The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-10-16


her lips. l 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
l could have fought the world there
after, for her kisses intoxicated me
like wine. Yet even then | did not de-
Jude 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, l blessed her even
for that condescension.
With a pistol in each hand and the
third upon rock close at hand l wait
ed had not long to wait. There was
sudden fercer rain Of arrows and
spears, some of which struck at my
feet or by my side. I gathered up
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. l seized a spear and drove It
through the throat of the other savage.
l 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.
l thought we had done, but they
| were an indomitable lot those south
sea islanders, and they were well urg-
| ed. -Four others took their places at
once, spears In hand. which they
threw at me- l jumped aside with d1f-
ficulty and let fly the third pistol. They
| came crowding this time, and the bull
| let from the heavy weapon accounted
for two others, but the survivors had
| gained a footing and the shelf behind
them was suddenly filed with lifting
heads and climbing men. l dubbed
my weapons and hurled them one after
another fair and square into the mass.
One went down with broken skull.
The rush was checked; they gave a
little. cast spears at them and ar
rows, but now the shield men had
come up, and they caught the missiles
on their shields. The front rank wav-
cred. and perhaps. If they had been
unsupported. they might have been
driven below, but the crowd behind
would not let them. Slowly they be-
gan to move toward me.
| doubt not | was terrible figure,
for had whipped out my cutlass by
this time and stood at bay. | had for
gotten for the moment all else but the
|
ond l had flung myself upon them In
fury. 1t was my mistress who recall
ed me to myself.
"Save YOURSELF" she shrieked. "They
are upon you Come hither!'
| With that dropped to my knees and
made spring for the opening. l had
waited too long. The leading man
would have pinned me to the earth
with his spear The entrance was
wide, fortunately. and Mistress Lucy
could see through the part l did not
block with my huge bulk Designating
entirely my instructions. she fired the
last pistol at the nearest man. He
went down like ninepin. both legs
broken, which gave me time to gain
the inner chamber and stand upright.
I was bleeding, for had been cut here
and there, but was otherwise ali right
THAT shot saved my life!' l cried,
painting. "You should have kept it for
yourself"
81 can find means to die she an
swered, .If naught else. by your
sword blade"
Good" l exclaimed, proud of her
prowess and her resolution
They gave us no time for further
speech, for, urged by what promises
of reward, what passionate hatred, |
knew not, they came Oh. The narrow
entrance was suddenly black with the
islanders, who thrust their spears at
us. Fortunately, my mistress had
moved aside and was out of range. but
was perilously near being cut down.
Mistress Lucy had the sword which
had thrust into her hand, and | the
great ak which l had cast into the
inner cave ahead of me.
Those outside were even less able
to see than we, and perhaps they
thought we had withdrawn or been
driven back, for they crept forward.
While l had lived in the gardeners
lodge Of Wilberforce castle had got
to be quite an axman. l brought
| dov,n tho hoavv weaDOn on the trSi