The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-09-29

But Blake had dashed the bamboos
securely together, and none of the
beasts was heavy enough to snap the
supple bars. Finding that they could
not break down the barrier, they be-
gan to scratch and tear at the thatch
which covered the frame Soon pair
of lean jaws thrust in and snapped
at the girls skirt. She sprang back.
with cry: Help! Quick, Mr.. Win
thrope! They're breaking through"
Winthrope made no response. She
stopped, and found him lying inert
where he had fallen. She had only
herself to depend upon. A screen of
sharp sticks which she had made for
the entrance was leaning against the
inner wall, within easy reach. To
grasp it and thrust it against the other
framework was the work of an in
slant.
Still she trembled. for the eager
beasts had ripped the thatch from the
canopy, and their inthrust jaws made
short work of the few leaves on her
screen. Unaware that even a lion or
tiger is quickly discouraged by the
she expected every moment that the
jackals would bite their way through
her frail barrier.
She remembered the sharpened
stakes Of her screen, hidden under the
leaves and grass of her bed. She
CROPPED her way across the hollow,
and uncovered one of the stakes. In
her haste she cut her hand on ITS
razor-like edge. All unheeding, she
sprang back towards the entrance. She
was none too socn. One of the smaller
jackals had forced its head and one
leg between the bars, and was strug-
Cling to enlarge the opening.
Fearful that the whole pack was
about to burst in upon her, the girl
grasped the bamboo stake in both
hands, and began stabbing and lung.
ing at the beast with all her strength.
The jackal squirmed and snarled and
snapped viciously. But the girl was
now frantic. She pressed nearer, and
though the white teeth grazed heI
wrist. she drove home a thrust that
changed the beasts snarls into howl
of pain. Before she could strike
again, it had struggled back out OF
the hole, beyond reach.
Tense and painting with excitement
she leaned forward, ready to stab at
the next beast. None appeared, and
presently she became aware that the
pack had been daunted by the ex
perience of their unlucky fellow. Their
snarls and yells had subsidized to
whines. which seemed to be coming
waited, with the bamboo stake up
raised ready to strike, every nerve
and muscle of her body tense with the
strain.
So great was tSe stress of her fear
and excitement that she had not heed
ed the first gray lessening of the
night. But now the glorious tropical
dawn came streaming out of the east
in all its red effulgence. Above and
through the bamboo barrier glowed .
light such as might have come from
a great fire on the cliff top. Still
tense and immovable, the girl stared
out up the cleft There was not q
jackal in sight. She leaned forward
and peered around, unable to believe
such good fortune. But the night
providers had skunk off in the first
gray dawn.
The girl drew in deep, shudder
ing sigh, and sank back. Her hand |
struck against Winthrope's loot. She
turned about quickly and looked al
him. He was lying upon his face. She
fastened to turn him upon his side |
and to feel his forehead. 1t was COO |
and moist. He was fast asleep and |
drenched with sweat. The great
shock of his pain and fear and ex
citement had broken his fever.
With the relief and joy of this dis
covery, the girl completely relaxed
Not observing Winthrope's wounds
which had bled little, she sought tc
force a way out through the entrance;
It was by no means an easy task to
free the wedged framework, and when.
after much pulling and pushing, she
at last tore the mass loose. she found
herself perspiring no less freely than
(TO BE CONTINUED)