The Washington times., 1908-12-22

All he knew was that one
second he was gazing
achast at the relentless figure Of ms
enemy: the next, ne was down upon the
ledge. shouting
Run, Helene! Run FOR your life.
But the girl needed no exhoTtatiOn to
spur her 10 action. Already she had
started. and, terror lending wings TO her
feet. was literally flying down the
steep. unprotected pathway.
Behind her pounded Jim, calling con-
stantIv to her directions which size
could not take time to heed, yet in the
same breath urging her 10 haste, and
stiu more haste
Over the precarious trail they flung
themselves recklessly. the sun-baked
clay breaking and cracking and crum-
bling under their feet. and falling in
srreat chunks over the brink into the
sea
And All the time, hot upon their
heels, raced that terrible old man. utter
ing his harsh. unCouth cries, and waV-
ing his EIittering creese
The chief priest showed no mean ag1l-
iJy for one Of his years. and he had
moreover many advantages on his side
Casting away his loose feather cloak at
the start his spare, attenuated frame
was encuubered by nothing save a
breech-cIout, and his bare feet gave him
better purchase on the treacherous
eround than the leather sOIes OF his
quarry
Then, too. he knew every kink and
turn in the path be was hardened and
Injured to such exercise by mis- savage
life. and, above all. he was fired by the
religious zeal OF a bigot seeking 70
punish and destroy the violators OF d
sanctuary
His white whiskers futtering in the
wind, his lean. naked brown body bent
forward from the hips, his face a-sCOwl
his eyes hard and merciless and his
keen sword upIifted to strike, he looked.
as he padded tireIessly in pursuit, like
the figure of an avenging destiny.
And. indeed. had ten years been sub
tracted from his age the chase would
have been a short one.
A dozen times a short squirt would
have overtaken the fugitives; but, al
though he could hold 10 that swift,
steady gait for hours. the chief priest
had lost the elasticity to sprint
But fear IS a wonderful incentive, too.
10 speed. As they hurried along, Jim
and Helene forgot the manifold fatigues
and exertions Of the day. They forgot
the dangers OF the road
Sliding. slipping, stumbling down the
declivities. slIimminS across the levels,
leaping from a piece Of yielding clay
topping on the edge, back into safety.
their one impulse was TO keep ahead OF
that menacing creese.
once Helene made q misstep and hung
for a moment over the verge, the sea
boiling among the sharp rocks below
plainly visible 10 her frightened eyes;
hut Jim jerked her back. and the next
second they were off again as though
nothing had happened
The chase had really narrowed down
TO a contest of endurance. AS long as
they could hold their present gait they
could keep ahead OF the old man. but
let them once falter or slacken speed
and their doom was sealed; for It was
plain that their pursuer was not 20 be
shaken Off
He ran as dOggedly and with no more
effort than when he started, whereas
they were both painting heavily. and
Helene was commencing to show mani
fest signs Of weakening
It became evident 10 Jim that some
stratagem or other recourse than mere
running would have TO be employed if
they were to escape.
His one thought when he urSt beheld
his euraEed foe upon the warpath was
to take to his heels; but now the ques-
ton arose. whither2
He could not seek asylum In the vii
IaEe. for at the chief priests denuncla-
lion, every hand there would be lifted
against himself and his companion. He
could not hide in the woods: for hinder
cd by the matted underground. they
would rot have advanced a dozen feet
before the slayer was upon them
There remained but the open beach.
Yes, IL n.ust come TO that When he
reached tine level ground. ne would
have to turn and face his antas sonist,
and how could he, an unarmed man.
hope 10 precail in so unequal an en-
counter?
SeduloUsly he racBed his brain for
some less suicidal plan. but in vain;
Il seemed the only thing left.
And then just as he reached the last
descent leading down to the sands a
sudden inspiration came 10 him.
ITO the canoes-' he gasped TO
Helene. pointing TO the little fleet of
them mocred along the shore.
He knew that the chief priest would
undoubtedly follow them in another