RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
S
The .Broken Com
A Sfcry of Mysfcry and Adventure
gy EMERSON HOUGH
From flic Scenario kK
U.UAU5 LUJNAKU 8&S!8&
Nuvullmil From thu Motion Picture Drama of the H.nnu Name. Produced by tho
Utilvirnal Film Miitiufucturlii Company.
8YN0PSIS.
Kitty Orny, nowspaprr wottinn. Amis In
a curio Hliop Imlf of ti broken coin, the
mutilated Inncrlptlon on which aroiiKt's
hrr curiosity mill lamia hitr, nt tlio onlcr
of lior tiiunnRlnK editor, to no to the prin
cipality of QrctzlionVn to iiIpcu out thu
ntory biiK''hI''(1 by Hip Inscription. HIih In
followed, itnil on nrrlvnl In (JrHzlwffen
her adventures whllo cliusluvr tlm hoc ret
of (tin tirokon coin begin,
NINETEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER LXVIII.
Count Sachlo's Search.
"Your majesty, 1 can now nssuro
you of our success."
Count Sachlo of Grahoffon hiioUo
calmly. On his faco was written full
conviction of thu truth of his words.
Ho stood onco more with his monarch
In tho groat linll of the palaco of Gra
hoffon, whlthor ho had haHtcr.O'.l at
onco on his return frcm tho rival
capital.
"Why, Snchb?" tlomamletl Ccrtls
law. "What rennon now to believe
our buccchh nearer than It has boon
any tltno theso months past?"
"Your majoaty asks proof? Look!"
Hachlo hold out in hla linnd thu two
halvuH, or what purported to bo tho
two hnlvea, of tho broken coin of
Qrotzhoffcn. Ho, Indeed, supposed
thorn to bo both halves of that mys
terious coin, although In truth one
was only tho counterfeit long since
dovlsod by Count Frederick to appease
his own Icing. That Michael of Oretz
hoffon had mlaaod hla former posses
sion that Kitty Gray still hold ono
halt of tho actual coin neither Sachlo
nor hla king now know.
Ttoth conspirators bent abovo tho
bits of niotal and both smiled in exul
tation. Their arduous search scorned
now really to approach Ha end.
"By my faith, Sachlo," oxclalmod
Cortlslaw, "It seems Indood wo havo
but to run tho trail hard and fast a
trlflo further."
"Yes, your majesty, It remains only
for your aorvant your very faithful
orvant, may I Bay It? to find tho
hiding placo of tho scripts and treas
ures thomsolvos."
"That Is a nocessary detail," Bald
Cortlslaw, with a cold grin. "I havo
fod long enough on maps and koys
and BcrlptB now I would dip my
hands In actual mlntngo of geld coins
I would soo tho light of real gems
shining, and not this ignis rntuus which
wo havo followed so long over tho
morasses of doubt and uncertainty.
Success! Succcbs, Sachlo In ronl
coins, in real genia, in renl treasuroa
that success nlono can mean any
thing to you or mo."
"Ho It so, ycur majesty!" said
Sachlo, with no abatement of his conil
donco. "I tnko my chances. I stnko
my llfo on tho hazard of full success.
If I find not tho hlddon treasures of
Qrotzhoffon, then hang my head on
our walls as a warning to all boast
ers." "do. thon," said tho king coldly;
"you havo found your way within tholr
gates boforo do bo again. Seek
dooply tinder tho wall of tho torturo
chnmbor, perhaps, tho coin Bays tho
treasure's hiding placo lies deop under
tho walls but precisely whero Is
that?"
Always tho king's cautious mind
carrlod him into tho doubts and dif
ficulties of any caso.
"It must bo Bomowhoro bclcw and
boyond tho galleries which they
floodod from tho moats when they
carao near drowning all our trccpB,"
ropllod Sachlo. "I know thoso gal
leries as I do my own bodchnmbor.
Trust mo to run out this puzzlo to
which wo now have tho key hero in
my hand. When I do, I shall dip my
hands deop in actual mintage of gold
coin."
