Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-09-07
By H. B. Mackenzie

l
fore her pursuers could reach her? She
might be drowned. Although she could
swim, her clothes would be an almost
| insuperable obstacle But death by
such gentle means would be preferable
to the fate before her.
They were just about to plunge into
the water when Chipanga gave sud.
den cry. Bluebell's startled eyes, fol-
lowing Moore, saw his horse suddenly
stumble in the water. Moore made a
desperate effort to keep himself up;
! but as the horse, endeavoring to re.
gain it's footing, made another blum.
dering step, his rider was thrown clean
over his head and disappeared
He is drowning! Run, run! HELP
him!" cried Bluebell. She hardly
knew afterwards what wrung the cry
from her. whether it was real horror
at the accident that had happened tc
her prosecutor or the sudden wild con.
viction that the chance had come tc
her.
In a moment Chipanga had plunged
into the river. He was holding the
reins of Bluebells horse, and endeav-
oring to draw him after him; but the
animal resisted, lifting up his. forelegs
and Bluebell breathed an agonized
Thank God!' VS.
The next instant she had slipped
from the horses back and was run.
ming with incredible speed up tho
bank.
The grass was so long that it stood
above her head, but once she got ont
of 1t she was in short, stubbly I'M
dergrowth Of grass. Without looking
back, hardly breathing, she flew on
1t was so dark that she felt sure in
few seconds she would be beyond the
sight of her enemies.
On, on, on! stumbling over tufts OF
grass, plunging into bushes, tearing
herself out again, not knowing with
err she was going, hardly caring, only
determined to put a distance between
herself and the hateful fate that had
seemed so near. Bluebell was hardly
able to draw breath. 1t came in Sob
bling gasps from her dry and parched
lips.
Her ears were strained to catch the
sound of her pursuer's horses hoofs
or at least shout. No sound came
and presently she ventured to slacken
her speed What had happened?
Could the man have been drowned?
But she had to think of herself
She must flnd some hiding place fol
the night at least. Though she was
warm, painting and perspiring with hel
breathless run. she knew that present
ly it would be intensely cold. She had
loosened the heavy cloak which COW
cred her almost to the heels as she
ran, and carried it on her arm. She
dared not drop it, though it impeded
her fight, for that would give her pur-
suers clue.
She was on the sandy plain ut last
where walking was at least less I'M
even than on the dry grass. Suddenly
she saw before her little hillock; ii
might have been an ant hill from its
size and appe arance. Bluebell was soon
at it. 1t was not an ant hill, but the
deserted hole of an ant bear, as she
discovered. She crawled into it. l:
was dry and warm.
"They will not find me here,' she
thought. Even if they followed on
y'tracks, they could not see the bear
hole in the dark"
She threw herself on the ground
she could hardly sit upright, so small
was the hole-and for the first time
faced her position. She had no food
and no means of procuring any. She
was lost on painless veldt, not know.
ing where the nearest wagon track
was Wholly ignorant of her wherea.
bouts as she was, what was to become
Of her? If she could not find her way
to any human habitation she must in.
evitably die of starvation.
The girl bent her face on her claspeG
hands, and surely as earnest a prayer
as ever rose to the ears Of the AL
mighty Father assembled from thai
strange hiding place.
ooh, merciful Father. Thou who art
able to save Thy children when they
cry to Thee, grant me Thy help now!
commit myself to Thee. There is
none other to whom l can go. HelI
me, help me, for Thy Sons sake"
Strange to say, sleep came to hel
presently: and in that deserted bea1
hole, in the midst of lonely and des
olate veldt, alone in the world, as i
seemed, Bluebell Leslie slept soundly
She awakened suddenly. 1t was ter
rible sound Ike that of distant thun
der that broke her s!umber. Bluebel
sat up, shivering with an uncontrolla
bile terror, for she had heard tina
sound once before. and knew what il
was.
It was the distant roar of lion.
She crouched down in her hiding
place. shaking from head to foot
What if the terrible king Of beast!
should discover her "spoor" and trace
her to her shelter? The thought O.
the horrible death that would then b.