New-York tribune., 1898-10-23

the s6rak rang out as he strove to tear his way
through the underwood 10 the foot of the tree
In which he had seen his enemy. But the jungle
was thick. he lost his bearings quickly. and,
weary with his exertions. torn with 'brambies
and sweating profusely. he was glad TO make
his way back to the fire again.
All through that terrible night K0lop OF the
Hare-lip strove to drive away sleep from his
heavy eyes. The hours seemed incredibly long.
and he feared that the dawn would never. never
come One minute he would tell himself that
he wide awake and second later rustic
In the underwood startled him into knowledge
that he had slept. horror and fear had their
will of him. and those who know them are
aware that there are no more skilled tormenters
than they. A hundred times he leaped TO his
feet and sent the s6rak ringing through the
Jungle and each time those who watched him
fed in panic. While he remained awake and on
guard the Sdkai feared him too much to attack
him. His previous escape from the dart which
they had seen pierce his side had originated in
their minds the idea that he was invulnera0le,
so they tried no longer to slay him from dis
tance. This he quickly perceived. but fear
cutched him once more when he speculated as
to what would happen when he was at last
forced to give way to the weight OF WEAKNESS
that was now depressing him so sorely
Presently change began to creep over the
forest in which he sat. A little stir in the trees
around him told him that the bird-folk were
awakening. Objects which had hitherto been
dark and shapeless masses in the shadows cast
into prominence by the white moonlight grad
ualy assumed definite shape. Later the
/
still dark and dulled. but none the less color
began to be perceptible and K0iOp OF he Hare
lip rejoiced exceedingly in that the dawn had
come and the horrors Of the night were passing
away.
All that day K0lop albeit weary almost to
death truGged onward through the forest but
the news had spread among the Sakai that their
enemy was once more among them, and the
number Of the Jungle folk who dogged his foot
steps steadily increased Knlop could hear their
shrill whoops. they called to one another
through the forest, giving warning or his ap-
proach or signalling the path which he was
, taking. Once twice lie fanc!cd that he cauSht
a glimpse of 4 little brown form. OF two gnting
eyes. or Of / strasSling mop Of frowzy mar anu
then he would charge. shouting angrhy. but
, the fCure-if indeed, II had any existence save
in his overwrought Observation-Disclosures van
ished as suddenly and as noiselessy IA shadow
long before he could come within striking uis-
tance K1lop Of the Hare-lip found THIS 'ar
more terrible and frightening than the most
desperate hand-tO- hand fight could be. Tor the
| invisibiiity and the intangible nature OF his
enemy added the horrors Of fever-dream to
the very real danger IN Which ne now hHe" tih-
self 70 stand.
The night that followed that day was one Of
acute agony 10 the weary man. who dared not
sleep and about midnight he again marched
/ forward through the forest. hoping thereby 20
eudr his pursuers.
For an hour he believed himself to have been
successful. Then tho shril yeils broke out again
and 1T the sound K0lops heart sank within HIM.
Still he stumbled on. too dead tired to charge al
his phantom enemy. too hoarse at last even TO
raise his voice in the s0rak but dOggedly deter
mined not to give in. But AZ he waxed faint the
number and the boldness Of his pursuers In
creased proportionately. till their ye!ls sounded
/ on every side, and K1lop seemed like lost soui.
winding his way to the bottomless pit. with an
escort " rejoicing devils shouting noisy chorus
around him.
Another awful day followed. and when once
more the night shut down. Knlop Of the Hare-hp
sank exhausted upon the ground. His battle was
over He could bear up no longer against the
weight OF his wearinesS and the achlng longing
for sleep Almost as his head touched the warm
! dark litter Of dead leaves with which the earth
of the Jungle Is strewn his heavy eyelids closed
and his breath came soft and regular rms "aa
his surrender. for at last he knew himself to Dc
beaten. He was halfway up the mountains
now and almost In reach Of safety. but
All the little more-and how much IT is
And the little less-and what worlds away!
Kflop OF the Hare -lip--K0lop the resolute. thu
fearless-K0lop the strong. the enduring. was
at the end Of his tether He had been beaten
not by the Sakai. nut by Nature. which no man
may long defy-and IN obedience TO her ne sur
rendered his will and slept
Presently the underwood was parted BY
human hands in half a dozen different places,
and the Saka crept stcalthIly out of the jungle
into the little patch Of open in which their en-
envy lay at rest. He moved uneasly In his
sIeep-not because any noise on their part had
disturbed him, for they came as silently as
shadow cast over a broad forest by patch OF
scudding cloud-and at the sight the Sakai
halted with lifted foot ready to plunge back
into cover should their enemy awake But the
exhausted man was sleeping heavily. wrapped
in the slumber from which he was never again
to be aroused The silent jungle people. armed
with heavy clubs and bamboo spears. stole 10
within a foot or two of the unconscious Malay.
Then nearly score Of them lifted their weap-