"You will do netting cf tho kind,
Sachlo," said hla monarch. "You will
resorvo that first right for your king."
Sachlo flushed red, but bowed, con
scious of tho swift rivalry of plratos
who parcel unholy gains.
"Triro, your majesty," said ho, "I
snoko but In metaphor. The senior
right In any such endeavor as this la
always, of course, that of tho king.
Tho right nnd tho pleasuro of tho
monarch who has led us to such buc
cess ns this is a thing paramount to
all others. Hut swift enough shall bo
my courso .to your majesty, onco 1
havo found tho actual bidding placo."
"Agreed," said Cortlslaw, nnd turned
to gnaw his beard in tho impatlonco
of a man long balked of his most lntl
mato deslro.
And Sachlo hastened, bo that said
for him. HIb swiftest car carrlod him
across tho dovlous way thnt lay bo
tweon tho two kingdoms, and duly ho
arrived at tho door of tho palaco of
arctzhtffen. Hero hla ncqunlntnnco
with tho placo and his ready reforonco
of nil inqulrors to tho king himself
gained htm oasy access onco mora.
Michael, tho wenk, still dwelt in tho
palaco, giving flranll caro to tho ruin
and disorder which lay about him on
all sides. Let others caro for tho gov
ernment, lot others mako good tho
fcroacbM In tba capital's dofenso, let
Tfif
p
others reorganize tho Bcnttored forco3
of tho urniy. Himself, ho was content
to contlnuu his revelry In tho palace
with thoso who cared to Join him,
male or female, creatures dlsaoluto ns
himself, who had clung to him fatuous
ly In liopo of possible rownrd at some
later time,
Iloforo this ruler Count Sachlo of
Grah'jffon presently bowed humbly,
professing his friendship, giving no
token of his treacherous errand,
"What, ngaln, friend Sachlo of Gra
hoffen?" Jested Michael when ho saw
him. "You have hecomu one of out
most faithful subjects, Is It not so?
I still miss Count rredcrlck, who has
loft ni'iny duties unperformed I still
miss tho young American, who should
ho here to lighten tho cares of the
hoavy hours. Yet you contu late our
enemy, now our friend. What can wo
dc for you, Sachlc, to show our grati
tude for yur faithfulness?"
"Nothing;, your majesty, save to nl
low mo division of a Mask, now and
thon, with tho greatest monarch of
tho modern days. Nothing save to til
low me to Join your majesty for n
lighter moment betimes, after tho du
ties of tho day are dono. Meantime
since I would not weary your majesty
I pray no moro than safekeeping
within your majosty's walls, as I
wander hero and there. Tho art treas
ures of this palaco surpass any with
which I tun acquainted. As a youth, 1
tried to paint, nnd I still lovo tho
work of thoso who havo dono as mas
ters what my student hand could nov
or do. May I look nt tho pictures In
tho galleries tho statues, your maj
esty?" "With all tho heart In tho world, my
dear Sachlo!" exclaimed Michael.
"Your discerning Judgmont Is valued
most highly. Mako free with what
you llko, and come to us when you
plcnoo."
This carto blancho was all that
Sachlo could ask. Ho accepted It liter
ally. What ho purposod actually was to
mako froo with anything ho saw; and
ho did Indood Intend to return to
King Michael whon ho plcnsod. Thus
set free to wander as ho liked In tho
palaco of Qrotzhoffon, ho mado no
doubt whatover of his own quick ar
rival at tho hlddon door of tho lost
treasure of Grctzhoffon. As ho bowed
himself out ho scarce could conceal
tho satisfaction on his face.
Sachlo was an alert and nctlvo soul.
Ilia was no hnplnvard intellect, apt to
accept tho dictum of a mind less exact
than hlswn. Ho was a soldier first,
and next a diplomat, hut all tho time a
modal Bocret agent, a typical spy and
detective. Ho now set about thu busi
ness In hand, dollbcrately, with preci
sion, methodically, so that ho need not
do any task a second time.
Ho himself had sketched a rough
map of tho lower galleries as ho fan
cied them to llo. Ho calculated now
that with tho aid of this chart and his
own enrller acquaintance with thoso
subterranean chambers, tt would bo
easy to find tho last door that lay be
tween him and tho burled treasura of
Grotzhoffen.
