Part 18 (1/2)
Stepping to the edge of the clearing in full view of the advancing enemy, with the mucker at her side, revolver in hand, she called to thee Then she explained that they held the son of Oda Yorimoto prisoner, and that his life would be the price of any further attack upon theether for a moment, then one of them called out that they did not believe her, that Oda Iseka, son of Oda Yoriirl ”We will show hi to Byrne she asked him to fetch the youth
When the white uish and rage rose from the natives
”If you molest us no further we shall not harm him,” cried Barbara, ”and e leave your island we shall set him free; but renew your attack upon us and this white man who holds him says that he will cut out his heart and feed it to the fox,” which was rather a bloodthirsty state; but she knew enough of the superstitious fears of the ancient japanese to feel confident that this threat would have considerable weight with the subjects of the young Lord of Yoka
Again the natives conferred in whispers Finally he who had acted as spokesers
”We shall not har as you do not harm Oda Iseka; but we shall watch you always until you leave the island, and if harm befalls him then shall you never leave, for we shall kill you all”
Barbara translated the man's words to the mucker
”Do youse fall fer dat?” he asked
”I think they will be careful to irl; ”but never for an instant must we cease our watchfulness for at the first opportunity I am sure that they will murder us”
They turned back to Theriere now The , where Byrne had deposited hi from Oda Iseka's mouth
”Which way is water? Ask hiirl put the question
”He says that straight up this ravine behind us there is a little spring,” translated the girl
Byrne lifted Theriere in his ar hirass rope; then he motioned the youth up the ravine
”Walk beside , ”an' keep yer lamps peeled behind”
Thus, in silence, the party coh and precipitous, while behind the sa the mucker commenced to feel the effects of loss of blood frohed a little now from the exertion, and when he did the blood spurted anew from the fresh wound in his breast
Yet there was no wavering or weakness apparent to the girl who marched beside him, and she wondered at the physical endurance of the man
But when at last they ca rocks and long rotto of enchanting loveliness, and Oda Iseka signaled that their journey was at an end, Byrne laid Theriere gently upon the flower-starred sward, and with a little, choking gasp collapsed, unconscious, beside the French was horror-stricken She suddenly realized that she had coiant of the sluht came another--that to him she had come to look more than to Theriere for eventual rescue; and now, here she found herself in the center of a savage island, surrounded as she felt confident she was by skulking e as companions
And now Oda Iseka took in the situation, and with a grin of triumph raised his voice in a loud halloo
”Come quickly, ,”
and fro shout
”We come, Oda Iseka, Lord of Yoka! Your faithful samurai come!”
CHAPTER XIII A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE
AT THE sound of the harsh voices so close upon her Barbara Harding was galvanized into instant action Springing to Byrne's side she whipped Theriere's revolver from his belt, where it reposed about the fallen ress upon the youth
”Quick!” she cried ”Tell theo back--that I shall kill you if they come closer”