The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1914-11-14

| WUutiuitht. uhuoit W VitCt tokttit
any connection between the black hol
In which she found herself and tn
narrow trail through the jungle aioni
which she had urged her horse Grad
ually II all came back to her. he
hands sought her bosom, aud, with |
little groan OF utter misery, she CAV,
way to uncomfortable sobs.
Tho reaction did her good. workes
wonders with her. In that spell o.
self pity father. home. sweetheart
everything, was forgotten before th,
horror OF her own predlcament Fin
lshed with Il. she gathered every facul
~, mental aud physical, and scrambled
to her feet. Above her as she lifted
her eyes she made out streak OF light
threaded between aisles OF dense lean
ness-the sun piercing home into the
Jungle. she moved forward. her hands
before her. CROPPING. Something soft
and motionless and 40 still II caused
her TO shudder met the toe OF her boot
She drew back In swift alarm. know.
Ing II 10 be the body OF the horse she
had ridden. great feeling OF grateful.
ness at her own escape from a similar
fate warming her through and through
Mastering the innate repulsion within
her. she stepped upon the corpse, her
hands reaching up and dnding the
smooth edge OF the hole that had been
dug across tho roadway TO entrap her.
Her fingers found the roots OF n tree.
roots 30 stout they bore her weight.
For a moment she waited. gathering
her failing strength for the supreme
effort Then she snzang up. gathering
her knees under her. relaxing slightly
before putting forward every ounce Of
her strength and drawing herself to
the warm surface OF the road
About her on every side the Jungle
breathed. loathsome. feud. horrible.
Like some giant monster II seemed TO
spread Its myriad tentacles in every
direction. barring egress. fastening
upon the one who chanced TO stray
within II. sucking at ones very vitaia
The chatter OF monkeys and the
shrieks OF birds filled the air.
but no odds how bleak the prospect.
how forlorn the hope, one always feels
courage renewed when one has Just
glmpsed greater danger and averted
It Lucille had known within the quar-.
ter hour the horror Of blindness. and
her heart leaped high with joy at be
ing able to see these things In this
same jungle with her. In quite as bad
predicnment. was Hugo Loubequa
and with Hugo Lobeque were the pa.
pers she Ind fought NO hard 60 recover.
She spoke aloud. her voice triiiing
note SO foreign to this black abode
thar even the animal life was silenced
in amaze. "He shall not keep the pa.
pers long!- were her words.
The thought braccd her as would a
douse OF cold water. To right. TO left.
before her and behind was naught but
Jungle. Which way should she turn
TO come across the International spyf
She felt the amulet about her neck
with nervous. pluckiDg nngers. AZ
though seeking to read the answer
there Safety lay behind. back along
the trail IN the village OF the chief
who had 50 reluctantly permitted her
10 answer the trumped up message
from his neighbor. But she did no,
wish safety. She wanted the papers
md civilization In which direction TO |
20 she must leave To the power that
lad guided her steps 80 far. but she
Knew she must make quick choice.
As though ner question was 10 Dc
f,.s -. sf..
er OF the monkeys suddenly changing.
o wild alarm In their voices.
md. looking up. saw a host. an army
Il them. huddled close together. then
dipping swiftly In wild disorder from
rec 20 tree Lucille felt a thrill OF
ms upon her as she stared into the
'lackness 70 make out the reason for
heir alarm. Swiftly she shrank back
efore the blazing balls or nre that
Fere fastened upon her from the
eavy wall OF vines aud creepers
Again that cracking OF twigs. this
line In greater volume. and where be-
ore but one pair OF wild eyes had
tared at her there were now many
yea. She recollected the f1res her say.
ge friends had built OF nights that the
ingle beasts might not disturb them.
ut she had no means OF lighting a ,
re- She was alone. with nothing to
ssfst her save her own ingenuity. She
streated slowly. fear hanging upon
er feet. holding her back even as low
rowls indicated that her retreat was 4
oserved and would probably be taken
'r sign Of fear {
At the sound the trees were shaken i
olentIy by another rush OF the little {
ee men. IL gave her an idea instant /
. Even as the eyes grew miracu .
usly into long. graceful bodies Ln-
lie reached up and grasped the thick q
alls OF crecpers dangling from giant a
unked tree. Came a rush 30 allent .
I'd sure footed she could hear but the d
int pat. pat or the leopard's feet. fol ,
wed by n heavy click 0f jaws In q
Inctively she drew her feet up under q
n and. fear lending impetus to her q
ovements. ciambered swiftly up the u
mes until the welcome crotch OF the "
re supported her
Higher and higher she climbed until =
e terrifying sight Of the leopards y
circling the tree was shut from her u
es by the heavy foliage beneath u
pbed until her muscles nched. climb y
until even the crunching OF twigs "
meath failed 10 reach up 10 her. =
Beneath ner swnyed the jungle !,
2llElIl / /