Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-05


superiority? No, 1 felt that this was not
the cause of her cold suspicion, her proud,
unapproachable bearing. Undoubtedly it
arose from the manner in which she had
fallen into our hands, the strangeness and
delfcacy of our situation, the knowledge
! that l was rebel in arms against her
people These We're the things which had
reared such a barrier between us. She but
resorted to what was apparently her only
available weapon of defense. Well, of one
thing. and that the most important was
struggle on her part; if not fully resigned
| to the situation. she at least realized the
necessity of obedience to my will. This
was much; but now what could do with
her?
To the right Of where we stood the
| ground sloped rapidly downward until the
dense darkness at the foot of the steep de-
| file shrouded everything from view. TIE
| descent appeared rocky and fmpracticable.
and could distinguish the sound of rapid
! water far below. On the opposite side
| trees exchanging the road, and through
| the waving leaves the moonlight check
| cred the ground with silver. while the
| dense mass beyond seemed to fiow back up
| the steep side of the mountain, thick with
underbrush. Just below us, and possibly
| fifty feet from the highway, l could per-
cefve a small one-story log cabin. as silent,
gloomy and deserted to all outward APP
pearance were the somber woods OF
which 1t formed part.
There seems small choice I said.
| speaking as cheerfully as possible But
propose to investigate the log hut yonder,
and learn if it may not afford some degree
| of shelter
She glanced furtively in the direction
pointed out, and her eyes mirrored the sud
den fear that swept into them.
"Oh, not" she cried impulsively, Il could
never venture into that horrible place"
1t did. indeed. look uncanny enough in
it's black loneliness, a fit abicing place for
ghost and goblin damned; but I was not in
clined % yield to superstitious dread.
Certainly not I answere until after
have Investigated it. Perhaps it may
prove more attractive within than without,
although, I confess, from here it appears
gloomy enough to discourage any one.
However, if you will rest here, in the
shadow Of these trees will soon discover
whether it has inmates or not.
She followed me in silence across the
road to the spot designated. but as turned
to leave her seated upon the grass. and
well protected from prying eyes, she hur-
ried quickly after me. and in her agitation
so far forgot herself as to touch my sleeve
with her hand.
"Oh. please do not leave me here alone.
I am not naturally timid. yet everything Is
so gloomy 1 cannot stand It, Let me go
with you, if you must go. >,
Most assuredly you shall II you desire.
I returned heartily But really there Is
not a particle of danger in this, for If the
house were inhabited its occupants Wouid
behind me- and we shall soon solve the
mystery. IL, ,+t,
There appeared before us a dim little,
used path leading In among the trees anu
following its erratic curves we were soon
before the cabin which grew ever more un-
inviting as we drew near. AS paused
moment before the closed door. IN order
that 1 might listen for any posslpie sounu
within I could hear her quick breathing, as
though the terror of the moment had driven
all else from her mind
DO not feel frightened l said. seeking
to reassure her. There is nothng mere
hon
less long since deserted. We shall discover
nothing more formidable within than rat
or two
tn nv pressure, and pushing wide open the
door. which creaked slightly upon its rusty
hinges, I stepped across the puncneoh
threshold onto the hard earthen floor There
was no window visible and the sIght re-
Election of moonlight which crept in through
the doorway scarcely revealed the nature
of that dark interior. L could dimiy per
ceiye what ! believed to be table directly
in front of me- while certain other indist1nct
and ilI-defined shadows might be chairs
pushed back against the wall AT least
this room was without occupants; yet IL
was with every sense alert that entered,
pressing slowly past the table toward where
/ felt the fireplace would naturally be,
knowing that my companion was yet with
ne. her hand clutehing my arm
OH she cried sharply in terror, what
was that?'
It was something certainfy-a deadened,
muffied shuffling sound directly in our
front followed by strange noise of scrap
ing, as If with dull knife on wo0d.
s'Wait here" / said sternly. Probably
it is nothing more dangerous than rat.
I felt my way carefully around the table,
a revolver ready In my hand Ihere was
nothing to be found there-nothing, indeed,
in the room; for from my new position
could look backward and distinguish in the
moonlight the details of that simple
soualid interior l ran my hand along the
rough logs of the further wall Ay! here
was break. doubtless a door; and cropping
along the crack / found the latch.
There was no longer any noise audible,
and I drew the door inward, never dream
ing of danger. Suddenly, with fierce,
wild spring out of the dark. huge body
hurled itself directly at my throat, striking
with such headlong impetus that went
backward as if shot, crashing against the
table then to the floor. dropping my weap-
on as / fell. There was no noise. no sound.
while for an instant, with strength of sheer
desperation. I held back the swapping jaws
that breathed hot fire into my very face.
With a bound backward of its great body
the beast jerked free from my grip, and
the next instant had sunk its dripping
fangs. deep and hard into the flesh of my
shoulder. AS the intense pain shot through
me, my right hand, driven with all the force
I could muster. caught the monster once.
twice, full in the throat but tighter and
tighter those clinched jaws locked, until 1t
seemed as If every bone between them must
the lower jaw, seeking vainly to wrench it
! loose. l heard the girl scream in sudden
alright.
Quick" I gasped desperately. Get my
revolver there on the floor. and use it-but
for Gods sake keep down; don't let the
brute see YOU
She must have heard, but there was no
response, although her crying ceased
Yet my own struggle to rid myself
of that crushing weight and those iron
Jaws drowned all other sounds, drove all
other thoughts from me- 1 doubt if what
now record occupied minute but God
protect me from ever having to experience
such another minute! I continued to strug-
gle in desperate hopelessness with single
hand In vain endeavor to wrench loose that
awful grip upon my shoulder. Every move
ment made was an agony an inexpressible
torture. but the very intensity of pain kept
me from faintness as the maddened beast
tore deeper and deeper into the quvering
flesh. With knee bent double beneath me
succeeded in turning partially upon one
side. lifting the entire weight of the animal
as did SO; but no degree of force I could
exert would loosen those set jaws. There
was no growing. no savage snarling no
sound of any knd-just that fierce, desper-
ate silent struggle for life in the darkness
Every muscle OF my body began to weaken
from the strain my eyes blurred. faintness
swept over me. felt my brain reeling,
when there burst vivid Hash of fame
! -