The Mena weekly star., 1908-11-19

panions. Blake lay snoring where he had first outstretched himself. sleeping the sleep of the just--and of the drunkard. The girl, however, was already awake. She sat with her hands clasped in her lap. while the tears rolled slowly down her cheeks. "My--ah-dear Miss Genevieve, what Is the matter?" exclaimed Win thrope.
 Matter? Do you ask, when we are here on this wretched coast. and may not get away for weeks? Oh. did so count on the London season this year! Lady Bayrose promised that I should be among those presented"
 We'll. T--ah--fancy. Lady Bayrose will do no more presenting-unless it may be to the heavenly choir, you know"
 Why, what do you mean, Mir. Winthrope? You told me that she and the maids had been put in the largest boat"
 My dear Miss Genevieve, you must remember that I am a diplomat It was all quite sufficiently narrowing, l assure you. They were, indeed, put into the largest boat Beastiy mud dle!-- While they waited for the mate to fetch you. the boat was crushed alongside. and all in it drowned
 wned.--drowned Oh, dear Lady Bayrose! And she'd travelled so much--oh. oh. 1t is horrible, Why did she persuade me to visit the Cape? It was only to be with her-And then for us to start of for India, when we might have sailed straight to England! Oh. 1t is horrible! horriblel And my maid, and all-It cannot be possible!"
 Pray, do not excite yourself, my dear Miss Geneyieve. Their troubles are all over Er-Gawd has taken them to Him. you know"
 But the pity of it! To be drowned -so far from home,"
 "Ah, If that's all you're worrying sbouti--I must say I'd like to know how we'll get snack for breakfast. I'm hungry as a-er-groom.
 Eating! How can you think of eating, Mr Winthrope-and all the others drowned? This sun is becom. ing dreadfully hot. It is unbearable! Can you not put up some kind of an awning7"
 Well. now. l must say, I was never much of hand at such things, and really I cant imagine what one could rig up. There might have been a bit of sail in the boat, but one can't see sign of It. l fancy it was smashed"
 Miss Leslie ventured glance at Blake. Though still lying as he had sprawled in his drunkenness, there was a comforting suggestion of power in his broad shoulders and square jaw.
 "Is he still--in that condition!"
 Must have slept it of by this time. and there's no more in the flask" an-- swered winthrope. Reaching over with his foot, he pushed against Blake's back.
 Huh, All right" grunted the sleeper, and sat up. as had Winthrope, half dazed. Then fe stared around him, and rose to his feet. Well, what in hell Say, this is damn cheerful"
 ''I fancy we are in a nasty fix. But I say, my man. there is a woman pres ent, and your language. you know"
 Blake turned and fixed the English man with a cold stare.
 Look here. you bloomin lud." he said, there's just one thing you're going to understand, right here and now. I'm not your man, and we're not going to have any of that kind of blat- ter. Any fool can see we're in tight hole, and we're like to keep com pany for while-probably long as we last"
 "What-ah--may ask, do you mean by that?"
 Blake laughed harshly. and pointed from the reef-strewn sea to the vast stretches of desolate marsh. Far in land, across miles of brackish lagoons and reedy mud-nats. could be seen groups of scrubby. half-leafess trees; ten or twelve miles to the southward a rocky headland jutted out into the water; otherwise there was nothing in sight but sea and swamp. If 1t could not properly be termed a sea-view, it was at least very wet landscape.
 Fine prospect" remarked Blake, dryly. wen be in luck if the fever don't get the last of us inside month; and as for you two. you'd have as much show of lasting a month as a toad with a rattlesnake. if it wasn't for Tom Blake-that's my name-Tom Blake-and as long as this shindy lasts. you're welcome to call me Tom or Blake, whichever suits. But un- derstand, we're not going to have any more of your bloody. bloomin' English condescension. Aboard ship you had the drop on me. and could pile on dog till the cows came home. Here I'm Blake and you're Win .hrope."
 Believe me, Mir. Blake, quite ap- preciate the-a -ah-situation. And now. | fancy that. instead of wasting time"
 Its about time you introduced me tc the lady" interrupted Blake. and he stared at them half defiantly. yet with twinkle in his eyes.
 Miss Leslie flushed. Winthrope swore softly, and bit his lip. Aboard ship, backed by Lady Bayrose and the captain, he had goaded the American at pleasure. Now. however, the sit- uation was reversed. Both title and authority had been swept away by the storm. and he was left to shift for