Arizona republican., 1914-07-10


 She had but time to make out their brown color, fear binding her. She closed her eyes fearfully. knowing she was surrounded. hand touched her forearm timdly. Something in the touch was reassuring. She looked about upon solid ring of scantily clad natives who stared at her in bewildered amazement. Again the hand touched her arm.
 The native stood beside her, evidently 11uch bolder than his fellows Lucille could scarcely repress a smile as she caught the incredulity on the mans face as he looked at his hand, evi- denty expecting the white of her flesh to rub off.
 Already her brain working at lightning speed. The reason for the fear and astonishment that possessed her captors obvious They had never before seen white woman. Hnd the girl thinking how she might use this thing which must appear miracle to them.
 CHAPTER X.
 Chiefs Daughter.
 CHE was white.
 Lucille found time in her strange predicament to wonder at the way the most natural thing could turn itself to her advantage. She could feel the hesitation of the natives who had come upon her unexpectedly, knew that they were prepared to regard this phenomenon from any angle, that they might fear her, rever- ence her, hate her, love her. So she stayed close to the chief the who had touched her arm.
 An old man he from the heavy wrinkles that c,'iss-crossed his face, but his naked torso magrifcently muscular, his carriage that of a man whom obedience always tcmes. There was something very splendid about his steady, black eyes--n., growed a bit as though to hint of Mongoiian orlh in-about tle thin nostrilled nose, the full lips.
 Al through tto night the march continued. Lucille shaddered as from the black fastnesses of the semi jungle that heGged them in the glow of yellow eyes gleamed. Fire balls they might have been, so steady and silent were the animals who watched the procession, but the pat or stealthy feet, the crunch of broken twigs an nSin Or tOIH har hat hey e,
 Her feeling that this forcsd march might have some other object than merely getting back to a village made doubly strong by noticing the masterful manner in which the leader bated any desire for rest the part of the natives. He himself led the way finding hidden paths though by intuition, forcing his way through creepers that grew so thicky at times they seemed to form solid wall.
 It well into the day when their party net by native coming from the opposite direction Lucille was attracted by the rapid conversation he held with the Chief noticing the perturbation which showed so strongly ou the old mans face when he turned away and re- doubled his pace. It well nigh impossible for her to keep up now. Worn out by exposure and this tramp through the jungle there seemed times when she could not drag herself along, when the .4Ted muscles linked and refused to work.
 Then q'itc unexpectedly, through wall of vegetation, the party emerged into great clear ing upcn which the sun beat ferceiy A Jew C-1 TceE squat:ed before the openings to tie hun 6red or tlUre hutS that filled the open space set down here c the midst of the jungle. Many children played about, dressed only iii the gar ments of their birth. Here and there dogs prowled, silently nosing into the huts, sinking furively about ;he edge of the clearing. The leader of the party lifted his hand in signal for halt. his splendid body fexed.
 From hut, many times the size Of any other and set at the extreme head of the c!eal 9g fac ing down the double would officer If d C,ip, he low pitched wailing of many woners roices varying in its dreary monotone A ter rible sound it was, sorrowful, dirgelike In- stnctivey Lucille lifted her eyes to those of the Chief her finger tips brushing against his bare forearm sympathetically.
 swift gleam crossed his stern face. At few sharp words the party disbanded. disappear ing in the huts At his nod she followed his swift stride toward the gre. hut from which the sound
 Even she followed the man, she marvelled at the implicit confidence that seemed to have become a part of her since trusting herself to his escort. In of her she would have known it for instnctive liking. The in- teror of the hut was crowded with women, the atmosphere close as to fairly drive her back toward the tiny door through which she had tered Above the squatting, wailing women tow cred the splendid figure of the old chief. There a slight droop to his shoulders now, fall ing away about the muscles of his face. And to the ears of the girl dominating the drge-like vail came simple note that told her the story in its entirety, even as it struck to her womans heart, arousing every atom of tenderness there the crying of a child
 Impulsively she brushed through the women, stopping over the pallet of rlshes where the patient lay. Even with the cancellation which her illness had caused, despite the blaze of delirium in the wdened eyes, the black splotches of fever in the cheeks, Lucille would have known the girl for the daughter of the old man. As she turned to look at the Chief the pity of ignorance rushed upon her, and she and grasped both his hands in her own, unconscious of the mortified looks bestowed upon her by the women.
 By signs she made it clear to the old man that the hut must be cleared before anything could be done to assist his daughter It was difficult, communicating with him. but her obvi- ous sympathy and understanding seemed to make the task easier. Gradually it dawned upon her that this was custom of his people which required vast faith to go against She watched him eagerly, her very heart crying out for the sick child whose last chance for recovery was being stolen by this crowd of women, using up all the oxygen in the when it was the most necessary thing for her recovery.
 The Chief made his decision quickly With little cry of delight quickly suppressed. she realized that the mystery of her coloring had made such m impression upon him that he was willing to follow her instructions to the letter. With the same dignity he had used in forcing his men to double their pace through the jungle he ob served the womens protests and drove them from fha hut <ho