Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22

reach the baby return to the water course then the
rush forward to outdstance the spreading conagraon
But the fOOtdeep carpetlng the forest only sol
dered and died out, while around and above him brush
and trees cracked defiance.
With groan the Indian realized that he had lost
precious minutes. There but thing to do now:
He must fight through not ahead, of that flame wall,
once he had the little maid safe in his arms
toward the clearing briars slashng his face rendng
his clothing forging mpetuously driving showers of
sticks and twigs in all directions.
Fire trimmed the clearing; but far the log cabin had
escaped. Lame Jim darted across the Open In the
he had counted the white man. whether to
hamper himself with this clog to escape leave him to
shift for himself.
But Darch, already alive to danger, met him on the
threshold With the acknowledgement perspicacity
that had OWNED the motive underlying the Indians
recent relations with him. his stupehed brain, momen
tary cleared by stress of imminent peril had grasped
that his own safety depended on little Meg.
He sprang inside caught up the child, and faced
pered in fright. CLINT of onyx showed menacing be-
meath Jim's dropped lids and his fingers aexed on the
dogs brstling scru. Then he seemed to take sudden
resolve.
struggle meant waste of precious time, and he saw
that Darch soothing the baby in his way tenderly
That decided. The white man should come, keeping
Only she should not be sacrificed. The look he cast
Darch BODIED ILL., if once necessity oosed the potential
hate lust in the Loucheux.
Lame Jim snatched up blanket drenched it in pail
of water and sung it securely round the others Shout
ders. The heat and smoke will rise Garry her low
you in that she will. breathe BETTER he said
curtly
Out in the open the Luck, dogke fell to heel behind
Darch with crafty comprehension OF the Indians need
Confident now of warning. if Darch stumbled, or his
into the trail back to the river.
1t was empty now The flames had left it scorched
funnelwise and raced to fresh devastation He sped
along it with that swift unganly hitch bending peerng
through the underbrush, his quick eyes flashing in all
directions: Wild game was fleeing everywhere the air
whrred with the rstlng of wings the flight of birds and
insects their tribal feuds forgotten in terror
The roarof the fire grew louder they went forward
the Loucheux Darch with the baby and the Luck his
heels The air less easy to breathe now; it in
intermittent gusts smoke laden and acrd, then
and aromatic then sitting again. AT the turning where
the trails diverged Lame Jim bent anxiously the
little maid; but to his relief breathing she
lower level, she showed no i'll results.
But the mistake of that pause instantaneous in
its effect. The swift pace had told Darch and the
alcohol was slowly reganlng its hold He staggered
against the Indian and the two topped forward into the
interesting path.
I .ANlE JIM up almost at once; but he shrank
Il back before that vast tongue of flame licking de-
sructvely along the trail that their of
escape. The dog eyes met his, mutely questioning.
Instantly the Lucks teeth fastened in Darch's cloth
ing Juggling and dragging him after the Indian into the
underbrush; them in almost human desperation, they
met in the feshy part of the mans arm. The pain
brought Darch to his senses, and he stumbled his
feet and followed after the Indian
Jim had wrenched the little maid from her father and,
with her round his neck her golden head Graded
against his brown cheek he crashed along The brush
and sapngs thick here and tangled masses of vines
and grass hampered their passage But all this finder
dry from long drought was sleeping mine for the
flames at least gave them short respite from some of
the smoke and heat of the fiery vortex surrounding
them.
Coming to open space, Lame Jim circed it,
tiousy reaching out guiding hand to Darch not daring
this time pause Behind them roared the fire that had
cut them off; great treetrunks wreathed in gtterng
pyre, banks of flame pierced smoke, rainbow of chro
orange and green overtowered the body of luminous
heat; and higher yet, Gaping it all, feathery