The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-01

| Wouiu ma IT without search: when there. was no food. it would seem to
 be brought to him. Once an eagle
 cropped bustard at his feet. Once
 he found buck fresh slain by leop- aros- Once where he was very hungry
 he saw that he had laid down to sleep by nest of ostrich eggs and this food he cooked. making fire after the
 native fashion with sharp sticks, as he knew how to do.
 At length all the swamps were pass ca and in the third week of his jour | ney1ng he reached the sloping uplands on the edge of which he awoke one morning to find himself surrounded by a circle of great men, giants, who
 stood staring at him. He arose, think | ing that at last his hour had come, as It seemed to him that they were about | 10 Kill him. But instead of killing him i these huge men saluted him humbIy l and offered him food upon their knees, and new hide shoes for his feet-for his own were worn out-and cloaks and
 garments of skin, which things he ac- | cepted thankfully, for by now he was
 almost naked. Then they brought | litter and wished him to enter 1t, but
 this he refused. Heeding them no | more, as soon as he had eaten and piled his bag and water-bottle, he started on towards the north. Indeed,
 he could not have stayed if he had wished: his brain seemed to be full of one thought only, to travel till he
 reached his journeys end, whatever it
 might be. and before his eyes he saw
 one thing only, the spirit face of Ra- l chel. that led him on towards that end. sometimes it was there for hours, then TOT hours again 1t would be absent.
 when 1t was present he looked at 1t:
 When It was gone he dreamed of it. for
 him it was the same. But one thing was ever with him, that magnet in his heart which drew his feet towards
 the north, and from step to step show eu h1m the road that he should travel. A number of the giant men accom- panied him. He noticed it, but took no
 heed. So long as they did not attempt
 t1 stay or turn him he was indifferent
 a result he travelled in much more
 comfort. since now everything was made easy and ready for him. Thus
 he was fed with the best that the land provided, and at night shelters were
 built for him to sleep in. He discov-
 cred that captain of the giants could understand a few words of some native
 language which he knew, and asked | tain replied by order of Mother of Trees>" Who or what Mother of ] Trees" might be Richard was unable
 to discover so he gave up his attempts at talk and walked on. .
 They traversed the fertile uplands and reached the edge of the fearful desert. It did not frighten him; he plunged into it as he would have had it lain in his way. He was like 8 bird whose instinct at the approach of summer or of winter leads 1t with out doubt or error to some far spot beyond continents and oceans. some land that it has never seen. leads it in surety and peace to it's appointed rest. A guard of the giant men came with him into the desert. also carriers who bore skins of water Tn that burning heat the journey was dread full. yet Richard accomplished it, wear ing down all his escort until at it's further lip but one man was left. e n ms cd <3y f,<a-l gan to beat upon a little drum that he carried. which drum had been passed on to him by those who were left be- hind. But Richard was not exhaust ed. His strength seemed to be greater than it had ever been before, or that which drew him forward had acquired more power. He wondered vaguely why man should choose such place and time, to play upon a drum. and went on alone.
 Before him, some miles away, he saw forest of towering trees that stretched further than his eye could reach. As he approached that forest heading for certain tall tree. why he knew not. the sunset dyed 1t red as though it had been on fire. and he thought that he discerned little shapes fitting to and fro amidst the boles of trees. Then he entered the, forest. whereof the boughs arched above him like the endless roof of a cathedral borne upon innumerable pillars. There was deep gloom that grew presently to darkness wherein here and there g'ow- worfns shone faintly like tapers dying before an altar. and winds sighed like echoes of evening prayers. He could see to walk no longer, sudden weari- ness overcame him, so according to his custom he laid himself down to sleep at the bole of a great tree.
 A while had passed. he never knew how long. when Richard was awaken ed from deep slumber by feeling many hands f1ercely at work upon him. hax 1- ,a1I r1Ft children: this he could tell from the | touch of them. although the darkness was sos dense that he was able to see nothing. Two of them gripped him by crying out: others passed cords about l his wrists, ankles and middle until he | could not stir a single limb Then he l was dragged back few paces and guessed. that under which he had been 1 sleeping. The hands let go of him. l and his throat being free he called out l for help. But those vast forest aisIes seemed to swallow up his voice. It fell | back on him from the canopy of huge bougIs above. it was lost in the inn | mense silence Only from c'ose at hand he heard little peals of thin and | mocking laughter So he too grew sil- | ert. for who was there to help him | here?
 He struggled to loose himself. for the inpalpable power which had guided him so far was now at work within | him more strongly than ever before l It called to him to come. it drew h'm onward. 1t whispered to him that the | goal was near. But the more he | writhed and twisted the deeper did the | cruel cords or creepers cut into his flesh. Yet he fought on till. utterly exhausted. his head fell forward. and he swooned away.
 CHAPTER XxIv
 The End and the Beginning.
 On the day following that when she had summoned Eddo to speak with her. Nya sat at the mouth of the cave It was late afternoon. and already the shadows gathered so quickly that save for her white hair. her little chi1dlike shape, withered now almost to skele- ton. was scarcely visible against the black rock. Walking to and fro in her aim1ess fashion. she would do for hours at time. Rachel accompanied bxz rasSad and SSAd her fill