Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-14

| whom she mad escaped.
Once more Kitty felt surge across
her the feeling that after all, she was
weak, and always must be weak
whereas. he. her late enemy, was
strong and always would be strong
She was content to cover down behind
him and leave the event to him.
The noise of the oncoming melee be
hind them grew in volume now as
Count Frederick turned to face the
shaggy figure of the man who but now
| had been the captor of Kitty Gray
| The muzzle of the pistol pressing e
his face spoke louder than any WORDS
seemed, indeed. to restore to him Q
part of the reason he had lost through
| dwelling here among the savages, Oh
| a shore upon which he had been cast
unknown years earlier. He threw Ut
his hands now. "Ayast, there, cap
tainr, he cried. Il surrender"
who are you?" demanded Count
Frederick. "Or what are you?"
The half-demented creature passed
a hand across his face. Blessed II
could tell you the truth about that
sir" he said, "and that's the truth. Blu;
seems to me | remember ! was once
Old Jimmy Wainwright of the ship Ad
venture, out of Clyde. It's maybe We
were cast away somewhere, years
since, and I'm thinking Adam was
then boy. Delay all! Friend, cap
tain, your honor, don't shoot old Jim
my Wainwright. If so be | am him.
But what are you doing down here
under the earth, man.
Captain, your honor, sir, came
here to live safe. | kill some OF them
black folks once in a while. They
think I'm crazy, and maybe they're
right. How can ! tell, captain. your
honor, sir?"
You know this placer" exclaimed
Frederick. Thus far we are safe, but
listen to them coming"
"Ay, ay, sir; fighting like cats and
dogs. They always do. We must cut
and run, or they'll kill us all, and put
US in the big fire yonder. Don't
know? I've seed sights a plenty, up
there. I couldn't a-beared to seen the
white lady burned"
Lead on" said Frederick. quickly
I'VE must hide, or it viii be too late.
This way, captain, your honor, sir!
And bear hand lively"
Count Frederick and Kitty Gray fol
lowed him as he fed deeper into the
cavernous interior of the lava hill
Theysturned corner after corner. until
at length the sounds of the pursuit be
came fainter and died away far at the
rear
"'Ere's my ONE. sill" began the old
sailcr at last as they paused before a
rude cabin, which showed some ami
mal-like proof Of human occupancy
Wen be safe ere, I'm thinking"
But they were not safe for lcng. The
keen instinct CT the savage trailers
hot in the blood lust which now pcs
sessed them, brought them on ulti
mately along the trail, and tc its end
They heard the savage shouts Of their
pursuers gaining in volume, heard the
thud of their bare feet on the rocky
floors. A moment, ard the yelling band
stood before the entrance to their
cavern.
The natives were spearmen, and
their shafts were cast with strength
| and accuracy. Those beleaguered ones
had no shields with which t. parry
such weapons, and yet for GRE instant
barrier was offered to the assault.
With savage, half-animal roar,
the old sailor-whose full history
never was to be known-cast himself
in front Of his hew friend, opposing
his shaggy breast to the leveled
spears. He fell pierced by dozen
shafts, still roaring his defiance. Above
| his body now spoke again and again
the weapon of Count Frederick. A
half dozen dusky forms fell and filled
up the opening. The savages behind
gave back and sought to fee.
This instant of their hesitation gave
Frederick one more opportunity
Catching Kitty by the arm he passed
back to the rear of the little cavern
in the hope there might be egress
| that way-for surely the wall of steel
| in front could not be passed. He
| found it--a narrow passageway. Pant
ing and GREATNESS, stumbling, falling
and rising, the two hurried on until
at length they heard no more in their
ears the din OF fighting.
The passage way now seemed grad
ually to rise. it's walls closing in. All
length, far ahead, they saw a faint
tinge of light. 1t deepened as they
| advanced, until at length it became
visible through broken aperture be
yond which shone the full light oil
| day. Gasping their joy at this. they
hurried up and on until at length their
feet stood upon the surface of that
earth to which they had been accus
| toned.
1t was a strange and new scene
which lay before them now. There
was no path that they could see-the
mouth of the cavern came out at the
top of high cliff. Far below them
ran the sea, blue-tinged and ripping
out to its horizon. But no sail broke
the wide expanse, nc path showed
down the steep declivity which Law be
| fore them. Their case seemed quite
as hopeless as ever it had been. II
discovered row, they must indeed
stand at bay.
The keen eye of Count Frederick
searched here and there for some ave
nue. Of escape, hut at first found none
"MadeEoiselle," said he, the beach
below, no doubt, leads to one of their
villages. But we cannot reach the
beach. / presume that we have come
almost through the hill-that the main
village lies yonder, beyond the forest
Ii we return, whether by the cavern