The Washington times., 1922-12-24
(continued from Last Sunday
CHAPTER TX.
IO0OLESS went down with q

saw the beast almost at his feet.
He jammed the muzzle of his rifle
70 the round head and pulled the
trigger. Hoodless's second shot
had already blown away the lower
jaw--so that the beast collapsed
almost entirely headless on his
body.
They dragged the brute away,
and Marchurst, under . ring Of
torches, hastily examined his COM
rsde.
He was unconscious, and the
claw Of the leopardess had pun
ished him terribly. He was mauled
from shoulder to wrist, though no
bones were broken.
Quickly, Dick Marchurst had
him carried back to the camp. 1t
was not from the loss # blood, or
the shock of the encounter, that
serious danger was to be feared.
But there was a very great risk of
blood-poisoning.
Few men who have been badly
mauled by a leopard have escaped
those after-effects which have
given the wounds inflicted by
these great felines a reputation
that could hardly be less terrible
were the foul and formidable
teeth and talons naturally poison
Gus in the sense that a cobra's
fangs are poisonous.
Marchurst was well aware Of
this, and the night was far ad-
vanced before he finished bath
ing with powerful antiseptic,
dressing and bandaging the torn
and furrowed arm.
Hoodless had long recovered
consciousness.
Thanks, Dick" he said when
the last bandage had been adjust
ed. eff that doesn't do the trick
80 much the worse for me. But
It will"
He spoke confidently.
'T'm afraid this ruins the trip"
he went on. But it can't be
helped. Another time, perhaps
Anyhow, you got your trophy for
Mrs. Lammarsh. Have they
skinned the beast yeti"
Even as he spoke the burly
form of Ell Addar appeared at
the tent opening, to announce that
the spotted hide was off and in
perfect condition, save for two
bullet-holes through the shoulder
and that the grave for the Head
boy was prepared.
"T'll 60 and see that they do
things decently, Crichton. They
are casual crowd" said Dick,
and moved across the camp to a
little group by one Of the .rger
fires.
Hoodless called Ell Addar to
him.
listen to me-" he said, "and
understand. You receive a reward
for helping to secure that skin.
How much? Ten pounds Turkish
promised. Good. Listen. It. Is
my order that the skin be cared
for above all things in this camp.
It is to be cleaned more perfectly
than you have ever cleaned hide,
cured and supplied. Inspect it
daily, watch 1t, guard It. If the
skin is perfect when you are paid
off at Khartum there shall be due
to you another ten pounds Turk
ish-and the little Mannlicher rife
that you have coveted since you
first saw it. If I am well pleased
perhaps, too, thousand rounds Of
ammunition. Do you understand!
Listen to me, El Addar. It may
befall that by reason of these
wounds I become delirious-that
is childish, meaningless, nsdttering,
as one talks in sleep, uheasily and
without sense. At ( ose times
keep the Effendi Marchurst away
from me as much as may be pos
sible. l do not desire that he
should hear my babbling. Contrive
these things, Ell Addar for sake Of
ten pounds Turkish, the little
rife and thousand cartridges
His voice sank.
"You have lived in Cairo, Ell
Addar, and Il may be that you
have heard of Sais-the dancing
Gill :.
The eyes Of the. big black
CLEANED in the dim light Of the