The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-16
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 THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS.
Copyright, 1908, by H. Rider Haggard
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'ssssesssesesseesee eeee 60eeeA4ee6A k\ more, but presently abandoned that plan as it took too much time. Also although the plants were plentiful enough, in that low and curious light 1t was not easy ito see them among the dense growth of reedy vegetation.
 While she was thus engaged she be- came aware of low moaning noise and a stirring of the air about her which caused the leaves and grasses to culver without bending. Then follow ed an ice-cold wind that grew in Strength until it blew keen and hard luffl1ng the surface of the marshy pools. Still Rachel went on with her task for her basket was not more than half full, till presently the heavens above her began to mutter and to groan and drops of rain as large as shillings fell upon her back and hands. Now she understood that it was time Tor her to be going, and started to walk across the island-for at the mo- raent she was near it's further side--to reach the deep, rocky river-bed or donga.
 Before ever she came there with aw- sll suddenness and inconceivable fury the tempest burst. A hurricane of wind tore down the valley to the sea, and for a few minutes the darkness became so dense that she could scarce " SluLipIe IoIWduu men there was light, a dreadful light; all the heavens seemed to take fire, yes, and the earth, too; it was as though its last dread catastrophe had fallen on the world
 Buffeted, breathless, Rachel at length reached the edge of the steep river-bed that may have been fifty yards in width, and was about to step into it when she became aware of two things. The first was a seething, roaring noise so loud that it seemed to still even the believing of the thun- Ger, and the next, now seen, now lost, as the lightning pulsed and darkened, the figure of a youth, a white youth, who had dismounted from a horse t9at remained near to but above him, and stood, a gun in his hand, upon a rock at the further side of the donga.
 He had seen her also and was shout ing to her, of this she was sure, for although the sound of his voice was lost in the turnu1t, she could perceive hIs gestfculatfons when the lightning f:ared, and even the movement of his lips. Wondering vaguely what a white boy could be doing in such a place and very glad at the prospect of his company, Rachel began to advance towards him in short rushes whenever the lightning showed her where to set her feet. She had made two of these rushes when from the violence and character of his movements at length she understood that he was trying to prevent her from coming further and paused confused.
 Another instant she knew why. Some hundreds of yards above her the river bed took a turn and suddenly round this turn, crested with foam, appeared wall Of water in which trees and carcases of animals were whirled along like straws. The flood had come down from the mountains, and was advancing on her more swift ly than horse could gallop. Rachel ran forward a little way, then under standing that she had no time to cross, stood bewiIdered for the fearful turnult of the clements and the dreadful roar ing of that advancing wall of foam overwhelmed her senses. The light nings went out for a moment, then began to play again with tenfoqd fre- the nearing torrent, they struck in the dry bed before it, and leapt upwards from the earth as though Titans and gods were hurling spears at one am other.
 In the lurid sheen of them she saw the lad leap from his rock and rush towards her. A flash fell and split a boulder not thirty paces from him, causing him to stagger, but he recov-
 
 was quite close, but the water was closer still. It was coming in tiers or lodges, a thin sheet of foam in front, then other layers laid upon 1t, each of them few yards behihd it's fellow. On the top ledge, in it's very crest, was a bull buffalo, dead, but held head on and down as though it were charg from the direction in which it came in few moments its horns would strike her. Another second and an arm was about her waist-she noted how white it was where the sleeve was rolled up, dead white in the lightning and she was being dragged towards the shore thatssne had left. The first film of waters struck her and nearly washed her. from her feet, but she was strong and active, and the touch of. that arm seemed to have given her back her wit, so she regained them and srdashed forward. Now the next tier took them both above the knees, but fos a moment shallowed, so that they did not fall. The high bank was Scance five yards away, and the wall of walters perhaps a score.
 Together for life and death!', said an English voice in her ear, and the shout of it only rsached her in a whis- per.
 The boy and the girl leapt forward like bucks. They reached the bank and struggled up it. The hungry waters sprang at them like a living thing, ,frasping their feet and legs as though with hands; a stick as it whirl- ed by s2ruck the lad upon the shoulder, and where it struck the clothes were rent away and red blood appeared. Almost he fell, but this time it was Rachel who supported him. Then one more struggle and they rolled exhaust ed on the ground just clear of the lip of the racing flood.
 Thus through tempest, threatened by the waters of death from which he snatched her, and companioned by heavens lig;htnings, did Richard Dar- rien come into the life of Rachel Dove.
 Presently, having recovered their breath, they sat up and looked at each other by lightning light, which was all there was He was a handsome lad of about seventeen, though short for his years; sturdy in build, very fair skinned and curtously enough with a singular resemblance to Rachel except that his hair was a few shades darker than hers. They had the same clear grey eyes, and the same weM-cut fea- lures; indeed seen together most peo- pie would have thought them brother and sister, and remarked upon their family likeness. Rachel spoke the first.
 .'Wno are you?' she shouted into his ear in one of the intervals of dark ness s.and why did you come here?"