The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-10-03
EPISODE II.
IN THE OCEANS GRIP.

The Spider, John. Ethel and Morgan,
awakened by the heat and smoke
fumes from the blazing brush without
the woodland temple of silva, opened
their eyes to see the grim visage of
that god glaring down upon them and
seeming to grin as he watched their
impotent writings beneath the in
creasing heat blasts. Outside, the In
carnations of the Hindus grew louder
Rising above the tree tops, the
smoke of the consuming temple rose
to the heavens as the 0utpourings of
a living volcano. Far In the distance
the trailing Rainface, seeing this evil
sign and instinctively knowing that 1t
was the place for which he was in
search, glanced about with despairing
ewes. His own feet would never bear
him there In time.
He had left the city far behind him
and was passing country house.
Standing before it. hitched to the fence
paling. was a saddled horse, and with
a grunt of satisfaction he leaped upon
the animal and went speeding upon
his way to the clatter of hoofs and the
protesting yells of the steed's owner,
who had emerged from the building
just in time to witness the seeming
larceny Riding as he seldom had be-
fore, the Indian arrived upon the scene
just as the flames were approaching
their zenith. Absorbed in their incan-
tations, and with the roar of the blaze
tn, hair ho TJindtyc n1ai ,aA
conscious of the hoof beats of the
steed that was charging madly upon
them.
AS bomb bursts upon its mark, so
did Rainface burst upon his unsuspect-
Ing audience. Without the waste of a
second he opened fire upon the group
before him.
Shallum, throwing up his hands,
reeled back into the arms of two Of
his companions. who lifting him bodily
went speeding through the trees with
their burden. Again the great reyol-
yer roared and second Hindu with
a yell leaped into the air and fell,
moment later, however, regaining his
feet and disappearing in the wake of
his fellows.
Having got rid of his enemies. the
Indian ran swiftly around the burning
building The fiercely blazing fire be-
fore the door made any attempt to en-
ter by that means unthinkable, and his
eyes flew upward Instantly they light
ed upon the strong limb that overhung
the doomed structure, and with a leap
he secured the lariat that hung at the
saddle of his purloined beast. To
throw it over the limb and mount it
was but the work OF dozen seconds
From the branch he peered down
through an opening in the roof upon
the four tortured victims of the altar.
A glance told him that not a second
was TO be lost. Binding the handker-
chief he had found about his nose and
mouth he drew up the rope and
dropped it into the interior of the now
blazing building.
He slid down the rope until his feet
rested upon the stone altar. In the
terrible heat the quickest action was
necessary and slashing Ethel's bonds
apart he raised her to her feet. AS he
did the same for John, the girl tore
strips from her petticoat which she
wet in jar of perfumed water which
stood upon the altar, then bound il
over her face as the Indian had pro
tected his own.
As John arose giddily and covered
his nose and mouth in the same man
ner he saw Rainface standing knife ir
hand over the still twisting forms OF
Morgan and the Spider. Plainly the
ancient one was debating whether he
should release them er leave them tC
the mercy of the flames, and with q
commanding motion of his hand Davis
bade him set them free. Plainly act
ing against his will the red mar
oheyed. and the last of the four vie
Tins struggled to his feet. In the at
mosphere of the place speech was i'm
possible. As Morgan and Bellas Were
masking themselves, John pointed frs
TO the girl and then TO the opening il
the roof Nodding his understanding
the Indian swarmed the length of the
1asso until he gained the limb. At an
other motion from John the Spider
followed. and a loop was swiftly made
in which the girl could sit. Before
the strength of the four arms above
she was hoisted clear of the inferno
and seated in safety. At once the rope
was dropped to the remaining two.
With the fire roaring on all sides and
their clothing beginning to smoke. il
would be but the matter OF a minute