The times., 1897-03-29
The sergeant sulkily moved his hand.

The sergeant sulhly moved his hand.
'Two"
The surIy trooper, Roberts. who had
hitherto remained still, suddenly broke the
silence by torrent of oaths.
You asst he cried turning ON Wayne
Didn't tell you to give me my share and
throw away the belt? But you W ouldn' t; you
waited chance to bolt with 1T all! And
now you've queered US bothr'
In paroX ysm ofrage heswunghi heavy
| fist backward in the face of his accOmp!ice
Wayne, taken by surprise, retreated, and
his second step carried him over the bank
into the stream. He went down With an
| appalling cry, drawn from him not so much
| by dread Of the current us by the swift
and horrid recollection Of what fearful
| beasts had there their home. In such an
instant the minds of men betray each its
normal trend of thought, and the two men
| left on the bank now proved what Instincts
| Swayed their actions.
The belt! The helt." yelled Roberts
Hes got the belt, and he leaped from
| the bank to save the gold Maxwell uttered
no word. He had heard that despairing
cry, and had seen the agonized face as tile
man fell, and he droppah his rifle and leap
ture, although a moment before he was
| sternly determined to shoot him where he
stood. The two leapcd so nearly together
aud so closely after the falling body that
all three were struggling Ia the water 10
gether. They We're all good swimmers
pioneers had need TO be-andin another in
stant they would have scrambled out, when
from the mud bank near the shore there
the water. All three troopers heard that
omnous plunge close TO them, and all three
knew what caused it. With pitecus veil,
Wayne, suddenly paralyzed with fear,
screamed
Save me! Maxwell; Maxwell, save me!'
Maxwell was already cIing ging to the hank,
but he turned TO the river again, and saw
the sergeant so stricken with horror that
he was utterly unable to reach the shore
Two strokes bore the youngster to the
sinking mans side. Maxwell caught him
with his left hand and grasped the belt
about his waist. With all his strength
he drew Wayneto the bank and dragged him
ashore, literally out of the Jaws of huge
crocodile
Then another yell of agony arose from
the river. Tie great reptile, disappoint-
th s't !bo MS tttttLlpti IldI Jtb duOul
Its jaws opened once more, and closed
The next moment, save for reddish
tinge on the water, the river flowed on
as before, and Roberts had disappeared
Wayne was weak a = a child from shock.
and sohbed hysterically, imploring young
Maxwell not to leave him. In the cGl-
lapse of his nerves, he himself unioosed
the belt of gold and gave it TO the other.
and poured out, with flood of tears, his
confession, telling how the dead man and
he had, indeed, knowing somehow OF Max
well smssion, left the camp andlaid in wait
for him.
Maxwell said little. but, as soon as the |
sergeant had recovered sufficiently he |
ordered him To saddle up, although il |
was now dark and through all that night |
they rode their weary horses back to |
camp. but with positions reversed. for |
ne who came out as IA prisoner returned |
as the guard.
At early morning the young pioneer told |
his story in the commanding officers |
tent. giving him the belt with the money |
intact and, as the officer shook hands and |
congratulated him. Maxwell saluted and |
said with a triumphant smile:
"If you can trust me again. sir. shall |
he glad to complete my mission"