean?" asked Bret, bewildered. "We Vere blindfolded," explained the Russian, "so that we would not know the direction in which we were led. They took my compass «o that we could not find the direction If we tried to escape. That fe v why they left the hut unguarded." "Of all the luck I" Bret commented miserably; "The sky!" The Russian half shouted the.words. But even as he glanced upwards he cursed the cunning of the Kosaki. The «ky was pitch-black—not » star was. visible.