Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
24 BRAVE AND BOLD.
CHAPTER XVII.
AZURMA AND THE NAZTECS.
Azurma, the beautiful murderess, had jumped upon the
rocky slide with the hrm conviction that she was going
to her death.
She held her breath and closed her eyes during the
fearful descent.
Vlfhen she had passed through the flames and found
herself comparatively uninjured, a sudden hope arose in
her breast that she might come out all right yet.
This thought no sooner entered her mind than she
struck the water with a splash and sank below its surface.
Down, down, the girl went. for many feet.
‘When she struggled to the surface again she was at
least two hundred yards from the place where she had
fallen in.
Blinded and half choked, she kept her head above the
water, and in a few seconds she was beyond the limits of
the roaring fire and smoke. v
The girl (lid not offer to struggle in the least, but al-
lowed the merciless current to carry her along at its will.
This was the wisest thing she could do, for it left her
what strength she possessed to be used later on.
On she whirled, the current running so strong that she
kept on top of the water without the least effort on her
part.
In a few more seconds the falls will be reached.
Azurma hears the angry roar of the tide in her ears, and
prepares herself for the worst.
She lifts her head for a single instant, and sees the
foaming crest but a few yards distant.
The next minute, with a rush and a roar, she is carried
over.
Contrary to her expectations, she is not dashed to a
shapeless mass upon a bed of jagged rocks, but finds her-
self struggling in a lake of comparatively still water.
Azurma knew how to swim, and, after brushing her
long tresses from her eyes, she drew a long breath and
started for the shore, close at hand.
Faint and exhausted, she reached it. and sank upon
the ground in a semi-unconscious condition.
She was aroused to her full senses presently by hear-
ing the pattering made by some animal running toward
her.
In an instant she sprang to her feet.
A cry of joy escaped her lips.
Coming toward her was Jupiter, the dog she had seen
go over the falls with his master the day before.
The animal came directly to her feet and lay down,
acting in a very strange manner. His head was covered
plentifully with clotted blood, showing the girl that he
v.as suffering from a severe wound.
Lying upon the ground. he looked her in the face and
wiined in a piteous manner.
“Poor dog." said Azurma. “VVhat has become of your
inaster? Is he dead.‘ If not, take me to him."
She waved her hand for the dog to get up and lead
the way.
He seemed to comprehend her meaning. but acted in a
(lazed sort of way.
Running away from her for about hfty yards, he sud-
denly turned and made a circle, and then rolled over and
over upon the ground.
Instead of being frigglnened at these strange actions,
Azurma became interested.
Instinct told her that something unusual ailed the dog.
She made up her mind to find out what it was, if pos-
sible.
Quickly making her way to his side, she talked to him
in a soothing manner, and then proceeded to examine the
wound on his head.
A moment's inspection sufficed to show her that the
animal's skull had received a fracture, and that a part of
the bone was depressed.
Something told her that if she could lift the piece of
bone back to its place, Jupiter would be all right.
A needle-like instrument was pinned to the white. gauzy
sash about her waist, and with this she endeavored to do
the job.
Though she knew little or nothing about surgery. she
was successful.
The dog howled piteously during the operation, but did
not offer to prevent her from doing it.
“’hen it was finished he rolled over on his side and ap-
peared to fall into a deep sleep. The girl bathed the (logis
wound with her water-soaked garments, and then seated
herself by his side to await developments.
It must have been an hour before the dog began to
show signs of awakening, and as soon as he did, Aiurnia.
who had heard Reginald Lacy call him by name, arose to
her feet.
“Come, Jupiter: show me where your master is."
The animal seemed to have fully recovered; he began
springing about her feet, uttering his quick, sharp barks
in a joyful manner.
Then. catching Azurina by the dress. he attempted to
pull her along after him in the direction of the opening
where the light came from.
“I'll go with you willingly,” said the girl, catching on
to the idea that Lacy was somewhere in that direction.
Away they went, the faithful (log leading, and ever
and anon turning around to see if Azurma was still fol-
lowing.
In this manner they soon reached the identical place
Lacy had entered several hours previously.
Azurma was very much puzzled at her surroundings.
She. nor none of her people, had ever been in that portion
of the underground country before, but she could plainly
see the tracks made by Lacy, and concluded to follow as
far as Jupiter chose to lead her.
Along through the lighted passage thev went until they
arrived at the point where Lacy had been pounced upon
and captured by the Naztecs when in the act of hurlin0'
the bowlder down upon the defenseless form of his eneinyii
Azurmals quick eye told her that a struggle had taken
place here, for she found the shred of a garment, evidently
a piece of the shirt Lacy wore, while upon the ground was
a clot of blood.
lut as she could find no more of the latter she riohtly
judged that it had come from the dog. ’ b
A strange light shone in the girl's eyes as she Sm--
veyed her surroundings.
“Is it possible that the last words I addressed to the
women of flex will come true 7' she asked herself. “I
have escaped death, and am now in the lijnits of another
country. where people must certainly live. for they were
not animals who carried off the rlogis inzister and left the
poor en-:1tii1'e lying here for dead. l will go down there
‘‘'l‘<'r<’ '1 15 W li.:l1‘.: Jupiter seems anxious to go. and I
nill follow." ‘
lvllllmll 3”)' flirlller hesitation she started down the