Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

30 : FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. with her, but she ordered them to re-| He spoke so gently that. Maud allowed main where they were. herself to be led along. She believed that They obeyed, and off she set alone.|the one way to hold him to his promise She had not gone far within the forest; wasto humor him. Little did she im- when she came upon the man shesought, | agine what he meant by his ‘‘last sacri- sunburned, bearded, ragged, but stand- fice!” ing erect with an air of proud defiance. “Vou won’t be long?’ she asked as ‘‘Father!’? she cried, reaching her | they trudged rapidly through the forest, hands toward him. _. }ever ascending the mountain. | “Maud! My child!’ heanswered, with; ‘No,’ he answered, ‘‘not long; but aslight quiver in his voice. “I knew! Jet’s hurry.” you!” He increased his pace almost to a run. ‘And I knew you! Oh! why do you; Maud found it difficult to keep up. He stay here? Come hone, father. Mother fairly dragged her. up ‘the steep ascent. 1Sp—mnen”? | | Vegetation grew thinner rapidly, and at Her tears prevented her from finishing | last all turf ceased. They were upon lava the sad sentence. | The father had not advanced to greet! taken root there. | her. He stood very still, thinking, his} ‘Ah!’ she panted, ‘‘I cannot go so eyes watching his weeping daughter! fast.” greedily. As she spoke she saw a lurid column “She is dead ?”? he said at last. of smoke rising from the summit before ‘“Yes,”? sobbed Maud, ‘‘and I want you;her, but still a considerable distance so much, papa dear!’ away. | “Your uncle is with you?’’ he said,| Jt gave her a new and terrible fear. abruptly. - Was that the home of her father’s ‘Ves, and he wants you to come home : heathen gods? . —I’m stire he does! He could not mean; ‘You must hurry,’? responded her You harin ! I did think last nighit i | father, savagely. } | She paused, ashamed to own herdread-| ‘‘] cannot,’? she pleaded, sinking ful suspicions. down. ‘‘Oh! father, please return. Let “‘Ffah!? hecried, savagely. ‘‘He wants/| us not go farther.” | me! Wouldn’t harm me, eh? Rubbish!; ‘False one!’’? he shrieked, ‘‘it is the He’s a bad man. He would snatch mej will of the gods! Do you not understand? from my religion, the only true religion— | Years of my life I denied their pewer. sacred, everlasting fire!’ | | Now I serve them well, but they demand His voice rose toa shrill scream. Hea final sacrifice before I can dwell in their was in a frenzy of excitement. ‘home with them. The gods call for you! Maud, terribly alarmed and shocked at We will go to them together Come!’ the discovery. of his condition, tried to! Maud shrieked and sought to tear her- soothe him. He listened to her pleading | self from her insane father’sclutch. With for a moment, and then, melting sud-|a howl of wrath he stooped and took her denly, took her hand caressingly. 'in his arms.. His strength was as terrible ‘*Come, my child,’’ he said. ‘‘Let me!as his purpose. Her struggles were as show vou where I live and where the! vain as a babe’s. 7 beds so fresh that not even grass had gods dwell.”? | As if her weight were nothing, he ‘*No, no, dear father, > she answered. : leaped with her over the rough lava bed, “Upon the water? Never!” | Walloa’s crater, from within which the His excitemert threatened to return, | voleanic fire was sending forth flame and but a wily expression stole into his eyes: smoke and hot ashes. | as he controlled himself. ) | It wasthen, just then, as the white “JT will go with you,’’ he said, calmly, {high priest of the fire worshipers was ‘“but first for a last sacrifice to the gods| picking up his own daughter to carry her who have protected me here. Then weja living sacrifice to the volcano, that will go together. Come, daughter.”? Frank and Gillette emerged from the for EOMIC DOG (CO