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With the girl safe behind the tree, I stepped out in sight of the advancing foe,

shouting to them that I was no enemy, and that they should halt and listen to

me. But for answer they only yelled in derision and launched a couple of spears

at me, both of which missed.

I saw then that I must fight, yet still I hated to slay them, and it was only as a

final resort that I dropped two of them with my rifle, bringing the others to a

temporary halt. Again, I appealed to them to desist. But they only mistook my

solicitude for them for fear, and, with shouts of rage and derision, leaped forward

once again to overwhelm me.

It was now quite evident that I must punish them severely, or--myself--die and

relinquish the girl once more to her captors. Neither of these things had I the

slightest notion of doing, and so I again stepped from behind the tree, and, with

all the care and deliberation of target practice, I commenced picking off the

foremost of my assailants.

One by one the wild men dropped, yet on came the others, fierce and vengeful,

until, only a few remaining, these seemed to realize the futility of combating my

modern weapon with their primitive spears, and, still howling wrathfully,

withdrew toward the west.

Now, for the first time, I had an opportunity to turn my attention toward the girl,

who had stood, silent and motionless, behind me as I pumped death into my

enemies and hers from my automatic rifle.

She was of medium height, well formed, and with fine, clear-cut features. Her

forehead was high, and her eyes both intelligent and beautiful. Exposure to the

sun had browned a smooth and velvety skin to a shade which seemed to enhance

rather than mar an altogether lovely picture of youthful femininity.

A trace of apprehension marked her expression--I cannot call it fear since I have

learned to know her--and astonishment was still apparent in her eyes. She stood

quite erect, her hands still bound behind her, and met my gaze with level, proud

return.

"What language do you speak?" I asked. "Do you understand mine?"

"Yes," she replied. "It is similar to my own. I am Grabritin. What are you?"

"I am a Pan-American," I answered. She shook her head. "What is that?"

I pointed toward the west. "Far away, across the ocean."

The Lost Continent