Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-11
eoDyrfrht iois y !. 9 Meciars > g.


CHAPTER NNI+fContlnuedl
ATEARLY two months OF this exlsten
IN had passed when the first gre
calamity befen them. Il was prefac'
by an adventure which came near tern
mating abruptly fhe sofferings OF two
hem-terminatlng them IN the grim ar
horrible manner Of the jungle, forever.
Thunn. down with an attack OF jungl
fever. lay In the shelter among ia
branches OF their tree OF refuge. Clayto
had been into the Jungle a few hundre
yards IN search of food AS he returne
lame Porter walked 10 meet him. Benin
the man, cunning and crafty, crept nj
old and NANCY lion. For three days hi
ancient thcws and slnews had prove'
insunlcient for the task Of providing hi
cavernoue belly with meat For month";
he had eaten less and less frequently
and farther and farther had he roamet
from his accustomed haunts In search ol
easier prey. At last he had found natures
weakest and most defenseless creature
IN a moment more Numa would dine
Clayton, all unconscious Of tho lurking
death behind him, strode out into the
open toward Jane. lie had reached her
side, a hundred feet from the tangled
edge OF Jungle when past his shoulder
the girl saw the tawny head and the
wicked yellow eyes as the grasses parted.
and the huge beast, nose 20 the ground,
stopped softly into view
SO frozen with horror was she that she
could utter no sound. but the fixed and
terrified gaze OF her fear-wldened eyes
spoke as plainly 20 Clayton as words. A
quick glance behind him revealed the
hopelessness OF their situation. The lion
was scarce thirty PAGES from them and
they were equally as far from shelter.
The man was armed with stout stick
ne efficacious against a hungry lion, he
realised, hs a toy pop-gun charged with a
tethered cork.
Numa. ravenous with hunger had long
since learned the futlllty Of roaring and
moaning as he searched for prey. but now
that Is was as surely his as though al
ready he had felt the soft flesh beneath
his still mighty paw, he opened his huge
Jaws and gave vent to his long-pent rage
in series OF deafening roars that made
the air tremble..
run, Janel cried Clayton "Quickl
Run for the shelterl9 But her paralyzed
muscles refused TO respond, and she stood
muto and rigid, staring with ghastly
countenance at the living death creeping
toward them.
Thuran, at the sound OF the awful roar,
Ind come TO the opening of the shelter
and as he saw the tableau below him he
hoped up and down. shrieking to them in
Russian.
"Runi Rum he cried. Run, or l
shall be lett all alone In this horrible
place and then he broke down and COM
menced to weep,
For a moment this new voice distracted
the attention Of the lion. who halted to
cast an inquiring glance In the direction |
Of the tree Cinyton could endure the |
strain no longer Turning his back upon |
the beast, he buried his head In his arms |
and waited.
The girl looked at him in horror. Why |
I'D he not do something? II he must die
Why not die like man-bravely: beating
It that terrible face with his puny stick.
10 matter how futile It might be. Would
rarzan of the Apes have done thus?
Would he not at lenst have gone down to
Iis death lighting heroically to the last?
Now the lion was crouchng for the
pring that would end their young lives
eneath cruel rending. yellow fangs.
aue Porter sank TO her knees in prayer,
losing her eyes to shut out the last hid
ous Instant. .Thuran weak from fever,
ainted.
Seconds dragged into minutes. long min
ties into an eternity. and yet the beast
Id not spring. Clayton was almost uh-
/
right--his knees trembled--a moment
lore and he would collapse.
Jane Porter could endure 1t no longer.
he opened her eyes. Could she be dream
ig3
'sWilliam." she whispered; "looklr
Clayton mastered himself sufficiently to
lise his head and turn toward the lion.
n ejaculation Of surprise burst from his
ps AT their very feet the beast lay
ID Ast &,
rotruded from the tawny hide. II had
ltered the great back above the right l
ioulder. and. passing entirely through |
le body, had pierced the savage heart /
Jane Porter had risen TO her feet; as
layton turned back 70 her she staggered {
weakness, He put out his arms to /
We her from falling. and then drew her I
ose to him-pressing her head against q
3 shoulder. he stopped to kiss her In d
v
Gently the girl pushed him away. I
Please do not do that. William" she p
I'd. Il have lived a thousand years in
Q past brief moments. have learned S
" to live. l do not wish TO hurt you 8
ore than Is necessary; but can no o
lger bear TO live out the impossible Z
sitlon l have attempted because OF a b
Ise sense OF loyalty 10 an impulsive .
omlse made you. II
The last few seconds OF my life have y
lght me that It would be hIdeous TO o
empt further to deceive myself and y
u, or 10 entertain for an instant longer r
possibility OF ever becoming your y
e. should we regain civilization" > >
Why. Jane" he cried. what do you .
an What has our providential rescue ),
DO with Altering your feelings toward =
You are but unstrung-tomorrow d
! VIII be yourself again" :,
am more nearly myself this minute y
n have been for over a year" she n,
lied. The thing that has just hap n,
ied has again forced 10 my memory m
fact that the bravest man that ever II,
d honored me with his love. Until Il a
! too late did not realize that re- IN
ned IT, and so sent him away. He bl
lead now and shall never marry. m
ialniy could not wed another less h
ye than he without harboring con II.
nfiy a feeling Of contempt Tor the rel