The evening world., 1914-02-14

sole answer. And, guided by the
cawing of the crows. he continued
his progress through the clustering
branches.
When he had pushed aside the last
from that corner of thick timber Il
was as though there had been q hre
on the level OF the groune and the
holes In the ground, and ~ though
he had come upon the centre OF the
furnace. lie recognised the Moabit
clearing. Over a thousand crows
were there and did not 30 much ~
turn their heads. being busily en-
gagged in devouring three things lying
on the grass with outstretched arms.
Cortolis recognised the Three
Brothers Vautrtn. who for so many
years had been the terror Of the
countryside. Their guns lay beside
them: the biggest Of tho three, red
bearded HUI, ert still held his In his
clcnched hand.
The ferns and bushes all around
were torn and broken and trampled.
Thc struggle In which they had sur
their death had formed a sort of
circus. u sort OF Nat ring: there must
have been n terrible battle.
Who had been strong enough to
defeat the Three Brothers, armed
with their three guns? And what all
powerful weapon had-Jaid low those
three huge bodies on the blood
soaked earth? Oh. II was simply a
weapon made Of wood! II also lay
there. resting on the grass. after per-
forming Its work. II was u hne young
tree. which might have reckoned on
long years OF wonderful forest life.
and which, trusting In the future.
had dug its roots solidly into tho
fostering soil.
And behold. a hand had torn II out
Of the earth az though II were not
fastened there: and II was this birch
trunk. whose silvery wilderness was
blood. that had done the killing.
What giant, what hero had waged
battle here? What archangel's hand
had welded this flaming sword OF
wood?
On branch Of that tree Coriolis
INV yet another strip of the white
vol th"' set his heart beating In his
chest like a drum; and also. after
disturbing the crows. which protested
and staggered around him like a
black, drunken band. he saw yet an
fingers of one Of the albinos.
And he no longer had q doubt but
that his child was the coveted booty
OF that wild mems battle. His
troubled brain. burning redder than
that flaming forest at eve. pictured
In a Hash all the phases OF that tour
ney Of blood and death.
1t was here that Balaoo must have
hurried with his prey. to this friendly
would not come to rob him Of her
whose presence was an necessary to
his life as tho air he breathed. And
then, no doubt. ne had como upon the
three men. the sole Inhabitants OF
that solitude and the sole masters OF
that corner Of the forest The brute
men had risen against the animal on
seeing him the posBessor Of 30 fair a
pfey, and they. IN turn. had tried to
snatch IL from him.
They were dead: and Balaoo had
carried elsewhither the sacred object
Of that battle Of the gods. Balaoo!
Moabit suddenly fell into pitch
darkness; and Coriolis collided with
the living walls OF the clearing, which
clghed it's branchy arms and leafy
hands upon him. And. having
reached the last stage of his despair.
he sank down to the ground. like a
child in it's cradle.
In the morning he woke. and
thought that he must DO still dream.
ing when ne saw Balaoo's sad and
serious face bending over him.
He tried to cry out. Balaoo. with
his finger in his mouth. enjotned
silence.
Take care!" said the pithecan-
thrope. whose voice seemed to reach
him through Respondent lake Of
tears. take care! Don't wake herr"
lis she dead or alive7"
she In asleep. Hush!"
us she dead or alive"
she Ia asleep, and We must not
wake her.
And. walking straight before him.
with his finger TO his mouth, looking
round from time to time to mako
sure that tho other WAS following
him. Balaoo led the way. very long
way. through the forest Everything
was silent as they passed. The birds
interrupted their siixinx. tiis leaves
ceased to culver with Joy In the
morning hteexe. Balaoo's hnger
raised to hts mouth seemed to COM
mand all nature to hush nor disturb
the rest OF her to whom they were
walking.
Was she deadf
Was she alivef
Was she at rest for all time?
Balaoo himself perhaps "a net