The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-09
CHAPTER TX.

down the dark paSageway. In an- other moment he had reached the in cline and beheld the girl clinging to fhe slippery pole. Bracing his feet against a brush. he learned toward the pole and caught hold of it with one hand, while he extended the other hand down to Ruth.
 The lions, feeling that their appe- Sltes had been cheated, Ieaped up- ward and clawed in vain at the girl With difficulty she managed to climb np and seize Phirs hand. Then, us- Sng PhdPs body as sort of bridge, she swung herself to safety. There was so time for explanations. The young people made their way back to the passaSeway and hurried through the woods to the beach.
 When they arrived, they found R4oomis and his party, with the sail sors from the Dragon. warding off the attack of the Siburo Indians Being gradually driven back, they sought re- :fuse in a large straw hut. surrounded by a wall of straw. From the peak of their retreat, a pole extended sky ward, on the top of which was a sort of crows nest or lookout Here the white people made ready to de- ifend themselves from any further at ttack
 Phil was addressing the defenders ''I think 1t would be a good plan.' he iFuggested, ito wait until nightfa1l. Then I will take a few sailors and cross the island to the White Riders yacht. He ought to be able to help Gs out of thls n1ess.' His words were greeted with enthusiasm.
 When darkness came, Phil tenderly kissed Ruth goodbye and started from the hut with his sailors. They had gone about a hundred paces when a swarm of Indians came out of their ambush and descended upon them. It was useless to fight, as the whites were greatly outnunbered Phil and his little band were forced to retreat to the hut
 Stanton was extremely dejected, and 1t was all Ruth could do to con- sole himi. Finally Julia Wells hit upon a plan.
 q will go out under a flag of truce and try to reason with Brown Pan ther," she said. Phil protested, say ing it would be dangerous and futile. but the woman was determined. She finally set forth with white cloth attached to a stick.
 Brown Panther stepped forward to meet the truce offering. As Julia drew up to him. she said, ''I can ar range for the white Chieftainess to remain in the nut at your mercy, providing you let all the rest of us go free"
 Brown Pa ntl1er was amazed at the woman's treachery. Very wel1.'' he answered. "I promise you and your friends the freedom you request The Cthieftainess must answer for the death of Lame Elk
 At midnight we will come here on our way to the other shore," ex- plained the woman. 'tand Miss Ran dclph will not be with us. You will find her in the hut The Indian assented and Julia returned to the white people.
 Brown Panther says that if we do not surrender we will zbe left here to starve" she told them.
 And Phil unwittingIy fell into the trap. Our shore is black as night and not watched by the Indians he said. "I will swim part way along the coast, then cross to land on the opposite shore and get help from the White Riders yacht" The entire party protested against, the daring scheme, but Phil insisted that it was the only thing to do.
 Stanton was not aware of the fact that an exchange of messages nau / caused the White Rider to draw up anchor and leave the harbor. An uprising of the tribes in the Golden Canyon was the cause for his sud- den departure. But the man of mys- 1ery only intended to steam cut to the lane where ships passed, get aboard a steamer bound for San Francisco. and then send the Dragon back to Siburo to await Ruth.
 After Phil had departed, Ruth lay .Ipon the straw mating, tired and weary The many exciting events and loss of sleep had completely exhaust cd her. Julia awakened her and helped her into room cut off from the rest where she would not be dis turbed In a moment she was in a sound sleep.
 Julia Wells stole from the small room and told Gray Wolf of what she had done. In a moment. the In- dian had gathered together the party, ready to set out. Before they de- narted. Julia re-entered Ruth's sleep- ing quarters, bent over the girl, who was enjoying the first real sleep in many days took the Wampum Belt and placed it about her own waist. Leaving the hut, they were met by Brown Panther at the edge of the woods. Julia reported that the White C'hieftainess had been left behind. and the Indian, satisfied, permitted them to pass Hnharmed-
 As soon they were out of sight, Brown Panther ordered fire start ed Then, taking an arrow with a thick ring of pitch near the head, he held it over the fire Other ar rows were prepared in the same way As soon ss the head began to flame tbe Chieftain sent the arrow flying toward the straw hut fr few mo- rnents small flames were seen to arise from the girls refuge Brown Pan ther smiled grimly to himself and then led his warriors into the woods
 At the other end of the island Phil had succeeded in reaching the spot where the Dragon had been an chored He was amazed to find tht yacht had disappeared Phil paced the beach in despair It seemed d: though everything was against him He was about to start back to the hu when he imagined he saw a tin, light in the harbor. The light be came a reality-it was such a Iigh as is carried at the masthead of yes