Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-11-12

the top of the steps waiting for Selim.
The darkness hid the wan, despairing
smile that gave the lie to her sprightly
words.
"And I'm always doing the u%nexpect-
ed thing-coming back. This time l
may vary the monotony by failing to
return"
81 should think you could vary 1t
more pleasantly by not going away"
she said. "You will be carefulT"
THE danger is here. not out there"
he said meaningly.
"You mean me? But, like all dan
ger, | soon shall pass. In a few days
l shall say goodby forever and sail
away"
"How much better 1t would be for
you if this were the last goodby and
| should not come back!'
"For me?"
"Yes. You could marry the prince
without having me on your conscience
forevermore."
"Mr. Chaser"
'It's easier to forget the dead than
the living. they say"
DOH L Dt lOp SUIT VI l1dl.
"Ah, there's Selim! Goodby! Well
have good news for you all. I hope. be.
She and Selim have arranged a set Of
signals. Don't lie awake all night, and
don't pray for me-" he scoffed, in
reckless mood.
The three men stole out through the
small gate in the upper end of the
They crept off into the black forest,
keeping clear of the mountain path
until they were far from the walls.
The starlight filtered down through
the leafy canopy above the road, in
creasing rather than decreasing the
density of the shadows through which
they sped. None but strong. deter
mined, inspired men could have fol
lowed the pace set by the 1.-the. sure
footed Selim.
Mile after mile fell behind them
with no relaxation of energy or pur-
pose. They were coming to the ridge
road, and Selim fell back to explain
the need for caution. This was the
road, in all likelihood, he expained,
that the abductors would have used
in their fight from the cavern. Two
miles farther south it Joined the wide
highway that ran from Arafat to the
mines.
Selim crept on ahead to r%econnoiter.
He was back in ten minutes with the
information that a party of men had
but lately passed along the road to-
ward the south. Their footprints in
the soft, untraveled road were fresh.
The stub of a cigarette had scarcely
burned itself out.
They broke away from the road and
took a less exposed course through the
forest to their right. keeping well with
in earshot of the ridge, but moving so
carefully that there was slight danger
of alarming the party ahead.
At last the sound Of voices came to
the ears of the pursuers. AS they
crept closer and closer they became
aware of the fact that the party had
halted In the roadway at the point
where a sharp defile through the rocks
opened a way down into the valley
Like snakes the pursuers wriggled
their way to a point just above the
small basin in which the party was
congregated.
A great throb of exultation leaped
up from their hearts. In plain view,
at the side Of the road, were the two
persons for whom they were searching.
Good luck is with u.s." whispered
Chase unconsciously.
Lady Agnes, disheveled, her dress
half stripped from her person, was
seated upon a great bowlder, staring
hopelessly. lifelessly, at the crowd of
men in the roadway. Beside her stood
a tall islander, watching her and at
the same time listening eagerly to the
dispute that went on between his fell
lows. She was not bound. Her hands
and feet and lips were free.
Bobby Browne vas standing near
by. His hands were tightly bound be-
hind his back. His face was blood
covered, and the upper part of his
body was almost bare. evidence of the
struggle he had made against over
whelming odds. He was staring at
the ground. his head and shoulders
dropping in utter detection.
Three of the treasure chests were
standing beside the road, ~affording
for as many weary carriers. 1t
was all quite plain to Chase. Rasula
and his men had CHANGED upon the two
white people during n of their trips
to the cave for the purpose of remov-
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