The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-12-18


horizon with his keen eyes. Croft nov
perceived other black streams. issuin.
from other temporary shelters, SLOWLY
trickling down the slope He
leaned back.
Ihey are crawling along upon their
stomachs, as l predicted, to avoid de.
tection," he whispered.
Presently, two or three figures de
tached themselves from the moving
mass and wriggled forward with in
credible swiftness. leaving the re.
malnder some yards behind.
Scouts - whispered Croft.
Barbara caught her breath sharply.
drawing back into the hut.
Croft. his eyes fixed upon the ad
Vanclng figures, laid his hand upon the
transmitter. with forefnger out.
stretched toward the little KEY upon
which SO much depended. No sign of
the wire encircling the hut was visible
In the comparative gloom.
A few tense moments. then
ne pressed the key. keeping It down
giving the spark gap a slight adjust.
ment.
Then, from all around, rose a deaf.
ening medley Of howls and frenzied
yells. partly Of pain but more often of
rear. as the advancing men came in
contact with the wire, seeing the
wicked blue sparks hiss at their bare
hesh, feeling the sharp sting of the
electricity. Those who escaped 1t were
equally terrified, and the whole order
broke up. Some rolled upon the
ground rubbing themselves, still howl
ing; Others fled. screaming, toward the
south. A few. Drawer, tried again to
reach the goal; and again retreated.
half petrified with fear of the un.
natural.
Croft waited until but few strag-
glers remained near the hut
Now" he cried. 1--WE must show
ourselves. and complete the Illusion" !"
"Oh !" demonstrated Barbara. "is that
necessary?"
Yes: If It's to he a success"
Selling her arm. he dragged upon
the door. and whirled her round to the
landward end
Those natives who remained uttered
loud. fearful shouts. at sight of the
two white figures: falling upon their
faces. they stretched out arms of sup.
plication. gabblng what seemed to
Barbara unintclligible nonsense. Those
heeing turned. halted. then likewise
fell upon their faces. terrified at these
apparitions in the starlight.
For moment the girl Thought her
companion had lost his senses. Lnos-
In hat- I,.
hound. his arms wildly waving. An
pearine unnatnrally tall. his white shirt
and handaged head increasing the su-
pernntnrnl effect in eyes used only TO
dark naked skin he went throurh
pantomime of weird gestures. Now
and then this was interspersed with
extraordinary utterances snarled from
between cleaning teeth and cruel.
drawback lips. The wild awful fury.
seeming TO emanate from every more
terrified her: he looked every inch n
savage himself. His weird babble bore
strong resemblance to that of her pur-
suer. Apparently the PROSTATE natives
understood at least part of the dis
course: for occasionally eager hands
were raised in supplication. accom-
panied by cries or moaning re-
plies.
Suddenly. as II at some command
the groveling wretches scrambled to
their feet. With another torrent of
wild words he wheeled round. and. to
her amazement. threw his arms around
her. pressing her close. What
seemed, in the excitement Of the mo-
ment. like cloud of smoke. together
with sharp explosion. momentarlly
dnzed her senses.
She felt herself lifted bodily, whirled
back again round the hut and in Mt
the entrance: while. from without
arose fresh confusion of bowling
cries. with the tread of running feet.
as the warriors. terrified by the magnI-
fed effects of the revolver shot in the
dusk. dashed for their lives away up
the slope.
Once inside. he leaned back against
the bamboo. still holding her close. his
breath coming first, every nerve tin
Cling, primitive man among primitive
men, after the savage state into which
he had worked himself
"Well done" he painted. laughing
wildly. 1.-THE revolver-just then-was
an inspiration! Vanishing in puff Of
smoke finished the trIck!"
Barbara gasped. too much aston
ished to realize that she was still
clasped in his arms. having forgotten
the existence Of the revolver during
the last scene. II hung from her hand.
still smoking little from its acci-
dental discharge.
"W-what-were-y doing?" she
stnmmered
Again he laughed wildly. "Telling
them we were sent here by their gods
and should blast the island into thou
sand bits II they showed us hostility,
You saw the effect?"
81 did indeed" Realizing their po.
sition, she tried to free herself, but his
arms frightened.