The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-06-21
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vulsfve 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 a pair
Of lean jaws thrust In and snapped
at the girls skirt She sprang back,
with q CRY: Help. Quick. Mr. Win
thrope! They're breaking through"
Wmthrope MADE no response She
stopped, and found him lying inert
where he had fallen She had only
herself to depend upon A screen Of
sharp sticks which she had made for
the entrance was leaning against the
inner wall, within easy reach To
E-Asp It and thrust 1t against the other
framework was the work Of an In
slant
Still she strembled, 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 a Hon or =
tiger is quickly discouraged by tho
| knife-like splinters of broken bamboo.
she expected every moment that the
jackals would bite their way through
her fraiI barrier.
She remembered the sharrened
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 fta
razor-like edge All unheeding. she
sprang back towards the entrance She
| was none too socn- 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 VA
about 20 burst in upon her. the CIR
grasped the bamboo stake in bost
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 va.
now frantic She pressed nearer. ant
though the white teeth grazed hel
wrist, she drove home a thrust tina
changed the beasts snarls into a how
of pain Before she could STRIKE
again, it had struggled back cut o
the hole, beyond reach
Tense and painting with excitement
she leaned forward, ready to stab =
the next beast None appeared, ant
| presently she became aware that TIL
pack had been daunted by the ex
perience of their unlucky fellowSThei
snarls and yells had subsidized Il
whines, which seemed to be comin|
waited. with the bamboo stake VI
raised ready to strike. every nerv
and muscle Of her body tense with tn
strain.
So great was the stress of her feA
and excitement that she had not heed
ed the first gray lessening of tn
night But now the glorious tropica
dawn came streaming out of the cas-
: in all its red edulgence- Above an
through the bamboo barrier glowed
light such as might have come fror
great fire on the clin top Sti
tense and immovable. the girl stare
out up the cleft There was net
jackal in sight She leaned forwar
and peered around. unable to believ
such good fortune But the nigh
providers had skunk on in the frs
gray dawn
The girl drew In q deep. shud1e'
ing sigh. and sank back Her han
struck against Winthrope's foot 81
: turned about quickly and looked I
!. him. He was lying upon his face S,l
fastened to turn him upon his sid
, and to feel his forehead. 1t was Coz
and moist He was fast asleep an
drenched with sweat The gres
!, shock of his Pain and fear and e
! element had broken his fever
With the relief and joy of this di
covery. the girl completely relaxe'
Not observing Winthrope's wound
which had bled little. she sought
force a way out through the entranc
: 1t was by no means an easy task
free the wedged framework. and whel
after much pulling and pushing. ST
: at last tore the mass loose. she fcua
herself perspiring no less freely tina
Winthrope.
CTO BE CONTJNUED)