The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23

vegetation. Modified by the new happi.
ness and light that filled her life the dull
ness of her comprehension was still dimly
reflected in her face and in the heaviness
OF her N ovements.
But suddenly she paused in her Groom
ing and play with her baby, raised her
head and sat in rigid stiffness, listening.
Then her face blanched and, snatching
her baby to her breast, she sprang to the
door and eagerly scanned the vast stretch
of dead grass palpitating in the sun.
go Cod" she exclaimed. sit is com ing"
AS she spoke blast of hot air struck her
white cheek, coming suddenly to disturb
the dead calm that hitherto had pre-
vailed. To the windward, rolling in great
writhing wreaths toward the sky, was a
dense gray smoke, that mounting rapidly,
in moment turned the brilliant sunshine
to dusky opal hue. The flames, urged
by high wind, whose forerunner had just
assailed her, ran toward her with incredi-
BILE speed and fury-with the speed of the
wind and the fury of destruction. She
knew what it was bringing to her in her
lonely and exposed position.
There was no time for regrets; pre-
cious treasure was clasped to her bosom,
and that was the one thing in all the world
to be saved from the merciless monster
coming to raze and devour all that lay in
its path With a silent prayer to AL
mighty God for the safe deliverance of her
treasure at her hands and with dumb,
blind hope that somewhere in the profound
and trackless jungle she might find the
one other next and most precious to her
Ia Aad harahaaHa6 and nantinr IN
the protection of the swamp.
OF all the agonies which she thereupon
encountered-fea of the roaring fire
behind that sent broad sheets of flame
athwart the sky and started small fires all
about her; concealed vines that tripped
her feet and rebellious shrubs that tore
her garments: dread of black bears whose
prowls of alarm made her knees trem Bile;
terror of frightened panthers whose
screams rang through the dark forest-of
none of these things need much be told.
The woman fought her way through the
iunple. now beside herself and under the
influence of a rash eagerness to save her
babv's life from the innumerable menaces
that dogged her feet. But she knew q
little of these wilds, and with approxi-
mate accuracy could judge whether this
tuft or that was treacherous or firm
whether this vine would poison her and
therefore her baby as it tore her flesh
whether her leap was able to clear that
black pool, and whether the dark knob of
moss on the other side covered slippery
root or honest ground.
She held her baby clutched tightly to
her breast, and its loud waillng brought
forth from the darker clumps of dwarf
na,uetto certain hideous creatures that
flied her with terror far beyond that in
spired ty the growls of bears and the
screams of panthers. These were the
allieators those ancient and formidable
kings of the Southern swamps. The sim
nle folk of those lowlands knew with what
jealousy they had to guard the safety of
their babes when these monsters were
hunting food.
Once in her fight she inadvertently
stepped upon young alligator, and its
ensuing sharp squeal brought plunging
forth its enraged mother, which gave
chase to. the fleeing human mother SO
closely guarding her own young. The
pursuit was soon abandoned, but 1t i'm
paired the woman's remaining wits and
she plunged, houndered and staggered
forward with but two purposes in ner dis
ordered mind-hight onward and onward
and the preservation of her child from
harm. Indeed, to stop or turn back was
impossible; not but that she was now
| perfectly safe from the pursuit OF fire, but