What Beetles of horror theso places
must havo held Sachlo did not pause
to 113k. That souls had passed out thero
through theso cold walla of atono, that
humnn flesh had quivered hero in tor
ment nnd human voices broken In
their anguish, meant naught to him.
A king had seen fit to Burround his
treasures with such terrors in order
to fence nwny all Intruders. Ho had
buried theso treasures undor tho very
floor of his torturo chambor bo that
nil might fear to Intrude thoro In their
search. Some might bo dotcrrcd by
such fears but not Sachlo of Grahof
fen. Ho walked on calmly, unmoved,
suro that hla own persistence his own
cunning, had defeated thu purposo of
tho dead king, whoso methods so long
had dctled tho avarlco and greed of
these two kingdoms.
Sachlo lost llttlo ttmo In tho earlier
portions of tho subterranean galleries,
and satisfied himself only that ho was
not being pursued. Soon ho arrived
upon tho lower levels, whero ho did
not oxpoct to meet disturbance. Now
came tho crux of hla search.
Ho mado his way slowly along tho
darkened channols carved nt somo un
known day from tho granite rock on
which stood tho Gretzhoffon castle,
tried door after door, and entered
chambor after chamber, slowly, me
thodically, with no enthusiasm, but
only tho nir of n man covering nil pos
slblo mischances In his search.
Ho lookod most carefully In that
portion of tho vaults whero ho had
found tho half of tno torn parchment,
but got no further traco of tho miss
ing portion. Thla gavo him a certain
pauso, for ho had figured that tho
broken coin nnd tho broken parchment
would corrolato, would focus, socio
whero noarly ut tho samo point, liut
tho atnlnod nnd mildewed walls, still
damp from their recent lloodlngs,
gavo him but cold oncouragoment
whlchovcr way ho turned. Any soul
but his would havo felt tho chill of
such environment.
"So," said bo to himsolt, standlnt: Ir
resolute nt last, nnd finding hlmsolf
unable to decide what next to do. "My
map has thu misfortune of having
been mado from the Imagination and
not from facts In hand. Uut now
see, hero tho way forks."
Hoforo him now lay a series of gal
leries still damp from tho recent
flooding from the moat. It was Sachlo's
theory, based upon ho know not what,
Hint tho treasure chamber must llo
somowhero under tho moat, that tho
flood gates must havo boon dovUod
for somo purposo of protecting It. Ho
acted upon that theory now, und with
no better guldo than the greater damp
ness of tho rock floors which ho fol
lowed, ho wandered on hour aftor
hour.
At length ho paused, helpless, puz
zlud, dumfoiindcd. Ho hnd taken a
wrong turn somowhero In this laby
rinth of underground channels! Ho
had not ovon found tho water gntos
which had flooded theso lovols so re
cently. Ho had found no now ro
coascs In tho rocky walls. Ho hnd
found nothing which In tho least com
pared Itself with tho map ho now hold
In his hand! Tho cold sweat broko
out upon hla forehead oven In thoso
Icy depths.
"My God!" said Sachlo of Grahof
fen to himself. "I havo failed."
Yea, Sachlo had failed. Ho knew
what that meant. Death was to bo his
portion for hlu falluro. Would It coma
In one swift stroke at tho hand of hla
monarch, moved by tho frenzy of his
disappointment? Or, would It como In
tho slow torturo of tlcllherato rovongo,
wrought on him for that falluro In tho
llentllsh ingenuity of tho Icy soul of
Cortlslaw?
"I havo failed," said Sachlo to hlm
solf, "and through my own fault! I
had success in my grasp and throw It
away. That girl could havo told mo
overything, und I sent hor nwny bo
yond all reach out of our country!
"Lookl a Sail!" Exclaimed Count Frederick.
With her cone, wo havo no hopo re
maining wo nover shnll And It our
selves. Sho alono now could Bavo my
llfo sho whom I mlBtrcated and sho
whom I sont away."
