end.'
'You won't lower me down,' said Alexis. 'I wouldn't go down there alone again for all the baggage in the world.'
Brown looked at the man with disgust that he made no effort to conceal. 'All right,' he said, 'you stay up here and help Tibbs; I'll go down and unfasten the stuff when you lower it to me.'
'If you think I'm going to balance out there on that limb and unload the baggage compartment, you're mistaken,' said the prince. 'It's absolutely out of the question; I get very dizzy in high places, and I should most certainly fall.'
'Well, what are you going to do?' demanded Brown; 'sit around here while the rest of us wait on you?'
'That's what you servants were hired for,' said Alexis.
'Oh, yeah? Well—'
'I'll go down below,' said Jane. 'Brown, you and Tibbs lower the stuff to me. Now let's get busy,' and with that she turned and dropped down through the trees to the ground below.
With a grunt of disgust, Brown climbed out on the limb that led to the baggage compartment, followed by Tibbs; and the two soon lowered away the remainder of the luggage.
'Now lower your passengers,' called Jane, after Brown had told her that there was no more baggage. 'Alexis, you come first.'
'Come on, your majesty,' said Brown; 'you're going first.'
'I told you that I wouldn't go down there alone,' said the prince. 'Lower the others.'
'All right, your majesty, but if you don't go now, you'll either climb down yourself or stay here till Hell freezes over, for all I care. Come ahead, Annette; I guess you're the one to go first, and then we'll lower the old lady.'
'Brown, how dare you refer to me so disrespectfully?' It was the voice of the Princess Sborov coming from the interior of the cabin.
'There's nothing wrong with her ears,' said Brown, with a grin.
'I'm terribly afraid, Mr. Brown,' said Annette.
'You needn't be, little one,' he replied; 'we'll see that nothing happens to you. Come on, sit down in the doorway and I'll put this belt around you.'
'You won't drop me?'
'Not a chance, my dear. I might drop royalty, but not you.'
She flashed him a quick smile. 'You are so very nice, Mr. Brown,' she said.
'You just finding that out? Well, come on, sister; climb out on this branch here. I'll help you. Steady—now sit down. Ready, Tibbs?'
'Ready, sir,' replied Tibbs.
'All right. Now down you go.'
Annette clutched her rosary, closed her eyes, and started praying, but before she realized it she had touched the ground and Jane was helping to remove the belt from about her.
'Now, princess,' called Brown.
'Oh, I can't move,' cried the princess. 'I'm paralyzed. I mean, I really am.'
Brown turned to Sborov. 'Go in there, mister, and fork your old lady out,' he snapped. 'We ain't got no time to fool around. Tell her if she don't come pronto, we'll leave you both up here.'
'You unspeakable ruffian,' sputtered the prince.
'Shut up, and go on and do what I tell you to,' growled the pilot.
Sborov turned back to his wife and helped her to the door of the cabin, but one glance down was enough for her. She screamed and shrank back.
'Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up,' said Brown.
'I can't. I mean, I just can't, Brown.'
Brown made his way to the cabin. He carried the end of a long strap with him. 'Come on,' he said, 'let me get this around you.'
'But I can't do it, I tell you. I mean, I shall die of fright.'
'You won't die of nothing; half-witted people live forever.'
'That will be enough out of you, Brown. I have endured all of your insults that I am going to.' The princess bridled and attempted to look very dignified, in which, in her dishevelled condition, she failed miserably.
Brown had stooped and fastened the belt about her.
'Ready, Tibbs?' he asked.
'Yes, sir. All ready, sir,' replied the valet.
'Come on then, princess. Here, you, give me a lift. Shove on her from behind.'
Brown pulled from in front, and Alexis pushed from behind, and the Princess Sborov shrieked and clawed at everything in sight in an attempt to get a hold that they could not break.
'What's the matter up there?' demanded Jane. 'Is anyone hurt?'
'No,' replied Brown. 'We're just moving the better half of the royal family. Now listen, princess, we're doing this for your own good. If you stays up here alone, you starves to death.'
'Yes, go on, Kitty. You're delaying things,' said Alexis.
'A lot you'd care if I were killed, Alexis. I suppose you'd be glad if I were dead—it's all that will you got me to make. I was a big fool to do it; but, believe me, I mean, just as soon as I find writing materials, I'm going to change it, after what you said to me and what you called me. I'll cut you off without a cent, Alexis, without a cent.'
The eyes of Prince Sborov closed to two ugly slits. His brow contracted in a frown, but he made no reply.
Brown took the princess' hands and held them away from the chair to which she had been clinging. 'There ain't no use, princess,' he said, a little less harshly this time, for he saw that the woman was genuinely terrified. 'Tibbs and I'll see that you don't get hurt none. We'll lower you easy, and Lady Greystoke and Annette are down there to help you. Just get hold of yourself and show a little spunk for a minute and it will be over.'
'Oh, I shall die, I know I shall die.'
Brown and Alexis lifted her out of the cabin onto the branch that passed close to the doorway. Slowly they eased her off it and then lowered her carefully to the ground.
'Well, Tibbs,' said Brown, 'I guess you're next. Do you want to be lowered, or will you climb down?'
'I shall climb down,' replied Tibbs. 'You and I can go together and perhaps help one another.'
'Hey, how about me?' demanded Sborov.
'You climb, too, you louse, or you can stay up here,' replied Brown, 'and I don't mean maybe!'
Chapter 8 Ydeni, the Kavuru
FRAMED in the small doorway of the hut and silhouetted against the lesser darkness beyond, Tarzan saw the figure of his stealthy nocturnal visitor and knew that it was a man.
Helpless in his bonds, the Lord of the Jungle could only wait, for he could not defend himself. And though he chafed at the thought of giving up his life without an opportunity to defend it, he was still unmoved and unafraid.
The figure crept closer, groping in the darkness, when suddenly Tarzan spoke. 'Who are you?' he demanded.
The creature sought to silence him with a sibilant hiss. 'Not so loud,' he cautioned. 'I am Gupingu, the witchdoctor.'
'What do you want?'
'I have come to set you free. Go back to your people, Kavuru, and tell them that Gupingu saved you from death. Tell them that because of this, they must not harm Gupingu or take his daughters from him.'
Darkness hid the faint smile with which Tarzan received this charge. 'You are a wise man, Gupingu,' he said; 'now cut my bonds.'
'One thing more,' said Gupingu.
'What is that?'
