The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-12-04

Should I open the battle there or re-
treat into the inner cave and waltz
was the question that had to be de-
cided.
Perhaps the latter would be the
safer plan. but | had strange unwill-
ingness to adopt it. 1t would be like
burying ourselves, for once within we
should never get out alive, except as
prisoners. SO long as they had the out
er cave And | could never dislodge
them from 1t. There was not much
more chance of getting out alive from
the outer cave, for that matter, but
still it seemed so. We could at least
see the sky and the sunlight. Should
we stay there or go further into the
wall?
decided upon the former course.
l explained to my mistress that
would keep the outer Wave as long
as could begging her to retreat
to the inner chamber She demurred
at first, but when | spoke to her per-
emptorily at last-God forgive me-she
hcceded to my request humbly enough.
thrust the best pistol into her hand
and told her to reserve it for herself
in case her capture was inevitable, but
not to pull the trigger until the last
moment; and | promised her faithfully
that would not foolishly or uselessly
jeopardize myself, but that after had
made what fight l could | would join
her. if it were in any way possible.
She hung in the wind awhile seem
Ing loath to go when all had been said
between us Finally she approached
me, laid her hand on my arm, and
looked up at me.
Master Hampton" she said softly,
"here we be, lone man and woman
among these savages and murderers
with but little chance for our lives,
take it. am sorry that struck you
on the ship. and-you may--kiss me
! goodby."
With that she proffered me her lips.
could face a thousand savages,
! hundred Pimballs. without a quiver Of
| the nerves, but at these words and
/ that proffer my knees fairly smote to-
gether before this small woman. |
StOOu starring uOWn dC ner'
"You were overeager once to take
from me what | now offer you will
ingly," she said, half turning away.
With that | caught her to me and
once again | drank the sweetness of
her lips. | forgot the savages outside,
the spears. the arrows streaming
through the entrance. | held her in
my arms and without resistance.
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 whispered
blessing she dropped to her knees and
crawled within the cave.
could have fought the world there
after. for her kisses intoxicated me
like wine Yet even then | did not de-
lude myself. knew that, on her part
at least, it was a farewell kiss, such
as two friends might give each other
in the face of death. To her the pres
sure Of my lips had only been as the
salute of an ancient gladiator about
to die was to the Caesar who watched
the struggle. Well. blessed her even
for that condescension.
With a pistol in each hand and the
third upon rock close at hand | wait
ed. had not long to wait. There was
a sudden fercer rain of arrows and
spears, some of which struck at my
feet or by my side. l gathered up a
sheaf of them and laid them with the
pistol on the rock.
The next instant two tremendous
savages and a white man appeared in
the opening. The shot was easy, the
target fine. | couldn't miss. The first
bullet went into the brain of Master
Glibby, the next tore off the head OF
the leading chief. Reserving the third
pistol ! seized a spear and drove II
through the throat of the other savage
shouted with triumph. and Mistress
Lucy has since confessed TO me that
kneeling down and peering through the
opening. contrary to my explicit order
which was for her to seek safe cover
she saw all, and that my call of vic
tory was the sweetest sound she had
ever heard in her life.
thought we had done. but they
were an indomitable lot those soutt
sea islanders, and they were well urg
ed -Four others took their places al
once, spears In hand, which the!
threw at me. jumped aside with diff
fculty and let fly the third pistol, They
came crowding this time. and the bul
let from the heavy weapon accounted
for two others, but the survivors ha(
gained footing and the shelf behinC
them was suddenly filed with lifting
heads and climbing men. | clubbeC
my weapons and hurled them one afte
another fair and square into the mass
One went down with a broken skull
The rush was checked; they gave
little. | cast spears at them and ar
rows, but now the shield men ha'
come up. and they caught the missile
on their shields. The front rank waV
cred. and perhaps. II they had bee
unsupported, they might have bee
driven helOw hut the crowd hehin,