Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04

But it's all plain sailing now. There is nothing
in this next room but a well. and it has railing
round it."
Indeed, he felt confident that he knew
just where this we'll was and the entrance to
the gallery at the other side of the chamber.
that he left the guidance of the wall and started
straight across.
Then. just as he was cropping for the wall he
expected to find, he felt across his thigh the
pressure of the web railing And at that mo-
ment the bit of rock beneath his feet crumbled
and gave way. taking with it the. post that sup
ported the rail.
1t is probable that good deal of what Smith
called his luck" was in reality nothing more
than his almost catlike quiclSness. The time it
took to carry an impression from his sensory
nerves of eye. or hand, or foot to those motor
centers that act on such impressions was al
most mraculOuSly short.
1t was not luck now that he did not fall down
into the bottom1ess well, whose brink had
given way beneath him. 1t was not luck that
he did not pull the girl in with him.
The first thing he did when he felt the rock
give way was to let 60 of her hand; the next
was to fling himself sidewise and throw out his
arms. His shout, Stand stil! reached her
ears almost before his body struck.
Within three seconds he was on his feet again
beside her.
" Give me your hand again. he said steadily.
81 know where we are now. at any rate"
They made their way down the grand gallery
in silence.
THE signal mans hut is tucked away in the
angle of one of the ramparts of the fort
just opposite the mouth of the cave. and the
man himself saw them as they emerged. On
recognizing Smith. he sprang to attention.
THAT you, Sergeant" said Smith, blinking
"The lights bit dazzling after the cave "
"Ihope you have not had a bad accident. sir.
The girl followed the direction of his eyes
and looked at her companion. There were
green stains all over the formerly immaculate
linen: but there were smears of red. too:
No damage done" said Smith. had a
fall and got scratch or two. But Sergeant.
the railing is broken round the big well: part
of the rock went down with it. You had better
hang red lantern down there until it can be
repaired
back alive, sir
The girl uttered little exclamation. "Was
it" she began: but Smith interrupted her.
And. Sergeant. after you have put up the
cave and find his Esoe h You "a may tell
him that the young lady who is missing is out
of the cave and is quite safe"
1t was not until the Sergeant had disap
Peared that the two he had left behind looked
flushed; but the girls had paled little.
II didn't know" she began.
"Nor IT, he interrupted If had an
ticipated any danger. l shouldn't have started
Will YOU all 1lOL a IcCklcSS pcISOIl cVcll
without regard to the question of your safety. |
l shouldn't have the risk on my own &C
count"
Her face lighted at that with friendly smile. |
"And did you tell the truth to the Sergeant.
she questioned, "or did you use the word
scratch in the military sense? Are you really |
not hurt?"
He laughed. Really and truly" he said |
Il am not military man. l would not pump |
up military swagger if l could. No. except |
for the consciousness that present most un- |
holy spectacle, l am entirely comfortable
She smiled again. Il don't mind the spec |
tacle." she said: land if you don't mind. I'd |
like a minute to get my breath before l go |
down to the beach there and begin answering |
questions" |
He nodded toward the shady embrasure of
an old fashioned brass cannon. Twill that |
dor" he asked.
THEY seated themselves on broad stone |
ledge, whence they might, if they would, |
have looked out over the sparkling blue
miraculously blue-sea. But their gaze did
not travel seward. The girl focused her at
tention of the trunnions of the old gun. |
The mans eyes never left her face.
She was not 1arge.-he had noted that fact
as he followed her into the embrasure,-andl
yet there was something about her that sug- |
gested largeness: her broad low forehead. the |
frankness of her gray eyes, the generous con- |
tOur Of her Inns Rt1t fhe I,arfacf orch IF bar /