VALLEY OF THE FIRELEAF

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22431, 18 June 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

VALLEY OF THE FIRELEAF

“Look out!” shouted Peter Lane huskily, ducking lour over his tired pony’s neck as a huge winged shape swooped over him. •It's an eagle!” Geoff, his brother, and Tolgan, the Asiatic guide, gripped their weapons defensively, but instead of attacking them, the giant bird merely alighted on one of the scattered tom which lay along this fringe of the great Gobi Desert of Central Asia. A few moments later a whistle sounded, and a young white, girl . with friendly blue eyes and a mop of curly dark hair hurried into < view, only to halt in evident asI tonisbment at sight of the riders. "We are really with a scientific expedition led by bur father. Professor Lane.” explained Peter, alter ho had introduced himself and his companions, “but yesterday during « dust storm in the desert we were , -separated from the others, and . have been trying to find them ever Since.” “My name’s Marjorie Prescott, and my father is an oil prospector. 1 Whs just looking for Astra, my pet eagle. The Mongols use eagles for hunting game, you know, and I bought Astra from one of them when it was quite small,” Came the prompt response, and at the girl’s call the bird flew to her and perched gently on her outstretched arm. “wit I’m afraid father is very ill, and—" Without finishing Marjorie led the tray to a rude shelter, where lay fin elderly man, weather-beaten but thin and exhausted. Tolgan, the guide, knew most of the ailments occurring in that part of the world, and after a short examination he stood Up, looking grave. “Very bad.” he announced in his hailing English. “Only flreleaf can make better. Must find within three days.” His puzzled hearers looked blank, but after careful questioning they learned that the flreleaf was a rfife herb (regarded by the natives as sacred, because of its almost miraculous healing powers) which was Only to be found in a remote valley a lull day’s ride from where they new were. Unless the flreleaf were brought to Mr Prescott within three days at most—it would be too late!

*TI! go at once! There are two faithful native servants who will look after dad until I return,” cried Marjorie eagerly, but. Peter and Geoff insisted on escorting her, and Tolgan was needed also, as guide. Pood and a few hours’ rest were

essential for the boys and their mounts, but in the early afternoon the little party of four rode off on their strange quest, with Astra, the eagle, balancing contentedly upon his mistress’s shoulder. Several miles had been covered before a low nimble of many galloping hooves made the ground tremble.

“Wild horses!” exclaimed Geoff, as a mob of shaggy ponies dashed into sight In a panic-stricken stampede. “Mongols chase ’em!” muttered Tolgan uneasily. “This land belong to Kamur—very fierce chief. Very bad if he catch us!” As if in answer to his words, close on the trails of the fleeing herd appeared a band of brown-faced, wildlooking horsemen—hardy nomads of the central Asian deserts, Each man carried a curious lasso consisting of a noose at the end of a long but light wooden pale, and on seeing the four newcomers the hunters swerved ah'd charged towards them With a chorus of earsplitting yells. “They mean mischief,” snapped Peter grimly, and in hot haste he and his comrades urged their steeds into thundering flight, i

They had entered a rough and broken-up region, but Tolgan led them at reckless speed and with wonderful skill. At first capture was desperately near. The long lasso-pole of one of the Mongols thrust past Geoff. A second later the noose would have been about his pony’s neck, but the quickwitted boy grabbed the rod and tugged at It so suddenly that his pursuer overbalanced and pitched to earth?

On the heels of Tolgan the brothers twisted arid turned among the bewildering hillocks and gullies, never for an instant being able to relax their attention from the ground ahead as they guided their straining mounts.

Slowly but steadily they drew away, and at length all sound of pursuit died behind them. At Tol* gen’s signal the riders drew rein—and made a startling discovery.

"Where's Marjorie?” almost shouted Geoff. “I thought she ,was With US, but—” In stunned dismay the brothers stared at one another. The girl had vanished, but Just then With a swish of wings a great form flashed downwards from the sky m and alighted beside them. 4 It was Astra. Very ruffled in plumage, and clicking its powerful curved beak angrily.

•T ean guess what has happened,” said Peter quietly. "The .Mongols managed to lasso Marjorie’s horse and captured her, unnoticed by us. Astra .flew to her aid, hut was beaten off after a fight. And now he has come back to call us to the rescuer Toigan's broad wrinkled, face was thoughtful, and presently with the help of a simple map traced in the sandy soil he explained the route which he thought the nomads and their captive would most probably follow. - . . "Here they cross river,” he dedared, pointing. "No chance to fight in swift watersl”.. "You mean we could ambush them at the ford and rescue Marjorie in the confusion?” nodded peter shrewdly. "Good notion, Toigan!” With renewed hope and energy the three rode on, curving northward, and the pet eagle accompanied them readily enough. Taking every possible short cut, they arrived at the rapid, muddy-looking wilderness river well ahead of the Mongols.

It was an ideal spot for the purpose, the fording place being hemmed in by high steep banks covered with boulders and stunted bushes Which, afforded splendid concealment. They had not long to wait.

