So one day they goes hunting, and the girl goes out alone with this here Tarzan, and they never come back; so we thought they got killed or something, and we hunt for them for about a week until we meets up with a native what had seen them. He said this here Tarzan had the girl's hands tied behind her and was leading her along with a rope around her neck; so then we knew she'd been abducted. So old man Pickerall gets a heart attack and nearly croaks, and this here Dutton says he'll find her if it's the last thing he does on earth, because the guy's soft on this Pickerall gal. So the old man says he'll give a Ł1000 reward for the safe return of his daughter, and Ł500 for Tarzan dead or alive. The old man wanted to come along, but on account of his heart he didn't dare. So that's why we're here; and you don't have to worry none about nothin'."

"So you'd like to find this here Tarzan, would you?" demanded Crump.

"I sure would."

"Well, so would I. I got somethin' to settle with him, and with Ł500 on his head it's gonna be worth my while to give a little time to this here matter; and I'm the guy that can find him."

"How's that?" demanded Gantry.

"Well, I just been up in the wild Waruturi country, aimin' to do a little tradin'. They're a bad lot, those Waruturi-cannibals and all that, but I gets along swell with old Mutimbwa, their chief. I done him a good turn once, and I always take him a lot of presents. And while I was there, they told me about a naked white man who had stolen a lot of their women and children. They say he lives up beyond the great thorn forest that grows along the foothills of the Ruturi Mountains. That's bad country in there. I don't guess no white man's ever been in it; but the natives give it a bad name.

"Some of the Waruturi followed this guy once, and they know pretty much where he holes up; but when they got beyond the thorn forest, they got scared and turned back, for all that country in there is taboo." Crump was silent for a moment; then he said, "Yes, I guess I'll join up with you fellows and help find the girl and that Tarzan guy."

"You'd like a shot at your old friend Tarzan, wouldn't you?" said Gantry.

"And at the Ł1500," added Crump.

"Nothin' doin'," said Gantry. "That's mine."

Crump grinned. "Same old Gantry, ain't you?" he demanded "But this time I got you over a barrel. I can go in alone, for I know the way; and if you try to follow, you'll end up in the Waruturi cooking pots. All I got to do is tell 'em you're comin' and they'll be waitin' for you with poisoned bamboo splinters in every trail. The only reason I'd take you along at all is because the more guns we have, the better the chance we got."

"O.K.," said Gantry. "You win. I was only kiddin' anyhow."

"Does Dutton get a cut?" asked Crump.

"No, he's doin' it because he's soft on the girl. Anyway, he's got skads of boodle."

"We'll have to cut Minsky in."

"The hell we will!" exclaimed Gantry.

"Now wait a second, Bill," said Crump. "Me and him split everything fifty-fifty. He's a good guy to have for a friend, too; but look out for him if he don't like you.