"Ami Count Frederick," ho wont on,
still musing to himself. "Ho was my
onomy, and Is today but something
tells mo that ho also has tho cluo. If
ho wero hero, I could wheodlo or
threaten him. PerhapB ho is with her;
wno knows? And I havo sent her
away! Did over a man gain aught by
bullying a woman? Fair spooch with
them or tho bowstring thoso nro
tho only ways. I am sontonced,
doomed, nnd by ny own fault."
Dlscouragod, baffled, perhaps attar
all, affected by tho gloom of theso sur
roundings, ho turned back at last.
Somowhero near him ho know, somo
whero perhaps not a biscuit toss away,
measured by distanco In tlio opon nlr,
lny a dark cloistered apaco, tho cham
ber of tortures, grim in its socrcts, its
floor perhaps piled with broken bonea,
its walls porhapa hung full of tho old
machinery for parting flesh ami aoul
In lingering agony. Waa it indood
truo that tho lost souls In that hlddon
chamber had wlpod out thu traco of
it and left tho surfaco of nil thoso
walls alike?
Count Sachlo could feel tho needles
nnd plncors of hot Bteel tonrlng at hla
own soul.
"Gono!" said ho, to hlmaolf, "gono!
And 'twas I who Bont her away."
CHAPTER LXIX.
Tho Sacred Fire.
No Intimation could como to nnyono
In tho two rival kingdoms na to tho
whoreabouts of thoso two persons of
most importance in tho swift drama of
thoso days Kitty and Count Freder
ick. Thoy had disappeared uttterly
and loft no traco. With thom had
pasuod all hopo of tho solution ol tho
r'ddle or tho tnls.tlnK Jrcrhoffon
coin. If either of tln-iti tv.o kingdoms
should march ugalu.U tho other, It Its
armies should lay lovel with the earth
tho battlomcntB and towers of Its en
emywhy, that would but bury tho
deeper tho secret which alono ani
mated either In thu (tteat of conquest.
As for any offense ugalust Grahof
fen, however, what could Michael tho
weak havo done now, with hla right
hand man, his ablest general, his best
man of affairs, gone? Ho hesitated as
to moans of tho offensive, Just us his
chief rival pondered the results pos
slble, oven of a successful offensive.
Mcantlmo, tho truth remained that
tho key to nil this coll was absent, nor
was alio apt to return. Kitty Gray
certainly must cherish a keen memory
of injuries sho had known on thoso
shores. Tho armies of America might
come back, tho ships of America might
anchor In theso ports, their guns might
oxnet apology or tribute hut Kitty
Gray herself would not return, that
was euro. Thorcforo affairs halted
Tho battle was arrested us though tho
sun had halted midway of tho hcavon3
in n modern AJalon.
Yet, not so far nway, ns actual did
tnnco Is measured, tho two principals
of thla play still lived. Kitty and
Count Fredorlck woro separated from
tho rival kingdoms by not fo many
leagues of tho sea, yet they know not
where they wcro moro than did any
of theso others. Tho nea which
stretched between tin two lands was
narrow enough hi fact, yet potentially
It lay Immeafitiiuhly wide.
As to the secrets of tho rival king
doms which they hail left behind,
neither of theso two much concerned
himself. Thoro woro other things
which concerned each vastly more.
When Count Frederick hastened
away from the side of tho sacrificial
11 ro in tlio search of tho woman who
bad como so near being Its victim, ho
was overlooked at tho momont alike
by tho natives who had accompanied
him thither nnd by tho inhabitants of
tbo village which thoy had surprised.
Thoso woro rival factions, or rival
tribes upon tho island, and for tho
tlmo tholr ancient hatred made them
forget tho presenco of tho whlto man.
Thoy foil upon each othor fiercely, and
In tho swift clash of arms all olso was
overlooked, Porhapa thoy romombored
tho potency of tho whlto man's
weapons. Tholr own weapons nono
tho lesa would servo for a skin whoso
color thoy undorstood. With much
choerfulncss thoy addressed thom
solvos to tho task ot mutual mutila
tion. Tho conflict swayed horo and there,
until at length tho villagers Boomed
to havo tho host ot tho Invaders. Tho
latter now remembering their white
loader, broko off toward tho forest,
hotly pursued by tholr antagonists.
