Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-05

caiiine. perhaps the inner. secret vaies 6f
his own subjective self+-a voice that cried
you, who must drink water now he
knows you are not gods, but mortal cfea-
lures, Trickcd by his question and your
answer, your peril now n on you Flee y
The voice died. Stern found himself,
with a strange, teut eaEerness tlnsling all
through him. facing the obeah and-and not
daring 20 turn his back.
Retreat they must he knew. Retreat at
once Already in the forest he understood
that heads were being lifted, beastilke ears
were listening, brute eyes peering and ape
hands clutchlng the little nint-pointed
spears Already the EIri and he should
have been halfway back 10 the tower yet
still, inhibited by that slow, grlnnng, star
ing advance OF the chief. there the engineer
stood
But au at once the spell was broken.
For with n cry, a hoarse and frightful
yell Of passion, the obeah leaped-leaped
like a huge and frlghtfuliy agile ape
leaped the whole distance intervening.
stern saw the Things red-gleamng
eyes Fixed on Beatrice In those eyes he
clearly saw the hell-name OF lust And as
the woman screamed In terror. stern pulled
trigger with a savage curse.
The shot went Wild For at tho instant
though no felt no pain--hls arm dropped
down and sideways.
Astounded. he looked. Something was
wrong whst7 His trigger-lnger refused
TO serve. II had lost all power, all control
For Gods sake, what could II boz
Then-all this taking but n second-Stern
saw he knew the truth Staring, pale and
horrined, he understood
There, through tho fleshy part Of his fore
arm. thrust clean from side to side by
lghtnng-swift stroke, he saw tho obeah's
spear
II dangled strangely In the frr-, muscles
The steel barb and full eighteen inches OF
the shaft were red and dripping.
Yet still the engineer felt no slightest
twinge OF pain.
From his numbed. parulyzed hand the
automatic dropped. fell noiselessly into the
moss
And with formless roar OF killing rage.
Stern swung on the obeah. with the rife
stern felt his heart about to burst with
hate He did not even think OF the second
revolver in the holster at his side. with
only his left hand now to use. the weapon
could only have given clumay service.
Instead the man reverted instantly TO the
jungle stage himsef-to the law OF claw
and fang, OF clutching talon. or stone and
club.
Tho beloved woman's cry. ringing in his
ears. drove him mad, Up he whlrled the
Krag again, up. up. by the muzzie: and
down upon that villainous skull he dashed
1t with force that would have Drained
an OK.
The obeah, screechlng. reeled back. But
ho was not dead Not dead, only stunned
moment, And Stern, horrined found
himself holding only a gunbarrel. The
stock, shattered, had whrlod away and
vanished among the tall and waving ferns.
Beatrice snntched up the fallen revolver.
She stumbled: and the pail was empty.
Squirting, splashlng away, the precious
water few No time. now, for any more.
For all about them. behind them and on
every hand, the Things were closing in.
They had seen blood-had heard the
obeah's cry they knew Not gods, now.
but mortal creatures! Not gods
Run! Rum" gasped Beatrice.
Tho spear stlll hanging from his arm.
Stern wheeled and followed High and
hard he swung the rifle barrel. like war
club.
No counting OF steps, now no plays at
divinity. Painting. horror-stricken. frenzled
with rage, bleeding, they ran 1t was n
hunt-the hunt OF the last two humans by
tho nightmare Horde.
In front, n BLUSH and confused mass
seemed TO dance and CULVER through tho
forest; and patterlng rain of spears and
little arrows began to fall about the
fugitives,
Then tho girls revolver sputtered In n
quick volley: and again. for n space, silence
fell Tho way again was clear But in the
path silent and still, or wrlthing horribly.
lay n few of the Things. And the pine