The Mena weekly star., 1908-12-03
CHAPTER VII.
Around the Headlsnd.

A Blake reappeared. He came from the mangrove swamp where 1t ran down into the sea. His trousers were smeared to the thigh with slimy mud: but as he approached the dropping brim of his palmleaf hat failed to hide his exultant expression.
 Come on." he called. I've struck it. We'll be over in half an hour
 ''How's that?" asked Winthrope.
 Bar" answered Blake, hurrying forward. Sling on your hats and get into my coat again. Miss Jenny. The suns hot as yesterday. How about the nuts?"
 Here they are. Three strings; all that I fancied we could carry" ex- plained Winthrope.
 All right. The big one Is mine. I suppose. I'll take two. We'll leave the other. Lean on me if your ankle is still weak"
 Thanks; I can make it alone. But must we go through mud like that?"
 Not on this side. at least. Come onl We don't want to miss the ebb."
 Blakes impatience discouraged further inquiries. He had turned as he spoke. and the others followed him, walking close together. The pace was sharp for Winthrope, and his ankle soon began to twinge. He was com pelled to accept Miss Leslie's invita- ton to take her arm. With her help he managed to keep within few yards of Blake.
 Instead of plunging into the man grove wood, which here was under grown with thicket of giant ferns, Blake skirted around in the open un- til they came to the seashore. The tide was at it's lowest, and he waved his club towards long sand pit which curved out around the seaward edge of the mangroves. Whether this was part of the rivers bar or had been heaped up by the cyclone would have been beyond Winthrope's knowledge had the question occurred to him. It was enough for him that the sand was smooth and hard as race track.
 Presently the party came to the end of the spit, where the river water rip pied over the sand with the last feeble out-suck of the ebb. On their right they had sweeping view of the river, around the flank of the man. grove screen. Blake halted at the edge of the water and half turned
 Close up." he said. It's shallow enough; but do you see those logs over on the mud-bank? Those are al ligators.'
 "Mercy--and you expect me to wade among such creatures?" cried Miss Leslie
 q went almost across an hour ago and they didn't bother me any. Come on, There's wind in that cloud out seaward. Inside half an hour the surfil be rolling up on this bar like all Niagara"
 If we must. we must. Miss Gene vieve," urged Winthrope. Step behind me and gather up your skirts. It's best to keep ones clothes dry in the tropics"
 The girl blushed. and retained his arm.
 T prefer to help you" she replied
 Come on!" called Blake. and he splashed out into the water.
 The others followed within arms length, nervously conscious of the rows of motionless reptiles on tho mud-flat, not 100 yards distant.
 In the center of the bar. where the water was a trifie over knee-deep some large creature came dartint downstream beneath the surface ant passed with a violent swirl between Blake and his companions. At Miss Leslie's scream. Blake whirled abou and jabbed with his club at the sup posed alligator.
 Where's the brute? Has he go l you?" he shouted
 No, no; he went byl" gasped Win l thrope There he is!"
 A long bony snout. frlnged on eithel side by row Of lateral teeth, wa flung up Into view.
 eSawhsh," said Blake. and he wades on across the bar without further com