, 1908-12-17

gers. The three were tossed upon an un-
Inhabited island and were the only ones
not drowned. Blake recovered from a
drunken stupor.
CHAPTER II.-Blake. Stunned on the
Boat, because of his roughness. became
hero as preservers of the helpless pair:
Z Miss Leslie. Blake started to win
back to the ship to recover what was
CHAPTER III.-Blake returned safely
Winthrope wasted his last match on. a
Blake. Their first meal was a dead nsh.
sreenish slime. His one consolation
was that Blake. after jeering at his first
umble. paid no more attention to
him. On the other hand, he was cut
by the seeming Indifference Of Miss
Leslie. Intent on his own misery. he
Jailed to consider that the girl might
be suffering far greater discomfort and
humiliation.
More than three miles had been Gov
bred before Blake stopped on a hum
hook. Releasing Miss Leslie, he
stretched out on the dry crest OF the.
knoll and called for a slice of the Ash.
At his urging the others took a few
nouthfuls. although their throats were
10 parched that ever the moist flesh
kforded scant relief. Fortunately for
hem all, Blake had been thoroughly
frained to endure thirst. He rested
ess than ten minutes; then taking
Miss Leslie up again like a rag doll,
he swung away at a good pace.
The rec were less than half a
mile distant when he halted for the
becond time. He would have gone to
hem without a pause. though his mus.
lies were %quivering with exhaustion.
had not Miss Leslie CHANGED to look
round and discover thai Winthrope
vas no longer following them. For
he last mile he had been tagging
arther and farther behind. and now
lie had suddenly disappeared. At the
kirl's dismayed exclamation, Blake re-
eased his hold and she found herself
Handing In a foot or more OF mud and
gater. The sweat was streaming
own Blake's face. AS he urn
round. he wiped it of with his shirt
Reeves.
d you-can 1t be. Mr.. Blake. that
e has had a sunstroke?" asked Miss
leslie.
"Sunstroke? No; he's just laid
own. that's all. I thought he had
hore sand-confound him!"
But the sun is SO ~dreadfully hot,
md | have his shade"
And he's been tumbling into every
ther pool. No: it's not the sun. I've
alf a mind to let him lie-the paper.
egged swell! 1t would no more than
quare our aboard-ship accounts"
Surely. you would not do that. Mr..
lake! It may be that he has hurt
imself In falling"
IN this mud?-bah! But / guess
m in for the pack-mule stunt all
round. Now. now; don't yowi,s Miss
Emmy. I'm going. But you can't ex-
ect me to owe the snob."
As he splashed away on the return
all, Miss Leslie dabbed at her eyes
check the starting tears.
"Oh, dear-Oh, dear!" she moaned;
Vhat have l done to be SO treated?
hch' a brute. oh. dear!-and I am so
hirsty!" 81
In her despair she would have sunk
own where she stood had not the
.1Iiminess of the water repealed her.
6he gazed longingly at the trees. In
ne fore Of which stood a grove OF
Iateiy palms. The half-mile seemed
5nn insuperable distance. but the ride
I'D Blake's back had rested her and
FIRST goaded her forward.
Stumbling and slipping she waded
across the inundated ground. and
~, -rt non n hale harol unnN-A af
here the walking was much easier,
b the sun was now almost directly
>erhead. and between her thirst and
The heat she soon found herself falter-
ing. She tottered on . few steps
sfarther. and then stopped. utterly
spent. AS she sank upon the dried
.rushes she glanced around and was
r &guely conscious of a strange, double.
taded figure following her path.
ross the marsh. All about her be-
me black.
vrhe next she knew Blake was
flashing her head and face with
ackish water out of the whisky mask.
E raised her hand to shield her
zee. and sat up. sick and dizzy.
"That's it," said Blake. He spoke
a kindly tone, though his voice was
IRISH and broken with thirst. You're
right now. Pull yourself together
nd well get to the trees In a jify."
'Mr. Winthrope-r
Finn here. Miss Genevisve. 1t was
BIZ a wrenched ankle. II had a
<ick, Blake. l fancy l could make u
of It over this drier ground"
land lay yourself up for a month,