The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-02-20

Il
fact, 1t was much easier. for through
the jungle OF stunted sapling no man
could pass save where an elephant
had plowed a way-but that now every
indication of the games progress had
to be read, studied and accurately val
ued. Here began the exercise of that
finished science which Msungo had
placed so high, giving due credit to
those forerunners who had marked its
stages with their life's blood.
The state of a parted vine, or a half
mastieated leaf. bore some message
upon the true reading of which hung
the delicate balance of success or fall
ure. Slower and slower fell the pace
and in measured proportion silence
was born and seemed to grow and
spread and throb till 1t hung In the
air like some sitting all-permeating
mist Beneath it the heart beat with
an irregular rat-tat-tat and breath
came in hurried gasps. In spite of the
men before her, Andrea felt alone,
adrift on a sea Of unseen but lowering
perils. She looked over her shoulder.
Only Bathtub was in sight behind her.
tense, one foot In air, waiting for her
10 take her next step before he placed
his foot. His naked body, exposed to
the merciless sun, streamed with
sweat.
Andrea's shoulders ached from
holding her arms before her face to
ward off the Unfortunately encroaching
vines and branches that seemed to OPP
pose the way, but invariably parted at
her touch. Her tongue was parched,
all her clothing laid hands on her every
motion with clammy grip and her
body quivered on the fine edge Of ex-
haustion, but she hung on, her eyes
above dark shadows casting agonized
glances at Msungo. If only he would
reach for the big gun! If only he
would really stop for even feeting
rest.
The next moment she found herself
crowded into the hating group in
front. They stood In the sparse shade
of big tree, their eyes sweeping the
ground beneath their feet and rising
to meet each others gaze with swift
intelligence and swifter understand
Ing. Here was 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 encountered-for when
q feeding elephant walks in circle
for no apparent reason 1t is because
his thoughts are entirely fixed on tax
ing his MONDAY nap promptly.
The tracker stood unbelievably
erect, heels off the ground. 1t was as
though by an effort of will he had sus
pended himself In air, so still was he
so wholly was his body consecrated t.
the act of listening. Suddenly hi
wide nostrIls duIvered with visible
fluttering and distended till their out
er rims showed white. A look O.
sensual and ineffable content spreat
over his face as he drew down int
his lungs that breath of tainted breeze
He smelled the prey; the wind wa
right.
Presently Andrea caught the odo
and her whole body trembled as from
an overmastering physical contact
This smell was unlike all others; tn
mind gave 1t color and substance.
crept through the forest like a darl
cloud, an ominous warning to all frai
creatures to get out Of the way. Sh
felt suddenly cold and glanced owe
her shoulder with a half-formed notiol
of retreat; then her eyes fell Of
Msungo and she forgot all else In al
absorption that was above fear.
He had become filled with an es
sence of youth, as though years Of lif
had rushed from past and future to al
to overlooking the cup Of this on
transcendent moment. His face wa
tense but alight and his ordinaril
gray eyes had attained to an unfathom
able blue that seemed to deny meas
= ure to the depth Of his emotion. HI
! thin lips were drawn In the crooke
|. line of a fixed smile--a smile tina
{. struggled on the verge Of an infinit
:, solemnity. When he moved he CAV
! an indefinite impression Of olsen
: bodied action as II spirit alone passe
. on, leaving flesh behind. Like blac
- monitor the tracker went before him.
. Andrea was suddenly aware tina
a Msungo carried the big gun. Its dea
, weight of eleven pounds lay In hi
n hands lightly as though 1t also wer
. sustained by q spiritual force. She ha
il not seen him take 1t and there wa
q something ghostly In the mere fact 0
d his possession Of ii. Her mind was l
turmoil: she knew that upon tn
n taking over Of the big gun had hun
/. some vital instructiofkfo herself but |
d that primal moment Of suspense, men
" ory was an agonlzing blank and notf
% ing more. She followed blindly In tn
II cautiously pausing footsteps Of tn
Z single gunbearer that crept before he
r close on the heels Of his master.
le Inflnity seemed to come and 60 b'
% fore thev had advanced twenty pace.