The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-30

suddenly she was reused by shout
from belOw-uot single cry, but
gruesome, bowling chorus
Dorothy started up from her crouch
ing position, Selling the edge of the bas-
ket as she bent over TO gaze down
She saw none of the explorers. She
could make out only the floor of the in
terIapring treetOps.
once she tried calling out with all her
might, but her voice failed her com.
pleUely
The thunder OF shouts rose shriller
and shrilIer now. An" thought Dor
orhy, ITS the native guides who have
led Tom and his hunters over here from
the yacht"
But the longer she listened 10 those
unfamiliar sounds the less reassured be
came the lonely girl in her lofty refuge
Its very strange that some one
doesn't come in sight and hail me- she
told herself, I'm sure Tom would Doe
the first one TO climb up here. Where
can he be? And what is the meaning
OF all that laughing and shouting
For answer q sWaTthy figure appeared
I in a treetop near the cables. lie looked
up at the balloon and then cried 20
some one below him,
Dorothy wondered at tie sight for ne
didn't look a bit like one OF the friendly
natives who had followed the Ariel
Soon another savage was seen. then
another and scores of the impish sprftes
began climbing up the treetops below
her, calling and shrieking as savages
can 90.
The girls heart sank within her. for
she realized the truth These were not
members OF the friendly tribe which
the. expedition had treated so well
come of Van Damn, Darcy. and Had
ding?
she felt a benumbing terror creep over
her.
For Jong time she sat on the floor
OF the swaying car, listening TO the
strange and uncanny cries. wondering.
praying hopeful vet appalled, by the
conviction that her comrades had met
with some terrible fate.
II her brother would only cine, Alas,
there were neither sights nor sounds
80 reassUre her OF help.
The darkness began TO gather about
the car. With IL came bitter though o.
10 the girl The motion Of the baIlolc
gave her a dun and half sick feeling.
and her strength left her entirely. Like
a great bird, chaGug at the bonds that
held IL 20 earth, the vaguely outlined
mass above her careeued frSn side TO
side.
AS the black tropical night shut I'm
about her Dorothy was cheered By the
sight OF a solitary bright light that
shone from the masthead Of the distant
Ariel Like star of hope it nerved her
TO renewed faith.
'Oh. lac viii come. know he will. she
murmurcd again and again The dis
couaged soul had often inspired others
with SO Iiftle effort that now she tried
TO steel her own feelings with mortal
desperation
Something caused her 30 look over the
edge of the basket Below she saw "a
strange sigut which served TO increase
rather than diminish her perpIexity ana
apprehension.
Dashing through the wilderness gh.
could discern many lights here and
there. From little clearing flames
shot up. lighting a maze OF swarthy nz-
ures. by means OF her EIass DOROTHY
was able 80 distinguish men. women
ard httle children Warriors with
slaves and axes were clrcIing about En-
the 1ireleht TO the noise OF the snake
skin tom tom and the singing of vcird
chant
Then another thing happened. Tho
car seemed TO De slowly saggine as II
the gas We're escaping from the valve
The balloon was surely sinking toward
the tree tops
Dorothy was alarmed She looked M
the valve rome It was free. There were
no signs of trouble i'm that direction
There must bee tear In the SILK
above. This wrenehing has caused a
break
She CHANGED 10 glance down again and
TO her horror discovered the cause of
the gradual sinking Of the balloon
The three anchor cables were alive
with climbing savages, They were
creeping uD slowly and ste8IthiIy Ike
coihug serpeuts upon their quarry
For "a moment the woman was frozen
20 the spot. They must never reach
the car. Dorothy would take human life
I'm order % protect herself
The brave girl trembled in every hber
as she found "a rifle and approached the
side again. The dark figures were more
than half way up the ropes 10 the bgs-
Eet now. The balloon was aging bad
ly- With the weight Of "a few more Of
those crawling savages the car would
all but brush fhc highest trees.
That precious light al the masthead OF
the Ariel was no longer visible. with
It's disappearance the light OF hope went
out or raa girls heart She sank % the
floor of tla car