New-York tribune., 1911-01-22


With that back fire there would De q .-.- respite
reach the baby return TO the water course, then hs
rush forward 10 OutdistanCc the spreading utagatJ-
But the footdeep moss carpe'mg the torres. only sm0.
dered and died out, while around and above him brl2
and trees cracked defiance.
With a grOan the Indian realized thar ne mad .0&
precious minutes There was but one thing 70 do nov
He must fight through, not ahead, ot that flame wal
once he had the little maid safe in his arms.
BOUNDING the blaze, he ran along the tootpa"
IN toward the clearing, briars slaShing face renir
his clothing, forging on impetuously driving showers
sticks and twigs in all directions
Fire trimmed the clearing; but so far The Jog cabin E
escaped Lame Jim darted across the 0yen. In n
stress he had not counted on the white man; whether
hamper himself with this clog 10 escape w cave HIN c
shift for himself.
But Darch, already alive to danger ma him on is
threshold. With the alcohol-shapcue- pcrspcdg
that had OWNED the motive undcrylr- he indians
recent relations with him, his Stupctcd .-n, momet
tariy cleared by stress OF imminent peri. lad grasW
that his own safety depended on little Nc
He sprang inside, caught up the c0... and iace.
round with a malevolent leer. The ht'. maid war
pered in fright. a CLINT OF onyx showed anadng q
meath Jms drooped lids, and his fingers Zed on "
dog bristling scruf. Then he seemed to Ike suGa@
resolve
A struggle meant waste Of precious time md he 47
that Darch was soothing the baby IN his r, tende
That decided. The white man should c.ne Keep:
the little maid while there chance OF cape Tor al
Only she should not be sacrificed. The I.s he cas-, q
Darch boded ILL., if once necessity loosod the po.ena
hate lust in the LoucheuX.
Lame lin snatched up blanket, drcn. itinap-
of water and Sung it securely round OH. hers Sa.-
ders "The heat and smoke will rise. CRY her as o9
you can in that; she will breathe a...ar ne Sd
curtly. ...
Out in the open the Luck, doglike te. heel bear5:
Darch with crafty comprehension of Oh. .1dans nee-
Confident now Of warning, II Darya rDed OF .I
present control over himself tagged L.. I'm whete
into the trail back to the river
It was empty now. The flames lcit II Sc0rcA'
funncwiSe, and raced on to fresh dey station Hes"
along it with that swift, ungainly hC bending pee's
through the undcrbrllSh, his quick e.. "a>llng 10 .
directions. Wild game was fleeing yycr re; ths :.
whrred with the ruStling of wing fright 4 olruS d.
insects, their tribal feudS forgottJn u c.u- terror
The roarof the fire grew louder as they Do torW@r
the Louchcux, Darch with the baby and ,e Luck al -
heels The air was less easy TO breat now; II CANT
intermittent gusts smoke laden and nd, tnen sSo.'
and aromatic, then sitting again. Al t .urning VIZ
the trails diverged, Lame Jim bent anN lsly over ~
little maid; but to his relief, breathing she was 1''
lower level, she showed no i'll results.
But the mistake of that pause was +. antaneogg, -
its effect. The swift pace had told on Dsrch anl ~
alcohol was slowly regainng its hold lie S'asSV,.. =.
against the Indian, and the two topp.ea ,ur"aFd lH0
intersecting path.
I AME JIM was up almost at once: .at ne S,-;- -
- back before that vast tongue OF flame, IcNlls
structively along the trail that was tar ne aygrc'
escape. The dogs eyes met his mutc,y aHeSuonnS,
Instantly the Luck's teeth fastened 10 Darch .U ~.
ing, tuggng and dragging him after the indian u" ,s
undcrbrush; then, in almost human dupean0n ~,
met in the feshy part OF the man arm. lT me-
brought Darch to his senses and be- stumbled
feet and followed after the Indian .,l
Jim had wrcnched the little maid from h. 'athel, J
with her arms round his neck, her golden ae4a -
against his brown check he crashed along Inc Us Us
and sapngs were thick here, and tangled masses .. .;tr
and grass hampcrcd their passage But a 'A', - M
dry from long drought was a sleeping mne .,, u.
flames at least it gave them short respite from s,nr, SOM
the smoke and heat Of the fiery vortex surTOU"'''
them. e. ,sr
Coming to an open space, Lame Jim @Iyeu u Ann.
tousv reaching out guiding hand TO Daryh, not uatf