Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-21
CHAPTER xv-Continued.

YES" she said, and her voice was
tense with the effort to keep 1t from
breaking. He Is in league with the mer
Of Oku. I knew it, and Capt. Warder
warned the authorities at home abou
him, but no one here would listen. Oh
Mr.. Hume, it is a dreadful thing to say
but rather than fall into that mans
power would kill myself
"You surely don't imagine that We
would agree to those terms, do you?"
Hume was almost indignant, but Eve
Ign flung herself on her knees and lifted
her clasped hands In agony to the star
studded sky.
What else can do?" she walled. my
life is broken. I have nothing left to live
for. II l refuse this offer of peace. II
means that all your lives are forfeit
yours and your wife's. and Lord Fair
who came here in the launch from Ibi
Tell him I agree I will go to this man
But make the chief promise to spare yot
and the others. l must know first thai
you are safe. Then-O God. pardon mel
my dear grl-which Of us would pur'
chase few more hours Of life at such
price?''
but you do not understand she
blazed forth. IF the death OF one car
We can't hope to resist these men; there
are thousands of them. And unless l fal
by my own hand, they may capture me
unframed after you have given your live:
pray for me. but do not let me be re-
sponsible for the slaughter of the few
friends possess In the world!
She could no longer restrain her tears
The dark blue dome that typified the
heaven to which she looked for mercy
tod If
though from a blow and wept pitifully
Then voice rang out from the COM
pound directly in front of where she
kneit. AS the opening syllables reached
that was uttered. her surcharged brain
harbored a new dread. for the man vino
was speaking spoke In Warden's voice.
Warden, whom she had learned to regard
as dead these months past. OF course.
grief and fear had driven her mad! She
swept away the tears that blurred her
vision. and peered through the rails OF
the veranda, but she saw only cloaked
Arab. who had stepped forth into the
moonlight, and was now addressing stern
warnings to the amazed Loanda. And
fantasy played her distracted senses an
other stra, .ge trick. The face of the no
tive chief was plainly visible. She watched
it's expression change from sheer wonder
ment to baffied rage. and 1t seemed to
her that it " us not Loando who gioWereo
at the Arab who harangued him, BID the
scowling mask carved on the gourd by
Domenico Garcia.
oh. yes. she was truly mad: She real
lied it herself, out the others would
never suspect it. Then the persistence
of the notion brought relief to her aching
heart. kindly delirium might carry her
through the ordeal that lay before her.
She no longer feared insanity, rather did
she welcome it, and now was her chance
to act while she was brave and would
not finch from that which she conceived
was her duty.
But why was that tall Arab still talking
in Warden's voice, and why did the stall
wart savage seem to threaten him with
furious gesture? Even while she was
gazing between the wooden bars of the
railing she saw Loanda grasp his spear
menacingly. whereupon the Arab laughed
how like it was to Wardens laugh OF
good-natured raillery!-and a couple OF
Hausa soldiers appeared. with rifles held
suggestively, as men hold shotguns when
they expect a rabbit to scuttle out OF
spinney.
Again, being still under the spell OF
that sudden lunacy, she heard the Arab
say In English, and more amazingly than
ever in Warden's very tones:
Now, Jimmie! Four PAGES 10 front
in open order-every mah-qulck!
An English officer and several soldiers
came out into the open. After one glance
of sheer astonishnent. the Oku chief
turned and stalked away toward the bush.
He did not deign to hurry. but his 1.-the,