The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-26


ing. AT that thought and at the awful re-
nectlon of what DiXey and the vile Don
hereau might do 10 his helpless friend in
the moment of their defeat and disap-
pointment, Oziel found instant renewal of
ms strength and without a word to the
DINERS pursued the beaten rogues into
the jungle
lie was minute late; he saw no one
through the walls of the thicket. In the
distance he could hear the crashing of
branches and faint calls from those of the
conquered faction, who, beaten in their
attempt to overthrow the first snake-mark-
ca priest, We're now dispensing to their
homes. Sign of Donnereau and Lynch
there was none. Their voices were not
audible, and, indeed, in that dense under
growth The painless maze of tropical for
est they might have been within ten yards
OF thelr pursuer, and, lying still, be unsus-
pected. Caution forbade that Oziel should
cry Justin's name as at first was his i'm
purse. He was alone, and might but bring
two vengeful villains both suddenly upon
MIN. Yet his heart fell as he recalled the
we dispositions of the men, Donnereau's
saVagery and contempt for blood-how well
Oz-eI remembered his sinister grin as he
Grew his hand across his throat on Long
island beach-and LynGh's matter of fact
way OF removing any for whom he had no
further use. The horror of Justin's pos
slbie fate, alone with these wretches
lhlrsuhg doubtless for revenge on Sir
Roger, whose presence had mainly defeat
ca their plans, overcame Oziel, and lie
rushed wildly at the barrier before him.
The heat by now, for it was near noon.
was intolerabe. In the excitement of
battle 1t had passed unnoticed, but now
the lad became aware that the sultriness
or the forest was overpowering In his
loneliness also in the absolute silence of
the jungle, the rumbng of the thunder
which had proceeded all day. became now
most noticeable, dreadful, and threaten
ing, only swift increasing darkness, and
the sullen, almost continuous, throttled
roar from the mountains. Further and
! further he pierced the underbrush, and
heard no sound, nor saw anything to tell
him where Justin had been carried from
the temple, and he became alarmed, for
he knew DiXey could not have gone far
He retraced his steps, but lost them, and
wandered hitler and thither for the best
part of an hour lost. Then a thing hap
pened which sent him to his knees. Dur
ing that night and day. in that horrible
land he had seen things pass which had
made him shudder in the honest puritan
belief that he was among a people direct
ly in the service of the evil one himself,
but now that the land was abandoned
by an angry God, he had no doubt. The
forest shook. the earth trembled beneath
his feet, and a low, ominous growl came
from the jungle all about him. Then the
simple lad dropped down and raised his
hands to heaven, yet even in that moment
of horror he remembered Marian's pale,
tear-strewn cheek and shouted in an
guish: ...-.1---
Justin! II you live, cry, and I will
comet
Again the mountains echoed to the bel
low of the skies, and again the earth moan
ed and heaved, but above and through
these noises came an answering call, faint
and despairing!
"Ozielr'
At once Oziel regained his feet, forgot
his fears, and in the strength of devo-
ton, pushed toward the VOICE. He
called again and again. but no answer
came Then, pale with fear and doubt,
he redoub1ed his efforts and at last came
upon a little open space in the forest
where, under a great tree, lay his friend
and Marian's cousin, bound and gagged.
BY the boy couched Donnereau, and
there was that in the face of the negro
which chilled Oziers blood. II was gray
with the wrath of disappointment end
! defeat The wretchs schemes were
blasted; the old priest was as powerful
as ever he had been; the treasure was
further from him than before, or in the
hands of Gabriel Murrn. Lynch and
he were the last in the game, the de-
visers of plot which was but to en-
rich others. In his grim rage the black
hung over Justin with the hate Of
man who must be revenged on some one.
Who better could that victim be than the
son of the man whose unlooked-for re-
| covery had robbed him? He held knife
in his hand, whose point lowered at JUS
tins heart. Yet he did not trike JUS
tins gaze was fixed upon him in desperate
pleading His mouth was gagged with
kerchief, doubtless upon his calling out,
and now he could make no sound. Dom
nereau was waiting feverishly-his head
sidewise as If listening for a signal, the
signal TO strike. Ali this Oziel saw in
glance as he sprang from the brush IN
to the open. The negro's back was to
him. but at the sound he leaped up and
turned round.
"Have you made terms?" he cried, 'or
shall l knife
He got no further, for instead of the
man he expected Ozie faced him. with
drawn cut,ass. But little good would that
| sea sword have done the lad against the
resistless bound the negro made at his
throat. with a scream that rang through
the jungle
"You," shrieked the maddened man.
Its always your
With that he sprang like wildcat, but
| Oziel Jumped aside and ran TO Justin, over
whom he stood, waiting. Donnereau land
| ed, like a beast, on all fours, his knife
sinking deeply in the ground. Like
beast, too, he was quickly up, and crouch
ed for another spring, when there came
a great crash of thunder, the forest, the
island rocked. trees bent and toppled, and
the earth beneath them quivered in agony
| and opened in a huge crack below the
wreach's feet. He howled horribly the
knife dropped from his hand, and he
| clutched wildly at the air; his feet slid
from under, and he plunged head!ong in
to The chasm that yawned between him
| and his prey.
Oziel sank TO the ground and covered
his eyes. All around him there was rumb-
| ling and shaking and a hot steam rising
| from the fssure At last, it seemed
year, the trembling of the earth ceased,
| and he looked up. Beside him lay Justin
in swoon. Not far away there was a
great clamor OF voices calls for help,
shrieks of despair and Ozief realized that
he must be near the others. He did not