CHAPTER XII. AZURMA FINDS LEO.
Reginald Lacy sank to the ground in a dejected manner when he foundthat the mouth of the passage was blocked.
“We can’t get out,” he said, hoarsely. “We may as well make up ourminds that we have got to starve to death!”
“Brace up!” exclaimed Leo. “Never give up until you are sure that youare lost. It was only a short time ago that I was certain that I wasrushing to my death. But I was saved, and that has taught me a lesson.I will not give up now until I feel the last breath leaving my body.”
The boy’s words seemed to imbue the man with a new hope.
He struggled to his feet again and patted his faithful dog on the head.
“If I only had something to eat,” he said, “there might be a chance. Iam very hungry, and so is Jupiter.”
“Let us find something to eat.”
“Where?”
“Around here, somewhere. There might be living creatures about; we havenot searched, you know.”
“That’s so; I never gave it a thought before. Lead on and take myrifle; maybe you will be able to shoot something.”
Leo took the weapon and saw that it was loaded with but four cartridges.
That was the only firearm between the two, Leo having lost his when hetumbled down the rocky decline in the Devil’s Kingdom.
“We have only got four shots to depend on,” said the boy, motioningLacy to follow him; “but if I have occasion to use them I’ll make everyone tell.”
His companion nodded, and the two started back toward the place theyhad come from.
In a few minutes they reached the shore and began looking about themfor some signs of a creature that might do to eat.
A couple of hundred yards to the right was a group of rocks, whichlooked as though it might possibly contain the lair of a wild beast ofsome sort.
Toward this Leo directed his steps, Lacy following.
They searched about the place for over half an hour, but not a livingthing could they come across.
Again they sat down, Lacy being very dejected.
The dog, who had been nosing about considerably, suddenly started offat a quick bound, at the same time uttering a short bark.
“He has struck the trail of something!” exclaimed Reginald Lacy,springing to his feet as quickly as his feeble condition would allowhim.
“Let us follow him,” says Leo.
Away they went after Jupiter, in the hopes that he was about to startup some game.
They had no sooner entered a small passage between two clefts of rockthan they were startled by hearing a wild scream.
“Great God!” exclaimed Lacy. “What is that?”
“It sounds to me like the cry of a female in distress,” replied hisyoung companion, turning about and starting hurriedly in the directionthe scream came from.
In a few seconds Leo came in sight of Azurma, with the horriblepicuasus pursuing her.
Again a wild scream left the girl’s lips, and though the distance wasrather great, the boy instantly concluded to risk a shot.
He knew full well if he missed the girl was lost, and that nerved himto do his best.
He placed his rifle to his shoulder, and, taking a quick aim, pulledthe trigger.
Crack!
As the report rung out the picuasus fell, the bullet having pierced oneof its eyes.
As brave as she was, Azurma had swooned, and as soon as he reached thespot, Leo set about to bring her to.
He soon accomplished this, and by the time Reginald Lacy reached thespot she was sitting up clasping her preserver by the hands and gazinginto his eyes in a mute expression of joy.
“I have found you, O my future lord and master!” she said, and then shedid not speak again for fully a minute.
Reginald Lacy stood staring at her like one in a dream. At length hespoke.
“How did you get here, miss?” he asked. “Can you lead us to a placewhere we can get something to eat?”
“Are you hungry?” said Azurma, rising to her feet and unslinging thebag from her shoulder. “If you are, eat.”
Lacy needed no second invitation.
He seized the food with a cry of joy and began devouring it ravenously.
“God bless you, my girl!” he exclaimed, hoarsely; “you have saved mylife. But my dog must have something, too. I will call him, and sharewith him.”
He gave a long whistle, and in a few moments Jupiter came rushing froma 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.
He scarcely noticed the dead picuasus, but at once eagerly swallowedthe food Lacy gave him.
“Now, Azurma,” said Leo, “can you take us back to the village?”
“I can, and will at once, O my----”
“Hold on,” interrupted the boy. “Call me Leo; don’t use any morehigh-fangled titles--I don’t like it.”
“Be it as you say, then, Leo. Whenever you are ready, I will conductyou safely to your friends and mine.”
Then, acting on Azurma’s advice, he seized her by the hand and startedwith all speed for the stream, Lacy and the dog following close behind.
Once there, Leo turned to look for Reginald Lacy and the dog.
A startling scene met his gaze.
Lacy had ventured too far out and the current had carried him off hisfeet.
Jupiter had seized him by the collar and was endeavoring to swim ashorewith him.
“Help!” exclaimed Lacy, doing his best to stem the tide.
“Let the dog swim ashore with the rope--that is your only hope!”exclaimed the boy, rushing into the water as far as he dared.
But this Jupiter could not be made to do. He was bent on saving thelife 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, inspite of the superhuman efforts they made.
Leo was completely dismayed. The very ones who had saved his life werenow going to their own death over the falls.
He had no rope to throw to them, and could but stand upon the bank andwitness it.
Faster and faster the struggling man and dog were carried, and nearerand nearer they were whirled to the falls.
Azurma had turned her back upon the scene, but a strange fascinationseemed 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.
In the Wonderful Land of Hez; or, The Mystery of the Fountain of Youth Page 12