Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-05-06

bled enough to keep mouse alive"
Really. | am not hungry But am
resting"
Try another nut. I'll have one
ready in two shakes"
He caught his hat. which was drag
ging past in downward eddy of the
wind, and weighted 1t with cocoa
nut He wedged another nut be-
tween his knees and bent over IL,
tearing at the husk. 1t took him only
few moments to strip the fiber from
the end and gouge open the germ hole.
He held out the nut and glanced up to
meet her smile of acceptance.
She was staring past him, her eyes
wide with terror, and the color fast
receding from her face.
What in Another snakes" he
demanded, twisting warily about to
glare at the ground behind him.
"There-over in the grass" she
whispered. TT looked out at me with
terrible. savage eyes"
"Snake that far orr"
NO no!--a monster-a huge. fierce
BEAST"
'Beast?" echoed Blake. grasping his
bow and arrows, Where is he? May
be only one Of these African buffaloes.
How'd he look?-horns?
IL didn't see any. 1t was all
shaggy and yellow like the grass,
and terrible eyes-Oh,'
The girls scream was met by fe-
rocious, snarling roar, so deep and
prolonged that the air quivered and
the very ground seemed to shake.
Coda lion!" cried Blake, the
hair, on his bare head bristling like
startled animals.
He turned squarely about toward
the ridge, his bow half drawn. Had
the lion shown himself then Blake
would have shot on the instant. As 1t
was. the beast remained behind the
screening border of grass, where he
could watch his intended quarry with
out being seen In turn. The delay
gave Blake time for reflection. He
spoke sharply, as 1t were biting off his
words: Hit out. I'll stop the buffer"
81 can't Oh, I'm afraid"
Again the hidden beast gave voice
to his mighty rumbling challenge.
Still he did not appear. and Blake at
tempted derisive jeer: Hey. there,
louder We've not run yet! It's all
right, little woman. The skulking
sneak is trying to bluff us. 'Fraid to
come out If we don't stampede. He'll
make off when he finds we don't scare.
Lions never tackle men in the day
time. Just keep cool while
He'll"
"Look!-there to the right saw
him again. He's creeping around!
See the grass novel"
That's only the wind. It eddies
down--God! he is stalking around.
Trying to take us from behind-curse
him! He may get me, but I'll get
him, too--the dirty sneak"
The blood had flowed back into
Blake's face. and showed on each
cheek in little red patch. His broad
chest rose and fell slowly to deep
respirations; his eyes glowed like
balls of white-hot steel He drew his
bow a little tauter and wheeled slow
ly to keep the arrow pointed at the
slight wave in the grass which marked
the stealtny movements of the lion.
Miss Leslie, more terrified with every
added moment of suspense, cringed
around, that she might keep him be-
tween her and the hidden beast.
\
Only a man of Blake's obstinate, sui
len temperament could have withstood
the strain and kept cool. Even he
found the impulse to leap up and run
all but irresistible. Miss Leslie
crouched behind him, no more able
to run than a mouse with which a cat
has been playing.
Once they caught a glimpse Of the
sinuous tawny form gliding among the
leafess stems of thorn clump. Blake
took quick aim; but the outlines of
the beast were indistinct and the
range long He hesitated, and the
opportunity was lost.
I'D 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
off their guard, or perhaps was warily
taking stock Of the strange creatures.
whose like he had never seen.
Now and then there was a pause,
and the grass tops swayed only to
the down-puffs Of the frightening gale.
At such moments the two grew rigid,
watching and waiting in GREATNESS
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 glared out at
them.