The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-09-17
EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS

4 stood Jane Clayton surrounded by the
remnant of her devoted guardians. The
floor was covered by the bodies OF
those who already had given up their
lives in her defense. In tie forefront
of her protectors stood the giant Mu-
gambi. The Arabs raised their rifles
to pour in the last volley that would
effectually end all resistance; but Ach-
met Eek roared out warning order
that stayed their trigger fingers.
Fire not upon the woman!" he
cried. "Who harms her, dies. Take
the woman alive!"
The Arabs rushed across the room !;
the Waziri met them with their heavy
spears. Swords flashed, long-barreled
pistols roared out their sullen death
dooms. Mugambi launched his spear
at the nearest of the enemy with a
force that drove the heavy shaft com
pletely through the Arabs body, then
he seized a pistol from another, and
grasping it by the barrel Drained all
who forced their way too near his
mistress.
Emulating his example the few war
riors who remained to him fought like
demons; but one by one they fell. un-
til only Mugambi remained to defend
the life and honor of the ape-man's
mate.
From across the room Achmet Eek
watched the unequal struggle and
urged on his minions In his hands
vas a jeweled musket. Slowly he
raised it to his shoulder. waiting until
another move should place Mugambi
at his mercy without endangering the
lives of the woman or any of his own
followers.
At last the moment came, and Ach-
met Eek pulled the trigger. Without
a sound the brave Mugambi sank to
the floor at the feet of Jane Clayton.
An instant later she was surrounded
and disarmed. Without a word they
dragged her from the bungalow. A
giant negro lifted her to the pommel
OF his saddle. and while the raiders
searched the bungalow and outhouses
for plunder he rode with her beyond
the gates and waited the coming of
his master.
When the raiders assembled after
Cutting their fury and their avarice.
and rode away with Jane Clayton to-
ward the north. she saw the smoke
and flames rising far into the heav-
ems until the winding Of the trail into
the thick forests hid the sad view from
her eyes.
As the flames ate their way into
the living room, reaching out forked
tongues to lick up the bodies Of the
dead, one Of that gruesome company
whose bloody welterings had long since
been stilled. moved again. 1t was huge
black who rolled over upon his side
and opened blood-shot, suffering eyes.
Mugambi, whom the Arabs had left
for dead. still lived. The hot flames
were almost upon him as he raised
himself painfully upon his hands and
knees and crawled slowly toward the
doorway. After what seemed to him
an fnterminable time. during which the
flames had become a veritable fiery
furnace at the far side of the room,
the great black managed to reach the
veranda, roll down the steps and crawl
on into the cool safety Of some near
by shrubbery.
All night he lay there, alternately
unconscious and painfully sentient
and In the latter state watching with
savage hatred the lurid flames which
stiil rose from burning crib and hay
COCK. A prowling lion roared close at
hand; but the giant black was un-
afraid. There was place for but a
single thought in his savage mind
revenge! revenge! revengel