XII: Kidnapped! explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Survival and Resilience

  David and Juag adapt to the loss of Dian and use the jaloks to continue their quest.

• Love and Loyalty

  David's determination to rescue Dian and the loyalty of Raja the jalok.

• Deception and Betrayal

  Dian's abduction by a Thurian who took her from behind.

Characters to notice

• David Innes

  Narrator and protagonist; searches for Dian after her abduction, uses Raja to track the kidnapper.

• Dian the Beautiful

  Abducted by a Thurian while David and Juag were hunting; her javelin and signs of struggle are found.

• Juag

  Islander companion; helps with the thag kill and is left to prepare the canoe and wait for David's return.

• Raja

  David's tamed jalok; returns with his mate and helps track Dian's abductor.

• Ranee

  Raja's mate; initially hostile but eventually accepts David and Juag.

Key passages

• “I searched about the spot carefully. At last I was rewarded by the discovery of her javelin, a few yards from the bush that had concealed us from the charging thag—her javelin and the indications of a struggle revealed by the trampled vegetation and the overlapping footprints of a woman and a man.”

  David finds Dian's javelin and signs of a struggle, confirming she was abducted.

  Discovery of the abduction.

• “It was Raja—the jalok whose life I had saved, and whom I then had tamed! There was no doubt that he was glad to see me.”

  David recognizes Raja, the jalok he had tamed, who returns with his mate.

  Reunion with Raja.

• “I pointed to the ground where the evidences of the struggle were plainest and where the scent must have been strong to Raja’s nostrils. Then I grasped the remnant of leash that hung about his neck and urged him forward upon the trail.”

  David uses Raja to track Dian's kidnapper by scent.

  Tracking the kidnapper.