New-York tribune., 1906-06-24

through me
Madeleine turned to the boy. Quick,
Rosario, 90 back to one of those houses and get
a candle and a clothes -line-you needn't be
afraid; the people have all run away"
The boy obediently departed. Madeleine
hung in the door. afraid to let Bentley discover
who were his rescuers lest he pronounce them
Inadequate and insist upon sending for the
soldiers This, she knew, would take some
time and she dared not take the chances, His
labored breathing reached her painfully. The
suspense had become intOerable, when Rosario
reappeared with candle and some strong ropes
BY the tliCkering light they peered into the
black hole that yawned beneath them. The
false floor of narrow bamboo sticks had, as in
tended, given way at the first pressure; and
pinned to one of the numberess sharpened
stakes that protruded out of the ground, lay
the Young officer.
ends into nooses. With the first he caught the
lieutenant around the shoulders. Bentley
eXerted his fast failing strength to work it
under his arms. Another loop caught him
securely around the legs Then the two grasped
the rope ends, and began to pull, carefully
at first that they might dislodge him as gently
possible. When a sharp groan followed,
showing that he was free, they put their whole
strength to 1t and strained at the great weight
till the blood in their faces congested from the
eXertlon. Still he hung uncertainty in midair;
and they knew that only by some desperate
and almost superhuman effort could he be
raised. They dropped to the ground, and
Madeleine, with prayer in her teeth, threw
her whole soul into this final racking trial.
She was barely aware of 1t when a human
form loomed suddenly out of the darkness and
dropped heavily beside her
The girl collapsed in a nerveleSS heap, and
it not till groan from Bentley aroused
her that she recovered sufficiently to crawl
over to him. Blood was flowing from an ugly
cash in his back. He was in great pain, and
she bestirred herself TO relieve it. With
Rosario's aid she got him to the stream, for
tunately near at hand, and carefully washed
the wound and bound it with strips from her
garments. Rosario was then despatched for
the soldiers and stretCher.
Her charge reused himself finally and looked
about him She could see the amazement in his
face override every other emotion What
you?" he faltered incredulously, attempting
to struggle to his elbow
Madeleine pressed him gently back. " Don't
exert yourself, Dick" She entreated. 1T
might start the bleeding again
He did not demur, and Madeleine moved
to her former position. For several
minutes they regarded each other with silent
earnestness. The moonlight. as is its way in
the tropics, shed about them a startling imi-
tatOn of daylight. 1t revealed the girl. crouch
ing in the grass, her loose cleaning hair, and
torn garments, and the drawn, intent face of
her companion.
However did it happen, Dicll?" Madeleine
broke the silence gently.
Simply enough" he answered. :" In run
ming down the stragglers, | got separated
from the men. | was determined to catch one
fellow whom | had recognized as a leader.
1t was dark and his adrOitnesS led me to be-
leve that he had sought refuge in that hut.
The result of my entrance was as YOU see
Do YOU know" he broke off haltingly, while
| was lying in there had a premonition that
you would come, just as | have dreamed
through long, fevered, and weary nights that
YOU would come at last, It's so seldom that
TO Taall ind llr -I.a -
isn't after ALL he glanced up at her in awaken
ed alarm" perhaps you've just come to go
again, YOU used to do in the Dreams
e" No, Dick dear" she drew gently over to
him, am not dream at all, only a ragged
and diSheveled girl; but | have come to stay"