The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-04-14

had yet 20 reckon. lie almost loved
Toba. He realized II now a. he
looked down Al her and saw her al
his mercy. The soft curve % her
neck and shoulders, the crownlnE
beauty 81 her hair. her arms out
stretched. her hands clutched In
grief. all over the love Of him.
No. Clark would take his
chances la Night even tho that
Night might In the end mean
death with tho monster below
lie picked mp the bridal knife.
lie left the cave and raced down
tho mountain side. lie knew that
Toba would not follow. Her fear
Of tho monster was greater than
all else. so long A. the monster
ranged free. the island below
was his own.
Clark did not know whether Toha
became aware Of his absence immc
dlately Rfterward or not. No sound
came from the cave Not until he
reached the sand wastes on the
Island floor did no hear a lonE CRY
In boyish treble from high on the
mountain top.
u was Toba, Toba perhaps NJ
sho turned TO law In sacrifice
and found her knife and maio
gone. For n full minute tho cry
lasted. rising and falling. flung
across the island on the quiet Of
the night like the wall OF q lost
soul.
There began for Clark now n eau
tioua reeonnoltor OF tho island. lie
must ind fresh water. pitch a camp
near II. keep watch out for the mon,
ster
He reached a stream at tho edge
81 grove and he drank. lie made
a bed OF palm leaves and grass and
laid down 20 plan his future.
There was no way Of getting OF
this island unless no erected some
sort OF a signal that might be seen
by a passing ship. Tho fact tina, II
was uncharted by mariners con.
WINGED him thera was little posi-.
bIlity OF vessel passing that way.
II tho professor had remained in
this place 30 years without rescue
what chance had he OF being Right.
cd and picked up7
How. In the first place. had no
come 10 bo on tho islandg
Shipwrcckedf. shanghaied7 II
shanghaicd. was there any pos.
sibility. Of the people who placed
him here ever returning for himf
And where was this laland7 Trop.
ica, yes. But where7 Clark racked
bis brain. Were he able TO live In
peace on this land. life would not be
30 bad. There was plenty OF food.
The climate was Ideal. In time. per.
haps. with the erection Of signals on
tho mountain top he could be taken
Off by white men.
Clark dozcd. Then slept soundly.
when he awoko Il was day. Palms
in the grove shielded him from tho
heat OF the sun. A lethargy seized
him. He rolled on one sida and
stretched and yawned. slowly collect
Ing his thoughts.
The events Of the night passed In
review before his minds eyes.
TOBIAS cry on the mountain.sido, her
wait Of grief at his lose. her
what was that7 The grove
stirred. II rumbled. The earth
shook.
Clark leaped 10 his feet. His
blood ran cold. lie tried TO move but
could not.
ParaIyzed with fright, Clark looked
full ut the monster. The beast he
had ridden the day before wallowed
in the sand before him.
Now indeed Ind come his end. he
thought. He wished that he had re.
manned behind In TOBIAS cave and
taken her knife. what fool he had
been TO sleep and allow this monster
to creep upon him. How easily he
could have foretold its approach: the
very ground shook when II tread.
Clark. despite his terror. studied
tho monster.
AZ the beast Hlowly raised It's
head, Clark noted that II had only
one eye, great sleepy heavy.lidded
optic, misty and calm.
Fascinated. Clark stared at II.
Now the monsters great jaws opened
and II yawned, apparently unaware
Of his presence.
/. In terror Clark grippcd the handle
Of the knife he had taken from
TOBIAS cave so tightly that its rough
handle hurt his flesh.