The Falls City tribune., 1909-04-02

u al ~ ~ ~ III tANAt'' INV ~
might catch his foe of 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 Law upon his thumb. His
outstretched arm was rigid as a bar
of steel. So tense and alert were all
his nerves that he knew he could
drive home both ROW and still have
time to swing his club before the
beast was upon him.
\ 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 Rlake's ar
row flashed past q full yard behind.
The second arroW "a on the string
before the first had struck the ground.
But the lion had vanished in the grass.
With a yell, Blake dashed on erosa
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 a 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. 10 living
creature could have burst through
that belt of fire.
\ wave of fierce heat sent Blake
staggering back. scorched and Bills
tered. There was no eXultance in his
bearing. For the moment all thought
OF the lion was swallowed up in awe
of his own work. He stared at the
hell 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
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 stupefed him as well. He
stared at her, %dull-eyed, wondering il
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 fiut-
ter. He flung down the flask and fell
to chatting her wrist.
Tom" she moaned.
Yes, Miss Jenny, I'm here. It's all
right" he answered.
Have l had a s~unstroke? Is that
why it seems So | can hardly
breathe"
ITS all right, I tell you. Only a
little bonfire | touched off. Guess you
must have tainted, but it's all right
now"
ct was silly of me to faint. But
when I saw that dreadful thing leap
She faltered and lay shuddering. Fear
full that she was about TO swoou 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 a hurry with that fire to head him
off. Jump up o and "cli do a jfg
on the strength OF il
She attempted n 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 100
weak and eiddy 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"
"I'm-Im just a little dizzy she
murmured, c~linging to his shoulder.
1T will pass in a minute. It's so silly,
but I'm that way-Tom. Il think you
are the brayest man
Yes, ycs-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 b~lushing 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 ayerted.
Come on" he muttered.
The scarlet in the girls cheeks
swept over her whole face in a burn
ing wave, which ebbed slowly and left
her colorless. Blake had started off
without a backward glance. She gazed