The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-03-12

constant attentions of her husband
made that year a very happy n for
her, the happiest Of her life.
Long since had Clayton given up any
hope Of rescue. except through acct
dent. With unremitting zeal he had
worked to beautify the interior Of the
cabin.
Skins Of lion and tiger covered the
floor. Cupboards and bookcases lined
the walls. Odd vases made by his own
hands from the clay of the region held
beautiful tropical flowers. Curtains Of
grass and bamboo covered the win
dows, and. most arduous task Of all
with his meager assortment Of tools,
he had fashioned lumber to neatly seal
the walls and ceiling and lay a smooth
floor within the cabin.
During the year that followed Clay
ton was several times attacked by the
great apes. which now seemed to in
fest the vicinity of the cabin. but as
he never ventured out except with both
rifle and revolvers he had little fear
Of the huge beasts.
He had strengthened the window
projections and fitted a unique wooden
lock to the cabin door, so that when he
hunted for game and fruits he had no
fear that any animal could break into
the little home.
At first much of the game he shot
from the cabin windows, but toward
the end the animals learned to fear the
strange lair whence issued the terrify-
ing thunder OF his rifle.
In his leisure Clayton read, often
aloud to his wife. from the store of
books he had brought for their new
home. Among these were many for
little children-picture books, primers,
readers-for they had known that their
little child would be old enough for
such before they had hoped to return
to England.
At other times Clayton wrote in his
diary. which he had always been &C.
customed to keep in French and in
which he recorded the details Of their
strange life. This book he kept locked
in q little metal box.
A year from the day her little son
was born Lady Alice passed quietly
away In the night. So peaceful was
her end that 1t was hours before Clay
ton could realize that his wife was
dead.
The last entry in his diary was made
the morning following her death. In
1t he recites the sad details in a matter
Of fact way that adds to the pathos Of
1t, for it breathes an apathy born Of
long sorrow and hopelessness, which
even this cruel blow could scarcely
awake to further suffering:
my little son Is crying for nourishment.
Oh, Alice, Alice. what shall l do?"
And as John Clayton wrote the last
words his hand was ever destined to
pen he dropped his head YEARLY upon
his outstretched arms, where they rest
ed upon the table he had built for her
who lay still and cold in the bed beside
him.
For a long time no sound broke the
deathlike stiffness Of the jungle midday
save the wailing of the tiny man-child.
In the forest Of the tableland a mile
back from the ocean old Kerchak. the
ape. was on a rampage Of rage among
his people.
The younger and lighter members
of his tribe scampered to the higher
branches Of the great trees to escape
his wrath, risking their lives upon
branches that scarce supported their
weight rather than face old Kerchak In
one Of his fits of uncontrolled anger.
The other males scattered in all di
brute had felt the vertebrate Of n snap
between his foaming jaws.
Then he spied Kala. who. returning
from a search for food with her young
babe, was ignorant Of the state Of the
mighty males temper until the shrill
warnings of her fellows caused her to
scamper madly for safety.
But Kerchak was close upon her. 80
close that he had almost grasped her
ankle had she not made a furious leap
far into space from one tree to another
"a perilous chance which apes seldom
take. unless SO closely pursued by dan
ger that there is no other alternative.
She made the leap successfully. but
as she grasped the limb of the further
tree the sudden jar loosened the hold
Of the tiny babe where 1t chung franti-
cally to her neck. and she saw the little
thing hurled. turning and twisting. to
the ground thirty feet below.
With a low cry Of dismay Kala rush
ed headlong to It's side. thoughtless
now of the danger from Kerchak. but
when she gathered the wee mangled
form to her bosom life had left 1t.
With low moan she sat cuddling the
body to her. nor did Kerchak attempt
to modest her. With the death Of the
babe his at of demoniacal rage passed
as suddenly as II had seized him.
Kerchak was a huge king ape. weigh