The Dermott news., 1915-12-09
EIGHTH lNSTALLMENT
THE SUN WORSHlPERS
CHAPTER xxxIV.
The Junqle Trail.

The Jungle Tatl.
 Blindfolded and stumbling Neal was led for miles over an almost untrod path.
 As he went he listened. and twice he could have sworn he heard wom- ans voice a voice that he knew well the voice of Annette Ilington. Once he heard her scream.
 Suddenly there was a halt. There was much whispering and the low toned chattering of many people. And then Neal heard another scream
 Neal Neal"
 There was the trampling of a heavy body through the underbrush and then the rattling of heavy chain and what , seemed to be the unlocking of door There was another shriek. then si- lence.
 Finally without warning Neal was seized in gigantic pair of arms, tossed lightly over a huge shoulder and was carried rapidly along. An other door was opened and Neal felt himself flung-a bit too violently into the corner of a stone-wallei apart ment. A door changed to behind him and was locked and bolted A voice assailed his ears.
 "Senor," said this voice, If you would be relieved of bonds and blinds approach me.
 Neal-not without apprehension started up and staggered in the di rection of the voice X hand swung him about. Upon his head and wrists he felt the pressure of cold steel the back of a sheath knife His bonds fell at his feet He swung about stretched his arms and looked. Grin ming sardonicauy at him through the bars was the face of Hernandez and behind Hernandez with blinking eyes stood the ever-present brute.
 'We keep you merely for safety, senor said Hernandez.
 He swung on his heel thrust tbe brute out of sight and disappeared
 Neal noted now that he was con fined in stone cell-dingy. dirty mis- e.abIe He jumped at once 10 the correct conclusion This was fort,
 He examined his cell critically The mortar was disintegrating The fort was very old He took out his knife they had still left him that-and st.bbed yiciously at the space in be- tween the stones.
 There was a rattle at the door of cenIs cell A native insurrocto o.ened the door and set upon the floor a jug of water and a loaf of disreput- able looking bread Almost at the same time there was a rattle at the door of Annettes dungeon cell She ceased her tapping suddenly and turned The brute was entering also with refreshments, such as they were
 Instead of disposiug of these al once, he strode forward his huge body towering above her and held them out to her with a strange gleam in his eyes. She took the food and drink and laid them down upon the bench. star ing at the brute the while. The huge anomaly took this as an invitation He shambled closer toward her, never once removing his glance from her up turned wondering face Then with. out warning he thrust forth hand and stroked her hair.
 Annette was startled Yet there was so much docility in the expression of this half man half animal. that she instinctively submitted to his touch And there was something else-some- thing struggling for expression in those strange, wide open eyes
 There was a quick step behind the brute and Hernandez entered. An nette shrank back into a corner oi the cell.
 The brute gazed at him. but still stood his ground Hernandez in rage struck him sharply on the shoul der and thrust him toward the door