White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-23

~ ~ Sonan OoJie.
which made 1t impossible for them to
adapt themselves to changing condi-
lions.
| clambered to the edge OF the pit
and looked over. The stars were fad
Ing, the sky was whitening, and the
cold wind of morning blew pleasantly
upon my face. I could see or hear
nothing Of my enemy. Slowly l climb
ed out and sat for awhile upon the
ground, ready to spring back into my
refuge II any danger should appear.
Then, treasured by the absolute still
ress and by the growing light. l took
my courage In both hands and stole
back along the path which I had come.
Some distance down 1t I picked up my
gun and shortly afterward struck the
brook which was my guide. So, with
many a frightened backward glance. l
made for home.
CHAPTER XVI.
A Terrifying Sight.
ND suddenly there came some
thing to remind me of my alb
~ sent companions. In the clear.
still morning air there sound
ed far away the sharp, hard note of q
single rife shot paused and listened.
but there was nothing more. For .
moment | was shocked at the thought
that some sudden danger might have
befallen them. But then a simpler
and more natural explanation came to
No doubt my absence had been no
ticed. They had imagined that l vas
lost In the woods and had fired this
shot to guide me home. 1t Is true that
we had made a strict resolution against
firing, but IL II seemed TO them that l
might be In danger they would not
hesitate. 1t was for IN now to hurry
on as fast as possible and so to reas-
sure them.
| was weary and spent, so my prog
at last | came into regions which l
knew. There was the swamp Of the
pterodactyls upon my left; there In
front Of me was the glade of the igua-
nod0ns. Now l was in the last belt
of trees which separated me from Fort
Challenger. l raised my voice In q
CHEEKY shout to allay their fears. No
answering greeting came back to me.
My heart sank at that ominous still
ness. l quickened my pace into a run.
The zareba rose before me. even as |
had left It, but the gate was open. l
rushed In. In the cold morning light
1t was a fearful sight which met my
eyes. Our effects were scattered In
wild confusion over the ground, my
comrades had disappeared, and close
to the smoldering ashes Of our fire the
grass was stained crimson with a hide
ous pool OF blood.
| was so stunned by this sudden
shock that for a time I must have
nearly lost my reason. | have a vague
recollection, as one remembers a bad
dream, OF rushing about through the
woods all around the empty camp,
calling wildly for my companions. No
answer came back from the silent
shadows. After a long period, during
which l sat In bewilderment. set my
self to try to discover what sudden
The whole disordered appearance of
the camp showed that there had been
some sort of attack, and the rifle shot
no doubt marked the time when 1t had
occurred. That there should have been
only one shot showed that II had been
all over In an instant. The rifles still
lay upon the ground. and one of them
Lord John's-had the empty cartridge
in the breech. The blankets OF Chal.
lenger and of Summarize beside the
fire suggested that they had been
asleep at the time. The cases Of am.
munition and of food were scattered
about in a wild litter. together with
our unfortunte cameras and plate car
riers, but none Of them were missing.
On the other hand, all the exposed pro-
v~isions-and I remembered that there
were a considerable quantity Of them
and not natives, who had made the
inroad, for surely the latter would
have left nothing beisn
Suddenly a thought came to me and
brought some little comfort to my
heart. was not absolutely alone In
the world. Down Mt the bottom of the
| cliff and within call Of me was waiting
the faithful Zambo. l went TO the
| edge VI the plateau and looked over
Sure enough. he was squatting among
his blankets beside his fire In his little
camp. But. to my amazement, a Sec
ond man was seated In front Of him.
For an instant my heart leaped for
Joy a. thought that one Of my COM