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jungle； and got near the den in the rocks where the tigers lived。〃
〃Well； there is a wild beast smell all around here；〃 admitted Tom；
sniffing the air。 〃It's the alligators in the river I guess。 You know they
have an odor of musk。〃
〃Do you mean to say you didn't feel that shadow flying over us just
now？〃 asked Ned。
〃Well； I felt something sail through the air； but I took it to be a big bird。
I didn't pay much attention。 To tell you the truth I was thinking about
Beecherwondering when he would get here；〃 added Tom quickly as if to
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forestall any question as to whether or not his thoughts had to do with
Beecher in connection with Tom's affair of the heart。
〃Well it wasn't a birdat least not a regular bird；〃 said Ned in a low
voice； as once more he looked at the dark and gloomy jungle that stretched
back from the river and behind the little clearing where the camp had been
made。
〃Come on！〃 cried Tom； in what he tried to make a cheerful voice。
〃This is getting on your nerves； Ned； and I didn't know you had any。 Let's
go back and turn in。 I'm dog…tired and the mosquitoes are beginning to
find that we're here。 Let's get under the nets。 Then the black shadows
won't get you。〃
Not at all unwilling to leave so gloomy a scene； Ned； after a brief
glance up and down the dark river； followed his chum。 They found
Professor Bumper and Mr。 Damon in their tent； a separate one having been
set up for the two men adjoining that of the youths。
〃Bless my fountain pen！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon； as he caught sight of
Tom and Ned in the flickering light of the smudge fire between the two
canvas shelters。 〃We were just wondering what had become of you。〃
〃We were chasing shadows！〃 laughed Tom。 〃At least Ned was。 But
you look cozy enough in there。〃
It did； indeed； look cheerful in contrast to the damp and dark jungle all
about。 Professor Bumper； being an experienced traveler； knew how to
provide for such comforts as were possible。 Folding cots had been
opened for himself； Mr。 Damon and the guide to sleep on； others； similar；
being set up in the tent where Tom and Ned were to sleep。 In the middle
of the tent the professor had made a table of his own and Mr。 Damon's suit
cases； and on this placed a small dry battery electric light。 He was
making some notes； doubtless for a future book。 Jacinto was going about
the camp； seeing that the Indians were at their duties； though most of them
had gone directly to sleep after supper。
〃Better get inside and under the nets；〃 advised Professor Bumper to
Tom and Ned。 〃The mosquitoes here are the worst I ever saw。〃
〃We're beginning to believe that；〃 returned Ned； who was unusually
quiet。 〃Come on； Tom。 I can't stand it any longer。 I'm itching in a
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dozen places now from their bites。〃
As Tom and Ned had no wish for a light； which would be sure to
attract insects； they entered their tent in the dark； and were soon stretched
out in comparative comfort。 Tom was just on the edge of a deep sleep
when he heard Ned murmur：
〃I can't understand it！〃
〃What's that？〃 asked the young inventor。
〃I say I can't understand it。〃
〃Understand what？〃
〃That shadow。 It was real and yet〃
〃Oh； go to sleep！〃 advised Tom； and； turning over； he was soon
breathing heavily and regularly； indicating that he； at least； had taken his
own advice。
Ned； too； finally succumbed to the overpowering weariness of the first
day of travel； and he； too； slept； though it was an uneasy slumber；
disturbed by a feeling as though some one were holding a heavy black
quilt over his head； preventing him from breathing。
The feeling； sensation or dreamwhatever it wasperhaps a
nightmarebecame at last so real to Ned that he struggled himself into
wakefulness。 With an effort he sat up； uttering an inarticulate cry。 To
his surprise he was answered。 Some one asked：
〃What is the matter？〃
〃Whowho are you？〃 asked Ned quickly； trying to peer through the
darkness。
〃This is Jacintoyour guide；〃 was the soft answer。 〃I was walking
about camp and； hearing you murmuring； I came to your tent。 Is
anything wrong？〃
For a moment Ned did not answer。 He listened and could tell by the
continued heavy and regular breathing of his chum that Tom was still
asleep。
〃Are you in our tent？〃 asked Ned； at length：
〃Yes；〃 answered Jacinto。 〃I came in to see what was the matter with
you。 Are you ill？〃
〃No； of course not；〃 said Ned； a bit shortly。 〃II had a bad dream； that
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was all。 All right now。〃
〃For that I am glad。 Try to get all the sleep you can； for we must start
early to avoid the heat of the day；〃 and there was the sound of the guide
leaving and arranging the folds of the mosquito net behind him to keep out
the night… flying insects。
Once more Ned composed himself to sleep； and this time successfully；
for he did not have any more unpleasant dreams。 The quiet of the jungle
settled down over the camp； at least the comparative quiet of the jungle；
for there were always noises of some sort going on； from the fall of some
rotten tree limb to the scream or growl of a wild beast； while； now and
again； from the river came the pig…like grunts of the alligators。
It was about two o'clock in the morning； as they ascertained later；
when the whole camp white travelers and allwas suddenly awakened
by a wild scream。 It seemed to come from one of the natives； who called
out a certain word ever and over again。 To Tom and Ned it sounded like：
〃Oshtoo！ Oshtoo！ Oshtoo！〃
〃What's the matter？〃 cried Professor Bumper。
〃The vampires！〃 came the answering voice of Jacinto。 〃One of the
Indians has been attac