The Washington weekly post., 1899-11-21

-~+NaAtl TIC -AEi fElE HRfHdH EUEG4sA A1i
ward. caught him by the arms. and drag
ged him into the shelter OF a thicket near.
herself erouehing low down under the
leaves.
She sat there, trembling violently at in
teryais, xhiie the Kaffirs searched around.
and thea when all vas again quiet she
summoned courage enough 20 raise the
mead of the unconscious man 10 her lap,
and waited in a stupor Of despair.
In he cold hours Of the early morning
Steve stirred. then sat suddenly up. max
ins a stir in the bush
Re quietr' she said. clutching his
wrists.
Gradwell snatched his hand away
roughly.
Where's my gum"
You dropped IT," she whispered, when
you tainted. There are Kafirs near
dragged you in here"
'Yoa didy' he said wonderingly. Then.
after pause, You should have left me
and found better shelter. We must get
out OF this"
She shivered and erept out Of the bush,
and looked toward the east, where the
dawn was showing in a band " gray, suf-
fused with delicate pink
Lie close" he whispered, while 1 find
my rifle" He crept along slowly, raising
his head TO peer about. and soon De wrig-
gled back with MS rife. which was stick
ing butt uppermOst in a bush.
Come along" ne whispered; from the
mist rising beyond, there must be a kloof
near, where We may find better shelter
1--WE may be found before we get there"
she replied fearfully.
do you know Kaffir waTfare?' he ask
ed. significantly.
Il am Grace Hartley" she answered.
''Ahi ! see. You were escaping from
the fire. Well, you know they will find
you here in the morning-in an hour
maybe-and what them
She rose up and stood by his side.
He took her by the arm and they went
on to where a white vapor appeared
ghostly against the dark hills. Swiftly,
but in utter silence they went. but the
mist seemed 10 reCede before them. and
when they stood at last on the edge of
the mist the sun had shown a bloodred
crescent above the dark horizon. His rays
shot up fan-like into the heavens. but as
the vast orb stood clear the long, slant
ing beams fell in a radiance on the bill
lowing mist. pierced into the glOomiest
shadows beyond, and it was day. Day
anu AiItg GLDb- t2AbcCU bli d DdlE IOIhs
she drew back, clutching at her breast,
and he looked wildly round.
No words were wanted to tell them of
their danger. The mist below them COW
cred deep kloof, and the rock they
stood on was the upper rim Of a sheer
precipice. Behind them and on either
side there was no shelter. nothing but
rOck-strewn ridge with here and there
a bush.
Steve ran to ard fro, pe5ring down into
the mist for some way down the wall of
rock, but the white curtain, rolling and
twisting, hid all
A cry from Miss Hartley drew his at
tention. She was pointing up the ridge
a look of terror in her large. black eyes,
and as he followed the direction of her
gaze he groaned. On tall rock Kaffir
stood beckoning with his hand. But
while his arm was still outstretched the
rife spoke and he leapt into the air NOR
tally stricken.
Grace buried her face in her hands, and
in her terror she did not hear the hoarse
shout which marked the death of the
warrior
Steve did. and he looked round with his
face white TO the lips.
All, what was that dark object looming
near at hand out of the mist?-a tree!
Here, Grace, quick quickr He seized
her by the arm and drew her to the edge
of the precipice. Lying down on his
stomach he reached over and caught a
bough of the tree.
Grasp it," he said. land it will swing
you out into the tree. Hold on, and then
quickly climb down. They don't know
you are here, and will not search for
you"
She looked down into that unknown
depth and .shuddered.
Il can't" she murmured.
you must" he cried, almost savagely.
But, your
Grace Hartley, do you want to fall into
the hands of these tigers? Take hold, /
sayr'
She leant down, grasped the bough, and
let her body drop. Steve let go and the
bough swung her out. He watched heE,
painting heavily.
Now" he cried. slip down by that
monkey tow" She caught last nold Of a
trailing creeper, and slowly disappeared,
her white face looking up at his. dee TIL
Ike and hOrroT-struck.
A shout behind, fierce and exulting,
brought Steve TO his feet as though he
had been jerked mp.
He picked up his rifle, faced around,
grew ashen gray, trembled. then drew
himself up with open lips, showing his
teeth, and a glare in his eyes. His hand
was steady as he opened the breach Sor
the cartridge, and there he stool while he
emptied his pouch, the barrel growing hot
to the touch in the rapid snap-1ring that
had earned for him his reputation as the
quickest sight-shOt amidst a troop of
noted marksmen. But though many Of
his balls took effect on limb and body,
others missed the moving mark, and the
foremost of the warriors was close upon
him. assegai held in readiness, ami those
behind kept up a struggling fire.
with shout Steve hurled his rifle into
the kloOf-why he could net tell-then
turning he dashed along the brink Of the
precipice After him tore a dozen war
riors, eager for vengeance, making ter
rife bounds, bringing them nearer 10 their
prey On went the flying man. in The sec
ond wild dash for life within the twenty
four housekeeping painfully, his feet
torn at every step by sharp rocks. Now
the ground swept abruptly down 10 a
wooded valley, through which wound a
silver stream, bordered by wagon road.
On the water he fixed his haggard glance.
IF he could only reach that" he felt. in
dazed condition, IF ne could only bury his
hot face in the cool water-if he cou!1
throw himself headfirst into its cool
leUths-he would thank God-oh. he would
thank God for His mercy!'
Down the steep incline he swept, his
fists held tight to his throbDing breast.
his head forward, and MS tongue out.
Nearer and nearer came the water. and
closer the steps behind. He could see the
rlpples on the surface He marked a
swallow make a sudden swoop, touching
the silver surface with its wings.
Just moment more-just a little min
ute-and he would be there. What's this
n ist before his eyes? His breath comes
in sobs
He staggers upon the very edge of the
rnad vrifhin ten races OF the river. beat