The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-12-24
EIGHTH INSTALLMENT
THE SUN WORSHlPERS
CHAPTER XXXlV.
The Jungle Trail.

The Jungle Trail.
BlindfOlded and stumbling, Neal was
fed for miles over an almost untrod
path.
AS he went he listened, and twice
he could have sworn he heard a 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 rafting of heavy chain and what
seemed to be the unlocking OF door
There was another Shrek, then 81
lence.
Finally without warning Neal was
seized in a gigantic pair Of arms,
tossed lightly over a huge shoulder
and was carried rapidly along An
other door was opened and Neal felt
himself fung--a bit too violently
into the corner of a stone-walled 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-"
"oal-nOt without apprehension
started up and staggered in the di-
rerton of the voice. A hand swung
him about Upon his head and wrists
ne 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 sardoncally 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,
senior" said Hernandez.
lie swung on his heel, thrust the
brute out Of sight and disappeared.
Neal noted now that he was con
fined in a stone cell-dngy, dirty, mis-
erable He jumped at once to the
correct conclusion. This was fort.
lie 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
stabbed viciOusly at the space In be-
tween the stones.
There was a rattle at the door Of
Meals cell A native insurecto
opened the door and set upon the floor
n Jug Of water and loaf Of disreput-
able looking bread. Almost at the
same time there was a rattle at the
door Of Annette's dungeon cell. She
ceased her tapping suddenly and
turned. The brute was entering-also
with refreshments, such as they were.
Instead of dispOsing Of these at
once he strobe forward, his huge body
towering above her, and held them out
90 her with a strange gleam in his
ewes. 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.
Hie 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
30 much docility in the expression Of
this half man, half animal, that she
instinctively submitted to his touch,
And there was something else--some-
ching 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 corner of
the cell.
The brute gazed at him, but still
stood his ground. Hernandez in a
rage struck him sharply on the shoul-
der and thrust him toward the door.