The Lamar register., 1913-12-03

constant succession of weapons was
thrown through the opening We need
ed no further warning to keep out OF
reach. Master Pimball was showing
himself something of a general. He
was keeping us away from the en-
trance. and with the great host OF men
at his command he was building up
the broken down heap of stones which
would presently enable them to come
to us
l considered what was to be done. l
had four loaded pistols and. therefore.
four lives In my hand No man could
show his head in that entrance with
out receiving n shot After that
with sword. Ak or naked 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 open the battle there or re-
treat into the inner cave and wait?
was the question that had to be de-
cided.
Perhaps the latter would be the
safer plan. but had a strange unwill-
ingness to adopt II. 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
err cave. And ! could never dislodge
them from It There was not much
more chance Of getting out alive from
the outer cave. for that matter. but
NJ en- could Mt or
see the sky and the sunlight Should
we stay there or go further into the
wall?
decided upon the former course.
1 explained to my mistress that |
would keep the outer cave as long
as l could, begging her to retreat
to the inner chamber. She demurred
at first. but when l spoke to her per-
emptorily at last-God forgive me-she
scceded to my request humbly enough.
I thrust the best pistol into her hand
and told her to reserve 1t for herself
In case her capture was Inevitable. but
not to pull the trigger until the last
moment: and promised her faithfully
that I would not fooIishly or uselessly
jeopardize myself. but that after had
made what fight l could l would Join
her, II 1t 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, a 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 profrered me her lips
could face a thousand savages, q
hundred Pimballs. without a culver Of
the nerves. but at these words and
that prefer my knees fairly smote to-
gether before this small woman. I
stood staring down at her.
you were overeager once to take
from me what l now offer you will
ingly." she said. half turning away.
With that l caught her to me and
once again ! drank the sweetness Of
her lips. forgot the savages outside.
ehc bpcaAS. tuc uTIOWS lAcuhihs
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 a whispered
blessing she dropped to her knees and
crnwled within the cave.
i could have fought the world there
after. for her kisses intoxicated me
like wine. Yet even then I did not de-
Jude myself. I knew that. on her part
at least. 1t 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. l blessed her even
for that condescension.
With pistol in each hand and the
third upon rock close at hand l wait
ed had not long to wait. There was
sudden fiercer 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