The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-08-05


completion OF her little place Of
refuge and the other desire for
such physical exhaustion az night
that she would sleep thru those
dreaded hours 20 new day. As a
matter OF fact the house was Tin
tshed In less than a wcek-that Is
Il was made as safe az a ever
would be. tho regardless OF how
leng she might occupy IL she would
keep on adding touches and refine
ments hero and there.
Her daily lifc WIS filled with her
house building and her hunting. 10
which was added an occasional spice
Of excitement contributed hy rowing
lions. To the woodcraft that she
had learned from Tarr.n. that mas.
ter Of tho art. was added n consid,
ershle store OF practical experience
derived from her own past advcn.
lures In the jungle and the long
months with obergatx. nor was any
day now lacking In some added
store Of useful knowledge. To these
facts was attributable her apparent,
Immunity from harm. since they
told her when ja was approaching
before he crcpt close enough for a
successful charge and. too, they
kept her close 10 those never.falling
Ravens OF rctroat--tho trees.
The nights. filled with their weird
noises. were lonely and depressing.
Only her ability TO sleep quickly an.
soundly made them endurable. The
first night that she spent in her
completed house behind barred win.
dows and barricaded door was one
OF almost undiiuted peace and hap.
ptness. The night noises seemed FAR
removed and impersonai and the
soughing OF the wind In the trees
was gently soothing. Before. II had
carried a mournful note and was
sinister In that Il might hide the
approach % some real danger. That
night she slept indeed.
She went further afield now M
search OF food. SO far nothing but
rodents had fallen 10 her spear.
her ambition was an antelope. since
beside the flesh Il would give her
and the gut for her bow. the hide
would prove invaluable during the
colder weather that she knew would
accompany the rainy season when Il
came. She had caught occasional
ghmpses Of these wary animals and
she was sure that they always
crossed the stream al n certain apot
above her camp. IL was. therefore.
to this place that she wen, 20 hunt
them. With the stealth and Gun.
ming OF a panther she crcpt eau.
uously thru the forest. circilng
about TO get up wind from the ford,
pansing often 20 look and listen for
aughf that might menace her-her.
self the reconciliation OF n hunted
deer. Now she moved silently down
upon the chosen spot. What luck,
a beautiful buck stood drinking In
the stream. The woman wormed her
way closer. Now she lay upon her
belly behind small bush within
throwing distance Of the quarry
She must rise 20 her fun height and
throw her spear almost In the same
instant and she must throw /, with
great force and perfect accuracy
She thrilled with the excitement OF
the minute. yet cool and steady were
her swift muscles as she rose and
cast her missile. Scarce by the
width OF a finger did the point
strike from the spot NJ which IL
|. had been directed. The buck ieaped
high, landed upon the bank Of the
stream and fell dead. Jane Clayton
sprang quickly forward toward her
kill.
'.Brnvor' A mans voice spoke In
EnElish from the shrubbary upon
the opposite side OF the stream.
Jane Clayton halted In her tracks
stunned. almost. by surprise. And
then strange. unkempt figure OF
a man stepped into view. Al first
she did not recognize him. but
when she did. insfinctivcly she
stepped back.
Lieutenant obergatx-' che cried.
Gan II be your"
1T can. II is replied the Ger.
man. 81 am a strange sight. no
doubt. but still It is I. Erich ober.
gatz. And your You have changed
too. r. II not7''
He was looking at her naked limbs
and her golden breaafpiates. the loin
cloth Of jaio-hide. the harness and
ornaments that constitute the ap
pareI Of a Ho-don wonan--,he
things that Lu-don had dressed her
In as his passion for her grew. Not
ko-tan's daughter. even. had finer
trHppings.
But why are you here7- Jane In
sisted II had thought you safely
among civilized men by this time. IL
you still lived"
"Gottr' he exclaimed. II do not
know why 1 continue 10 live. I have
prayed 70 die and yet / cling 10 life.
There is no hope. We are doomed
to remain In this horrible land until
we die. The bog The frightful bog!
/ have searched It's shores for a
place 10 cross until | have entirely
circled the hideous country. Easily
enough we entered: but the rains
have come since and now no living
man could pass that slough OF Shiny
mud and hungry reptiles. Have /
not tried ~ And the beasts that
roam this accursed land They hunt
me by day and by night"
But how have you escaped
them" she asked
II do not know" he replied
gloomily. Il have fled and fled and
fled. 1 have remained hungry and
thirsty IN tree tops for days at a
time. have fashioned weapons
clubs and spearB-and have
learned 10 use them. | have slain
lion with my club. SO even will
cornered rat fight And we are
no better than rats in this land of
stupendous dangers. you and l. But
tell me about yourself"
Briefly she told him and all the
while she was wondering what she
might do 10 rid herself OF him. She
could not conceive OF a prolonged
...fsk t.trs4 hff gnIa rDfn.