Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-02-18

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her arteries in fiery, stimulating tor
rent. With cry, to which primeval
instinct lent menacing note, she
CROPPED her way to the fallen canopy,
and stopped to lift up one side.
"Quick!--into the tree." she called.
Still frantic with terror, Winthrope
struggled to his feet She thrust him
towards the baobab. and followed.
dragging the mass Of interviewer bam-
boos. Emboldened by the retreat OF
their quarry, the snarling pack in
stantly began to close in. Fortunately
they were too cowardly to rush at
once, and fear spared their intended
victims to the utnost haste. Cropping
and stumbling, the two felt their way
to the baohab. and Miss Leslie pushed
Winthrope headlong through the en-
trance As he fell. she turned to face
the pack.
The foremost beasts were at the
rear edge Of the bamboo framework.
their eyes close to the ground. In
stinct told her that they were crouch
ing to leap. With desperate strength
she caught up the canopy before her
like a great shield. and drew ii in
after her until the ends OF the cross
bars were wedged fast against the
sides of the opening. Though it seemed
so firm, she chung to it with con-
yulsive grasp as she felt the pack
leaders fling themselves against the
outer side.
But Blake had dashed the bamboos
securely together and none of the
beasts was heavy enough to snap the
supple bars. Finding that they could
not break down the barrier, they be-
gan to scratch and tear at the thatch
which covered the frame. Soon pair
of lean jaws thrust in and snapped
at the girls skirt. She sprang back,
with a cry: Help! Quick, MIR. Win
thrope! They're breaking through
Winthrope made no response. She
stopped, and found him lying inert
where he had fallen. She had only
herself to depend upon. screen of
sharp sticks which she had made for
the entrance was leaning against the
inner wall, within easy reach. To
grasp it and thrust It against the other
framework was the work of an in
slant
Still she trembled, for the eager
beasts had ripped the thatch from the
canopy, and their inthrust jaws made
short work of the few leaves on her
screen. Unaware that even lion or a
tiger is quickly discouraged by the
knife-like splinters Of broken bamboo.
she expected every moment that the
jackals would bite their way through
her frail barrier.
She remembered the sharpened
stakes Of her screen, hidden under the
leaves and grass of her bed. She
CROPPED her way across the hollow,
and uncovered one Of the stakes. In
her haste she cut her hand on It's
razor-like edge. All unheeding, she
| sprang back towards the entrance. She
| was none too soon. One Of the smaller
| jackals had forced its head and one
| leg between the bars. and was strug-
| Cling to enlarge the opening.
Fearful that the whole pack was
| about to burst in upon her. the girl
| grasped the bamboo stake In both
| hands, and began stabbing and lung
| ing at the beast with all her strength.
| The jackal squirmed and snarled and
snapped viciously. But the girl was
now frantic. She pressed nearer, and
| though the white teeth grazed her
wrist she drove home thrust that
! changed the beasts snarls into howl
| of pain. Before she could strike
again, it had struggled back out Of
the hole, beyond reach
Tense and painting with excitement,
she leaned forward. ready to stab at
the next beast. None appeared, and
! presently she became aware that the
pack had been daunted by the ex-
| perience of their unlucky fellow. Their
| snarls and yells had subsidized to
| whines, which seemed to be coming
| from greater distance. Still she
/ waited, with the bamboo stake up
raised ready TO strike, every nerve
and muscle of her body tense with the
| strain.
So great was the stress of her fear
and excitement that she had not heed
| ed the first gray lessening of the
night. But now the glorious tropical
dawn came streaming out of the east
| in all its red effulgence. Above and
| through the bamboo barrier glowed a
light such as might have come from
a great fire on the cliff top. Still
tense and immovable, the girl stared
out up the cleft There was not q
| jackal in sight. She leaned forward
and peered around, unable to believe
| such good fortune. But the night
| providers had skunk off in the first
| gray dawn.
The girl drew In deep, shndder-
ing sigh and sank back. Her hand
| struck against Winthrope's foot. She
| turned about quickly and looked at
| him. He was lying upon his face. She
fastened to turn him upon his side.
and to feel his forehead. 1t was cool
| and mnist Ha WAS fast asleep and