The evening world., 1915-01-05

.Fire!-firsi Can't you sss' We've
He snapped open the side Of the
supposed locket, and before either Of
his companions could realise what
he would b about. was focusing the
lens Of . surveyors mAgnifying glass
upon the back Of Withropss hand.
The Ensiishman 1erksd the hand
"0wi That burnsi"
Blake shook tho glass In their bs.
Look there!" he shouted. "thereis
fire; there's water; there's bird6' egEs
and beefsteaSsi Here's whero wo
trek on the back trail. Well smoke
out that leopard In short orderi"
"You don't mean to say Blake
"No: I mean to do! Don't worry.
You can hide with Miss Jenny ON the
point, while I engineer the DEAL
The day was still fresh whom they
found themselves back at the foot OF
The men piled dry gras: scsos. the h..
foot Of the cleft leading to the cave
and set fire to It. Miss Leslie. who
had been left In q place OF safety.
heard the tale Of what followed from
Winthrope ~ the latter came back
for her.
"Ths beast-ths leopardi Al first
we heard one roar: then It was that
SssHdi- awfSi Sausliina! anas .A. fSs wss.cnsd
thing came lsaping and tumhlinc
down the path. all singed and blinded.
Blake fired another big TRUSS OF grass
and the brute rolled right into the
flames. 1t was shocleing-drsedfully
shocking! The wrctched creature
writhed and leaped about TIL II
plunged into the pool. -. When
It sought 70 crawl out, all black and
hideous, Blake went up and killed
1t with his club-crushsd IN ~ skull
-Ughi"
They started at once. Miss Lssiis In
the lead. A. they rounded the point,
she caught slight Of the smoke still
rising from the cleft. A little later
she noticed the vultures which were
streaming down out OF the SKY from
all quarters other than seaward. Their
focal point seemed TO DO the trees At
the foot Of the cleft. A nearer view
showed THAT they were siighting In
the thorn bushes on the south border
Of the wood.
OF Blake there was nothing TO be
seen until Miss Leslie, still In the
lead. pushed In among the trees.
There they found him crouched be-
aide a small fire. near the edge Of
the pool. Ho did not look up. His
eyes were riveted In 4 hungry stare
upon several pieces OF nesh. sus.
pended over the flames on splts Of
S'sin sHelio,s h. sang ou, a. he heard
their footstsps. "Just In time. Miss
Jenny. Your broiisd steak II b ready
"Oh. buiid up the fret I'm simply
rayenous," she exclaimed, between
impatiencs and delight
Winthrope WAS hardly less Keen;
vet his hunger did not altogether
blunt his curiosity. 10000,
II say, Blake" he Inquired whefs
did you get tho msatT
. psenins house. The stun may be
tough. but SIS not--er-ths othei
thing. Here you are. Miss Jenny
Chew Il on the stick"
Though Winthropo had bis suspi
cions. he took the piece o. hAiI.
burned leopard flesh which biAks
handed him In turn and fell TO eat
Ing without further question. ~
Blsks had surmissd. the roast proved
far other than tender. Hunger. how
The repsst ended when there ws.
nothing left 10 dsvour.
The cleft nov had q far di6ssens
aspect from what u had presented
on thsfr Arst visit The largest oi
the trees. though scorehsd about the
base, stiil stood with unwtthsfsd
foliage, littls harmed BY the nse Isui
many Of thsir small companions had
been killed and partly destroyed BY
the heat And Aamss from the bvsalns
brush. In places the nrs wAs YET
sm0uideSinS.