The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-12-24

branch and snapped 1.-THE up.fung
trunk of the rearing beast they were
following. For the first time in her
life, measuring again that height. she
felt actual awe. Msungo cast Il glance
over his shoulder. His face WAS alight;
his eyes shone with u swimming bril-
Yance.
A few minutes later they came to
the ragged edge OF tho elephant bush.
The tracller cast left and right with
quick, jerky steps. Here the three
bulls had separated; joyful sign, for it
showed intention to feed. The trackcr
came 20 halt, dropped the tip Of his
aSscgai shaft TO Il chosen spoor.
M'sungo looked back at Andrea impa-
ticntly. She threw herself from Mar
gucrite's back and hastily stripped Off
her jersey, unbuttoncd her skirt and
let it fall She stood in helmet, Khaki
shirt and brccches, putteeS and tight.
ly laced bootS-an adorable study in
brown. But M'sungo had no time for
artistic effects; he turned from her
with a nod and plunged into the bush
in the wake Of the trackcr.
Fortunately for Andrea the going
mas now much slower 1t was nos :hut
the spoor was harder to folloN-iD
fact, it was much easier, FOR through
the Jungle os stumtId Suliiits nu man
could pass save where an elephant
had plOwCd 4 way--bUt tiG,t now every
indication Of the games progress had
to be read, studied and accurately val
ucd. Here began the exercise OF that
finished science wiiich M'SuESo had
placed 50 high, giving due credit to
those forcrunmer# who had marked its
stages with their lifC's blood.
Tho state Of parted vino, or half
maSticatcd leaf, hoir some message
upon the true reading Of which hung
the delicate balance Of success or fail
ure. Slower and slower fell the pace
and In measured proportion silence
was born and seemed to grow and
spread and throb til ii hung in the
air like some sitting all-pcrmeating
mist. Beneath ii the heart beat with
Gn irregular rat-tat-tat and breath
came in hurried gasps. In spite of the
men before her. Andrea felt alone,
adrift on IL sea Of unseen bu, lowering
perils. She looked over her shoulder.
Only Bathtnb was in sight behind her,
tense, one foot in air, waiting for her
to take her next step before he placed
his foot. His naked body, exposed to
the merciless sun, strcamcd with
sweat.
Andrea's shoulders achcd from
holding her arms before her face to
ward off the interminably encroaching
vines and branches that seemed to op-
pose the way, but invariably parted at
her touch. Her tongue was parchcd,
all her clothing laid hands on her every
motion with clnmmy grip and her
body QuivcrCd on the fine edge Of cX-
haustiOn, but she hung on, her eyes
above dark shadows casting agonized
glanccs at M'Sungo. II only he would
reach for the big gun! If only he
would really stop for even a l!ceting
rest.
The next moment she found herself
crowded into the hating group in
front. They stood in the sparse shade
Of Il big tree, their eyes sweeping the
ground beneath their feet and rising
to meet each others gaze with swift
intelligence and Swifter understands
ing. Here was 4 great reading, the
anti-climaX OF suspense, the pregnant
moment Of final premonition The
three elephants had come together,
they had milled beneath this tree, they
were even now individually beneath the
next they had encountcrcd--for when