The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-03-18
CHAPTER XIV.
A Lion Leads Them.

H The 's es q f'3 'Ss i Pisss e ON
stretch of bare ground. 9th
er than seward. the open space was
hemmed in by grass jungle, inter
| spersed with clumps of thOrn-brush.
| On the north side a jutting corner of
the tall. yellow spear-grass curved out
and around. with the point of the hook
some so yards from the palms. Else
where the distance to the jungle was
nearly twice as far.
| Blake dropped the bag and his
weapons, flung down his hat and
started up a palm shaft. The down
| pointing bristles of his skin trousers
aided his grip. Though the lofty
crown of the palm was swaying in the
wind he reached the top and was down
again before Miss Leslie had arranged
the contents of the lunch bag.
Guess you're not extra hungry"
| he remarked.
She made no response.
Mad, Ell? Well. toss me the little
knife Mine has gor 700 good meat
edge to spoil on these husks."
1T was very kind of you 10 climb
| for the nuts and the wind blowing so
hard up there" she said, as she
handed over the penknife. q am not
angry. 1t is only that ! feel tired and
depressed. I hope l am not going
| to be"
No: you're not going to have the
| fever. or any such thing, You're
| played ont. that's all. I'm a fool for
| bringing YOU so far. You'll be all
right after you eat and rest. Here;
| drink this cocoa milk"
| She drained the nut and. upon his
| insistence, made pretense at eating.
| He was deceived until, with the salts
! flying Of his first keen hunger, he
again became observant
| Say, that won't do" he exclaimed.
Look a your bowl. You haven't nib
bled enough to keep a mouse alive"
Really. | am not hungry, But l am
resting"
Try another nut I'll have one
| ready in two shakes
| He caught his hat. which was drag
ging past in downward eddy of the
wind. and weighted it with a cocoa
nut He wedged another nut be-
tween his knees and bent over it.
| tearing at the husk. 1t took him only
few moments to strip the fiber from
the end and gouge open the germ hole.
| He held out the nut and glanced up to
meet her smile OF acceptance
| She was staring past him, her eyes
wide with terror, and the color fast
| receding from her face.
What in Another snake" he
demanded, twisting warily about to
glare at the ground behind him
"There-over in the grass" she
whispered. 1T looked out at me with
terrible. savage eyes"
Snake that far off ."
NO no,-a monster-a huge. fierce
beast"
Beast" echoed Blake. grasping his
how and arrows. Where is he? May
be only one of these African buffaloes.
How'd he look ?-horns?"
II didn't see any II was all
shaggy, and yellow like the grass.
and terrible eyes-Oh,"
The girls scream was met by fe-
rocious, snarling roar. so deep and
prolonged that the air Quivered and
the very ground seemed to shake.
Coda lion" cried Blake the
hair on his bare head bristling like
startled animals
He turned squarely about toward
the ridge. his bow half drawn. Had
the lion shown himself then Blake
would have shot on the instant AS it
was. the beast remained behind the
screening border OF grass, where he
could watch his intended quarry with,
out being seen in turn. The delay
gave Blake time for reflection He
spoke sharply. as it were biting off his
words: Hit out I'll stop the buffer"
81 cant. Oh. I'm afraid"
Again the hidden beast gave voice
TO his mighty rnmbling challenge.
Still he did not appear, and Blake at
tempted derisiye jeer: Hey, there,
louder We've not run yet, It's all
| right little woman. The skulking
sneak is lTSlnS 10 pun us. r Idlu 10
come out if We don't stampede. He'll
make off when he finds We don't scare
Lions never tackle men in the day,
time. Just keep cool while.
| He'll"
"Look!-there to the right saw
him again. He's creeping around,
| See the grass move!"
That's only the wind. 1t eddies
down-God he is stalking around,
him! He may get me, but I'll get
him. too-the dirty sneak"
TO BE CONTINUED.
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