The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-05-23
CHAPTER XIV.

want" Laura remarked, gazing around
her: II call it a nasty, damp, oozy
spot"
Quest motioned them to sit little
nearer.
Il had a moments talk with Craig
this morning, and from what he says,
fancy they mean to make move
a little farther in before long. It'll be
all the more difficult to escape them"
you think we could get away?"
Lenora whispered, eagerly.
! Quest glanced cautiously around.
They were surrounded by thick vege-
tation, but they were only very short
distance from the camp.
Seems to me-" he continued, I'VE
shall have to try it some day or other
and I'm all for trying it soon. Even
if they caught us, l don't believe
they'd dare to kill US, with the Eng
| lish soldiers so close behind. 1 am
going to get hold of two or three rifles
and some ammunition. That's easy,
| because they leave them about all
the time. And what you girls want to
do is to hide some food and get bot
| tie of water"
What about Craig?" the professor
asked.
I'VE are going to take him along.
Quest declared, grimly. He's had the
devils own luck so far but it can't
last forever. I'll see to that part of
the business, if you others get ready
and wait for me to give the signal"
Whey dispersed in various directions.
1t was not until late in the evening,
when the Mongars had withdrawn
little to indulge in their customary
orgy Of grooming songs, that they were
absolutely alone. Quest looked out Of
the tent in which they had been sit
| ting and came back again.
"Well?"
Laura lifted her skirt and showed
an unusual projection underneath.
"Lenora and l have pinned up our
petticoats," she announced. We've
got plenty of food and a bottle of
water"
Quest threw open the white Arab
cloak which he had been wearing. He
had three rifles strapped around him.
THE professors got the ammuni-
tion," he said, "and we've five horses
tethered hundred PAGES along the
track we came by, just behind the
second tree turning to the left.
want you all to go there now at once
and take the rifles. There isn't a soul
in the camp and you can carry them
wrapped in this cloak. I'll join you
in ten minutes"
What about Craig?' the professor
inquired.
81 am seeing to him." Quest replied.
Lenora hesitated.
Isn't it rather a risk?" she whis-
pered fearfully.
Quests face was suddenly stern.
Craig is going back with u.s." he
said. "I'll be careful, Lenora. Don't
worry
He strolled out OF the tent and came
back again.
ue COdbl . IlCdlt hO
of you go. One moment" he
added, there are some papers in this
little box of mine which one of you
might take care Of
He bent hastily over the little wallet,
which never left him. Suddenly lit
tie exclamation broke from his lips
What is it?"
Quest never said a word. From one
of the spaces of the wallet he drew out
a small black box, removed the lid and
held out the card. They read 1t to-
gether:
Fools, all of you! The cunning Of
the ages defeats your puny efforts at
every turn.-The Hands.
Even the professors lips blanched
little as he read. Quest, however,
seemed suddenly furious. He tore the
card and the box to pieces, flung them
into a corner of the tent and drew
revolver from his pocket
This time" he exclaimed, I'VE are
going to make an end of The Hands!
Out you go now, girls. You can leave
me to finish things up"
One b. one they stole along the path.
| Quest came out and watched them dis
appear. Then he gripped his revolver
! firmly in his hand and turned towards
Craigs tent. Then, from the thick
growth by the side of the clearing, he
saw dark shape steal out and vanish
in the direction of Craig's tent lie
came to a standstill, puzzled. There
/ had been rum0rs of lions all day, but
] the professor had been incredulous.
Then the still, heavy air was suddenly
/ rent by a wild scream of horror. Across
the narrow opening the creature had
reappeared. carrying something in its
mouth, something which gave vent all
the time to the most awful yells.
| Quest fired his revolver on chance and
broke into a run. Already the Mon
ears. disturbed in their evening amuse-
ment. were breaking into the under
growth in chase. Quest came to q
standstill. 1t was from Craig's tent
that the beast had issued! When he
l.. Il