The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-19
ssIntO the Primitive

drawn. Had the lion SHOWN him
self then, Blake would have sho'
on the instant. AS II was, the
beast remained behind the screen
ing border of grass. where hi
could watch his intended quarry
without being seen in turn. The
delay gave Blake time for reflec'
ton. He spoke sharply, as II
were, biting off his words: Hit
out. I'll stop the buffer"
"Look!-there to the right
/ saw him again. He's creeping
around! See the grass novel"
That's only the wind. 1t ed
dies down-Jove! he is stalking
around. Trying to take us from
behind--curse him! He may get
me, but I'll get him, too-the
dirty sneak"
The blood had flowed back
into Blake's face. He drew his
bow little tauter, and wheeled
slowly to keep the arrow point
ed at the slight wave in the grass
which marked the stealthy move
ments of the lion.
Minute after minute dragged
by. Only a man of Blake's obsti-
nate, sullen temperament could
have withstood the strain and
kept cool. Even he found the
impulse to leap up and run all
but irresistible. Miss Leslie
crouched behind him. no more
able to run than mouse with
which a cat has been playing.
Yard by yard they watched the
slight swaying of the grass tops
which betrayed the cautious ad-
vance of the grim stalker. Now
and then there was pause, and
the grass tops swayed only to the
down puffs of the heightening
gale. At such moments the two
grew rigid, watching and waiting
in breathless suspense.
Not until the beast had cir
cled half around the glade did his
purpose flash upon Blake. With
the wariness of all savage hunt
ers the animal had marked out
the spur of jungle on the north
side, where he could creep
closer to his quarry before leap
ing from cover.
1.-The sneak" growled Blake.
You there, jenny"
She could not speak, but he
heard her gasp.
Feel If my glass is there"
Her hand reached around and
pressed against the fob pocket
which he had sewn in the belt of
his skin trousers.
Right. Now lie flat" COM
manded Blake; 'lie flat and
don't novel"
Suddenly the lion half rose
and stretched forward, shifting.
Blake drew his bow until the
arrowhead lay upon his thumb.
His out-stretched arm was rigid
as bar of steel.
A puff of wind struck against
his back, and swept on to the
nostrils of the lion, laden with
the odor of man. The beast ut
tered a short, startled roar, and
whirling about leaped away into
the jungle so quickly that Blake's
arrow flashed past full yard be-
hind.
The second arrow was on the
string before the first had struck
the ground. But the lion had
vanished in the grass. With a
yell Blake dashed on across to
the nearest point of the jungle.
AS he ran he drew the burning
glass from his fob and flipped
it open, ready for use. If the
lion had turned behind the shell
tering grass stems, he was too
cowardly to charge out again.
Within a minute the jungle bor-
der was a wall of roaring flame.
The grass, long since dead, and
bone dry with the days of tropi-
cal sunshine since the cyclone,
flared up before the wind like
gunpowder. Even against the
wind the fire ate its way along
the ground with fearful rapidity,
trailing behind 1t an upwhirling
vortex of smoke and flame. No
living creature could have burst
through that belt of fire.
A wave OF fierce heat sent
Blake staggering back. There
was no exultance in his bearing.
For the moment all thought of
the lion was swallowed up in awe
of his own work.
Step by step Blake drew back.
His heel struck against some
thing soft. He looked down, and
saw Miss Leslie lying on the
sand, white and still. She had
tainted. He sprang back over to
where the flask lay.
He was dashing the last drops
of the tepid water In her face,
when she moaned and her eyelids
began to flutter. He flung down
the flask and fell to chatting her
wrists.
Toni" she moaned.
Eyes. Miss Jenny, I'm here. It's
all right" he answered.
She attempted a smile, and a
trace of color showed in her
cheeks. With an idea that action
would further her recovery, he
drew her to sitting position,
stepped quickly behind, and, with
his hands beneath her elbows,
lifted her upright. But she was
still too weak and giddy to stand
alone. AS he released his grip,
she swayed and would have