The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-09-02
Baraka Was Almost Up to Her Neck.

sack and could not move as fast as
she. He felt his damp hair rising
with fear, for he believed that, after
all, she had brought him into trap.
They reached the opening and came
out into the pool again.
"You have brought me here to die"
he said. Your father and your broth
eFs have shut up the entrance with
great stones, and they will go up the
mountain and let themselves down
from above with ropes and shoot me
like wolf in a pitfall. But you shall
die first, because you have betrayed
me-"
So he cooked his revolver and set
the muzzle against her head, to kill
her, holding her by her slender throat
with his other hand; for they were in
shallow water and he had dropped the
sack in the pool.
Baraka did not struggle or cry out.
II would rather die by your hand
than be alive in another mans arms"
she said quite quietly.
He let her go, merely because she
was so very brave; for he did not love
her at all. She knew it, but that made
no difference to her, since no other
woman was near; if they could get
out alive with the rubies she was sure
that he would love her for the sake
of the great wealth she had brought
him. If they were to starve to death
at the bottom of the great rock wall
in the mountains, she would probably
die first, because he was so strong;
and then nothing would matter. 1t
was all very simple.
The traveller fished up the sack and
waded out upon the tiny beach. He
looked up rather anXiously, though he
could not have seen a head looking
down from above if there had been
any one there. There was not light
enough. He understood also that if
the men were going to shoot at him
from the height they would wait till it
was daylight. Baraka stood still in
the water, which was up to her waist,
and he paid no attention to her, but
sat down to think what he should do.
would dry on him by degrees. He
would have taken them off and spread
them out, for he thought no more of
Baraka's presence than if she had
been a harmless young animal stand
ing there in the pool, but he could not
tell what might happen at any mo-
ment, and so long as he was dressed
and had all his few belongings about
him, he felt ready to meet fate.
Baraka saw that he did not heed
her, and was thinking. She came up
out of the water very slowly, and she
modestly loosened her wet garment
from her, SO that it hung straight
when she stood at the end of the
beach, as far from the traveller as pos
sible. She, also, sat down to dry her
self; and there was silence for long
time.
After half an hour the traveller rose
and began to examine the rock, feel.
ing 1t with his hands wherever there
was the least shadow, as high as he
could reach, to find if there was any
foothold, though he was already sure
that there was not
There is no way out" Baraka said
at last. Il have been here by day.
have seen."
"They will let themselves down
from above with ropes, till they are
near enough to shoot" the traveller
answered.
NO." replied Baraka They know
that you have good weapon, and
they will not risk their lives. They
will leave US here to starve. That is
what they will do. 1t is our portion,
and we shall die. 1t will be easy. for
there is water and when we are hun.
cry we can drink our fill. You will
die first. You are not as we are, you
cannot live so long without food"
The traveller wondered If she was
right, but he said nothing.
If we had got out with the treas