Journeying up the Kwanza River, Solomon Kane's expedition is ambushed by native warriors, intent on killing the imposter Father Goncallo. Later, at the ruins of the Sao Marcos Mission, the battered adventurers regroup and chart their course for the treasure of the Serpent Men and the Ring of Thoth-Amon. Abramo voices suspicion of the 'priest' Goncallo, who slips away to inform Sha-Kabet's serpent messenger of the party's movements.
At Towering Rocks, Snake Men strike under cover of night. Here, Goncallo's true nature is revealed just before he is slain, Kane is bitten by the venomous staff-turned-serpent of Sha-Kabet, and Abramo is abducted - but the Snake Men are repelled.
At dawn, with Kane near death, Zarza forces him to confess to Diamanta the truth of her uncle's death. With time running out to save Abramo, the party presses on, leaving Kane behind. They arrive at the temple of the Serpent Men, unaware of the horrors that await.
