The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-09
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLNGwOOD
CHAPTER X.

Such excessive caution on Strangers
part, coupled with the fact that he car
ried four broad-pointed spears. seemed to
me TO Indicate a purpose the direct re-
verse OF friendly. and came TO the con-
clAsion that IL would be we'll 10 shorten
the distance between him and myself a
trife IL possible. This. however. was not
by any means easy 20 do until the skulk-
Ing savage had arrived within sight OF
the nut, when he paused long enough TO
allow OF my creeping up TO within dozen
yards OF him, when the reason for his
hesitation became apparent.
Smellie and Daphne were under the
awning outside the hut. and my mysteri-
Gus friend could advance no further with
out passing into the open clearing. and
so revealing himself.
We remained thus for fully half an
hour' the savage so intently watching
the couple under the awning that he had
not the remotest suspicion OF being him
self watched. At the end OF that time
the sun having set meanwhile. smeIIie
staggered 10 his feet. and leaning OH
Daphne's shoulder. passed into the hut
My mysterious neighbor maintained his
position for some Ave minutes longer
and then, springing from his hiding
place. made a dash for the hut AZ full
speed, Following. When emerged from
the forest into the open ampithaater In
the center OF which stood our hut tho
savage was some fifty yards ahead OF r,e
running like hunted deer I began 20
rear that he was bent on mischief of some
KIND, and-now that II was too late
keenly regretted the indecLsion which had
allowed him TO remain so long unchaI-
lenged. In my anxiety TO check his specd
L raised shout At the sound he slanc-
ed over his shoulder, saw me in hot pur-
suit, and paused for an instant, dashing
Forward the next moment, however. more
rapidly than ever
MY shout was evidently heard by the
occupants OF the hut, for Daphne inme-
diately afterward appeared AZ the en-
trance. AT the sight OF the figure hound
Ing toward her she muttered a little cry
ana put out her hands protestingly call
Ing out TO him at the same time
L could not catch the words she uttered.
and IL could have done so Il Is very i'm
probable that / should have understood
them. but II struck me that they conveyed
either warning c. an appeal Whatever
they were. he paid no attention TO them.
but still rushed forward. brandishinp
spear threateningly. In another econd
or two he reached the hut and endeavored
TO force an entrance. To this, however.
Daphne offered the most energetic oppo-
sltion. obstinately maintaining Ter .Josi-
tion in the doorway
Inc savage then strove 10 force his
way in, but Daphne still persisted in her
opposition he drew back a pace. and.
raising his arm with savage cry, drove
the broad -bladed javelin with all his bru-
tai strength down into her bare bosom.
The poor girl staggered under the force
or the blow. and with a stifled shrek
and an appealing cry TO "Halold," ree!ed
backward and fell TO the ground inside
the hut Meanwhile, the savage. leaving
the javelin quivering In the body OF his
Victim turned TO meet me. snatchins an
other javelin with his right hand from
his left at the same instant; and as lie
did so l recognized our former enemy,
the fetish-man or witch-doctor OF
Daphne's village.
was by this time within arm s-length
OF him, and, quick as light. he made a
lunge at me. BY a happy chance | sue
ceeded In parrying the stroke with the
blow-pipe which held in my left hand
and then, springing In upon him, dealt
him so tremendous blow with my heavy.
knotted. hardwood club that his skull
crashed under Il like an egg-shell. and he
fell a brainless corpse az my feet.
Entering the hut 1 found Smelie on
his knees beside the lifeless body OF
Daphne.
TOO late. Hawkesley you werc just
too late to save this poor devoted eir,"
lier, and you would have been In time 10
arrest the murderous blow. She is quite
dead: indeed her death must have been
instantaneous. See. the blade OF the jave-
lin h quite foot long, and II was com
pletely buried In her body; IL must have
passed clean through her heart. Poor girl.
she was indeed faithful unto death, for
II was my life that yonder murderous
wretch thirsted for.
"You doubtless recognized him-the
fetish man who strove so hard TO terrify
us on the night OF tho sacrifice in the
viuage2 l am convinced that, IN his an.
ger and chagrin at our escape. he has
patiently hunted us down. determined 10
make us feel his vengeance In ons way
if he failed I'm the other Poor Daphne
clearly read his intention. I am sure; and
Il was her resistance, her defense of poor
helpless me. that brought this cruel death
upon her. Well. Gods will be done
The poor girl was only an ignorant
savage. and Il is hardly possible that she
can ever have heard His holy name men
toned: but for all that she had pity
upon the stranger and him who had no
helper and cannot but believe that she
Will therefor receive her full reward. IL
only remains now TO so dispose OF her
body that II shall be secure from vioa-
tion by the birds or the air and the beasts
of the feld. But how is that 20 be doneR''
ITO ha continued tonaorrOxl