"Someone's heading this way." With a swift silent motion of his right hand, he drew out one of his .45 automatics. Jan crouched beside the masked man in a tangle of wild grass. They were fairly near the campsite. "Another darn mantis?" Up ahead the chest-high grass swayed and rattled. The Phantom shook his head. "Human." The dry, thrashing sound rose in intensity. Then a voice called out, "Jan, where are you, Jan?" "It's Karl," exclaimed the girl, starting to her feet. The Phantom pushed her back down, cautioning, "They may be using him to decoy you out into the open. Wait right here; don't show yourself until I come for you." As he spoke, he upholstered his other black automatic and handed it to her. "I believe you know how to use one of these." "Yes, I do." Suddenly the Phantom was gone. He moved away through the high grass noiselessly. The blonde girl knelt and waited, the .45 automatic resting on her palm. Overhead a swarm of gnats, the size of golf balls, were hovering. "Jan, everything's okay," called Karl.
