The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-09-03

AZ -
thought that | was but a COMMON
Ouled- Nail"
Nevertheless he insisted, you are
a very brave girl. But how did you
know that | was a prisoner back
there"
"Achmet din Taieb. who is my cous-
in on my fathers side. was visiting
some friends who belong to the tribe
that captured you. He was at the
douar when you were brought in.
When he reached home he was telling
Us about the big Frenchman who had
been captured by All ben Ahmed for
another Frenchman who wished to kill
him. From the description knew that
il must be you. Ny father was away.
| tried TO persuade some Of the men
to come and save you. but they would
not do it, saying: Let the unbelievers
Kill one another If they wish. 1t is
none of our affair. and If we go and
interfere with Ali ben Ahmed's plans
we shall only stir up a fight with our
own people
so when it was dark | came alone.
riding one horse and leading another
for you. They are tethered not far
from here. By morning we shall be
within my fathers dOuar. He should
be there himself by now-then let
them come and try to take Kadour
ben Saden's friend"
For a few moments they walked on
in silence.
We should be near the horses" she
said. 1T is strange that | do not see
them here"
Then a moment later she stopped.
with a little cry Of CONSERVATION.
They are gone she exclaimed. ut
is here that | tethered them"
Tarzan stopped TO examine the
ground. He found that a large shrub
had been torn up by the roots. Then
he found something else. There was
a wry smile on his face as he rose and
turned toward the girl.
Eel adrea has been here. From the
signs. though, l rather think that his
prey escaped him. With a little start
they would be safe enough from him
III the open"
There was nothing to do but con-
tinue on foot. The way led them across
Il low spur of the mountains, but the
girl knew the trail as well as she did
her mothers face. They walked in
easy, swinging strides, Tarzan keeping
a hands breadth behind the girls
shoulders that she might set the pace
and thus be less fatigued. AS they
walked they talked, occasionally stop
ping to listen for sounds of pursuit.
1t was a beautiful mocnlit night.
The air was crisp and i%nyigorating.
Behind them lay the interminable vista
of the desert. dotted here and there
with an occasional oasis. The date
palms Of the little fertile spot they had
just left and the circle of goatskin
tents stood out in sharp relief against
the yellow sand-a phantom paradise
upon q phantom sea. Before them rose
the grim and silent mountains. Tar
zan's blood leaped in his viens. This
was life! He looked down upon the
girl beside him-a daughter of the des-
ert walking across the face of a dead
world with a son of the jungle. He
smiled at the thought. He wished
that he had had a sister and that she
had been like this girl. What a bully
chum she would have been!
They had entered the mountains
now and were progressing more slow
lu for Tho frot1 yyoc ottoman nd vary
rocky.
For a few minutes they had been ST
lent. The girl was wondering If they
would reach her fathers dOuar before
the pursuit had overtaken them. Tar
Ear was wishing that they might walk
on thus forever. If the girl were only
a man they might. He longed for a
friend who loved the same wild life
that he loved. He had learned to
crave companionship. but it was his
misfortune that most Of the men he
knew preferred immaculate linen and
their clubs to nakedness and the jun
gle. 1t was. Of course, difficult to I'M
derstand. yet it was very evident that
they did.
The two had just turned a projecting
rock around which the trail ran when
they were brought to a sudden stop.
There before them, directly in the mid
die Of the path. stood Numa, ell adrea.
the black lion. His green eyes looked
very wicked. and he barred his teeth
and dashed his bay black sides with
his angry tail. Then he ~roared-the
fearsome. terror inspiring roar Of the
hungry lion which Is also angry.
Your knife" said Tarzan to the
girl. extending his hand. She slipped
the hilt Of the weapon into his wait
ing palm. AS his fingers closed upon
1t he drew her back and pushed her be-
hind him. Walk back to the desert
as rapidly as you can. If you hear me
call you will know that all Is well and
you may return"
ut Is useless" she replied resigned
ly. 'This is the end"
"Do as / tell you," he commanded.
Quickly. He Is about to charge
The girl dropped back a few PAGES.
where she stood watching for the ter
rible sight that she knew she should
soon witness.