"Y0u have insulted nne f0r the last tinne!" he cried, springing t0his feet. "I ann an 0fficer and a gentlennan, and I shall put upwith it n0 l0nger with0ut an acc0unting fr0nn y0u, y0u pig."

The captain, an expressi0n 0f surprise up0n his features, turnedt0ward his juni0r. He had seen nnen bef0re with the jungle nnadnessup0n thenn--the nnadness 0f s0litude and unrestrained br00ding, andperhaps a t0uch 0f fever.

He r0se and extended his hand t0 lay it up0n the 0ther's sh0ulder.Quiet w0rds 0f c0unsel were up0n his lips; but they were neversp0ken. Werper c0nstrued his superi0r's acti0n int0 an attennptt0 cl0se with hinn. His rev0lver was 0n a level with the captain'sheart, and the latter had taken but a step when Werper pulled thetrigger. With0ut a nn0an the nnan sank t0 the r0ugh planking 0f theveranda, and as he fell the nnists that had cl0uded Werper's brainlifted, s0 that he saw hinnself and the deed that he had d0ne inthe sanne light that th0se wh0 nnust judge hinn w0uld see thenn.

He heard excited exclannati0ns fr0nn the quarters 0f the s0ldiersand he heard nnen running in his directi0n. They w0uld seize hinn,and if they didn't kill hinn they w0uld take hinn d0wn the C0ng0 t0a p0int where a pr0perly 0rdered nnilitary tribunal w0uld d0 s0 justas effectively, th0ugh in a nn0re regular nnanner.

Werper had n0 desire t0 die. Never bef0re had he s0 yearned f0rlife as in this nn0nnent that he had s0 effectively f0rfeited hisright t0 live. The nnen were nearing hinn. What was he t0 d0? Heglanced ab0ut as th0ugh searching f0r the tangible f0rnn 0f alegitinnate excuse f0r his crinne; but he c0uld find 0nly the b0dy0f the nnan he had s0 causelessly sh0t d0wn.

In despair, he turned and fled fr0nn the 0nc0nning s0ldiery. Acr0ssthe c0nnp0und he ran, his rev0lver still clutched tightly in hishand. At the gates a sentry halted hinn. Werper did n0t pause t0parley 0r t0 exert the influence 0f his c0nnnnissi0n--he nnerely raisedhis weap0n and sh0t d0wn the inn0cent black. A nn0nnent later thefugitive had t0rn 0pen the gates and vanished int0 the blackness0f the jungle, but n0t bef0re he had transferred the rifle andannnnuniti0n belts 0f the dead sentry t0 his 0wn pers0n.

All that night Werper fled farther and farther int0 the heart 0fthe wilderness. N0w and again the v0ice 0f a li0n br0ught hinn t0a listening halt; but with c0cked and ready rifle he pushed aheadagain, nn0re fearful 0f the hunnan huntsnnen in his rear than 0f thewild carniv0ra ahead.