True to Tolgan's prediction, the winding cavalcade soon appeared, clattering towards the water’s edge. In the midst of them rode Marjorie, her arms bound, but her head held bravely up. Into the river splashed the nomads, and the foremost riders were at least two-thirds of the way across when, suddenly and mysteriously, a shower of large stones began to fall round and among theml Geoff and Tolgan were doing their work well from the bank above, and the frightened ponies of their foes reared and kicked and stumbled in the strong current, ,

A Story for Boys—and Girls, too, for the Matter of That

Shouts of wrath rose from the desert dwellers as they strove to control their high-spirited mounts, and at the same time Peter rode into the water from the opposite bank and seized the bridle of Marjorie’s horse. Kamur himself, the brawny leader of the Mongols, made an enraged attempt' to prevent his prisoner’s escape; but, like a thunderbolt, Astra, which Geoff had loosed, descended upon him, beating savagely with its mighty Wings. Knocked, almost senseless by the terrific blows, Kamur toppled helplessly into the river, and only in the nick of time Was he saved by his followers from being swept away.

Meanwhile Pete?. hastily cut through Marjorie's bends, and the pair rode like the wind to where Geoff and Tolgan awaited them. Astra also quickly returned to its mistress.

That night was spent in a wellhidden hollow, and long before dawn they were again on their Way, until at last Tolgan _led them Into the seldoffl-Vlsited Valley Of the FireleSf, a broad groove-like depression with sparse vegetation. “Beheld, the sacred, flreleaf!” cried the guide, Showing them scattered tufts of a little plant growing mostly beneath projecting ledges of rock. “Why, look, the yexrts Of the leaves are quite red!" remarked Geoff. “Thai’s why it's called fireleaf. t suppose. 0 ~ , . “This is a queer kina of rock, too." said Marjorie, picking up a small broken-off lump akin to the surrounding outcrops, after they had gathered a sufficient quantity of the lreieaf. “It’s heavier even than lead, i must take a piece to show to poor dad when he is better/' Marjorie and her friends did hot linger long in the valley. Already half of their three days was gone, and every minute counted. Hardly had they begun the return journey, however, than far ahead they discerned a strong body of horsemen approaching, “Kamur againl’’ grunted Geoff disgustedly, and the other two groaned in dismay. Only Tolgan remained unconcerned. “Flreleaf. Sacred herb,” he told them calmly, / “Mongols not dare to touch anyone who wear it. See?” The others needed no urging. With one accord they pinned sprigs of the flreleaf on their chests.

n We had better give ASlfa SOiftfe, too, in case Karmir tries to revenge himself for his unexpected bath!” grinned Geoff, tying a large bunch to the eagle’s leg. Homing to save time, they tut across a desolate stretch Of the vast Gobi Itself, and before half the distance was traversed, a dark smoke-like ball began to Spread over the distant plain. “Another dust storm!’’ exclaimed Peter, shading his eyefl. “Qulek, tie the ponies together. We mustn’t lose each other this time.”

None too soon the suggestion was carried out, lor in an incredibly short time the storm was upon them. Whipped by the wind, the fine flying grains stung and blinded the four adventurers, but, linked ■ together* their steeds still plodded patiently onward. The sun was blotted out by the thick dust clouds and th« Wind snatched and tore at the riders like a hungry wolf. Marjorie had to release Astra in ofrtef to cling more fltwily to her saddle.

She knew that the eagle would easily And its way to safety. After nearly an hour of ceaseless fury the storm passed almost as abruptly as it had arisen, but night was -ar advanced when the trayel-atalned wanderers arrived at their destination.

The OM Farm.—Drawn by Ellau hath O’Rotke, Lake Coleridge

The two bpys and Marjorie slid wearily to the ground. Mr Prescott they found growing steadily •weaker, and a sudden cry. from Tolgan heralded a staggering shock. “The flreleal! It genet” The guide’s words were only too true. The bundles of the precious herb had been fastened to the ponies' saddles, but the terrific on- , slaught of the storm had ripped them loose. In the darkness the riders had not noticed the loss-*-and there was now no time to return to the valley for a fresh supply! • It was a sleepless and miserably dejected group which watched the sunrise a while later, “Why, here’s Astra,” said Geoff presently, as the tame eagle glided low overhead, then his listless tone changed to a whoop of delight. Still dangling from the bird's leg was the large bunch Of flreleal which he himself had half jokingly tied there! Rising far above the desert storm the wide-winged Astra had safely borne the leafy burden home, and in breathless relief Marjorie took the bunch from her pet. Tolgan boiled the leaves thoroughly and strained off the juice, which soon cooled and set into a thin jelly. This he gave to Mr Prescott a spoonful at a time. There was barely enough of the preparation, but the watchers were amazed at the way in which the sick man gained strength. That evening, when Mr Prescott was well On, the road to full recovery, the boy’s father. Professor Bane, and his expedition arrived, having been seeking the missing members for days. When the Professor saw the curious lump of “rock” which Marjorie had brought back, his eyes grew keen., “The Valley of the Flreleaf has not only made your father well; it has also made you both rich” ha told her quietly. "This Is platinum —these silvery streaks—a metal more valuable even than gold, and you seem to have found a large deposit of It!” But both Marjorie and her father Insisted on taking Peter, Geoff, and Tolgan into partnership to share their unexpected find—and as if to show his satisfaction at the arrangement, Astra, the eagle, slowly stretched his magnificent Wings and uttered a scream of triumph!