The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-15
kConEsnueda
copvrisi1t. 1918.


 missing one or sign of the trail of her abductor. But though the spoor left by the fifty frightfuI men, un- versed in woodcraft as they were, would have been as plain to the deDs- est denizen of the jungle as city street to5the Englishman. n. yet he cross ed and recrossed it twenty times with out observing the Slightest indication fhAt many men had passed that way but few short hours since
 AS he searched. Clay yton continued to call the girls name aloud. but the only result of this was to attract Sabor, the tiger. Fortunately. the man saw the shhdowy form worming it's way to- wnr1 him In time to climb into the. branches of tree before the beast was close enough to reach him. This put an end to his search for the balance of the afternoon. as. the tiger paced back and forth beneath him until dark.
 Even after the beast had left Clay ton dared not descend into the awful blackness beneath him. and so he spent terrifying and hideous night in the tree The next morning he returned to tte beach. Felinquishing the last hope of succ0rine Jane Porter.
 During the week that followed M. Ihurar rapidly regained his strength, lying in the shefter while Clayton hunt ed food for both The men never spoke except as necessity demanded Clayton now occupied the section of the shelter. which had been reserved for Jane Por- ter and only saw the Russian when he. took food or water to him or perform ed the other kindly offices which conn mon humanity required
 When Thuran was again able to de- scend in search of food Clayton was stricken with fever For days he lay tossing in deiirium and suffering. but not once did the Russian come near him Food the Englishman could not have eaten, but his craving for water: amounted practically to torture. Be tween the recufrent attacks of deiir- fum. weak though he was. he managed to reach the brook once a day and fill tiny caas that had been among the few appointments of the lifeboat
 Thuran watched him on these occa- eions with am expression of malignant pleasure. He seemed really to enjoy fhe suTering of the man who, despite the just contempt i1s which he held him, had rninsstered to him to the best of his ability while he lay suff ering the same ag0nies.
 At last Clayton became so weak that he ~Rs no longer able to descend from the shelter. For day be suffered for water without appealing to the Rus siam; but finally, unable to endure it longer he asked Thuran to fetch him . drink
 The Russian came to the entrance to Cfayton's room, dish Of water in his. hand. A nasty grin contorted his fea- tnres-
 THere as water,'' he said. .sBut first let me remind you that you maligned me before the girl: that you kept her to yourself and would not share her with rne'-
 Clayton interrupted him. "Stopr' he cried "Stopl What manner of cur are you that you fraduc6 the character of good woman whom we believe dead. God, I was a fool ever to let you 1lves You are not fit to live even I'm this vile 1aniil"
 Here is your water said the Rus sian, s.aIl you will get.'' And he raised the basin to his lips and drank. What was left he threw out upon the ground below Then he turned and left the s1rE man.
 Clayton rolled over and, burying his face in his arms. gave up the battle.
 The next day Thuran determined to set cut toward the north along the coast, for he knew that eventually he must come to the habitations of civi- 1i&ed men. At least he could be no worse of then he was here, and fur thernore the rawlings of the English man were getting on his nerves.
 So he stole Ciayton's spear and set oR upon his journey. He would have Killed the sick man before he left had it not occurred to him that it would really have been a kindness to do so.
 That same day he came to a little cabin by the beach, and his heart filled with renewed hope as he saw this evi Sence of the proximity Of civilization for he thought it but the outpost of a nearby settlement Had he known tc whom 1t belonged and that its owner was at that very moment but a few miles inland. Nikolas Rolzoff would have fed the place as he would pesti lence. But he did not know and so he remained for a few days to enjoy the security and comparative comforts oi the cabin. Then he took up his north ward journey once more
 In Lord Tennington's camp prepara lions were going forward to build per r1lanent quarters ana then to send out an expeCirlon or a few men Jo the norIf in search of relief.
 As the days had passed withou bringing the 1onged for suceor. hope that Jane Porter, Clayton and NJ Thu ran had been rescued began to die. Ns one spoke Of the matter longer to Pro lessor Porter, and he was so immersed In his scientific dreaming that he va: rot aware of the elapse of time.
 0ssf-ss ~f1uaJIv 11n would reIl7fffI< tha within a few days they should certain iv see steamer drop anchor off theil shore and that then they should all bs reunited happily Sometimes he spoke of it as a train Tnd wondered if f were being delayed by snowstorms
 ssIf I didn't know the dear old fel