The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-05-01
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.

a spear came upward through the
open window, glanced off the angle
formed by the wall and roof, and
dropped fiat at Sans feet. Winton
fred out into the black faces massed
beneath. Another scurry followed and
two more natives writhed on the
ground.
The mine boys had discarded the
trappings of standardization. The OBJ
~sequious diggers had become native
warriors, dressed for the most part in
loincloths alone. Their rolling eyes
and painted faces gave them a dia-
bolical aspect.
From the window Winton could see
fires rising everywhere along the
fields.
IF we can hold out half an hour
help must GOMEZ he said to Sam.
But as he spoke he heard a cracking
sound above him and thin wreaths of
smoke began to coil through the roof.
The mob had withdrawn a little space
and howied in triumph around the cot
tage.
The structure was of brick, but there
was a wooden roof, baked so dry by
the u that the rains had hardly af-
fected it. Burning brands had lit on
it in half a dozen places.
AS Winton looked wildly about him
he caught sight of Sam going through
extraordinary antics. He had began
to tear off his clothes as fast as he
was able, until he stood up bare to the
waist. In spite of their desperate sit
uation Winton was shocked at the
negroes action.
"Have you zone mad, Sam?" he de-
manded angrily.
But Sam, not satisfied, snatched up
a knife and began ripping off the legs
of his trousers at the knees. He
picked up the spear. The transforma-
ton was astounding. Sam Simpson
had evolved into one of the wild ne
groes of the compound.
The roof RS blazing. There came
another rush against the door. The
yells were deafening. Winton caught
Stella to him and tried to reassure
her In the brief interval of re%charging
bis revolver. But the girl was terror
stricken, and she could hardly hide
her fears. She chung to Winton,
trembling.
1.-THE tunnel !" gasped Sam, drag
ging Winton by the arm.
And the thought of this had not en-
tered Winton's mind. The safe had
stood wei the hole ever since the
robbery. They pulled it aside. Be
meath it gaped the excavation.
sect down, SAM" cried Winton as
the savages, believing that Winton
was cowed, or had no more ammuni-
ton, made a concerted rush. The door
began to splinter.
Sam lowered himself, Winton swung
Sheila down and followed. He meant
to try and replace the safe from below,
but his feet had hardly touched the
soft earth before the door crashed
from its hinges. He dived after his
companions, and heard the mine boys
shouts of discovery. Their feet, which
seemed Immediately overhead, made
the walls of the tunnel tremble. Fine
dust from the conclusion set the three
to choking.
go on with Miss Sheila, SAM"
whispered Winton.
He leveled his revolver along the
tunnel. 1t was quite dark, but I'M
less his ears failed him it would be
impossible to miss his mark.
He heard the natives whispering to-
above, and the sudden silence
the tunnel eerier than ever.
They were at an immense %disadvan-
for it was impossible to hurl a
spear within the narrow passage
though one could be used for thrust
.ng with deadly effect. But first the
would have to assume a prone
position, and Winton knew thai MS
would have thus several sec
,nds' start of the spear.
He waited, hardly breathing, until
cam to his ears, very family,
he touch of bare feet upon the s
ground, followed by the suppressed {
,reathing of a man not far away. {
One of the negroes was evidently 1
It the bottom of the excavation, put
lie eACdNdllOu l~lllueuIdlcly DCiOoeo |
he safe was wider than the tunnel
tself, and a projecting angle of soft Y
arth afforded shelter. The manor r
nen-might therefore be out of the L
line of fire. Winton drew a L
softly from his pocket and
truck it suddenly along the | q OF Z
is revolver butt. The little flafing t
ight revealed the white eyeballs and f
face of one of the savages, S
OF a dozen feet distant. Another "
ace was looking over the shoulder. 0
VERIFYING above was deathly still. "
The mans arm was drawn back, the L
pear, with a murderous shovel-blade, q
cid ready to thrust. Winton fired a
into the open mouth. t
The match went out simultaneously
18th the discharge. There followed Il
choking cry and the sound of blood a
ubbling from the throat. An out Il