Evening star., 1936-04-12
THIS WEEK

1he hopeleSSneSS OF attempting the
long march back to Noro-Kei without
transport, food or water never oc-
Cured to him. The figures of Phil
beach, Sandy. Patricia, George and all
the others who had played any part
in this desperate adventure danced
fantastic can-can in his head. The one
thought that hammered in his mind
was that he must save Patricia and
get back those diamonds which had
been purchased at such a price in
blood and suffering.
Wild-eyed and haggard, he was still
struggling gamely forward. nearly two
days later, when voice hailed him
from nearby slope:
Hello you there!''
Michael swerved to the right and
stared with bloodshot eyes at the man
who was advancing towards him.
Hi" called the man - then, with
a sudden shout: "My God! It's
Michaely'
Michael lurched forward a step.
you've got my stones, you black
guard" he croaked. "And where Is
Patricia? I'll kill you if anything has
happened to her"
YOU'RE dippy," said another voice
quite close behind him.
Swinging around, Michael saw that
another khaki-clad figure was ap-
preaching him. The first man walked
straight up to him and took him gently
by the arm as he said kindly:
"You poor fellow, you look about
all in - but surely you know me? I'm
Sandy"
Michael passed weary hand over
his haggard, dust-encrusted face and
then shook his head from side to side.
"Of course know you, now, he NUT
tered huskily. 'I've been through a
hell of a time. Everything in my head
seems to be muddled up. Il can't
think" With this, Michael fell I'M
conscious at Sandy's feet.
Sandy and Cornelius picked him up
and carried him back to their camp in
the rocks where Sarie, with an excla-
nation of pity and horror at Michael's
terrible state, took him in charge. She
bathed his face with some of their
precious water, and bandaged his
blistered arms. Gradually Michael re-
turned to consciousness, and sighed
with pathetic relief to find himself
once more among friends.
Sarie brought him little bowl of
broth, and after he had drunk this
Michael felt stronger and better able
to talk. He told them all that had hap
pened since he and the Bennetts had
left Zwartveldt, up to the hour when
Sandy and Cornelius had spied him
staggering along through the valley.
Then Sandy gave Michael an ac-
count of all that had happened to him
and the Van Niekerks. As he reached
the part about Philbeach, Michael,
filled with an awful apprehension for
Patricia, exclaimed:
but there was only Henry's body
back there with the dead leopard -
there was no sign Of Patricia"
well, Patricia wasn't with Phil
beach's party when they passed here
yesterday evening"" Sandy assured
him. "Philbeach said that the same
leopard had attacked and killed both
Henry and Patricia"
''It must have been a lier' cried
Michael staggering to his feet. "She
was in the wagon when they passed
through here! Patricia Alone
in the hands of that beast"
Sarie looked at Michael. His face
showed the agony of mind ne was suf-
fering, and her thoughts flew to the
other girl in quick comprehension of
what she was likely to endure at the
hands of an unscrupulous man like
Philbeach. If only they had known
-. or suspected that Philbeach had
been lying and that Patricia was lying
helpless in the wagon. But what, after
all could fhoxy hauo 1noa Cav;o roa