The Dermott news., 1916-01-13

| had surrounded him and his compan-
ion. were merely side issue. Here
was city-here a multitude. He had
little time however, for reflection. He
was flung violently to the ground. The
leader OF the little band touched the
Brute upon the breast and made
sign.
"Look-see." he signed. The Brute
| followed, staring, mildly wondering.
possibly-perhaps not wondering AZ
all
The leader led the way to rude
hut. larger than the rest, and gro
tesqueIy daubed with clay. In front
of this he paused and ehanted some
weird song. a figure, huge and I'M
wieldy. appeared in the doorway. Huge
and unwieldy as he was, he was
| pygmy compared with the big Brute.
He was chief. this man, and he
looked il, every inch. He was the
greas4est. the dirtiest. OF all the
greasy dirty crew. In his right hand
he held bone. Now and then he
guawed upon it-now and then he
used 1t as a scepter He extended II
and touched the approaching native
on the forehead. The latter bowed
then turned and pointed at the Brute.
This" he jabbCred in his native
tongue. is a god. and risen from the
sea. He Is hungry He would eat.
The chief i'll turn threw himself upon
his face He called to all the multi
tude. and babe them do likewise. Then
he remembered. He rose and signed
to tho Brute
He is hungry" he repeated. The
god would eat"
Then he led the way to the tire.
The Brute stared at it contempla-
/ lively. He smiled
The god IS pleased. exclaimed the
i chief, let us therefore eat
/ He cast from him the bone he had
/ been holding. He made another sign.
The Brute glanced to one side There
] upon the ground, wild eyed with fright.
! lay three human beings
Upon one Of these miserable vic
+ TINS Z dozen men now bounced They
i LITE! IN. writing, into the air and
started toward the flames. They were
about to fling him across tho flames
when something happened.
The Brute understood With one
bound he was upon them. and with
wide sweeps Of his powerful hands
and arms he scattered them right
and left.
There vas wild murmur against
/ this outrage sudden handling Of
spears and stone heads, but the Brute
never needed the cutlery. Instead he
calmly stopped over each victim. one
by one, and tore the bonds OF each
apart and set them free He held
back the angry mob while the three
captives trotted nimbly of into the
nearby jungle.
The chief stared at him astouHdea
/ He might, indeed, have Drained the
Brute with his club had he not felt
the terrific grip of the Brute upon him
i Then he realized once more that the
/ Brute was not mere man. after all
There was wild clamor, but the
chief stilled it with upltted hand.
i Then the leader of the beach band
stepped forward and saluted.
He has his own captive" he wits.
pered to the chief. see, yonder. lie
brought him with him. out OF the sea. ="
The chief understood He gave an
order. 4 dozen more braves spraug
toward Hernandez and bore him to the
chief. The chief pointed toward the
+ poles and the green vines lying torn
upon the ground. In an instant Her.
nandez lay prostrate-in another in
slant half his clothes were torn from
his back.
"Heast," he shrieked. save me,
Beast"
The Brute saved him He charged
into their midst like a raging bull-he
tore Hernandez from their grasp,
The Brute snarled in his throat-he
kicked and clutched and clawed ~ the
little nucleus Of sayages. They fell
back before him as before a whirtwiud
they We're stunned.
Again. murmurs But again the
murmurs were silenced by the chief
himself
He is his own captive" said the
chief to his followers. let him do as
he will"
Hernandez. once upon his feet. was
not slow to act.
Quick. he said to the Brute, get
a stoue-two stones. Knock these
wristlcts from my hands
lie held out his manacled wrists
the Brute understood, and obeyed.
With his two hands free. Hernandez
brain was working once again. Quick
as flash he stopped and picked up q
short piece OF twisted vine. Raising
his hand high in air, he brought this
piece OF yine-a singing. snakelike
whip-swishng down upon the head
and shoulders of the Brute.
The Brute covered. cringed. whim-
pered. Hernandez folded his arms.
stared sternly at the Brute for one
swift instant. and then turned and met
the glances of the chief and all his
| bail