The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-27

A1o Wdo d Culcl, JulS Ludu, anu ne
looked it, every inch. He was the
greasiest, the dirtiest, of all the
greasy. dirty crew. In his right hand
he held a bone. Now and then he
gnawed upon it-now and then he
used it as a scepter. He extended it
and touched the approaching native
on the forehead. The latter bowed
then turned and pointed at the Brute.
This" he jabbered in his native
tongue, SIS god, and risen from the
sea. He is hungry. He would eat"
The chief in turn threw himself upon
his face. He called to all the multi
tude, and babe them do likewise. Then
he remembered. He rose and signed
to the Brute.
He is hungry" he repeated. THE
god would eat"
Then he led the way to the FIRE.
The Brute stared at it contempla-
lively. He smiled.
The god is pleased" exclaimed the
chief, let US therefore eat"
He cast from him the bone he had
been holding. He made another sign.
The Brute glanced to one side. There
upon the ground, wild eyed with fright,
lay three human beings.
Upon one of these miserable vic
tins dozen men now pUunced. They
lifted him, writhing, into the air, and
started toward the flames. They were
about to fling him across the. flames
when something happened.
The Brute understood. With one
bound he was upon them, and with
wide sweeps of his powerful hands
and arms he scattered them right
and left.
There was wild murmur against
this outrage-a sudden handling of
spears and stone heads, but the Brute
never needed the cutlery. Instead he
calmly stopped over each victim, one
by one, and tore the bonds of each
apart, and set them free. He held
back the angry mob while the three
captives trotted nimbly off into the
nearby jungle.
The chief stared at him astounded.
He might, indeed, have Drained the
Brute with his club had he not felt
the terrific grip of the Brute upon him.
Then he realized-once more-that the
Brute was not mere man, after all.
There was wild clamor, but the
chief stilled it with uplifted hand
Then the leader of the beach band
stepped forward and saluted.
He has his own captive" he whis
pered to the chief, "see, yonder. He
brought him with him. out of the sea-"
The chief understood. He gave an
order. A dozen more braves sprang
toward Hernandez and bore him to the
chief. The chief pointed toward the
poles and the green vines lying torn
upon the ground. In an instant, Her.
nandez lay prostrate-in another in.
slant half his clothes were torn from
his back.
Beast he shrieked, save me,
Beast"
The Brute saved him. He charged
into their midst like raging bull-he
tore Hernandez from their grasp.
The Brute snarled in his throat-he
kicked and clutched and clawed at the
little nucleus of savages. They fell
back before him as before whirlwind
they were stunned.
Again, murmurs. But again the
murmurs were silenced by the chief
himself
He is his own captive" said the
chief to his followers, let him do as
he will"
Hernandez, once upon his feet, was
not slow to act
Quick he said to the Brute, get
a stone-two stones. Knock these
wristlets from my hands,"
He held out his manacled wrists
the Brute understood, and obeyed.
With his two hands free, Hernandez
brain was working once again. Quick
as flash he stopped and picked up a
short piece of twisted vine. Raising
his hand high in air, he brought this
piece OF vine-a singing, snakelike
whip-swishing down upon the head
and shoulders CT the Brute.
The Brute covered. cringed, whim-
pered. Hernandez folded his arms,
stared sternly 2 the Brute for one
swift instant, an, hen turned and met
the glances of the chief and all his
tribe.
The chief was startled. He plucked
his lieutenant by the arm.
"Lcok," said the chief, the big man
is a god, but this is his master"
CHAPTER LvI.