The shambles was not yet over, but the four could remain no longer. They made their way down the hillside and struck out across the arid lands. Maget, the tramp, became the leader. He was a trained jungle man, and it was he who finally brought them safely to the Madeira. He was their strong man, the one who found the trail and located roots and fruit for the party to subsist on. They nearly perished in the trip for lack of water, but again, Maget was able to supply them with roots which kept them from dying in agony. * * * * * They lay upon the river bank now, exhausted but alive. Maget had assisted old Gurlone, acted as his staff, half carried him the last miles of the trip. Their clothes were almost gone, they were burned to crisps by the tropic sun. Flies and other insects had taken their toll. But Maget had brought them through. The tall, thin fellow's hair had turned utterly white. But so had his soul. "You're a good man, Maget," said Professor Gurlone. "You have saved us, and you have been brave as a lion." Maget shook his head. "Professor," he said. "I came into the jungle to rob you. Durkin and I bribed Juan to steal that radium, and I feel responsible for his death. We thought you had diamonds or gold in the Matto Grosso, and we were after it. That's why I am here." "You have repaid your debt to us, more than fully," said Kenneth, holding out his hand. "Yes," said Espinosa. "Will you keep me with you, then?" asked Maget anxiously. "Are--will you go back there?" * * * * * Professor Gurlone stared at him, and then said, in a surprised tone, "Why, of course!" "But the monsters?" asked Maget. "Many of them will die in the outer air," said Gurlone. "The survivors of the battles will start eating the dead. They will finally clear away the debris of dead creatures about the radium shack. As each is exposed to the rays of the concentrated metal, it will die. The others will eat it, and be killed in turn. Thus, they will be destroyed. If there are any survivors after this evident turn of events, then we will cope with them when we return, reinforced. Dynamite, enough of it, will finish them off. And, Maget, in your next pursuit after knowledge of strange things, you may get a few earthly riches. The radium is still there, and you will share in it." "Thank you," said Maget humbly. "I'm with you to the end." "You must keep quiet about this," cautioned Kenneth Gurlone. "We do not want the world to know too much of our vast store of radium. It would attract adventurers and we would be annoyed by ignorant men. But we're thankful you lay drunk in that saloon when my father spoke of the millions, Maget."