The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-03-25
Toni" She Cried. Struggling to Her
Knees,-''Ton1i"

Toni" She Cried. Struggling to Her
knees.-"Tom!"
The second arrow was on me sTrlng
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. fared ND
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 mp in awe
of his own work He stared at the
he'll OF leaping, roaring flames from be-
meath his appraised arm. To the north
sparks and lighted wisps of grass
driven by the gale had already fired
In hol
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 well. He
stared al her, dull-eyed. wondering if
she was dead His brain cleared. He
sprang over to where the flask lay be
side the remnants of tire lunch.
He was dashing the last drops of
the tepid water in her face when she
moaued and her eyelids began to fut-
Ter. He flung down the flask and fell
to chatting her wrist,
Tom" she m0aned
Yes Miss Jenny, I'm here. It's all
right he answered.
Have ! had suHstIoke? Is that
why it seems so | can hardly
breathe"
It's all right tell YOU Only a
little bonfire ,ouched off. Guess YOU
ct, =,
now"
1t was silly OF me to faint But
when | saw that dreadful thing leap"
She fallered and lay shuddering Fear
full that she was about to swoon again
Blake slapped her hand between his
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 hurry with that fire 10 head him
on The strength of it
She attempted a smile. and a trace
OF color showed in her cheeks With
an idea that action would further her
recovery he drew her to a sitting posi-
ton, stepped quickly behind, and, with
his hands beneath her elbows. lifted
her upright. But she was still too
weak and giddy to stand alone. AS
he released his grip she swayed and
would have fallen had he not caught
her arm.
Steady" he admonished. Brace
up; you're all right
1'm-I'm just a little dizzy" she
murmured. clinging to his shoulder.
1T Will pass in minute. It's so silly.
but I'm that way-Tom, II think you
are the bravest man"
Yes, yes-but that's not the point.
Leave go now, like a sensible girl.
It's about time to hit the trail"
He drew himself free, and without
a glance at her blushing face began
to gather up their scattered outfit.
His Hat lay where he had weighted it
down with the cocoanut He tossed
the nut into the skin bag and jammed
the hat on his head pulling the brim
far down over his eyes When he had
fetched his club he walked back past
the girl with his eyes averted
Come on" he muttered.
The scarlet in the girls cheeks
swept over her whole face in burn
Ing wave, which ebbed slowly and left
her colorless. Blake had started off
without backward glance. She gazed
about with bewildered look at the
palms and the barren ridge and the
fiery tidal wave of flame. Her gaze
came back to Blake, and she followed
him.
Within short distance she found
herself out Of the sheltering lee OF the
ridge. The first wind gust almost
overthrow her. She could never have
walked against such a gale: but with
the wind at her back she was buoyed
up and borne along as though on
wings. Her sole effort was to keep
her foothold. Had it been their morn
inc trim uha could hnyo ,vt,l