The Mena weekly star., 1909-02-11


 suspense. They could see, as distinct ly as though there had been no screen ing grass, the baleful eyes of the huge cat and the shaggy forebody as the beast stood still and glared out at them.
 Then the sinuous wave would start on again around the grass border, and Blake would draw in deep breath and mutter word of encouragement to the girl: Look, now-the dirty sneak! Trying to give us the creeps, Is he, I'll creeps him! 'Fraid to show his pretty mug!"
 Not until the beast had circled half around the glade did his purpose flash upon Blake. With the wariness of marked out the spur of jungle on the north side, where he could creep closer to his quarry before leaping from cover.
 The damned sneak!" growled Blake. You there, Jenny7"
 She could not speak, but he heard her gasp.
 Brace up, little womanl Where's your grit? You're out of this deal, anyway. He'll choke to death swal- lowing me But say; couldn't you manage to shin up palm. 20 feet or so, and hang on for a couple of min utes?"
 'I-cant move-I am"
 Make try. Itll give me a run y1 ~f1 vator after you. Thatll bring the buffer out on the hot-foot. I slip a surprise between his ribs and we view the scenery while he's passing in his checks Come: make spurt! He's around the turn and getting nearer every step"
 T can't-Tom-ther is no need that both of us-- You climb up"
 He turned about as the meaning of her whisper dawnsd upon him. Her eyes were shining with the ecstasy of selfsacrifice It was only the glance of an instant; then he was again facing the jungle.
 God! You think I'd do that"
 She made no reply. There was pause. Blake-crouched on one knee. tense and alert-waited until the sinister wave was advancing into the point of the incurved jungle. Then he spoke, in a low. even tone: Feel If my glass Is there"
 Her hand reached around and pressed against the fob pocket which he had sewn in the belt of his skin trousers.
 Right Now slip my club up under my elbow-big end Lick on the nose1l stop a dog or bull. It's a chance"
 She thrust the club under his right elbow and he gripped 1t against his side.
 At that moment the lion bounded from cover. with roar like a clap of thunder. Blake sprang erect. The beast checked himself in the act of leaping. and crouched with his great paws outstretched, every hooked claw thrust out ready to tear and mangle. In two or three bounds he could have leaped upon Blake and crushed him with a single stroke of his paw. As he rose to repeat his deafening roar 1t seemed to Blake that he stood higher than a horse-that his mouth gaped wide as the end of hogshead. And yet the beast stood hesltating. re- strained by brute dread of the un- known. Never before had any animal that he had hunted reared up to meet his attack in this strange manner.
 "Lie fiati" commanded Blake; ''lie flat, and don't racye! I'm going to call his blum. Keep still till the poison gets in its work. I'll keep him busy long as I can. When it's over, hit out for home along the beach. Keep inside the barricade. and watch all you can from the cliffs Might light a fire up there nights. There's sure to be a steamer before long"
 "Tom!" she cried, struggling to her knees-"Tomi
 But he did not pause or look around. He was beginning to circle slowly to the left across the open ground, in spiral curve that would bring him to the edge of the jungle within 30 yards of the lion. There was red now showing in his eyes. His hair was bristling, no longer with fear. but with sheer brute fury; his lips were drawn back from the clenched teeth; his nostrils distended and quiv- ering; his forehead wrinkled like that of an angry mastin His look was { more ferocious than that Of the snarling beast he faced. All the { primeyal in him was reused. He was become man of the Cave Age. He went to meet death. his mind and body ahame with fierce lust to kill.
 The lion stilled his roars and crouched as if 10 spring, snarling and grinning with rage and uncertainty. His eyes. unaccustomed to the glare of rle midday sun. biinked incessant- y, bough he t1llpwed the mans every movement, his snarls deepening into growls at the slightest change of at iMde
 In his blind animal rage Blake had forgotten that the purpose of his