The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-11
gentle. refined young lady who had
so attracted him at Hedza

gentle. refned 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 a steep declivity
to take a 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
ut and made a 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 for photographic signal
ing. He began to flash a message
across the water, hoping Harper would
catch 1t. Elliott stated his situation,
telling Of the approaching savages and
directing II he did not soon rejoin
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 was rudely seized.
The menacing actions of his captors
were shortly emphasized by the ar.
rival of plumed and bedizened chief,
who gave some gruff orders. Elliott
was bound hand and foot, placed on a
litter and borne along in ominous 81.
lence until q spot was reached where
q great high post was set in the
ground about two hundred feet up q
steep declivity running sheer down to
the sea.
"Horrors!" gasped Bruce Elliott, az
nearing this giant stake he saw a hu.
man form tied to it and recognized
Eleanor Dewar.
Great heaps Of dried brush and dead
tree wood were massed up some TWEEN.
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 the
deities of the superstitious tribe.
Her lips whitened. a new despair
came into her anguished eyes as FL
lott 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.
Il hoped for better fortune in seek
ing to be Of aid to you," he said.
Then am 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, a gaudily be-
decked priest at their head. A num-
Der of the natives bore bundles of
sticks, evidently meant to feed the
sacrifice fire soon to surround the
stake.
Suddenly there was q rumble. and
Joined with 1t frightened yells from
the natives. The ground rocked, the
scurrying throngs seemed to fatten
out and vanish, the earth yawned!
IAN 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.
One of those giant commissions Of
nature common to the island group
had interviewed to save those two i'm
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 tim
Der, safer afloat than on land.
The natives were too concerned for
their own security to note or care
what had become of their captives. In
two hours they reached the island
where Elliott had left his partner.
Before the day was over they were
able to hail q boat from Hedza. and
the following day Elliott restored his
precious charge to her anxious ia
Their.
There could be but one natural out
come to so impressive q situation. It