The St. Mary banner., 1919-11-15
CHAPTER il-Continued.

He walked OH Sleiuliy. "iiHoul
sense of fatigue, his mind abnormally
active. And then, with little shock
Of surprise, as the Malay made signs
to halt and set about kindling fire,
he noticed for the first time that 1t
had grown almost dark.
And also, to his surprise, he noticed
that where he had experienced no
fatigue before, he was, as he sat down,
suddenly grateful for the rest.
He scowled q little over his dipper
Of tea that the Malay had prepared
and rubbed his leg muscles vigorously.
They twitched nervously as he put his
weight upon his legs. That was bad
His lips set grimly. Well, bad or not,
they'd have to take him across the
island before daybreak!
They started on again.
An hour went by, and he was
obliged to rest-and after another
start and many more after that, to rest
again and again with alarming fire.
Quency. And, worse still, his progress
when he was walking kept growing
less and less.
1t was black in the tropical forest.
he could see nothing, and he stum-
bled constantly in the vines and creep
ers that everywhere overgrew the
path. He was at last forced to admit
that be was not making much more
than a mile an hour, and twenty
miles at mile an hour was-he
groaned.
1t was breaking day when Wallen
finally gave up-gave up when will
power, and the grit Of the man that
d1d not know defeat, no longer suf-
feed for the physical strength to go
farther.
The Malay, regarding him anxious
" offered by signs to carry him on
his back. Wallen, from where he had
flung himself down upon the ground,
half rose to accept the offer, then
shook his head. 1t was no use at
tempting that; 1t was too far.
He was bitterly convinced that he
had accomplished little more than
half the distance.
But there must be some way out.
de wasn't beaten yet. He had to
catch that steamer.
suddenly he looked up.
Yes, of course. He had been fool
tnat ne had not thought of it hours
ago when he had first begun to realize
mat he was playing out, instead of it
now when 1t might be too late, when
tne steamer might be already gone!
ne couldn't speak the Malay tongue,
out MacKnight would have told the
man why they were crossing the
island. He could send the Malay on
anead. and follow himself as fast as
he could.
ne could write a message he
might even get them to send him help
from Pobi.
ne felt In his pockets. Nothing!
meii the Malay was an intelligent fel-
INV; ne would get word to the ship
ana written message after all
souidn't make any dlfference-it all
uspenoed On the ships skipper.
me skipper would wait, or he
wouion't. after hearing the Malay's
s'ofy Just as readily as he would for
! ~rltten message. He began to make
sns, pointing to the other, then in
ne direction Of Pobi, then to himself,
Sua tnen to the ground, indicating
uat ne would stay behind.
And hurry-quick-Pobi," Wallen
aded anxiously.
The Malay nodded.
rQpl - quick" he repeated and
..ed on at run along the path.
Hallen watched the man disappear,
- after little while started on
aln nlmself-and then gave It up
Mnpietely. He was down and out,
~ ~ ne was furiously angry with him.
ior the state he was in.
.nefe wasn't anything to do but
- de might make Q mile before