The Holly chieftain., 1900-09-07
Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.) }

VVvvvVVvvVVvY
CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.)
As they walked toward the door
Rayburn's eyes fell on the dark bulk
o, the dead hyena beside It A curl
ous expression passed over his face.
He touched the dead beast with his
foot.
What's this. Cleland-a dead dog!'
Rather dangerous kind Of dog"
answered Cleland, smiling. "It Is q
hyena. and would have made short
work of me If had not happened to
be beforehand with my rife"
Lucky for you. thought heard
shot as came round: but fancied
had made mistake afterwards"
said the other. with peculiar inton-
alton. IAN ugly customer to deal
with, and you're lucky to have es-
capped. Well. are you ready?"
They went out into the moonlit
night Cleland led the way up from
the camp.
Il was tempted by another fellow to
take a look around before we turned
in" he said. as they walked on as
quickly as the sand would permit. I'VE
thought we might happen to fall on
some traces of the Baggara. We got
into a jungle. and had. the greatest
dificulty in finding our way out. In
the thickest part of 1t the other fellow
tripped and Iell, his rifle went OF, and
he shot himself right through the
shoulder. It's a nasty wound, and,
though / did the best could to ban
dage 1t. I'm rather afraid he won't be
able to keep 1t still. ran all the way
back. and have not reused anyone,
was in such a hurry to get you up to
him."
Cleland thought this account little
inconsistent with the leisurely way In
which he had seen Major Rayburn
wandering round the camp; but he
said nothing, and the two men hur-
ried on togethe.
The ground became less arid as they
did SO. An occasional mimosa-bush
dotted the sand. Presently they came
in view of what was evidently the
jungle.
You are done up, can see." said
Rayburn, suddenly pausing to look at
the other. Il have flask with me-
Will you take little?"
Il am all right. thank you." said
Cleland, quietly. II do not take alco-
hol. you know"
The other made no remark, but
stepped on. Cleland following. In a
few minutes they were in the very
heart Of the scrub. An almost impene-
trable jungle it was. whose sharp mi
mosa-spears caught the incautious
traveller by the clothing, pierced 1t
through. and pierced the flesh with
thousand sharp, thorny pricks, over
whose rough half-grass his feet STUN
bled and tripped at every step. and
whose huge twisted ropes Of creeper
flung down struggling tendrils over
his neck and shoulders SO that he was
caught like fly in a SPIDERS web.
This Is becoming almost impassa.
ble!" Cleland exclaimed. Where is
your wounded man, Major Rayburn!
Is he anywhere near here?"
we were quite as far as here, but
looks to me as II had lost my bear
ings." said Rayburn. He paused and
seemed lost in thought; then started
suddenly. "Ah, see now! This
palm tree was our guide, 1 remember
that. This Is the way. DR.. Cleland."
He turned aside to the left, leading
Cleland more into the heart OF the
Jungle than ever; then he paused
again.
VIII you stay here for few min
utes while run on in this direction.
doctor. and see II there is any trace Of
my poor companion? I begin to feel
quite uneasy. Have cigar while l
am away; they are the best Havanas."
Cleland agreed, and stood waiting
while the other went on, and soon dis
appeared from sight. Cleland heard
him calling Wainwright! Vanburgh!
where are you, mani" for few min
utes; then his voice died away and
there was complete silence all around.
CHAPTER VII.
How long he waited he never after
wards knew. II might have been half
an hour, It might have been more.
Rut Ruddenly a atran pe oou tion lo