The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-09
5fGa CHAPTER xvE


 Tn Which We Fight For Life Tn the Cave of the Treasure.
 EATE had withdrawn by this time AAH to the back of the outer w cave Indeed, that was the only safe place for us, for constant succession of weapons was thrown through the opening. We need ed no further warning to keep out of reach. Master PimbaH 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.
 considered what was to be done. had four loaded pistols and, therefore, four lives in my hand. No man could show his head in that entrance with out receiving a shot After that 1 could account for few more, perhaps, with sword, ax 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 I open the battle there or re treat into the inner cave and wait?
 
 cided.
 Perhaps the latter would be the safer plan, but I had a strange unw1ll- 1ngness to adopt it. It would be like burying ourselves, for once within we should never get out alive, except as prisoners, so long as they had the out CT cave. And I 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. I explained to my mistress that I would keep the outer cave as long as I could, begging her to retreat to the inner chamber. She demurred at first, but when I spoke to her per emptorily at last-God forgive me-she acceded to my request humbly enough. I 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; andfI promised her faithfully that I would not foolishly or uselessly jeopardize myself, but that after I had made what fight could I 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 Hampdon,'' she said softly, There we be, a lone man and woman among these savages and murderers with but little chance for our lives, Col i+ hoR str on the ship, and-you may-kiss me goodby.'
 With that she profered me her lips. could face a thousand savages, a 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. I stood staring down at her.
 ''You were overeager once to take from me what I now offer you will ingly,'' she said, half turning away.
 With that I caught her to me and once again I drank the sweetness of her lips. I forgot the savages outside, the spears, the arrows streaming through the entrance. I held her in my arms and without resistance. I could have held her there forever, quite willing to die in such sweet embrace.
  could swear tbat my kisses had been returned, and then with a whispered blessing she dropped to her knees and crawIed within the cave.
 I could have fought the world there after, for her kisses intoxicated me like wine. Yet even then did not de Jude myself. I 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, I 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 lwaita There was a sudden fercer rain of arrows and spears, some of which struck at feet or by my side. I gatheref