Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-05-26

against a spell of 40 below zero wealth
er. such as we're likely to have at any
time, and have accumulated stores OF
fuel and food for few DAYS. then
We'll begin our search had better
get to work at once I think can re
build this fireplace by myself. WIN
you go and begin carrying in fire
wood. and as many of those ducks and
geese and looms as you can find there
along the talus9"
she nodded, and turned to leave the
nut Take the revolver with you"
he called after her.
At that she halted abruptly In the
doorway. Why should have II any
more than you?" Then. answering his
smile with one of her own. she added.
Il suppose welltrained crew doesn't
demand reasons for the captains or,
ders-only--''
There's a perfectly good reason.
I'm working in the shelter. and YOU
in the open. Besides that, I'm stronger
and have my sheath knife If we're
attacked by anything. could give
could. You'd better take belt and
holster and all. and buckle it right
around your waist"
When Philip finally had his fire.
place rebuilt, in temporary fashion
which he thought would serve till
greater leisure should allow him to
perfect 1t, he stepped outside the hut
and looked, first down and then up
the shore in search for her. and was
disappointed at finding her nowhere
in sight
She must be dreadfully tired, he
thought, and with that thought decld-
ed to set out to find her. First how
ever, he transferred the remnants of
the fire from the fat stone before the
hut to his newly constructed hearth,
heaped on more wood and noted, with
satisfaction, that his makeshift chin
ney drew well and did not smoke in
tolerably He had discovered an empty
cask under a heap of rubbish in the
storeroom and this he filled with
chunks of ice and set by the fire to
melt.
Five minutes later he was just
wheeling, glinting, sun-bathed speck
In the amber air, the thrilling, prin-
Cling, winelike air. He had taken to
his wings, upon leaving the hut, sim
ply because they offered him the
quickest, easiest way of finding Jean
ne.
Suddenly he was flying downward,
as fast as gravity and his great wings
would take him. Drenched with the
sweat of sudden terror, cleaving the
air so fast that the sound Of its whin-
ing rose to a scream through his taut
rigging. Down he slanted, seward
little, past the end of the great head
land. Then. with the sudden exertion
of all his strength, upon one lowered
wing, the other flashing high like the
stroke of scimitar in the curve Of
the shortest possible arc, he shot
landward, bounced. checked. and
alighted not far from the girl.
She had been seated upon broken
ledge of rock when he had first caught
| sight of her She was in act Of
getting to her feet when he alighted.
not half dozen PAGES away.
She had been pale, but her color
had come back now in a sudden surge.
She was breathing unsteadily and her
hands were clasped against her
breast "You-you mustn't fly like
that" she said IF you had been an
eagle, the way you wheeled and came
rushing down out of the sky would
have terrified me. l shut my eyes in
order not to see you killed"
He did not answer her at once, and
she, looking intently into his face,
went on you know it was danger
Gus. You thought yourself that you
were going to be killed. I can see
the horror of it in your eyes"
Then he got his breath. You're
safer" he questioned unsteadily. you
were in danger, sudden danger, and in
terror at it, That was what frighten-
ed me, that sudden, knowledge. came
down, fearing should be too late"
81 had fright" she admitted; but
don't see how you could know I'm
very sure l didn't cry OUT
No, ! heard nothing, no sound at
all | just knew, and so I came to
you as fast as / could. What was 1t
that frightened your"
Nothing at all, imagine ! was
sitting here on the ledge, looking at
that wonderful sky, and all at once
I found was growing afraid. didn't
know what it was about, at all | sup
pose 1t was just because | was little
tired and had begun to realize that
was a long way from-from home. |
had come around the headland. not
really to look for more firewood, but
in the hope that ! might happen to
find clue to where the stores are hid
den; and, as said, suddenly 1t
seemed long way back and began
to find myself afraid. And then, be-
ing afraid, well, | thought | saw
something moving up there behind the
understanding big, bigger than
man. and whitish-yellow"