The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-05-21
CHAPTER NII.-Continucd

CHAPTER NII.-Continued
I was 90 stunned by this sudden
shock that Tor time I must have
nearly lost my reason. ] have a
VAGUE recollection. as one remembers
bad dream. OF rushing about thru
the woods an round che empty
camp. calling wildly Tor my COM
panions No answer came back nom
tho silent shadows Tho horrible
thought that might never see them
again, that l might find myself
abandoned an alone In that dreadful
place, with no possible way OF de
secnding into the world below. that
might live ana die in that nightmare
country, drove me 20 desperation. /
could have torn my hair and beaten
my head IN my despair Only now
did realize how l had learned 90
lean upon my companions. upon the
serene selfeonfidcnce Of Challenger.
and upon the masterful. humorous
GOODNESS OF Lord John RoXton.
Without them l was like child IN
the dark. helpless and powerless.
did not know which way 10 turn or
what l should do first,
After a period. during which SAT
IN howilderment. set myself 10 try
and discover what sudden misfortune
could have bcfallen my companions,
Tho whole disordercd appearance OF
the camp showed that there had been
Eome sort Of attack. and tho rifle
shot no doubt marked tho time when
" had occurred. That there should
have been only one shot showed that
It had been all over In an instant.
Tho rifles still lay upon the ground,
and one OF them-Lord John's-had
the empty cartridge In the brcech.
The blankets OF Challenger and Of
summerlee beside the fire suggested
that they had been asleep at tho
time. Tho cases OF ammunition and
OF food were scattered about In n
wild litter. together with our unfor
tunate cameras and plate-earriers,
but mono OF them were missing. on
the other hand. all the exposed pro
visions - and / remembered that
there we're a considerable quantity
Of thcm-wcre gone. They were ami
mails. then. and not natives. who had
made the inroad, for surely the latter
would have left nothing behind.
But II animals. or some single ter
rible animal then what had become
OF my comrades? A feroclous beast
would surely have destroyed them
and left their remains. IL Is true
that there was that enc hideous pool
OF blood. which told OF violence. Such
n monster as had pursued me during
the night could have carried away n
victim as easily as a cat would a
mouse. In that case the others
would have followed in pursuit. But
then they would assuredly have TAX
en- their rifles with them. The more
I tried TO think X out with my con.
fused and weary brain, the less could
| find any plausible explanation. l
searched round ia the forest. but
could SEQ no tracks which could help
me TO conclusion. once I lost my.
self. and Il was only by good luck.
and after an hour OF wandering. that
found the camp onco more.
Suddenly "a thought came 20 me
and brought some little comfort 10
my heart. was not absolutely alone
in the world. Down Mt the bottom
Of the cliff. and within call OF me.
was waiting the faithful zambo. |
went TO the edge OF the plateau and
locked over. Sure enough. he was
squatting among his blankets beside
his fire In his little camp. But. to
my aulazemens. a second man was
seated in front OF him. For an in
slant my heart leaped for joy. as
thought that one OF my comrades
had made his way safely down. But
\ second glance dispelled tho hope.
The rising sun shone red upon the
mans skin. He was an Indian. l
shouted loudly and waved my hand
kerchief Presently zambo looked
up, waved his hand. and turned TO
ascend the pinnacle. In a short time
he was standing close to me and
listening with deep distress to the
story which told him.
Devil got them for sure. Massa
Malone. said he. You got into the
DEVILS country. sab. and he take you
all to himself You take advice.
niassa Malone. and come down
quick. eIse he get sou as we'll"
How can come down. Zambo?"
"You get crcepcrs from trees.
.Massa Malone. Throw them over
here. / make fast to this stump.
and so you have bridge.
we have thought Of that. There
arc no creepcrs here which could
bear us"
send for ropes. Massa Malone"
who can send. and where"
send TO Indian village, sab. Plenty
hidcrnne In Indian VILLAGE Indian