, 1909-03-25

and the girl before the clash. Yet in
stinct kept him moving along his
spiral course, on the chance that he
might catch his foe off his guard.
Suddenly the lion half rose and
stretched forward. shifting. There was
an uneasy whining note in his growls.
Blake let the club slip from beneath
his arm and drew his bow until he
arrowhead lay upon his thumb. His
outstretched arm was rigid as a bar
OF steel. So tense and alert were all
his nerves that he knew he could
drlVe home both arrows and still have
time to swing his club before the
beast was upon him.
A puff of wind struck against his
back and swept on the nostrils of the
lion. laden with the odor of man. The
beast uttered a short. startled roar.
and. whirling about. leaped away INTO
the jungle so quickly that Blake's ar
row flashed past a full yard behind.
h econd arrow was on the string
before the first had struck the ground.
Bet the lion had vanished In the grass.
With a yell. Blake dashed on across
TO the nearest point Of the Jungle. AS
he ran he drew the burning glass from
bis fob and Tipped 1t open ready for
use. II the lion had turned behind the
sheltering grass stems he was too
cowardly to charge out again. Within
a minute the jungle border was a wall
of roaring flame.
The grass, long since dead. and
hone-dry with the days of tropical
sunshine since the cyclone, fared I'D
before the wind like gunpowder. Even
against the wind the fire ate its way
along the ground with fearful rapidity,
trailing behind 1t an upwhirling vor-
tex of smoke and fame. No living
creature could have burst through
that belt OF fire.
A wave of fierce heat sent Blake
staggering back, scorched and blisr
tered. There was no exultance In his
bearing. For the ONE all thought
IF the lion was swallowed up in awe
nf his own work. He stared al the
Tell of leaping, roaring flames from be-
meath his appraised arm. To the north
sparks and lighted wisps ot grass
'llNth ny lht 6dle ndu dlItduy HTtu
tie jungle half way to the farther
ridge.
Step by step Blake drew back. His
heel struck against something soft.
He looked down and saw Miss Leslie
living on the sand, white and still.
She had tainted. overcome by fear or
by the uncomfortable heat. The neat
must have stupeied him as well. He
stared at her, dull-eyed. wondering If
she was dead. His brain cleared. He
sprang over to where the flask lay be-
side the remnants Of the lunch.
He was dashing the last drops @,
.he tepid water in her face when she
moaned and her eyelids began to hut-
ter. He flung down the flask n fell
70 chatting her wrist.
Toni" she moaned.
Yes, Miss Jenny. I'm here. It's all
light" he answered.
Have l had a su%nstroke? Is that
why it seems 10 I can hardly
breathe-"
Its all right, l tell you. Only a
little bonfire l touched of. Guess you
must have tainted. but it's all right
now"
1T was silly of me to faint. But
when | saw that dreadful thing leap"
She faltered and lay s%huddering. Fear
FIJI hat she was about to swoon again
Blake slapped her hand between his
palms with singing force.
You're it," he shouted. The
Jokes on you! Kitty jumped Just b
other way, and he won't come back
in a hurry with that fire to head him
OF. Jump up now and well do . jig
on the strength of It.
She attempted a smile. and a trace
OF color showed in her cheeks. with
an idea that action would further her
ecovery he drew her to a sitting posi-
ton, stepped quickly behind, and, with
his hands beneath her elbows. hfted
her upright. But she was still too
weak and giddy to stand alone. AS
he released his grip she swayed ana
would have fallen had he not caught
her arm.
Steady" he admonished. Brace
up; you're all right"
"T'm-I'm just a little dizzy, she
murmured, clinging to his shoulder.
1T will pass in a minute. It's so SHY
but I'm that way-Tom, II think you
are the bravest
Yes, yes-but that's not the point
Leave go now, like a sensible girl.
It's about time to hit the trail
He drew himself free. and without
a glance at her blushing face began
to gather up their scattered outht'
His hat lay where he had weighted II
down with the %cocoanut. He tossed
the nut into the skin bag and damned
the hat on his head. pulling the prin
far down over his eyes. When he had
fetched his club he walked back past
the girl with his eyes averted.
Come on" he muttered.
The scarlet in the girls cheeks
,,ya,., over her whole face in a burn