Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-01


but that we could have effectually dis
pcrsed the blacks and saved ourselves.
As we were situated. however, IL would
have been madness to have left the
shelter Of the cave Gordon was in such
n weak and helpless condition that we
could not have travelled. Suddenly
something occurred TO mel ran down
the terrace TO the spring and there
found a couple Of blacks making away
from the narrow crevasse that opened
from II into the cave and which Norah
Mackenzie had defended. / promptly
squared accounts with them.
One noteworthy feature OF the fight
was the behavior Of Samson. On one
occasion when Savile had been hard
pressed By huge black this four footed
tactician, coming behind the latter, sank
his teeth into his shins. The terror and
agony Of the savage ut this unexpected
tack were only equaled by the look OF
mortal terror on his face as Savile, re-
covering himself. swung his great club
around his head and cracked his skull.
Ii was Jack who first discovered that
the blacks had taken with them our
provisions. which in the pack bags had
been placed mt the foot Of the cliff. At
this discovery We stared blankly at one
another. for il we were forced 10 10
main in that cave for any length OF
time we must starve. Jack wanted to
make raid upon them and endeavor
TO recapture the provisions. but this
was a mad scheme and impracticable.
| promptly reminded him OF those
whom in that case we must leave be-
hind us in the cave comparatively un-
protected. believe such was the reck-
less courage Of Jack that he would have
attacked the blacks himself single hand
ed IL we had let him As for DAILY, he
was strangely taciturn, though he had
showed considerable courage. had
seen him during the fight when a black
fellow had seized the barrel Of Jacks
rife and I was otherwise engaged de-
liberately fire in another direction when
he might just as well have rid Jack OF
his antagonist. II was satisfactory,
however. to think that Elsie Gordon
had also seen this, for / saw surprise,
indignation and horror in her eyes.
Going back into the great cavern,
which opened up into three other pas
sages as it pierced the cliff. found
Norah Mackenzie leaning against the
side of the cave as il in faint. On
seeing her l forgot that hint Of resent
ment in her voice when Jack had asked
il she really cared what he did. For
getting what it meant, / only remem-
bered what she was to me. To fetch
some water from tho spring. take the
handkerchief from the breast OF her
Jacket and to lave her cheek with the
water was my next effort. When | had
removed the blood, / discovered TO my
relief that she had only received a slight
cut on the cheek bone, which If 1t did
leave mark would only be trifling. So
concerned was I over her condition that
II is not unlikely my manner betrayed
q greater degree Of solicitude than any
one is my position was justified or had
any right to express just then. What
said to her out Of the steadily growing
sense of my great love 1t were difficult
10 remember now, but must have lost
light Of the fact that as yet she had
given me no right to speak to her as
did, for the color came back into her
cheeks. Her great eyes looked at me re-
sentfully, and that delicate purple shad-
ow under them seemed to deepen as she
spoke.
"Mr Parker, do you think it right to
talk to me as you are doing7 / don't
wish to appear ungrateful, but why for
get yourself like thisf"
because You have grown dearer than
life itself to mel" I cried boldly, and
the truth was out at last.
Falteringly she rose to her feet and
/, looked steadily but. as thought, not
resentfully upon me-
"You don't know what you are say
ing" she said ''This Is neither the
time nor place to talk Of such thing.
Besides, there is some ONE
heard no more. for at that moment
nv mate entered the cave, and she
! stopped short. I could see their eyes
meet and read in them the dawn Of that
new life which 1t had now become i'm
possible to conceal Her action and
words only few minutes before had
been avowal enough. How could have
been 30 blindi Was it not natural
that she should prefer Jack to me, he
who was q handsomer, better man
than myself in every respectf What
but q more than ordinary interest in
him could have made her masquerade
az she had done on the Macarthur and
run Che grave risk Of detectionf It was
clear as day to me now. "It is written
| in the book said. for the time being
becoming fatalist.
l bowed my head and went ont on to
the terrace-the light had gone out Of
my life. II seemed to matter little to
me now whether or not was killed by
the blacks thought she stood looking
after me, 40 If she would have softened
the blow. But / had got my answer
the deathknell Of my hopes had been
soundsd.