Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-01-20
CHAPTER I.-contlnued.

II " hn a lOAAb AAlAAC bAAg0 oAAS aAeiN
heard any sound from the cave; she
went to the entrance and listened, but
all was quite still. Perhaps the trav-
.eler had fallen asleep from exhaus-
ton, too tired even TO drag himself
out into the air when he could work
no longer. She sat down in the en-.
trance and waited
An hour passed. Perhaps he was
dead At the mere inward suggestion
Baraka sprang to her feet, and her
heart beat frantically, and stood still
an instant, and then beat again as If
II would burst, and she could hardly
breathe. She steadied herself against
the rock, and then went in to know
the truth, feeling her way, and in
stinctively shading her eyes as many
people do in the dark.
A breath of cool air made her open
them, and to her amazement there
was light before her. She thought
she must have turned quite round
while she was walking and that she
was going back to the entrance, so
she turned again. But in few sec
onds there was light before her once
more. and soon she saw the dry sand,
full of her footprints and the travel
er's, and then the hollow where the
mine was came in sight.
She retraced her steps a second
time. saw the light as before, ran for
ward on the smooth sand and stumbled
upon a heap of earth and stones, just
as she saw the sky through an irregu-
far opening on the level of her face.
Scarcely believing her senses she
thrust out her hand towards the hole.
1t was real, and she was not dream
ing; the traveller had got out and was
gone rocking little of what might hap
pen to her, since he was free with his
treasure.
Baraka crept up the slope of earth
as quickly as she could and got out;
81 she had hoped to find him waiting
for her she was disappointed, for he
was nowhere TO be seen. He had got
clear away, with his camel-bag full of
Eubies. A moment later she was lying
on the ground, with her face in the
stream, drinking her fill, and forgetful
even of the man she loved. In order
TO deprive them of water the men had
dug a channel by which 1t ran down d.
rectly from the spring to the ravine
on that side; then they had blocked
up the entrance with stones and EARTH
Believing that one mans strength could
never suffice to break through, and
they had gone away. They had prob
ably buried or burnt Baraka's clothes,
for she did not see them anywhere.
She ate some of the dates from the
dead mans wallet, and a bit of the
dry black bread, and felt revived,
since her greatest need had been for
water, and that was satisfied. But
when she had eaten and drunk, and
had washed herself in the stream and
twisted up her hair, she sat down
upon a rock; and she felt so tired
'that she would have fallen asleep II
the pain in her heart had not kept
her awake. She clasped her hands to-
gether on her knees and bent over
them, rocking herself.
When nearly an hour had passed
she looked up and saw that the sun
was sinking, for the shadows were
turning purple in the deep gorge, and
there was a golden light on the peaks
above. She listened then, holding hel
breath; but there was no sound ex
-eept the tinkling Of the tiny stream
as 1t fell over ledge at some distance
below her, following its new way
down into the valley.
She rose at last, looked upward
and seemed about to go away when /;
thought occurred to her, which after
wards led to very singular conse
quences. Instead Of going down tn,
valley or climbing up out of It, sht
went back to the entrance OF the cave
taking the wallet with her, dragge,
herself in once more over the loos
stones and earth, reached the secre
hollow where the pool had been, ant
made straight for the little mine o
precious. stones. The traveller hal
broken out many more than he hat
been able TO carry, but she did not tr,
20 collect them all. She was not alto
gether ignorant Of the trade carrie,
on by the men Of her family for gen
erations, and though she had not tn
least idea of the real value Of tn
finest of the rubies. she knew YER
well that It would be wise to TAX
many small ones which she could e1
change for clothing and necessarie
with the first women she met in tn
hills, while hiding the rest of the SUI
ply she would be able to carry in tn
wallet
When she had made her wise SC
lection. she looked once more toward
the quieksand, and left the place 10
ever. Once outside she began {
climb the rocks as fast as she could
for very soon Il would be night an
she would have to lie down and wal
many hours for the day, since Their