Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-07-01

rustic of leaves, made me glance up
ward Out of the thick green foliage
which hung low over my head two
long, muscular arms covered with red.
dish hair were slowly descending. An
other instant and the great, stealthy
hands would have been round my
throat. | sprang backward; but, quick
as l was, those hands were quicker
STILL Through my sudden spring they
missed fatal grip, but one Of them
caught the back of my neck and the
other one my face. | threw my hands
up to protect my throat, and the next
moment the huge paw had slid down
my face and closed over them. l was
lifted from the ground, and l felt an
lntolerable pressure forcing my head
back and back until the strain upon
the cervical spine was more than
could bear. My senses swan, but
still tore at the hand and forced it
out from my chin. Looking up | saw
frlghtful face with cold, inexorable
light blue eyes looking down into mine
There was something hypnotic In those
| terrible eyes. | could struggle no
longer. AS the creature felt me grow
limp Ia his grasp two white CANNES
| cleaned for a moment at each side Of
the vile mouth and the grip tightened
still more upon my chin, forcing it al
ways upward and back. A thin, oval
tinted mist formed before my eyes and
little silyery bells tinkled in my ears.
Duly and farOff l heard the crack of
a rifle and was feebly aware Of the
shock as | was dropped to the earth,
where | lay without sense or motion.
awOke to find myself on my back
upon the grass in our lair within the
thicket. Some one had brought the
water from the brook, and Lord John
was sprinkllng my head with it, while
Challenger and Summeree were prop
ping me up, with concern in their
faces. For moment | had a glimpse
Of the human spirits behind their scien-
tilc masks, 1t was really shock rath.
er than any injury which had pros,
trated me- and in half an hour, in spite
Of aching head and stiff neck l was
sitting up and ready for anything
"But you've had the escape Of your
life, young feilah my lad" said Lord
ROxton. when | heard your cry and
ran forward and saw your head twist
ed half of and your stohwassers kick
in in the air thought we were one
short. | missed the beast in my furry.
but he dropped you all right and was
off like a streak. BY George! I wish
had fifty men with rides. I'd clear
out the whole internal gang of them
and leave this country bit cleaner
than we found it."
1t was clear now that the ape man
had in some way marked us down and
that we were watched on every side
We had not so much to fear from them
during the day, but they would be very
likely to rush us by night, so the soon
er we got away from their neighbor-
hood the better On three sides. of us
was ahfoOlhNG AOlNplt diN NuClt VIC
might find ourselves in an ambush.
But on the fourth side-that which
sloped down in the direction Of the
ake-there was only low scrub, with
scattered trees and occasional open
glades. It was, In fact the route
which I had myself taken in my soil
tary journey, and 1t led us straight for
the Indian caves. This, then, must
for every reason be our road,
1t was in the early afternoon that We
started upon our journey One Indian,
a chief, walked at our head as guide,
but refused Indignantly to carry any
burden. Behind him came the two
Surviving Indians with our scanty pos
sessions upon their backs. We four
white men walked In the rear with ri
aes loaded and ready. AS we started
there broke from the thick silent woods
behind us a sudden great ululation Of
the ape men, which may have been
cheer Of triumph at our departure or
leer Of contempt at our fight. Look
ing back we saw only the dense screen
of trees, but that long drawn yell told
us how many Of our enemies lurked
among them, We saw no sign Of pur-
suit, however, and soon We had got
into more open country and beyond
their power.
In the late afternoon we reached the
margin of the lake, and as we emerg-
ed from the bush and saw the sheet
OF water stretching before us our ma
tive friends set up a shrill cry Of joy
and pointed eagerly in front Of them.
1t was indeed a wonderful sight which
lay before us. Sweeping over the
grassy surface was a great aotiilla OF
canoes coming straight for the shore
upon which we stood. They were some
miles out when we first saw them,
but they shot forward with great
swiftness aud We're soon 50 near that
the rowers could distinguish our per
sons Instantly a thunderous shout OF
delight burst from them, and we saw
them rise from their seats, wayiug
their paddles and spears madly in the
air.
Then, bending to their work once
more, they flew across the intervening
water, heached their boats upon the
sloping sand and rushed up to us, pros
trating themselves with loud cries Of
greeting before the young chief. Final.
I a.. ID d.