Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-05-13
"Tom!" She Cried, Struggling to Her
knees,-"Tom!"

'S"' S'e SiiSo, otid99iH9 " f'et
knees,-"Tom!"
lateral advance was to place as great
distance as possible between him
and the girl before the clash. Yet in
stinct kept him moving along his
spiral course, on the chance that he
might catch his foe off 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 lay upon his thumb. His
outstretched arm was rigid as bar
of steel. So tense and alert were all
his nerves that he knew he could
drive home both arrows and still have
time to swing his club before the
beast was upon him.
A 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 Blake's ar
row flashed past full yard behind
The second arrow was on the string
before the first had struck the ground.
But the lion had vanished in the grass.
With yell, Blake dashed on across
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, fared 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. No living
creature could have burst through
that belt of fire.
A wave of fierce heat sent Blake
staggering back, seorched 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 stupefied him as we'll. He
stared at her, dull-eyed, wondering if
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 sunstroke? Is that
why it seems So l can hardly
breathe"
TITS all right, l tell you. Only a
little bonfire | touched off. Guess you
must have tainted, but it's all right
now"
1T was silly of me to faint. But
when I saw that dreadful thing leap"
oil 10 oh Fear
full that she was about to swoon 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 hurry with that fire to head him
off. Jump up now and we'll do a Jig
on the strength of it,
She attempted 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 TOO
weak and giddy 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, clinging to his shoulder.
1T will pass in a minute. It's so silly
but I'm that way-Tom, II think you
are the bravest man"
Yes, yes-but that's not the point.
Leave go now, like sensible girl.
It's about time to hit the trail
He drew himself free, and without
a glance at her blushing face began
to gather up their scattered OUTFIT.
His hat lay where he had weighted it
down with the cocoanut He tossed
| nj hA oil h.s nd