The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1914-12-10

rentle, refined young lady who had
so attracted him at Hedza-
Elliott beached his canoe and set
out equipped with his usual surveying
outfit He skirted the shore for some
hours without discovering any signs
Of the natives. AS, however, just after
sunrise, he mounted steep declivity
10 take general survey Of the island.
he saw coming rapidly in the same d.
rection a group of;warriors armed with
spears.
They have caught sight Of me-"
ruminated Elliott, correctly, and at the
apex of the hill he unstrapped his out
nt and made play Of being busy at
his usual scientific observations. He
counted on the natives accepting this
invasion as peaceful, still he could not
reckon on this, absolutely The sun
was just right fortheliographic signal
ing. He began to fash message
across the water, hoping Harper would
catch it Elliott stated his situations
telling Of the approaching sayases and
directing IL he did not soon reioin
his friend that Harper should hasten
TO Hedza and urge forward q rescue
party.
II Elliott had not used the hello
graph his reception. at the hands Of
the natives might have been friendly.
The flashes, however, excited their
suspicious. He VAS rudsly -seized,
The menacing actions Of his captors
were shortly emphasized by the Ar
rival Of plumed and dbedizeaed chief.
who gave some gruff orders. Elliott
was bound hand and foot, placed on q
litter and borne along In ominous 81
1ence until Q spot was reached where
q great high post was set in tho
ground about two hundred feet up o
steep declivity running sheer down to
the sea- =
"Horrors." gasped Bruce Elliott, az
nearing this giant stake he saw hu-
man form tied to l. and recognized
Eleanor Dewar. 81
Great heaps Of dried brush and dead
tree wood were massed up some twen-
ty feet away. From what he had
learned of the hideous customs OF
these people, Elliott at once surmised
that this fair captive was about to be
offered up as living sacrifice to tho
deities of the superstitious tribe.
Her lips whitened, new despair
came into her anguished eyes as FL
liott was led to the great stake and
secured to 1t with stout withes direct
ly at her side. Both comprehended the
fiery doom that lowered.
II hoped for better fortune in seek
ing to be of aid to you" he said. 80
"Then lam the cause Of this fate
yours as we'll as my own!" breathed
Eleanor, distractedly.
He tried to comfort her, to arouse
her courage. All hope died out as he
saw a procession from the near VII
lage approach them, e gaudily be-
decked priest at their head. A num-
Der of the natives bore bundles OF
sticks, evidently meant to feed the
sacrifice fire soor to surround the
stake.
Suddenly there was rumble, and
Joined with it frightened yells from
the natives. The ground rocked, the
scurrying throngs seemed to fiatten
out and vanish, the earth yawned!
"An earthquake!" voiced the ap-
palled Elliott, as the great stake was
torn up and they, bound to it, shot
down the steep incline and into the
sea. r0,,
One Of those giant commissions OF
nature common to the island group
had interviewed to save those two Inn
periled souls. The rough progress OF
the stake loosened one Of the withes
holding Elliott captive.
"Courage!" he spoke as they were
submerged, but Eleanor had tainted
AS he freed himself and then his help
less charge, it was to hold to the um-
Der, safer afioat than On land as
The natives were too concerned for
their own security to note or care
what had become Of their captiyes. In
two hours they reached the island
where Elliott had left his partner.
Before the day was over they were
able to- hail a boat from Hedza, and
the following day Elliott restored his
precious charge to her anxious Ia
ther.
There could be but one natural out
come to so impressive situation. 1t
was Eleanor" and Bruce" before
week had passed by, and then, In
rapid sequence, an engagement and
wedding.
PropIeFi Ior Invenlors.
Hundreds Of thousands Of gallons =
of choice nut oil are being lost every
year in British Honduras because no
practical means has been found for
its recovery. The nut, toward which
attention is turning, is the .cohune,
and is rich in an excellent oil, used
locally for cooking and lighting pur-