The Washington times., 1912-07-29

~ ORTUNATELf, fhe 1ackals were
- too cowardly to rush at once, and
fear spurred their intended vic
tir,s to the utmost haste. Crop
Ing and stumbling, the two felt their
way to the boabab, and Miss Leslie
pushed Winthrope headlong through
the entrance, AS he fell she turned to
face the pask. .'.",
The foremost beasts were at the rear
edge Of the bamboo framework, their
eyes close. to the ground.
croncns to 0'' eap er Win esy wsrs
strength she caught up the canopy be-
fore her like a great shield and drew
It in after her until the ends OF the
against the sides Of the opening.
Though 1t seemed 50 Arm. she clung
to 1t with a convulsive grasp as she
felt the pack leaders fling themselves
But Blake had lashed the bamboos
securely together, and none of the
beasts Was heavy enough to snap the
supple bars. Finding that they could
gan to scratch and tear at the thatch
which covered the frame. Soon a pair
Of lean jaws thrust in and snapped at
the girls skirt. She sprang back with
Help! Quick. Mr.. winthrope, They're
winthrope. made no response. She
stopped and found him lying inert
She had only. herself to depend upon.
The screen which she and WinthroIe
had made for the entrance was leaning
against gain I'll the inner wall; within easy
the other framework was the work of
an instant. 4-
still she rtrembled. for the eager
canopy, and their inthrust jaws made
short work Of the few leaves on her
screen. ....
Unaware that even lion or a tiger
Is quickly discouraged by the knife-like
splinters Of broken bamboo, she ex-
pected every moment that the jackals
would bite their way through her frail
barrier.
her chevaux-de-f frise. They were hid
den under the leaves and grass of her
bed. She groped her way across the
hollow and; uncovered one Of the
stakes. In her haste she cut her hand
on its raor-like edge.
All unheeding. she sprang back to-
ward the entrance. She was none too
quick. One of the smaller jackals had
the bars and was struggling to enlarge
Fearful that the whole pack was
about to burst in upon her. the girls
and began stabbing and lunging at the
beast with all her strength.
The jackal squirmed and snar1ed and
snapped viciously. But the girl was
though the white teeth srazed a heI
wrist, sho drove home a thrust that
changed the beasts .snarl into howl
of pain. Before she could strike again
he struggled back out of the hole be-
Yond reach.
Tense and painting with excitement,
she leaned forward, ready to stab at
the next beast. None appeared. and
pack had been daunted by the expert
ence of their unlucky fellow. Their
snarls and yells had subsided to whines,
which seemed to be coming from a
greater distance.
Still she waited with the bamboo
stake upraised ready to strike and
every nerve and muscle of her body
tense with the strain.
So great was the stress of her feal
and excitement that she had not heed
ed ed the first gray iessening & of the night
came streaming out of the east in al
the bamboo barrier glowed a light such
as might have come from a great fir,
on the cliff top.
Still tense and immovable, the cir
stared out into the cleft. There wal
not jackal in sight. She leaned for
ward and peered around, unable to be
lieve such good fortune. But the nigh
prowlers had skunk off in the first gray
dawn. -
The girl drew in a deep shudderin,
sigh and sank back. Her hand struci
against Winthropes foot. She turned
about quickly and looked at him.
He was lying upon his face. She has
tened to turn him on his side and I,
feel his forehead. 1t was cool and mois
he was fast asleep and drenchet
with sweat The great shock of hi
pain -. and fear and excitement ha,
W,th the reIief and low ~ this a.,
covery. the girl completely relaxed. No
observing Winthrope's wounds, whicl
had bled little, she sought to force
way out through the entrance.
1t was by no means an easy task t
free the wedged framework. and when
after much pulling and pushing she a
last tore the mass loose, she found her
self perspiring no less freely than Win
thrope.
She was far too preoccupied. however
p consider what this might mean. He
nrst thought was OF the fire. She ra
- her rude stone fireplace and rake
but there was not a live ember anon
them. Yet shegrealixed that Winthrop
must have hot food when he awakened
and Blake had carried OFF with him tn
magnifying glass.
For a little while she stood hesitatinl
but the defeat of the jackals had give
her a courage and resolution such a
she had never before known. She re
sharpest Of her stakes. Having mad
certain that Winthrope was still asleeI
she set of boldly down the cleft.
At the first turn she came upo
Blake's thorn barricade. 1t stretche
across the narrowest part of the clei
In an impenatrahle wall twelve fee
high. Only in the center was a gal
which could have been filled by Blake l
iess than two hours work.
The girls eyes Enlightened. She hei