The San Francisco call., 1898-01-09
CRUISE IF THE CALIFORNIA.

came the assailant. Strong as wild club and nimbly ran toward the mid dle of the semicircle. Was he run ming away? His followers knew bet ter than that. Close behind him came Mah-Coh-Gaa. But Ghoor- -Ghee-Tee was the quicker. He had his battle ax and had escaped; before Mah-Coh- Gaa's club cou ! reach him. Then he turned like tiger, with his ax held aloft. Around it whirled with lightning speed and when it fell Mah-Coh-Gaa went down before it and lay stretched on the sand, motionless.
 And now the bowling savages gave Binnie over to the skull-hunter to be his. Above the boys head the chief raised his deadly ax. Binnie looked up and gazed firmly at the chief The ax did not fall. The chief gave some order and his followers hurried Binnie away from the beach toward the for est. The chief followed. Not an hour later Bennie was being led a captive in long midnight march through the Wilderness on a journey which would take him to the far-off fastness of the skull-hunters. Ghoor- -Ghee-Tee knew that he would not be safe near the white men. Behind Ghoor- Tees band followed a dusky man whose footballs were swift and noiseless. It was Kemona, the Australian. Never. while he lived, would he lose sight of Binnie.
 All night long the crew of the Califor- nia heard the savages in the forest. Anxious as they were about Binnfe. Harry Ostend decided not to land un- til daylight. At early dawn three boat loads of seamen rowed rapidly to the beach under cover of the deck guns of the yacht. They pushed cautiously in to the woods, only to find them desert ed. The savages had fought all they wanted to and had stolen silently away. Where was Binnie? This was the mystery which Harry Ostend must solve
 Under a great plantain Mr. Ostend found a poor frightened savage, whose hands and feet were tightly bound. When he was released he fell to the ground.
 Carry the savage to the yacht" commanded Mir. Ostend. He is too weak to stand. Feed him well and treat him kindly and perhaps we will learn something from him that we wish to know"
 Throughout the forest there was nothing to show Harry Ostend which way the savages had gone. They had broken no twigs and the rich moss un- der the trees bore no sign of passing feet. All day MT. Ostend studied in l vain.
 John Latour, on the yacht. talked | with the savage and learned much. | The savage was chief in one of the i small villages that had been ruled over | by Mah-Coh-Gaa. He had been taken ] prisoner by Ghoor-Gee-Tee. the skull-hunter, with several other saw ages. When Ghoor-Ghee-Tee made his hurried escape with Binnie, he also carried other captives savages. This so the savage on the yacht told Latour was bad faith and would lead to war l between the tribes.
 Will you guide us to the land of the skull-hunters?
 Yes" answered the savaea. ",or vengeance"
 And where Is it?"
 Along the banks of the Marwisa River and in the mountains.
 Io-morrow, then" said Harry Os l tend, when he heard this from Tob,, Latour, we will enter the NTarH1isa River and carry the war into the co,ro try of the skull Hunters. for in tbn+ way alone have we the chance to rescue <1, D. H. w.
 Gro be continued.)