Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1914-1915, 1914-10-22

made that year q very happy one for
her, the happiest Of her life.
Long since had Clayton given up any
hope of rescue, except through acct
dent. With unremittlng zeal he had
worked to beautify the interior Of the
cabin.
Skins of lion and tiger covered the
floor. CupDoards and bookcases lined
the walls. ODD vases made by his own
hands from the clay of the region held
beautiful tropical flowers. Curtains of
grass and bamboo covered the viii
dows, and, most arduous task Of all
with his meager assortment Of tools.
he had fashioned lumber to neatly seal
the walls and ceiling and lay a smooth
floor within the cabin.
During the year that followed Clay
ton was several times attacked by the
great apes. which now seemed to in
fest the vicinity of the cabin, but as
he never ventured out except with both
rifle and revolvers he had little fear
of the huge beasts.
He had strengthened the window
projections and fitted a unique wooden
lock to the cabin door, so that when he
hunted for game and fruits he had no
fear that any animal could break into
the little home.
At first much of the game he shot
from the cabin windows, but toward
the end the animals learned to fear the
strange lair whence issued the terrify-
ing thunder Of lis rifle.
In his leisure Clayton read, often
aloud to his wife. from the stoEe OF
books he had brought for their new
home. Among these were many for
little chiidren-picture books, primers,
readers-for they had known that their
little child would be old enough for
such before they had hoped to return
to England.
At other times Clayton wrote in his
diary. which he had always been &C
customed to keep in French and in
which he recorded the details Of theil
strange life. This book he kept locked
in Il little metal box.
A year from the day her little son
was born Lady Alice passed quietly
away in the night. So peaceful was
her end that it was hours before Clay.
ton could realize that his wife was
dead.
The last entry in his diary was made
the morning following her death. III
1t he rec1tcs the sad details in a matter
Of fact way that adds to the pathos OF
it, for it breathes III apathy born o.
long sorrow and hopelessness, which
even this cruel blow could scarcely
awake to further suffering:
MY little son is crying for nourishment
Oh. Alice, Alice, what hall 1 do?'
And as John Clayton wrote the las
words his hand was ever destined tt
pen he dropped his head YEARLY upo1
his outstretched arms, where they rest
ed upon the table be had built for bel
who lay still and cold in the bed beside
him.
For a long time no sound broke the
deathlike stiffness Of the jungle midday
save the waiting of the tiny man-child
In the forest Of the tableland a mil,
back from the ocean old Kerchak, th
ape, was on a rampage of rage among
his people.
The younger and lighter member.
Of his tribe scampered to the highe
branches Of the great trees to escape
his wrath, risking their lives upol
branches that scarce supported thei
weight rather than face old Kerchak il
n of his fits of uncontrolled anger.
The other males scattered in all di
rections, but not before the infuriate'
brute had felt the vertebrae of one snal
between his foaming jaws.
Then he spied Kala, who, r%eturnin,
from a search for food with her youn,
babe, was ignorant Of the state Of tn
, mighty males temper until the shril
warnings of her fellows caused her t
, scamper madly for safety.
But Kerchak was close upon her, s
close that he had almost grasped he
ankle had she not made a furious lea,
far into space from one tree to anothe
"a perilous chance which apes seldom
take, unless so closely pursued by dan
ger that there is no other alternative.
She made the leap successfully, bu
as she grasped the limb Of the furthe
tree the sudden jar loosened the hol,
Of the tiny babe where it chung frant!
cally to her neck, and she saw the littl
{ thing hurled, turning and twisting. t
| the ground thirty feet below.
With a low cry of dismay Kala rush
| ed headlong to its side, thoughtles
10Y Of the danger from Kerchak, bu
when she gathered the wee rnangle
: form to her bosom life had left it.
With low means she sat cuddling th
body to her. nor did Kerchak attemI
to modest her. With the death of tn
. babe his fit Of demoniacal rage passe
4 as suddenly as 1t had seized him.
. Kerchak was huge king ape. wuigt