“Hardly, when you consider the attitude of our own porters,” went on the former soldier. “They are of the same tribe, and have many things in common. There could hardly be a chance to deceive. No, I think we have come on the wrong trail, and will have to start back and begin over again.” It was hard, but there was nothing else to be done. The villagers welcomed their unexpected guests, and set aside some huts for the use of the porters. Of course the whites camped by themselves in their tents. Soon supper was being served and later a walk about the place convinced even Mr. Duncan that he need have nothing to suspect of these Africans. Their head men told a straight story. They had been off on a hunting trip and had passed through the burned village. They even appropriated some of the things overlooked by the natives who had pillaged it, but this was all. “Then it means another search,” said the father of the captive girl. “But that will be successful--I’m sure of it,” declared C. C. Piper. “We’ll find her next time.” “I’m sure I hope so,” spoke Blake. They began their return trip the next morning, refusing an invitation from the friendly natives to stay and take part in a hunt with them. “We might get some good moving pictures,” said Blake. “But I want to get on with our main quest.” “So do I,” said Joe. And so back they went. The advance to the place of the burned village was without incident, save that some moving pictures were obtained of the smaller animals feeding and drinking. Some monkeys were discovered and a very funny film was made from their antics, as Joe, hidden in the dense underbrush, filmed them at their play. “I think you boys are in for something good,” said Mr. Hotchkiss one day when they had gone about a day’s journey away from the pillaged mission station, on a new trail this time. “What is that?” asked Joe. “At a water hole not far off now,” was the answer of the former soldier. “It’s the main one for this region and all about it is quite a dry stretch. You ought to be able to get some fine views there if you can secure a good location and remain undiscovered.” They had made a careful inspection of the burned station on again reaching it and, when they had almost given up hope, they had found a very much frightened native boy who had been witness of the original attack. He had attended the mission school a short time, and when the black warriors, in a spirit of wantonness, it would appear, descended on the peaceful station he had run away and hid. Later he came back and for some time had been living in the vicinity. He pointed out a totally different route taken by the pillagers and he stated that they had carried off the white captives. “Thank the Lord for that!” exclaimed Mr. Duncan. “Then Jessie may yet be alive--she and Mr. and Mrs. Brown.” And so they had taken the new trail--the one they hoped would be the right one.