The Washington times., 1904-12-04

clear TO himself: ut with his head two
feet under the surface or the pool, the
Russian managed TO draw one or the
knives from his belt. and, half turning
he gave a terrific upward thrust. The
weapon struck clean to the hilt into the
heavy frame Of the native, who gave a
weird moan and rolled over. With q
mighty struggle BaTdoff gained the
shore. almost dead from the strangling.
In the meantime Dorothy had man
aged TO break from the crocodile leaving
portions OF her garments in his mann
moth jaws. She gained the opposite side
OF the camel with a fioundering stFug-
gle. Then drawing her revolver, sent a
well-aimed shot into the reptiles left
eye.
The camel, who had been drinking
greedily, seemed suddenly to waken to
the peril OF the moment: for the croco-
die made a charge against her side that
almost threw her of her feet With a
wild below the surprised beast started
for the further side OF the pool. The
girl chung TO the saddle and was dragged
along In the water and up the bank in
safety. There. stnl clutching the nose
rope OF the camel. she fell in the soft
brush which lined the pond.
Dorothy did not see what followed.
but, being robbed of his prey and blind
ed somewhat by the bullet, the huge
crocodile turned and charged upon the
noating body OF the native. seized it in
his ponderous red laws, and dragged it
down into the muddy depths
Dorothy wondered what had happened
TO her comrade. who was lying there so
stil. Then she noticed that the water
before them was red with blood, and
that the guide was missing.
Alas she murmured. Are you
wounded?"
No; but l am half drowned. Talk Of
oyiEg Of thirst / won't cry for water
Tor month. I am gorged with it,"
"but the native-where is he?"
Did you not see? The crocodile
snatched him into deep water while Won
were struggling with the camel"
The woman turned and her keen eyes
detected rising OF bubbles, and the
Ollie
And my single shot in the eye did
mat? she exclaimed with some en-
thus.asm.
Bardon said nothing. He had not
even heard her shot. Struggling up, he
looked over the pool Surely enough.
me dead beast was coming up. and
with the dead man Ia his Jaws.
Poor brute' murmured Dorothy.
Little did / think that the monster
who attacked me was TO be our sudden
aVenger. Then she gave a little gasp.
Tor, as the body came 10 the surface.
she caught a glimpse of a dagger handle
~ the breast. She turned away, for
she could not speak.
After solemn moment Bardon called
her 10 him. and said: You must know
the truth" Then he told her.
1t is very horrible" exclaimed the
listener when the grim recital Of that
death struggle was ended. But some
how. l have hourly expected a calamity.
He followed Us for plumber. only he
feared you. He was awaiting his OBJ
DOrtunity. He thought the crocodile
would finish me. and with you under
MIN in the water everything was easy.
1t seems he was mistaken. You saved
your life and mine. too"
Bardoff rose and veutUred into the
water ill he could grasp the edge OF
the mans garment Then he drew the
| body into a shallow spot.
He had sixty pounds in good gold.
and il might be useful" he said. 'Tt
is better with US than with him now.
Ii is in a skin bag" A little search
brought the treasure 10 light Bardoff
tossed 1t upon the bank. then recovered
his valuable dagger and returned to his
companion.
Gold. did you say?" remarked Doro-
tky, as she tumbled the contents Of the
blinking bag into her lap. a smile OF
derision spreading over her features.
The prince looked down into an cd
heap Of iron scraps, brass disks. mill
tary buttons. copper pennies-in fact
anything which would give the ring OF
sincerity 10 the hidden treasure.
80" he said. smiling. that is the
sort Of money with which he was go
ing 10 buy back the camel, Ell? Poor
foOlr" And he began arranging for the
march.
BY midnight OF that eventfm day the
little caravan had reached the wells Of
Cmboje, sixty miles from the Nile.
Leaving Dorothy in q secluded spot.
Bardofr went with the skins one by one
10 the wells and filed them. getting al
the same time the gossip from the mis-
cradle creatures who exc out an ex-
istence by taking a small fee from
travellers between the Nile and the Red
Sea for the very necessary water.
There have been no dervish cara
vans from Berber for three days" said
the prince. $50 / think we are safe from
that quarter for a time
you must have found friends" said
Dorothy you not only found water,
but good tidings as we'll"
Il do not expect TO find friends In this
desOlate land" sighed the leader. Il
am only hoping and praying that we
may avoid cur enemies"
"God grant it," added his comrade sol
EMMY.
Refreshed by the cooling draughts they
took up the trail 10 the eastward. The
princes last pair or native sandals had
worn out. and his feet were on the
ground, swollen. and sometimes bleeding
from many bruises; but he never COM
planned.
On through tho still night they
marched with extreme caution, some
times leaving the trail when II led
through what appeared 10 be a danger
Gus district. and again resuming it,
Morning dawned and found them still
pressing onward toward the precious