Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-31

cautions for her safety as 1 could.
babe her rinse out her mouth thoroughly
with cold water, and then with the strong
spirit of which 1 still had in my flask.
We had withdrawn by this time to the
back of the outer cave. Indeed, that was
the only safe place for us, for a constant
succession of weapons was thrown
through the opening. We needed no
further warning to keep out of reach.
Master Fimball was showing himself
something of general. He was Keeping
us away from the entrance, and with the
great host of men at his command he
was building up the brOken-down heap
of stones, which would presently enaple
them to come to us.
While my little mistress busted herself
with tying up the wound with strips torn
from the sleeve Of my shirt. which l had
offered for the purpose-she had wanted
to make bandages out of her pett1coat.
but 1 had stayed her-I considered what
was to be done. had four loaoeo plsr
tolls, and, therefore, four lives in my
hand No man could show his head In
that entrance without receiving shot.
After that 1 could account for few
more. perhaps, with sword, ak or nakeu
fist, but in the end they would inevitably
master me. Unfortunately, the entrance
was broad enough for three or four, or
even more, to enter abreast.
Should l open the battle there or re-
treat into the inner cave and wait? was
the question tndl mao TO ne ueClueu. CT :
hapS the latter would be the safer plan,
but I had a strange unwillingnesS to
adopt it. 1t would be like burying our
selves. for once within we should never
get out alive, except as prisoners. so long
as they had the outer cave. And / could
never diSlodge them from it. There was
not much more chance of getting out
alive from the outer cave, for that mat
ter, but still it seemed So We could. at
least, see the sky and the sunlight. Should
We stay there or go farther into the
wall?
1 decided upon the former course I ex-
planned to my mistress that l would keep
| the outer cave as long as l could, beg
ging her to retreat to the inner chamber.
She demurred at first. but when l spoke
to her peremptorily at last-God forgive
me-she acceded to my request humbiy
enough. l thrust the best pistol into her
hand and told her to reserve it for her
self in case her capture was inevitable.
but not to pull the trigger until the last
moment; and I promised her faithfully
that I would not foolishly or uselessly
jeopardize myself, but that after l had
made what fight 1 could I would join
her. if it were in any way possible
She hung in the wind while. seeming
Ioath to go when all had been said be-
tween us. Finally, she approached me,
laid her hand on my arm and looked up
| at me-
Master Hampton" she said. softly.
there we be, a lone man and woman
among these Savages and murderers with
but little chance for our lives, l take It.
l am sorry that / struck you on the snip,
and-you may-kiss me goodbye.
| With that she proffered me her lips. L
| could face a thousand savages, a hum
bred Pimballs. without a culver of the
nerves, but at these words and that prof
fer my knees fairly smote together before
this small woman. 1 stood staring down
at her.
You were overeager once to take from
me what I now offer you willingly, she
said, half turning away.
With that I caught her to me and once
again l drank the sweetness of her lips.
I forgot the savages outside, the spears,
the arrows streaming through the en-
trance I held her in my arms and with
out resistance. I could have held her
there forever, quite willing to die In such
sweet embrace. She pushed me from her
at last, and / could swear that my kisses
had been returned, and then, with a whis-
pered blessing, she dropped to her knees
and crawled within the cave.
Go be continued tomorrow