One strange feature of their disappearance was that the body of Herran had apparently vanished with them. Anitoo remembered the exact spot where the explorers had been stationed during the battle and, consequently, where Herran had fallen. But now, neither living nor dead explorers could be found. It seemed incredible that these people, two of them women, would have hampered themselves in their flight with the body of a dead man. And yet, there was the evidence of eyewitnesses to the killing of Herran; there was the spot where he had fallen--and as the body was not there now, it was practically certain that the explorers had carried it away with them. In this case they could not have gone very far. As Anitoo was particularly anxious for their capture, and believing that they had returned to the outer cave, where they were in danger of being attacked by what was left of Segurra's men, he sent most of his troops after them, remaining behind with Raoul and a few others until their return. "It was to get those strangers and bring them to our queen," he said, "that I came out here." "Well, you have lost them," sneered Raoul. "But you have me. Why not take me to your queen?" The two men looked at each other in silence. A faint smile lighted Anitoo's usually immobile features. "Yes," he said; "at last you will reach the place you have plotted against for so many months. But it will do you no good." "Don't be too sure of that," growled Raoul. "I want to see your queen----" "You shall see her. But what can you do? Your friend, Segurra, the first traitor to the Land of the Condor, is dead. Your men are defeated----" "Not all!" shouted Raoul. "Look around you!" With those who knew him Anitoo enjoyed a reputation for astuteness that had led to his being chosen for the command of the diminutive army considered necessary for the defense of the Land of the Condor. He was valiant, absolutely trustworthy. But he was accustomed to deal only with simple problems, with people of comparatively guileless natures. Treachery was out of the domain of his experience. And now he was to pay dearly for the lack of prudence that had allowed him to send away, on an indefinite mission, the troops he should have kept to guard his prisoner.