Thus at length thoy all, a mixed array
of fighting men, found themselves at
tbo brink of tho cavern whoro hut re
cently Count Fredorlck had followed
tho trail of Kitty Gray nnd hor captor.
They also plunged down tho slopo, Btlll
mingled, still fighting, so thnt present
ly thero might havo been hoard deep
within tho BUbtorraneau cavern tho
clash ot spear or shiold, and tho thud
of war clubs against human skulls.
By this tlmo Kitty Giay had boon
rescued from tho Immedlato peril
which had threatened. When Count
Fredorlck called out, thu half-witted
sailor turned toward him, and hosl
tntcd halt an instant. With swift in
stinct, Kitty's fingers found a vulnor
nblo plnco in hor assailant's eyes, and
as ho roared in pain, sho pulled her
self froo from him nnd sprang down
nnd hack into tho arms ot Count Fred
erick, who caught her clo3o, murmur
Ing somo words with whoso moaning
sho was well contont,
"My heart, my llfo!" he oxclalmod,
o''n ns lie pii.-hod hr b.fk of him
ti.id fn ed tho strange being from
whom cho nad escaped.
Onco moio Kitty Kit surge across
her the leellng lhat after all, sho was
weak, and alwayB must bo weak;
whereas, he, her hitu onomy, wns
strong und always would be strong.
Sho was contont to cower dovu behind
him and leave tho event to him.
The noise of the oncoming melee be
hind them grow In volume now ns
Count Frederick turned to fuco tho
shaggy figure of tho man who but now
had been the captor of Kitty Gray
Tho muzzle of thu pistol pressing to
his facu spoko louder than uuy words
seemed, Indeed, to rodtore to him a
part ot the reason ho had lost through
dwelling hero among thu savages, on
a shore upon which ho had been cust
unknown years earlier. Ho threw up
his bunds now. "Avast, there, cap
tain!" ho cried. "I sun under!"
"Who nro you?" demanded Count
Frederick. "Or what are you?"
Tho half-demented creature passed
a hand across his faco. "Blessed It 1
could toll you tho truth about that,
sir" ho said, "and that's tho truth. Uut
seems to mo I remember I was onco
Old Jimmy Wnlnw right of the ship Ad
venture, out of Clydo. It's maybe we
woro cast away somowhore, years
since, nnd I'm thinking Adtun wns
then n boy. Helny all! Friend cap
tuln, your honor, don't shoot old Jim
my Walnwright. if so Do 1 am him."
"Hut what nro you doing down here,
under thu earth, man?"
"Captain, your honor, sir, I came
here to live bnl'o. I 1.111 somo of them
black folks once in a whllo. Thoy
think I'm crazy, nnd maybo they're
right. How can 1 tell, captain, your
honor, sir?"
"You know this placo?" exclaimed
Frederick. "Thus far wo uro sate, but
listen to thom coming."
"Ay, ay, sir; fighting llko cats and
dos3. They always do. Wo mtiBt cut
and run, or they'll kill us nil, and put
us In tho big fire yonder. Don't I
know? I'vo seed sights n plenty, up
thero. I couldn't a-beared to seen the
whlto lady burned."
"Lend on!" said Frederick, quickly.
"Wo must hldo. or It will bo too late."
"This way, captain, your honor, sir!
And bear a hand lively!"
Count Frederick and Kitty Gray fol
lowed htm as he fled deeper Into tho
cavernous lntorlor of the lava hill.
Theytturned corner after corner, until
at lougth thu counds of the pursuit be
came fainter nnd died nway far at tho
rear.
" 'Ero's my ome, Bir," began tho old
sailor at last, as they paused beforo a
rudo cabin, which showed somo nnl-mal-liko
proof of human occupancy.
"We'll bo safe 'cro, I'm thinking."
But thoy were not safe for long. Tho
keen Instinct cf tho savago trailers,
hot In tho blo2d lust which now pos
sossod them, brought then en ulti
mately along tho trail, and to Its end.
