The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-02-27

the soft inside OF tree bark.
The dead lay where they fell. The
sick and the wounded found no hand
TO tend them. Great man-eating birds |
hovsrcd above the camp or skuiked
abttit, heavy with gorginR, among the
hovels,. and no one had public spirit
enough to give them battle. Tho
stink Of the place rose up to heaven
MS foul incense inviting pcstilcnce.
There was no order, no trace of
strong command anywhere. with
900 well-discipiincd troops II seemed
to me that could have sent those
poor desperate hordes flying In panie
to che forest. -"
However, there was no very
lengthy space OF time granted me for
thinking out the policy of this mat
ter to any great depth. The attack
on the gate had been delivered with
suddenness; the repulse was not
slow. OF what desperate fighting
took place in the galleries and In the
circus between the two sets Of gates
the detail will never be told In full.
At the first alarm the great cave
tigers were set loose, and these ragged
impartially against keeper and foe.
OF those that went In through the
tunnel, not one In ten returned, and
rthere were few OF these but what car
ried a bloody wound. Some. with the
ruling passion still strong In them,
bore back plundcr; one trailcd along
with him the head Of the captain of
the gate; and among them they
dragged out two OF the warders who
were wounded. and whom revenge
had urged them To take as prisoners.
But for my part ! saw nothing of
this disgusting scene. I heard the
bolt CRATE stealthily against the door
OF the little temple In which / was
imprisoned. and was minded to give
these british rebels somewhat Of n
surprise. I had rid myself OF my
bonds hnndily enough; had rubbed
my limbs to that perfect suppleness
which Is always desirable before a
fight; and I had planned to rush out
as soon as the door was swung. and
kill those that came first with fist
blows on the brow and chin.
They had not suspected my name,
II was clear, for my stature and garb
were nothing out OF the ordinary;
but II my bodily strength and fight
ing power had been sufficient to raise
me to a viccroyalty like that of Yucca
: tan, and let me endure alive in that
government throughout 90 hard-bat-
tling years, why, IL was likely that
This rabble of savages would see
something that was new and admir-
able in the practice of arms before
the crude weight OF their numbers
could drag me down. Nay. did not
even despair of winning free alto
gcther. l must find me weapon
from those that came up to battle.
with which ! could write worthy sig
natures, and must attempt no stand-
ing fight. Gods! but what a glow the
prospect did send through me rs I
stood there waiting.
> But the door did not open wide to
give me space for my first rush. 1t
creaked gratingly outward on its
pivots, and u slim hand and white
arm slipped inside, bcckoning me ia
quietudc. Here was some woman.
The door creaked wider. and she
came inside.
"Nais," l said.
"Silence, or they will hear you. and
remember. At present those who
brought you here are killed, and un'
less by chance some one blunders into
D this robbed shrine you will not be
found"
"Then II that Is so. let inc go out
u and walk among these people as one
. pf themselves"
She shook her head.
"But, Nais, am not known here. ]
J, am -rerely man In very plain and
mud-stained robe. ! should be in nc
ways remarkable"
A smile twitched her fncc. my
= lord" she said, "wears no beard, and
!, his is the only clean chin In the camp
!. I joined In her laugh. "a pest on
!. my want of foppishness tien. But
y am forgetting somewhat. IT comes
to my mind that we still have unfn.
ished that small discussion Of ours
!. concerning the length of my poor life,
|, Have you decided to cut IL Oft from
!, risk OF further mischief, or do you
:. propose to give me further span?' p
| DHt W Tht WIN I" h'oN Va
!. sharp distress. "My lord she said,
!. ~ would have you forget that silly
talk Of mine. This last two hours
. thought you were dead in real truth"
. "And you were not relieved?"
: az felt that the only man was gone
. out OF the wor,d--I mean, my lord,
!. the only man who can save Atlantis"
Il "Yorr word, eve ne confidence,
h Then you woui, ,'avc me go back and
. become husband to Phorenice?" =
= III there Is no other way"
|. II warn you ] shal! do that, II she
!. still so desires II, and II II seems ia
a me that the course will be best TINS
q is no hour for private likings or dis
liklngs."
4 ~ know It," she said, 81 feel IL.
v have no heart now save only for At
Il lantis. / have schooled myself once
n more to that"
. "And at present ] am In this lone
% little box of temple. A minute ago
h before you came, had promised my
y self pretty enough fight to signaiizs
q my changing of abode.
10 "There must be nothing OF that.
n will not haye these poor people