“Come on, Dad!” shouted Joe, as he and Blake rushed into the deserted native village, several huts of which were now ablaze. “We’ll get Jessie!” “Jessie! Jessie! Where are you?” cried the anxious father. “We have come to save you!” CHAPTER XXV SISTER JESSIE For a moment there was a lull in the noise. The firing had ceased, the skyrockets and Roman candles had died away. The aerial bombs no longer crashed like thunder overhead. The attacking party, flushed with victory, ceased for the time their cries of delight at the ease with which they had driven off their enemies. As for the kidnapping natives, they were no longer in sight, for they had slunk off into the jungle, fearing the just vengeance of those whom they had despoiled and captured. “Jessie! Jessie!” shouted Mr. Duncan again. “Are you here? We have come to save you.” There was silence again, and then from one of the smaller huts, near the one where the king had dwelt, came girlish tones. “Who is calling me? Yes, I am here. Oh, Mr. Brown, is that you? What has happened? Where is Mrs. Brown? Oh, what is going on?” “Jessie! Jessie!” called another voice--one that seemed to come from an adjoining hut. “I did not call. I don’t know what to make of it. My wife is here, but she has fainted. I can’t get out. I’m tied. So is she. Can you escape and tell me what it is? I fear the village is on fire. I heard guns----” “So did I. Oh! if it is only a rescue----” her voice faltered and she could be heard to sob. “It is a rescue!” shouted Joe. “Dad and I have come for you, Jessie. I’m your brother. Father is here!” “Father--brother!” faltered the tones. “I have none. I am all alone----” “Hurry out before the hut catches fire!” cried Mr. Duncan, who, in rushing toward the rude building, had stumbled and fallen. “I am a prisoner--tied fast,” the girl’s voice answered. “Oh! whoever you are, save us!” “Come on,” yelled Blake. “This whole place will be on fire in a few minutes. We’ve got to get ’em out!” They dashed for the huts. It was a matter of seconds only to tear aside the grass cloth that served as doors. Then the flames from several burning huts lighted up the interior. Joe, leaping inside the one whence the girl’s voice had come, saw tied to the centre pole a maiden. With his knife he slashed the bonds of twisted fibre and, catching her in his arms as she fell forward, he cried: “Jessie! Jessie! I’ve found you at last. Here she is, Dad!” Mr. Duncan rushed in. Taking the burden from Joe he carried the girl out of the hut, the roof of which had already caught. In the light of the fire he looked at her pale face. “Yes, it is Jessie--my Jessie!” he exclaimed as he kissed her. “Though I have not seen her since she was a baby I would know her anywhere. Oh, Jessie, we have you again! I have my son and daughter now!” The girl opened her eyes. Wonderingly she looked at Joe and his father. “Is it--is it really true?” she faltered.