Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-06-01
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST
BY H. RIDER HAGcARD.
copyright, 1898, by the Author.l
tcoNTIyUED.l


CONTINUED
Leonard followed him without word
He was too hcartbroken to speak, Will,
Juanna rose and returned to the spo
where Nam had robbed her Looking NJ
presently, her eyes still blurred with tears
She saw Leonard and the dwarf laboriousl,
pushing two heavy stones across the snow
toward her.
Now, deliyerer," he said, when am
safe across, all that you must do is to Iii
fat upon the stone, both of you, and t.
push little with the spear. Then befor.
you know it you will be by my side.
rAll right, said Leonard doubtfully.
well, suppose that you had better start
| Waiting won't make the matter any
easier
'Yes, baas, will go now. All, little
did think that should ever be called
on to take such a ride as this. Well. it will
be something to make songs about after.
ward"
And Otter laid himself face downward
on the stono with little laugh, though
Leonard noticed that, however brave his
spirit might be, he could not prevent his
flesh from revealing its natural weakness,
for it quivercd pitifully.
Now, baas, - he said, gripping the edges
of the stone with his large hands, when
l give the word to you, push gently, and
then you will see how a black bird can 1y.
Put your head lower, baas"
Leonard obeyed, and the dwarf whisper
cd in his ear
u only want to say, baas, in case we
should not meet again, for accidents viii
happen even ON the safest roads, that am
sorry that l made such u pig of myself
yondcr 1t was so duh down there in that
hole of palace, and the fog made me see
all things wrong. Moreover, drink and II
wife have corrupted many a better man.
Don't answer, baas, but push, for l am
growing afraid. I"
Placing bis hand at the back of the
stone, Leonard gave it a gentle shove. 1t
began TO move, very slowly at first, then
more fast and faster yet, till it was rush
ing over tho smooth ice pathway with a
| whirring sound like that produced by the
flight of n bird. Presently it had reached
tho bottom of the first long slope and was
climbing the gentle rise opposite SO slowly
that for awhile Leonard thought that it
was going to stop. 1t crossed its brow,
| however, and vanished for few seconds
into a dip, where the watchers could not
see it; then it appeared again at the head
Of the second and longest slope, Of which
the angle was very steep. Down this it
rushed like an arrow from bow till it
reached the narrow waist of the bridge, of
which the general conformation bore some
resemblance to that of II dead wasp lying
on its back. Indeed, from where Leonard
and Juanna stood, the span of ice at this
~.
| yer thread, while Otter and stone might
have been "a fly upon the thread. Now OF
| a sudden Leonard distinctly saw the rock
sledge and its living burden, which just
then was travelling its swiftest, move up
ward as though it had leaped into the air,
and then continue its course up the rising
plane, which represented the throat of the
wasp, till ~ length it stopped.
Leonard looked at his watch. The time
occupied by the transit was just 80 sec
ontls, and the distance could not have been
much less than half a mile.
Sec, " he cried to Jnanna, who all this
while had sfs with her hand before her
eyes to shut cut the vision of the dwarf s
dreadful progress, he has crossed safelyii'
and lie pointed to figure that appeared to
be dancing with glce upon the breast of
the anow slope.
AS he spoke faint sound reached their
ears, for in those immense silences sound
can travel far. twas Otter shouting, and
his words seemed to be, Come on, baas;
it is casyP
Il am glad he is SAFE" said Juanna
family, but now we must follow him.
Take my handkerchief, Leonard, and tic
it over my eyes, please, for cannot bear
to look. Oh, the idol $ head was. nothing
to thisl''
Leonard obeyed her, bidding her not to
be afraid.
As they came to the stone Leonard
heard sound behind him of footsteps
niufilcd by the snow, and glancing round
saw Soa rushing toward them, almost
naked, a spear wound in her side and tho
light of madness shining in her eyes.
Get back, he said stcrnly. or
And he lifted the great spear.
20 Shepherless, she walled, take
me with you, Shcpherdess, for 1 cannot
live without you"
Tell her to go away" said Juanna,
recognizing the voice. Il never want to
sec her any more. +"
- Then you can die, Soa," answered
Leonard. Stay. How is it gone yonder?
Speak truly, or there is an end. ~
- know not, dcliverer. When l left,
Olfan and his brother still held the mouth
Of the tunnel ohd were still unhurt, but
the captain was dead. l slipped past them
and got this as won't" And she pointed
to the cash in her side.
IF he can hold out little longer, help
may reach him." nuttered Leonard.
Then, without more words, he laid him
self ard Juanna face downward on the
bread store
Now, .Iuanna, he said, 1--WE are going
to start. Grip fast with your right hand
and see that you do not let go of the
edge Of the stone, or we shall both slip off
it,"
"Oh, take me with you, Shepherdess,
take me with You. and l will be wicked
DO more, but serve you as of oldl' shrilied
tho voice CT sea in SO despairing "a cry that
the rocks rang.
Hold fast, said Leonard through his
sst teeth as disengaging his right hand
from about Jaanna's waist he seized the
handle Of the spear and pressed its broad
blade against knob of rock behind them.
Now re stone, that was balanced ON the
very verge of the deolivity, trembled be-
meath them, and now slowly and males
tically, as ship starting from her slips
when the launching cord is severed, it be-
gan to move down the icy way.
For the first second it scarcely seemed
to stir; then the motion grew palpable,
and Leonard heard sound behind him
and felt his left foot clasped by human
hand. There was jerk that nearly drag
ged them off their sledge. but he held fast
to the front edge of the stone, and though
he could still feel the hand upon his ankle
the strain became almost imperceptible.
CHAPTER xxx
Lifting his head cautiously, Leonard
looked over his shoulder, and the mystery
was explained In her madness and the
t,rv Of bar love fo- thr mi StracS W hon, che