The Wahpeton times., 1904-04-01
CHAPTER vI.-lContinucd.) }

| CHAPTER EI.-(Continucd.l
AS they walked toward the door
Rayburn's eyes fell on the dark bulk
Oh the dead hyena beside it, A curl.
ous expression passed over his face
He touched the dead beast With his
foot.
| whats this, Cleland-a dead dog?"
Rather a dangerous kind of dog,
answered Cleland, smiling lit is Il
hyena, and would have made short
work OF me if had not happened to
be beforehand with my rifle"
Lucky for you. ! thought I heard
shot as I came round: but fanSied
had made a mistake afterwards. :"
said the other. with 4 peculiar inton-
alton. An ugly customer to dca!
With. and you're lucky to have cs-
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. We
thought we might happen to fall on
some traces Of the Baggara. We got
into a jungle. and had the greatest
difficulty in finding our way out. In
the thickest part of it tine other fellow
tripped and lell his rifle went Off. and
he shot himself right through the
shoulder. It's nasty wound. and.
though did the best could to ban
dage it. I'm rather afraid he won't be
| able to keep it still. ran all the way
back. and have not reused anyone,
was in such hurry to get you up to
aim."
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-
:ied on together.
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 tho
Jungle.
You are done UP. ! can see said
Rayburn. suddenly paus!ny to look at
the other. IL have flask with NE.
Will you take littleo"
II am all right thank you." said
Cleland, quietly. 81 do not take alec
hol, you know
The other made no remark hut
stepped on. Cleland following. In a
few minutes they were in the very
heart of the scruL. An almost impene-
trable jungle it vas. whose sharp mi
mosa-spears caught the incautious
traveller by the clothing. pierced it
through, and pierced the flesh with u
thousand sharp. thorny pricks. over
whose rough half-grass his feet stum-
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 a fly in SPIDERS web.
This is becoming almost impassa-
ble!' Cle'and exclaimed Where is
your wounded man. Major Rayburn?
Is he anywhere near here?'
I'VE We're quite as far as here. but
looks to me as if 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. remember
hat. 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.
will you stay here for few min
utes while run OH in this direction,
DOCTOR and see if there is any trace of
my poor companion? | begin to feel
quite uneasy. Have cigar while
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 a few min
utes: then his voice died away and
there was complete silence all around.