The Columbus journal., 1909-12-15
CHAPTER xxlv-continued.

crouched as if to spring, snarling and
grinning with rage and uncertainty.
His eyes, unaccustomed to the glare
of the midday sun, blinked incessant-
ly, though he followed the mans every
movement, his snarls deepening into
growls at the slightest change OF at
titude.
In his blind animal rage Blake had
forgotten that the purpose of his
lateral advance was to place as great
a distance as possible between him
and the girl before the clash. Yet in
stinct kept him moving along his
spiral course. on the chance that he
might catch his foe off his guard.
Suddenly the lion half rose and
stretched forward, shifting. There was
an uneasy whining note in his growls.
Blake let the club slip from beneath
his arm and drew his bow until the
arrowhead lay upon his thumb. His
outstretched arm was rigid as bar
of steel So tense and alert were all
his nerves that he knew he could
drive home both arrows and still have
time to swing his club before the
beast was upon him.
A puff of wind struck against his
back and swept on the nostrils of the
lion, laden with the odor of man. The
beast uttered a short, startled roar,
and, whirling about, leaped away into
the jungle SO quickly that Blake's ar
row flashed past full yard behind.
The second arrow was on the string
before the first had struck the ground.
But the lion had vanished in the grass.
With a yell, Blake dashed on across
to the nearest point of the jungle. AS
he ran he drew the burning glass from
his fob and Tipped it open ready for
use. If the lion had turned behind the
sheltering grass stems he was too
cowardly to charge out again. Within
a minute the jungle border was wall
of roaring flame.
The grass. long since dead, and
bone-dry with the days of tropical
sunshine since the cyclone, flared up
before the wind like gunpowder. Even
against the wind the fire ate its way
along the ground with fearful rapidity.
trailing behind it an upwhirling vor-
tex of smoke and flame. No living
creature could have burst through
that belt of fire.
A wave of fierce heat sent Blake
staggering back. scorched and bis
tered. There was no exultance in his
bearing For the moment all thought
of the lion was swallowed up in awe
~ y III CT
hell of leaping, roaring flames from be-
meath his upraised arm. To the north
sparks and lighted wisps of grass
driven by the gale had already fired
the jungle half way to the farther
ridge.
Step by step Blake drew back. His
heel struck against something soft.
He looked down and saw Miss Leslie
lying on the sand, white and still.
She had tainted, overcome by fear or
by the uncomfortable heat. The heat
must have stupefied him as we'll. He
stared at her, dull-eyed. wondering II
she was dead. His brain cleared. He
sprang over to where the flask lay be-
side the remnants Of the lunch.
He was dashing the last drops OF
the tepid water in her face when she
moaned and her eyelids began to Hut
ter. He flung down the flask and fel!
to chafing her wrist.
Tom" she moaned.
Yes. Miss Jenny, I'm here. It's all
right" he answered.
Have I had sunstroke? Is that
why it seems so l can hardly
breathe" EE
It's all right. tell you. Only a
little bonfire 1 touched on. Guess you
must have tainted, but it's all right
now"
1t was silly of me to faint. But
when l saw that dreadful thing leap
She faltered and lay shuddertng. Fear
full that she was about to swoon again
Blake slapped her hand between MS
palms with singing force.
You're it," he shouted. The
Jokes on you! Kitty jumped just the
other way, and he won't come back
in a hurry with that fire to head him
OF. Jump up now and we'll do jig |
on the strength OF It."
She attempted q smile. and trace |
of color showed in her cheeks. With
an idea that actjen would further her
recovery he drew her to sitting posi-
tion. stepped quickly behind. and. with
his hands beneath her elbows. lifted
her upright. But she wae stu TOO