The Elbert County tribune., 1916-03-03

Wuom BIG udu 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 to
his face spoke louder than any words
seemed, indeed, to restore to him a
part Of the reason he had lost through
dwelling here among the savages, on
shore upon which he had been cast
unknown years earlier. He threw up
his hands now. "Avast. there, cap.
tain"' he cried. 81 surrender"
who are you?" demanded Count
Frederick. "Or what are your"
The half-demented creature passed
a hand across his face. BLESSED If |
could tell you the truth about that,
sir" he said, "and that's the truth. But
seems to me l remember l 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. Belay 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. mani"
Captain. your honor, sir. came
here to live safe. l 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. l couldn't a-beared to seen the
white lady burned"
Lead cn!p said Frederick, quickly.
we must hide. or it will be too late"
This way, captain, your honor, siri
And bear a hand lively!"
Count Frederick and Kitty Gray fol-
lowed him as he fed deeper into the
cavernous interior of the lava hill
They'turned corner after corner, until
at length the sounds of the pursuit be-
came fainter and died away far at the
rear.
"'Ere's my 'ome. SIR" began the old
sailor at last, as they paused before
rude cabin, which showed some ami
mal-like proof of human occupancy
We'll be safe ere. I'n thinking"
But they were not safe for long. The
keen instinct of the savage trailers,
hot in the blood lust which now pos
sessed them, brought them on ulti-
mately along the trail. and to 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. and 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
such weapons and yet for one instant
barrier was offered to the assault.
With savage, half-animal roar,
the old sailor-whose full history
never was tC be known-cast himself
in front of his new friend, opposing
his shaggy breast to the leveled
spears. He fell pierced by a 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 filed
up the opening. The savages behind
gave back and sought tc fee.
This instant of their hesitation gave
Frederick one more opportunity
Catching Kitty by the arm he passed
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 breathless, 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 tc rise, it's walls closing in. AT
length. far ahead. they saw faint
tinge of light. 1t deepened as they
advanced. until at length 1t became
visible through broken aperture be-
yond which shone the full light of
day. Gasping their 10y 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 Cf fha ruvarp corna A,,t ~, -