Chapter Ten: Escaping the Natives

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Trying to beat the natives to the camp they set out at a high speed, almost running through the jungle. Soon the priest ended up being last and having trouble keeping up. They realized that they never would make it. They started out north of their trail and tried to hide. Diana headed back to the camp, moving much faster alone. She reached it and gave the crew Van Der Decken's orders. Diana told them that if they needed the boat to get them they would use a flare in the shoreline. They had just about time to get the most important equipment and leave before the canoes reached the shore.

Diana returned to the others followed by the natives following close in their trail. As Diana reached the others they started circling back toward the shore further to the north. The natives was gaining on them but hadn't spotted them yet. The priest couldn't take it any more, but fell to his knees drawing for his breath. They quickly agreed on that the others continued with the ape before it woke up and revealed their position, while Diana stayed behind with the priest. Diana helped the priest to hide in the undergrowth and climbed into a tree above him herself. The natives approached slowly apparently suspecting some foul play. They were big and muscular wearing large plumes of bright red-orange feathers around their faces and not much else. They were poking in the bush with their large spears.

The priest was trying to keep his heavy breathing as quiet as possible while they waited for the natives to pass. As they approached the priest's bush Diana tensed as she readied herself for leaping down on the would be finder. The natives moved past. They both relaxed. After waiting for the natives to disapear they followed them.