Thoy heard tho savago shouts of tholr
pursuers gaining In volume, heard tho
thud cf their baro feet on tho rocky
floors. A momont. and tho yelling band
stood tc'oro tho entrance to their
cavern.
Tho natives wero spearmen, nnd
tholr shafts wcro cast with strength
and accuracy. Those beleaguered ones
had no shields with which to parry
fluch weapons, and yet for cue Instant
n barrier vas offcrod to tho assault.
With n savage, half-animal roar,
tho old sailor whoso full history
never was to bo known cast himself
In front of his now friend, opposing
his shaggy breast to tho leveled
spears. Ho fell pierced by a dozen
shafts, still roaring his dellanco. Above
Ills body now spoko again and again
tlio weapon of Count Frederick. A
halt dozen dusky forms fell and filled
up tho opening. Tho savagos behind
gave back and sought to lice.
This Instant of tholr hesitation gavo
Frederick ono moro opportunity.
Catching Kitty by tho arm ho passed
back to the roar of tho llttlo cavern
In tho hopo thero might bo egress
that way for suroly tho wall of steel
In front could not bo passed. Ho
found It a narrow passagoway. Pant
ing and breathless, stumbling, falling
and rising, tho two hurried on until
nt length they heard no moro In their
oars tho din of fighting.
Tho passago way now seemed grad
ually to rise, its walls closing in. At
length, far ahead, they saw a faint
tingo of light. It doopened as thoy
advancod, until at length It becamo
visible through n broken aperturo bo
yond which shotio tho full light of
day. Gasping their Joy at this, thoy
hurried up and on until 'at length their
feet stood upon tho surfaco ot that
earth to which they had been accus
tomed. It was a Rtranfa nnd now Bceno
which lay before thom now. Thero
was no path that they could boo tho
mouth of tho cavern enmo out at the
top of a high cliff. Far below thom
ran tho sea, bluo-tlngod and rippling
out to Its horizon. But no sail broko
tho wido expanse, no path showed
down tho Bleep declivity which lay bo
foro them. Tholr caso seemed quite
na hopolcss aB ovor It had 'boon. If
dlscovorcd now, thoy must Indeed
stand at bay.
Tho keon oyo of Count Frederick
Boarched hero and thoro for some avc
nuo ot cscapo, but at first found nono.
"Mademoiselle," said ho, 'tho beach
bolow, no doubt, lends to ono of their
villages. Hut wo cannot reach tho
beach. 1 presumo that wo havo como
almost through tho hill that tho main
village Ilea yonder, beyond the forest.
If wo roturn, whether by tho envorn
or by tho sea bench, it would mean
only death. It only wo could find
como othor placo of concealment!"
"Look!" said Kitty, and pointed be
yond, at the baso of tho cliff. A nor
row, Blltllkc aperture showed In the
rock wall. "PerhapB there Is another
cave," said Bhe.
"Hurry," said Count Frederick.
"Run nnd hldo yourself thero at onco."
As she oboyed ho act about certain
plans of his own. Ho flung himsolt
down upon tho sand at the edge ot tno
cllffi- nnd left a trail, ns though ho
had been flung ovor aud flown. Here
nnd thoro ho pullod looso certain
shrubs to strengthen that Impression
In tho mind of any pursuor who might
come. Then, retreating toward tbo
mouth of tho cavo whero Kitty had
accreted herself, ho obscured his own
trail In tho sand ns beat ho could by
brushing nway tho footprlnta with, a
broken bough, trusting to tho atrong
wind to completo his own bungling
work at covorlng hla trail.
"Mademoiselle," Bald he, when at
longth ho Joined her. "Wo now havo
dono all thnt wo can do. We have no
food, no water, no weapons " ho
showed his empty revolver. "All we
can do la to wait and hopo."
Cowering in tholr hiding placo, thoy
lay for what might havo been an
hour beforo thoy hoard tho voices of
any pursuers. Then thoy saw emerge
along tholr old passagoway tho tig
urea of sovornl of tho nntlves, who
stood Jabbering, weapons in hnnd,
looking this way and that, seemingly
too much excited to havo much caro.
