The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-07-11

dropped fiat at Sans feet. Winton
fired out into the black faces massed
beneath. Another scurry followed and
two more natives writhed on the
ground.
The mine boys had discarded the
trapplngs of standardization. The OBJ
sequiOus diggers had become native
warriors, dressed for the most part In
lolncloths alone. Their rolling eyes
and painted faces gave them 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 come" he said to Sam.
But as he spoke he heard cracking
sound above him ans thin wreaths of
smoke began to, coil through the roof
The mob had withdrawn a little space
and howled in triumph around the cot
tage.
The structure was of brick, but there
was a wooden roof, baked so dry by
the sun that the rains had hardly af-
II 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
negro's action.
"Have you gone mad, Sam?" he de-
handed angrily.
But Sam, not satisfied, snatched up
4 knife and began ripping off the legs
Of his trousers at the knees. He
picked up the spear. The transforma-
ion was astounding. Sam Simpson
lad evolved into one of the wild ne
,roes Of the compound.
The roof was blazing. There came
mother rush against the door. The
ellis were deafening. Wlnton caught
;hela to him and tried to reassure
er in the brief interval of recharging
lis revolver. But the girl was terror
tricken and she could hardly hide
er fears. She chung to Winton,
rembling
1.-The tunnel. gasped Sam, drag
ing Winton by the arm.
And the thought of this had not en-
cred Winton's mind. The safe had |
TODD over the hole ever since the
obbery. They pulled it aside. Be |
eath it capped the excavation.
sect down, SAM" cried Winton as
he savages, believing that Winton |
as cowed, or had no more ammuni-
ion, made concerted rush. The door
cyan to splinter.
Sam lowered himself, Winton swung
;heila down and followed. He meant
0 try and replace the safe from below,
ut his feet had hardly touched the
oft earth before the door crashed
rom its hinges. He dived after his
ompanions, and heard the mine boys
bouts of discovery. Their feet, which
eemed Immediately overhead, made
he walls of the tunnel tremble. Fine
lust from the conclusion set the three
choking.
"Go on with Miss Sheila, SAM"
Winton.
He leveled his revolver along the
'unnel. 1t was quite dark, but I'M
ess his ears failed him 1t would be
impossible to miss his mark.
He heard the natives whispering to-
sether above. and the sudden silence
made the tunnel eerier than ever.
They were at an immense disadvan- ,
IL htt,. a | I
pear within the narrow passage. {
hough one could be used for thrust !
ng with deadly effect But first the s
hrister would have to assume prone {
'osition. and Wlnton knew that his {
evolver would have thus several sec |
nds' start of the spear.
He waited. hardly breathing, until \
here came to his ears. very family, {
he touch of bare feet upon the 5
followed by the suppressed O
reathing of man not far away. c
One of the negroes was evidently n
t the bottom of the excavation. but
he excavation Immediately beneath d
he safe, was wider than the tunnel n
self, and projecting angle Of soft V
arth afforded shelter. The manor n
len-might therefore be out OF the n
rect line of fire. Winton drew n
atch softly from his pocket and
ruck II suddenly along the side Of p
IS revolver butt. The little fa..ing ii
ght revealed the white eyeballs and Il
eering face of one Of the savages. $,
II dozen feet distant. Another "
ICE was looking over the shoulder OF
verifying above was deathly still. W
The mans arm was drawn back, the 10
'ear, with a murderous shovel-blade. ii
I'D ready TO thrust. Winton fired at
,int-blank Into the open mouth. TO
The match went out simultaneously
it'll the discharge There followed tn
choking cry and the sound of blood at
lbbling from the throat. An out tn
lrst Of yells from above rolled In