The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-12-11
- s.lut,ered III one

lncompre,Iensnn.. - snul,ered al one
blow.
He half-withdrew his arm: then,
pausing, bent over the sleeping girl
and looked long upon the delicate fea-
lures, the sensitive lips and dark
lashes. AS he looked, an unbidden
Thought fitted across his mind, bring
ing slow flush into his face. Had
another taken indisputable possession?
Had he reached to the very depths of
her soul; fired all the deepest tibers
of her womanhood?
He drew himself up. gently freeing
his hand and arm. The question
opened vistas down which he refused
to look. A part of his nature that
night had been illuminated as if by
many-hued candles; and he felt daZ-
zled, strange to himself. almost, for
once, afraid.
He rose with difficulty. his limbs
cramped after long sitting: stretched
his arms; looked down once more upon
the sleeping form confident of his pro-
lection.
Croft was lover of cleanliness.
fair play. victory alwnys-but victory
with honor. Throwing hack his head
In Characteristic way, his eyes still
resting upon the sleeping face, he
smiled. 1t was the little smile which
many men knew well, which enemies
feared, but which those he led had
ever loved to see: that smile with
him meant challenge, and a chal-
lenge presaging achievement.
Nolselessly, he opened the door and
went out. Selling two old basins dis
covered among the rubbish in the hut,
he strobe toward the river.
Save for the distant surf, no sound
was audible. From the palm grove he
keenly surveyed the bay: 1t was de
serted; the world might have been
dead. Plunging through the tall bam-
boo he came out upon the deepened
stretch of water glimmering family,
like moving darkness, below him.
Then, throwing off his garments. he
dived into the shadowy ripples, feel
ing a primitive delight in the cold
sting to his tired limbs. Afterward,
slipping into his shirt and breeches.
he filed his basins and returned to
the grove.
When he emerged from the bam-
boo, the sound of voices fell upon his
ears. Hastily stepping back he wait
ed, listening intently. The voices came
nearer, then receded toward the sea-
ward outskirts of the palm grove.
Croft took few noiseess strides in
their direction. soon discovering the
dark forms of three natives among
the trees. Soundlessly creeping in
their wake, he hid again, close enough
to hear their speech, while they
paused AT the top of the slope.
He could see now, in the stronger
light. that all were armed with long
spears, two also carrying bows and
arrows. The third, an old man, wore
round his neck large clam-shell disk
emblem of the rank of chief-and
through his nose-cartilages dark
stone. Rings, probably of tortoise
shell, hung from his ears.
Croft wondered if this were a visit
of negotiation. with view to com.
pNSh Va AiithuSiiP WIN Nisltoio u
their island. He recognized them for
members of the huge scattered family
of Melanesians. or Papuans, which
have some undoubted connection with
the African blacks. and are to be
found in numberless South Sea islands
as well as in Melanesia proper AL
though their dialect is more or less
local, there is sufficient similarity to
make 1t fairly intelligible to any one
accustomed to the variations.
A few minutes, and Croft's illusion
of friendly compact was destroyed
Hostility was evident. He soon rea-
lized that an attack was being organ
lied for the following night, though
hs could not distinguish the plans be
ing laid.
Emboldened by the absence of any
sign of their enemy, the men remained
standing for several minutes. gazing