Ono of theso ran to tho broken trail
mark at tho edgo of tho bluff, and,
shouting In excitement, returned.
With no moro ado, and apparently
without suspecting tho uctual trail of
the two fugitives, thoy nil now mado
off to tho right, shouting loudly, and
disappeared from view no doubt
along some steep path known only
to themselves.
"They havo gono." said Count Fred
erick, "and I fancy will not return.
They think us dashed to death on tho
rocks below."
"Wo might as well be." said Kitty
Gray, apathetically. "What hopo Is
there for us now?"
"Courage, mademoiselle!" waa his
responso. "That we havo lived
through such porils means that there
Is a purposo for It ono purposo."
"No, said Kkty Gray. "It has beon
too much. Wo aro lost. Thero is no
food, no water. Even it thoro wero
what cbanco Is thero for an cscnpo?"
"Even ahould thero nover bo an es
cape, madomolselle, llfo here with you
would bo bettor than llfo anywhere
clso in tho world without you."
But, utterly worn out, she only
shook her hoad and turned away.
Completely exhausted, at length sho
fell asleep. Ho spread about hor his
own coat and kept watch.
Night camo at length, nnd with it
its chilling airs. They must have
Are, yet a Are might announce tholr
presence thero. Count Fredorlck
gathered somo bits of dried wood hore
nnd thero, and nt longth ventured to
build n fire whoro It would offer
warmth within tho cavo, and whore
It would bo practically Invisible from
nny direction except from the sea.
Indeed, ho felt that they must take
this chance, Blnco only from tho sea
could thoy havo nny hopo of escape
Their beacon light would shlno wide
ly, and perhaps somo passing mariner
might seo it.
Tho night woro nway, passed as It
was In liungor nnd In chill, with noth
ing to soften tho hard floor ot tho
rooky cavern. Thoro was no break
fast for them, thoro was not oven a
drop of water to nssuago tholr grow
ing thirst.
Onco mora Count Frederick searched
out every corner of tholr narrow rofugo
ground. To nttomr-t escape directly
down tho faco of tho cliff would havo
been sheer madness. Ho followed tho
trail which tho natives had mado
when thoy passed to the right nlong
tho rock wall. Apparently thoy had
descended by swinging from ono treo
trunk to another. It would bo equal
to madness for a woman to attempt
a descent here still moro hopeless
for a woman weakened with hunger
r-nd fatigue. Ho told Kitty tho truth,
ns he now found tt.
"Leavo mo," said she, woakly.
"Savo yourself."
"Leavo you, madcmolsollo?" said
ho. "Never! Not until death do us
part shall we bo separated."
Ho read something ot his answer In
tho look In tho eyes turned upon him
now.
"It is woll," said she at longth, sim
ply "wo shall llvo or dlo togothor."
"Together, mademoiselle? Toll
me"
But hor hand, raised In shoor wear!
noss, arrested him, calling upon all his
chivalry.
"Wo will bo able to onduro our hun
ger for a day, at least," Bald he. "Our
light shines far. Let us dovoto at
least nnother dny to hopo. If nono
comes, why, then wo enn dlo."
"Yes," said sho, simply, "that comeB
nt last to nil. But let us try to
hopo!"
Thoy faced a second night, ondless
In longth, nnd faced another dawn at
first thoy thought n hateful dawn, and
no moro kind than tho nlsht had
boon. But even as this feeling of npa
thotlc resentment grow in tholr souls.
Kitty Gray raised hor luBtorloas eyes
as sho heard an oxclamatlon from hor
companion.
"Look!" oxclalmod Count Fredor
lck. "Look! A sail!"
Sho stared out over tho Boa. Thoro
lay tho dearest object that could meet
hor oyos a low whlto fleck, or dot,
rising and falling, Just Insldo the rim
ot tho dlstnnt horizon. Yea, tt was a
Ball!
"Quick! Tho fire!" sho cried. "Wi
must build tho fire!"
(TO DE CONTINUED.)
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