Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-14
THE IVORY CHILD
By II. RIDER HAGGARD
oNaric," "kiu0 Soiomor's Mines" ,

this was after the poson-sugar had begun
10 melt nicely In the serpent's stomach.
Baas-there was noise as though a
whoIe company Of girls were dancing n
war dance In the cave to the music OF
Kisses.
AND then. oh then, Baas, Of a sudden
mat Father Of Serpents came out | tell
you. Baas. that when I saw him in the
prlsht starlight my hair stood up upon
my mead for never has there been such
ahother snake in the whole world. Those
that live in trees and eat bucks in Zulu
land. or whose skins white men make waist
coats and slippers, are but babies COM
pared TO this one. lie came out yard
after yard of him, He wriggled about
ne stood upon his tail with his head where
the top OF tree might he, lie made him
SELF INTO ring. he bit at stones and at
his own stomach, while I hid behind my
rock praying to your reverend father that
he might not me. Then at last he
rushed away down the HILL faster than any
horse could galop
Now ] hoped that he had gone for good
and thought Of going myself Still | feared
TO do so lest | should meet him somewhere
so made up my mind to walt till day.
light. II was as well Baas. for about half
an hour later he came back again Only
now he could not jump: he could only
crawl Never in my life did / see snake
look so SICK Baas. Into the cave he went
and lay there kissing. BY degrees the
misses grew very faint. till at length they
died away altogether. / waited another
half hour Baas and then I grew 80 curious
that j thought would go look in the cave
L liz the little lantern I had with me
and, holding it in one hand and my stick
In the other, l crept into the hole Be-
fore / had crawled ten PAGES | saw some
thing white stretched along the ground 1t
was the belly OF the great snake. Baas,
which lay upon its back, quite dead
/ q,
three wax matches, setting them to burn
upon its tail, and it never stirred as any
| i've snake will do when it feels fire. Then
came nome Baas. feeling very proud be-
cause | had outwitted that great-grand-
rather of all snakes, who killed Bena, my
| friend, and had made the way clear for
us to walk through the cave.
That is all the story, Baas. Now !
must go TO wash those dishes" and with.
out waiting for any compliment of he
Went leaving us marvelng at his wit, re-
| source and courage
| What next?" ] asked presently
| Nothing till tonight" answered Ragnall
with determination when 7 am going to
| look at the snake which the noble Hans
| mas Killed and whatever lies beyond the
cave. as you will remember Harut invited
US to do unmolested. If we could"
DO you think Harut will keep his word
| Ragnall?"
| On the whole, yes. and II he doesn't
don't care. Anything is better than sitting
here in this suspense"
Il agree as to Harut because we are toe
valuable TO be killed just now, il for nc
| other reason; also as to the suspense. which
| Is uncomfortable Therefore I will walk with
you to look at that snake, Ragnall, and
| so. no doubt, will Hans. The exercise will
| do my leg good"
"Do you think it wise?" he asked doubt.
| fully; in your case / mean?"
| 81 think 1t most unwise that we should
separate any more. We had better stand OF
fall all together; further, we do not seem
| to have any luck apart"