The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-08-30

Yard by yard they watched the
slight swaying of the grass tops which
betrayed the cautious advance of the
grim stalker. The beast did not roar
again. Having failed to flush his
game, he was seeking to catch them
on their guard, or perhaps was warily
taking stock Of the strange creatures,
those like he had never SEEN
Now and then there was a pause,
and the grass tops swayed only to
the down-puffs of the heightening gale.
At such moments the two grew rigid,
watching and waiting in breathless
suspense. They could see, as distinct.
ly as though there had been no screen
ing grass, the baleful eyes of the huge
cat and the shaggy forebody as the
beast stood still and siared out at
them.
Then the sinuOus wave would start
on again around the grass border, and
Blake would draw in a deep breath
and mutter word of announcement
TO the girl: Look, now-the dirty
sneak! Trying to give us the creeps,
is he? I'll creeps him! 'Fraid to
show his pretty mug!"
Not until the beast had circled half
around the glade did his purpose flash
upon Blake. With the wariness of
all savage hunters, the animal had
marked out the spur of jungle on the
north side, where he could creep
closer to his quarry before leaping
from cover.
'The damned sneak" growled
Blake. You there, jenny"
She could not speak, but he heard
her gasp.
Brace up, little woman, Where's
your grit? You're out of this deal,
anyway. He'll choke to death swal.
lowing me But say; couldn't you
manage to shin up palm, 20 feet or
so, and hang on for a couple of min.
utes?"
1-can't novel am"
Make try! It'll give me a ,Nn
for my money. I'll take the next ele-
vator after you. ThatIl bring the
buffer out on the hot-foot. I slip a
surprise between his ribs and we
view the scenery while n~'s passing
in his checks. Come; make a squirt.
He's around the turn and getting
nearer every step"
Il can't-TOm-there Is no need
that both of us You climb up"
He turned about as the meaning of
her whisper dawned upon him. Her
eyes were shining with the ecstasy of
self-sacrifice. 1t was only the glance
of an instant: then he was again
facing the jungle.
God! You think I'd do that"
She made no reply. There was a
pause Blake-crouched on one knee.
tense and ABBREVIATED until the
sinister wave was advancing into the
point of the incurved jungle. Then he
spoke, in low, even tone: Feel II
my glass is there"
Her hand reached around and
pressed against the fob pocket which
he had sewn In the belt of his skin
trousers.
Right. Now slip my club up under
my elbow-big end. Lick on the
nose'll stop dog or a bull. It's
chance
She thrust the club under his right
elbow and he gripped it against his
side.
At that moment the lion bounded |
from cover, with a roar like a clan of
thunder. Blake sprang erect The
beast checked himself in the act of |
leaping, and crouched with his great |
paws outstretched, every hooked claw
thrust out ready to tear and mangle |
In two or three bounds he could have
leaped upon Blake and crushed him |
with single stroke of his paw. AS he
rose to repeat his deafening roar it
seemed to Blake that he stood higher
than horse-that his mouth gained |
wide as the end of a hogshead. And
yet the beast stood hestating, re.
strained by brute dread of the un.
known. Never before had any animal
that he had hunted reared up to meet
his attack in this strange manner.
Lie f1at," commanded Blake; "lie
fiat, and don't move! I'm going to
call his bluff Keep still till the poison
gets in its work. I'll keep him busy
long as l can. When it's over hit
out for home along the beach. Keen
inside the barricade, and watch all
you can from the cliffs. Might light
fire up there nights. There's sure to
be a steamer before long"
Toni" she cried, struggling to her
But he did not pause or look
around. He was beginning to circle
slowly to the left across the open
ground, in spiral curve that would
bring him to the edge of the jungle
within 80 yards of the lion. There was
red now showing in his eyes. His
hair was bristling, no longer with fear
but with sheer brute fury; his Inns
were drawn back from the clenched
teeth; his nostrils distended and uuiv.
ering; his forehead wrinkled like that
or an angry mastiff. His look WAS
more ferocious than that of the
Snarling beast he faced. All the
in him was reused He was
become man of the Cave Age. He
went to meet death, his mind and