San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-30

ON. They rushed at the blazing fence.
It broke before them. Without We're a
knot of the Slayers standing back a
small space because of the heat of the
fire. The Slayers saw them, and cry
ing, "This is Bulalio! Kill the wizardr'
sprang toward them with uplifted
spears. Now the People of the AK
made a ring around NADIA, and in the
front of it were Umslopogaas and Galazi.
Then they rushed on and met those of
the Slayers who stood before them, and
were through with but one man slain,
but the cry went up that the chief of the
wizards and the Lily, his wife, had fed.
Then the captain called off the Slayers
from watching for the jewellers in the
town and started in pursuit of UNI
slopogaas.
Meanwhile the Wolf Brethren and
those with them were well away, and
were half way down the gorge that led
to the river before the companies of the
Slayers poured into it. Now they came
to the end of it and the foe was near.
Then Galazi stopped and spoke:
HALT, we People of the Az" he said,
"and let us talk awhile with these who
follow till we find our breath again.
But you, my brother, pass the river with
the Lily in your hand. We will join you
in the forest, but if perchance we cannot
find you, you know what must be done.
Set the Lily in the cave, then return and
call up the gray impi. Go now, my
brother"
sit is not my way to turn and run
while others stand and fight" growled
Umslopogaas, ''yet because of NADIA it
seems that must"
"Oh, heed me not, my love-" said
NADIA. 81 have brought thee sorrow. |
am weary; let me die. Stay me and
save yourselves"
For answer Umslopogaas took her by
the hand and fled toward the river, yet
before he reached it he heard the sounds
of the fray.
Now they had leaped into the foaming
river, and here it was well that the Lily
could swim, else had both been lost.
But they won through and passed on to
the mountain flank. Here they walked
ON in the forest, till at length Umslopo-
gaas heard the bowling of wolf.
Then he must set NADIA on his shout
ders and carry her as once Galazi had
carried another, for it was death for any
to walk on the Ghost mountain save the
Wolf Brethren only.
Presently the wolves focked around
him and leaped upon him in joy, glaring
with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his
shoulders. NADIA saw them and we'll
nigh fell from her seat fainting with
fear, for they were many and dreadful,
and when they howled her blood turned
to ice.
But Umslopogaas cheered her, telling
her that these were his dogs with whom
he went a-hunting. At length they came
to the knees of the old Witch and the
entrance of the cave.
Here you must bide, sweet" said
UmslOpOgaas when he had driven out
this little matter of the Slayers is fin
ished. See! Now will show you the
secret of the stone; thus far | will push
it, and no farther. Now a touch only
is needed to send it over the socket and
home-but then they must be two strong
men who can pull it back again. There
fore push it no farther, except in the ut
most need, lest it remain where it fall
whether you will it or not. Have no
fear; here you are safe"
Now NADIA wept saying that she fear
ed to be left and that she should never
see him more, and her grief wrung his
heart. Nevertheless he kissed her and
went. closing the stone after him in that
fashion of which he had spoken. When
the stone was closed the cave was almost
dark, except only for a ray of light that
entered by a hole little larger than a
mans hand that, looked at from within,
was on the right of the stone. NADIA sat
herself so that this ray of light struck
full on her, for she loved light and with.
out it she would pine as flowers do. And
as she sat thus, suddenly the ray went
out and she heard a noise as of some
beast that smells at prey. She looked
and in the gloom she saw the sharp nose
and grinning fangs of wolf that were
thrust toward her through the little
hole.
She cried aloud in her fear and the
fangs were snatched back, but presently
she heard scratching without the stone
and saw the stone shake. Then she
thought in her foolishness that the wolf
knew how to open the stdke and that he
would do this and devour her, for she
had heard the tale that all these wolves
were the ghosts of evil men, having the
understanding of men. So in her fear
and folly she seized the stone and dragged
on as Umslopogaas had shown her the
way. 1t shook, it slipped over the socket
ledge and rolled home like a pebble
down the mouth of gourd.
Now am safe from the wolves"