The Washington times., 1912-08-11
THE TINES DAILY SERIAL STORY
INTOTHEPRIMITIVE
ROBERT AMES BENNETT
CHAPTER XIV.
tcopyrisht. isia Frank a. Muns.y Co,
The Courage Of the Primitive.

The Courage of the Primitive.
- HE palm grove stood under the lee
OF the ridge, on stretch of bare
j ground. Other than seaward. the
open space was hemmed in by
grass Jungle, interspersed with clumps
t,r q thorn6rush sIn on the north side q jut-
grass curved out and around. with the
point Of the hook some fifty yards
from the palms. Elsewhere the dis
tance to the Jungle was nearly twice az
Blake dropped the bag and his weap-
ons, flung down his hat, and started
up P palm shaft The down-pointing
bristies OF his skin trousers aided his
palm was swaying in the wind, he
reached the top and was down again
before Miss Leslie had arranged the
contents Of the lunch bag.
Guess you're not extra hungry" he
She made no response.
Mad, eh7 We'll, toss me the little
knife. Mine has got too good a meat
edge to spoil on these husks."
for the nuts, ana the wind blowing so
| hard UP there" she said as she had
cd over the penknife II am not angry
II is only that I feel tired and de-
pressed. hope i am not going to
mo, you're not going TO have the
fever or any such thing. You're played
out, that's all. I'm fool for bringing
you you 30 Tar; You'll be all right after
cocoa milk"
She drained the nut. and upon his in
sistence. made pretense at eating.
ne was deceived until with the satis-
became observant.
Say. that won't dor ne exclaimed.
Look at your bowl You haven't nib
oisd enough to keep a mouse alive"
'Heaily. i am not hungry. But / am
resting"
IN Try Try another mother nut. I'll have one ready
He caught his hat. which was drag
wind. and weighted II with q cocoanut.
Then he wedged another nut between
MS knees and bent over It, tearing at
e- ,he musk; It took him only g few min:
gouge open the germ hole. He held
out the nut and glanced UP to meet her
smile of acceptance.
She was staring past him. her eyes
ceding from her face.
What in-another snake?" he de-
manded, twisting warily about to
"There-over in the grass she whi,-
pered 1T looked out at me with ter
Snake? THAT far orr
beast" "'e
,o,E "Beast~ echoed Blake. Erasplng his
Sos,!d BE- only one Of those African bufraloes.
II didn't see any. II was all shay
| rible eyes-oh''
The girls scream was met by fero-
longed that the air quivered and the
very ground seemed to shake.
God! A HON. cried Blake. the hair
on his bare head bristlins.
ridge. his bow half drawn. Had the
lion shown himself them Blake would
have shot, on the instant. As II was,
the beast remained behind the screen
watch his intended prey without being
The delay gave Blake time for re-
heGtion. ne spoke sharply. as It were.
the buffer"
II can't Oh! I'm afraid"
Again the hidden beast gave voice to
Still he did not appear and Blake at
tempted a derisive jeer:
Hey. there. louder. We've not run
yet; It's all right, little woman. The
'Fraid to come out il we don't STAN M:
pede. He'll make of when he finds we
don't scare. Lions never tackle men in
the s.u daytime. Just keep cool while.
Look! There to the right! I saw
him again! He's creeping around! See
the grass novel"
That's only the wind 1t eddies
Trying to take US from behind-curse
too. too the &c sneak neal e' 'o' s' A''
! The blood had flowed back into Blake's
face, and showed on each cheek in a
and fell slowly to deep respirations; his
| eyes glowed like balls Of white-hot steel.
He drew his bow little tauter. and
wheeled slowly to keep the arrow point
warked the stealthy movements of the
lion. Miss Leslie, more terrified with
every added moment Of suspense, cripg-
ed around that she might might keen keen him be-
| Miuute after minute dragged by. Only
| man OF Blake's obstinate, sullen tenn
| perament could have withstood the
strain and keep cool Even he found
the impulse to leap up and run all but
irresistible. Miss Leslie crouched be-
hind him, no more able to run than a
mouse with which a cat has been play
| ing.
Once they caught glimpse Of the
sinuous. tawny form gliding among the
| leafiess stems of a thorn clump. Blake
| took quick aim. but the outlines OF the
| beast were tndistinct ana tne range
long. He hesitated and the opportunity
| was lost.
Yard by yard they watched the slight
swaying OF the grass tops, which be-
| trayed the cautious advance OF the grim
stalker. The beast did not roar again.
| Having failed to flush his prey. he was
seeking to catch them OF their guard.
or perhaps was warily taking stock OF
the strange creatures whose like he had
| never seen.
Now and then there was a pause, and
the grass tops swayed only to the
down puffs of the heightenine gale; A.
such moments the two grew rigid,
watching and waiting In breathless
suspense. They could see as distinctly
as though there had been no screening
grass the baleful eyes of the huge cat
and the shaggy forebody twisted aoout
among the grass stems as the beast
stood still and glared out at them
Then the sinuous wave would star!
again around the brass border ana
Blake would draw in deem breath
and mutter a word OF announcement
to the girl: Look. now-the dirty sneak
Trying to give us the oreeps; Is ne
ri creeps him. Afraid to sho" his
pretty mug!'
Not until the beast had circled hall
around the glade did his nurpose nas,l
upon Blake. With the wariness OF al,
savage hunters, the animal had marked
| u. Dim n