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18
His companion nodded, and the two started back to-
ward the place they had come from.
In a few minutes they reached the shore and began
looking about them for some signs of a creature that
niiglit do to eat.
A couple of -hundred yards to the right was a group of
rocks, which looked as though it might possibly contain
the lair of a wild beast of some sort.
Toward this Leo directed his steps, Lacy following.
They searched about the place for over half an hour,
but not a living thing could they come across.
Again they sat down, Lacy being very dejected.
The dog, who had been nosing about considerably, sud-
denly started off at a quick bound, at the same time utter-
ing a short bark.
“He has struck the trail of something!” exclaimed
Reginald Lacy, springing to his feet as quickly as his
feeble condition would allow him.
“Let us follow him,” says Leo.
Away they went after Jupiter, in the hopes that he was
about to start up some game.
They had no sooner entered a small passage between
two clefts of rock than they were startled by hearing a
wild scream.
“Great God!” exclaimed Lacy. “VVhat is that?”
“It sounds to me like the cry of a female in distress,"
replied his young companion, turning about and starting
hurriedly in the (lircctioii the scream came from.
In a few seconds Leo came in sight of Azurma, with
the horrible picuasus pursuing her.
Again a wild scream left the girl's lips, and though the
distance was rather great, the boy instantly concluded to
risk a shot.
He knew full well if he missed the girl was lost, and
that nerved him to do his best.
He placed his rifle to his shoulder, and, taking a quick
aim, pulled the trigger.
Crack!
As the report rung out the picuasus fell, the bullet hav-
ing pierced one of its eyes.
As brave as she was, Azurma had swooned, and as
soon as he reached the spot, Leo set about to bring her to.
He soon accomplished this, and by the time Reginald
Lacy reached the spot she was sitting up clasping her
preserver by the hands and gazing into his eyes in a
mute expression of joy.
“I have found you, O my future lord and master!” she
said, and then she did not speak again for fully a minute.
Reginald Lacy stood staring at her like one in a dream.
At length he spoke.
“How did you get here, miss?” he asked. “Can you
lead us to a place where we can get something to eat?"
“Are you hungry?" said Azurma, rising to her feet and
unslinging the bag from her shoulder. “If you are, eat."
Lacy needed no second invitation.
He seized the food with a cry of joy and began de-
vouring it ravenously.
“God bless you, my girl!” he exclaimed, hoarsely; “you
have saved my life. But my dog must have something,
too. I will call him, an(l share with him."
He gave a long whistle, and in a few moments Jupiter
came rushing from a pile of rocks with the speed of an
antelope.
The scent he had taken had proved but a myth, after all,
and the dog, like his master, being very hungry, soon
forgot all about it.
BRAVE AND BOLD.
He scarcely noticed the dead picuasus, but at on?-0
eagerly swallowed the food Lacy gave him.
“Now, Azurma,” said Leo, “can you take us back to
the village P”
“I can, and will at once, 0 my-Av”
“Hold on,” interrupted the boy. “Call me Leo; don't
use any more high-fangled titles--I don’t like it."
“Be it as you say, then, Leo. VVhenever you are I"CF'.(lV.
I will conduct you safely to your friends and mine.”
Then, acting on Azurma’s advice, he seized her lay
the hand and started with all speed for the stream, lacy
and the dog following close behind.
Once there, Leo turned to look for Reginald Lacy alul
the dog.
A startling scene met his gaze.
Lacy had ventured too far out and the current had
carried him off his feet.
. Jupiter had seized him by the collar and was endcavor>
mg to swim ashore with him.
"Help l" exclaimed Lacy, doing his best to stem the tide.
"Let the dog swim ashore with the rope that is your
only hope I" exclaimed the boy, rushing into the water as
far as he dared. 9
But this Jupiter could not be made to do. He was bent
on saving the life of his master, but he was going to do it
in his own way.
Further and further the man and dog were sucked from
the shore, in spite of the superhuman efforts they made.
Leo was completely dismayed. The very oiies who
had saved his life were now going‘ to their own death
over the falls.
He had no rope to throw to them, and could but stand
upoii the bank and witness it.
' I< aster and faster the struggling man and dog were car‘
ried, and nearer and nearer they were whirled to the falls.
Azurma had turned her back upon the scene, but a
strange fascination seemed to hold Leo's eyes upon the
doomed man and his faithful dog.
‘The next moment they went whirling over the cataract
with a mighty rush.
CHAPTER XIII.
BALLOTING FOR HUSBANDS.
Completely unnerved at the sight, Leo turned from the
spot
.“Come, Azurma,” said he,
village.” ,
ii‘ a . .
Ies, Leo,’ xx as the reply; “nothing could save the
man. and dog from death. 111611‘ lifeless bodies are float-
lngflll the pool at the foot of the falls by this time.”
‘Q1 fear that another picuasus might show up. they
hurriedly left the spot.
Azurma ledgthe way back over the same route by which
they had come, and in due time they arrived at the village,
without further accidents,
lhe girl claspecl Leo lovingly by the arm W1].-11 they
iieart-d tliepalaee. and Dick and Martin Havpole, who saw
them cimiiiig, thing their caps in the airiand uttered a
Cl1‘Ct‘1"‘tllZ1l. l,)l‘(‘i11t(lll out izliiiost every soul in the village.
' I Kl ell’, l ll lie evei‘l;istiiig iliiig-wizzeued if ther boy isiit
alive an well :i-'. :‘,iiV of us! An’ ter think that l1C I735-‘ml
i . A - . . .
tI1‘H.>t1,‘::li lirith tire an water without qettin a sci'atc'lil
lain t for him to die in this miiiitry‘.th:t1',< Ci’I'lItitl.“
And l)'iekl lhe lioy could Imrdly express his joy at
finding his cousin alive.
“we will go back to the