Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-15

TO Cliff villa. leaving strict ORDERS TOT
Frumuos TO call him in case OF need.
Very beautiful the world was that after.
noon. In the soft south wind the ftonoea
palms across the river were bowling ana
noddlng, gracefully. overhead, dazzling
clouds drifted northward.
1t seemed TO him he could almost near
the rustic of the dry underground, parcheu
by the past fortnight OF exceptionally not
weather: but, above all. rose the eternal
babble OF the rapids. High in air. a vulture
wheeled its untiring spirals. AZ sight OF
It he frowned II reminded him OF the
Paullac now wrecked far beyond the hori-
zon. where the Horde had trapped him. He
shuddered, for the memories OF the las,
week were infinitely horrible, and he longed
| only to forget
with last glance at the scene, over
| which the ominous threads of smoke now
| drifted In considerable numbers, he
| frowned. lie re-entered the villa
| mo matter what happens now he mutt
| tered, "I've got 10 snatch few minutes
| rest Otherwise I'm liable TO drop In my
! tracks. And, above all. I must try TO pun
| through. For on me, and me alone, now
everything depends" :"
He sat down bv the bed again. too
stupefed by the toxins OF fatigue and ex-
haustion TO do more than note that Beatrice
was, at any rate. no worse.
Human effort and emotion had, in fact
| reached their extreme climax in him. lie
| 1elt nufnD all over, IN DouNs mn" az"
| soul A weaker man would have sue
| cumbed long ago 70 but half the hard
ships he had struggled through. Now he
| must rest q bit.
Bring water. Gesafam :" he commanded
When she had obeyed he let her wash his
wounds and dress them with leaves anc
ointment Then he himself bandaged them
his head nodding, eyes already droopint
shut from moment to moment.
His head sank on the bed, and one hanC
sought the girls. Despite his wonderfu
| vitality and strength, Allan was on thu
verge of collapse.
| Vague and confused thoughts wandered
through his unsettled brain.
what was the destiny OF the colony Il
be now that the Pauilac was lost and 81
many of the Folk wiped out? Were Their
| any hopes Of ultimate success? And tn
Horde. what of that? How long respit
might he counted on before the inevitable
decisive battle?
A score. hundred questions more ant
more illusory blent and faded and re
formed in his overtaxed mind.
Then, blessed as balm. sleep took hin
A violent shaking reused him from dea
slumber Old Gesafam stood there besid
him She had him by the arm.
"Waken, o MASTER" she was cryint
80 Kromno. rouse For now there lis grea
need !"
| Dazed he started up
| "what--what is II now? More trouble?
| She pointed toward the door.
| Beyond there, ma3ttr! Beyond the rive
| there be many moving creatures! Dart
| and arrows have begun to fall against III
! cliff See, one has even come into the cave
! What shall he done, master"'
Broad awake now, Allan ran to the doc
. and peered out.
Daylight was fading. He must have slel
i an hour or two; 1t had seemed but SCI
r oad. In the West the sun was burning 4
It way toward the horizon, through a thick 3
of haze that cloaked the rim Of the earth.
Here. master! See :"
STOPPING, she picked up long, slight o.
h, ject and handed it to him.
e. zone of their poisoned darts, so help me
IS he exclaimed Cast that into the fr
Gesa fam. And have "A care lest II woui
,r YOU for the slightest scratch is death -
id While she. wondering. obeyed. he hasti
reconnoitered the situation.
n He had felt positive the Horde, after 1
% escape from IL by devious and terrible way
' would track him down.
= And with a bitter curse he shook his {
u at the dark forest across the canyon whe
even as he looked-he saw a moveme
III of crouchinC, furtive things; he heard
~ dull thump-thump as of clubs beating h
r" low logs
he you devils" he execrated. "Oh. for
1g ton of Pulverte to drop among you!'
nd Look master, look The bridge 7
he bridge! :"
He turned quickly as old Gesafam poin,
ut | upstream.
m There clearly outlined against the 81
AZ | he saw a doZen--a score of little, crouchi
go | figures emerge from the forest on the no
W bank. and at a clumsy run defle along
swaying footpath high above the rapids.