Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-11
CHAPTER NIl-Continued

TIME story of the tragedy was all too
i plain. A Thurian had either been follow
ing us. or had accidentally espied Dian and
taken a fancy to her. While Juag ana
had been engaged with the thag. he had
abducted her. / ran swiftly back to where
Juag was working over the bull. AS
approached him l saw that something was
wrong in this quarter as well, Tor 'the
islander standing upon the carcass ol
the thag, his javelin poised for throw
When ] had come nearer l saw the
cause of his bellgerent attitude. Just be-
yond him stood two large jaloks. or wof-
dogs regarding him intently-a male ana
a female. Their behavior was rather Pc
culiar for sthey did not seem preparing 10
charge him. Rather. they were contem-
plating him in an attitude of questioning.
Juag heard me coming and turned toward
me with a grin These fellows love excite
ment / could see by his expression that
he was enjoying in anticipation the battle
that seemed imminent. But he never hurled
his jayein a shout of warning from me
stopped him. for l had seen the remnants
of a rope dangling from the neck OF the
male jalok.
Juag again turned toward me, but this
time in surprise. L was abreast him In
a moment and passing him. walked straight
toward the two beasts. AS did so the
1emdle CrOuCHeu Will ioheS' ihS
male however, leaped forward to meet me,
not in deadly charge. but with every ex-
preston of delight and joy which the poor
animal could exhibit
1t was Raja--the jalok whose life I had
saved. and whom then had tanned! There
was no doubt that he was glad to see me.
I now think that his seeming deserton of
me had been but due to a desire to search
out his ferocious mate and bring her, too,
to live with me.
When Juag saw me fondling the great
beast he was filled with CONSERVATION, bus
did not have much time to spare to Raja
while my mind was filled with the grief
of my new loss. was glad to see the brute,
and / lost no time in taking him to Juas
and making him understand that Juag too
was to be Rajas friend. With the female
| the matter was more difficult, but Raja
helped us out by growing savagely at her
whenever she barred her fangs against u.s.
told Juag of the disappearance of Dian,
and of my suspicious as to the explanation
| of the catastrophe. He wanted to start
| right out after her. but / suggested that
with Raja to help me 1t might be as we'll
were he to remain and skin the thag. re-
| move its bladder, and then return to where
we had hidden the canoe on the beach. And
SO II was arranged that he was to do this
| and await me there for a reasonable time.
! I pointed to a great lake upon the surface
of the pendent world above us, telling him
| that IL after this lake had appeared four
| times I had not returned to go either by
| water or land to Sari and fetch Ghak with
an army. Then, calling Raja after me. l
| set out after Dian and her abductor. First
| took the wolf-dog to the spot where the
| man had fought with Dian. A few PAGES
| behind us followed Raja's fierce mate.
| pointed 10 the ground where the evidences
of the struggle were plainest and where the
scent must have been strong to Raja s
| nostrils
Then grasped the remnant of leash thai
hung about his neck and urged him forward
| upon the trail. He seemed to understand.
With nose to ground, he set out upon his
| task. Dragging me after him. he trotted
straight out upon the Lidi Plains, turning
his steps in the direction of the Thurian
village. could have guessed as much,
Behind US trailed the female. After a
while she closed upon us, until she ran quite
close to me and at Rajas side. 1t was not
| long before she seemed as easy in my
company as did her lord and master.
We must have covered considerable dis.
tance at very rapid pace. for we had
re-entered the great shadow. when we saw
a huge lidi ahead OF us, moving leisurely
across the level plain Upon it's back were
two human figures II could have knowr
that the jaloks would not harm Dian
might have turned them loose upon the
ldi and its master; but I could not know
| and SO dared take no cnances.
| However, the matter was taken out O.
INV hands presently when Raja raised hi
head and caught sight of his quarry. Witt
| a lunge that hurled me fiat and jerked thu
leash from my hand. he was gone with tn
speed of the wind after the giant lidi an,
its riders. At his side raced his shagg,
mate, only trihe smaller than he and n,
whit less savage.
They did not give tongue until the lid
Itself discovered them. and broke into
numbering, awkward but none the les
rapid gallop. Then the two hound beast
| commenced to bay. starting with a low
plaintive note, that rose weird and hideous
| 70 terminate In series of short shar
yelps. I feared that It might be the hum
ing call of the pack; and II this were tru
, there would be slight chance for eithe
, Dian or her abductor--or myself, either q
|, Tar as that was concerned. SO redouble
! | my efkoyt5 - keep pace with the hunt; bu
N IA