The Mena weekly star., 1908-12-03
cliffs said Miss Leslie.

clins, said MISS Leslie.
 Now you're talking-and it's Pike Peak or bust for ours. Here's one night to the good; but we won't last many more If we don't get fire. It's 1ints we're after now"
 Could we not make fire by rubbing sticks?r said Winthrope, recalling his suggestion of the previous morning. I've heard that natives have no trouble"
 "So've I, and what's more. I've seen 'em do it. Never could make a go of It myself, though
 But if you remember how 1t is done we have at least some chance"
 Give you ten to one odds! No: we'll scratch around for a flint good and plenty before we waste time that way"
 "The mist is going" observed Miss Leslie.
 That's no lie. Now for our coyotes. Where's my club?"
 They've all left" said Winthrope, peering down. T can see the ground clearly, and there is not sign of the beasts"
 There are the bones-what's left Of them," added Blake. Its small deer. I suppose. We'll. here goes"
 He threw down his club and dropped the loose end of the creeper after it. AS the line strengthened he twisted the upper part around his leg and was about to slide to the ground when he remembered Miss Leslie.
 Think you can make 1t alone?" he asked
 The girl held up her hands sore and swollen from the lacerations of the thorns. Blake looked at them, frowned and turned to Winthrope.
 "Um. you got it. too. and in the face" he grunted. 'Iow's your ankle?"
 winthrope wriggled his foot about and felt the injured ankle.
 q fancy it is much better" he an swered There seems to be no swell ing. and there is no pain now"
 That's lucky; though it will tune up later. Take slide. now. We've got to hustle our breakfast and find a way to get over the river"
 How wide is it?" inquired Win thrope, gazing at his swollen hands.
 About 300 yards at high tide. May be narrower at ebb."
 Could you not build raft?" sug gested Miss Leslie.
 Blake smiled at her simplicity. Why not boat? We've got penknife."
 Well. then, 1 can swim
 Bully for you! Guess. though, vel try something else. The river is chucl full of alligators. What you waitine for. Pat? We haven't got all day tt fool around here"
 Winthrope twisted the creeper abou his leg and slid to the ground, doint all he could to favor his hands. H' found that he could walk without pain and at once stepped over beside Blake's club, glancing nervousl, around at the jungle.
 Blake jerked up the end of tho creeper. and passed the loop abou Miss Leslie, Before she had time t' become frightened he swung her owe and lowered her to the ground lightl' AS a feather. He followed. hand unde hand. and stood for moment beside her. staring at the dew-dripping foll age of the jungle. Then the remains of the nights quarry caught his eye and he walked over to examine them
 Say. Pat" he called. these don look like deer bones. I'd say--yes there's the feet-its pig"
 Any tusks?" demanded Winthrope
 Miss Leslie looked away. A heap o bones, however cleanly gnawed, is no a pleasant sight. The skull of thu animal seemed to be missing; bu Blake stumbled upon it in tuft o grass and kicked 1t out upon the opel ground. Every shred of hide an' gristle had been gnawed from 1t by thu iackals: yet if there had been an, doubt as to the creatures identit, there was evidence to spare in the say age tusks which projected from tn jaws.
 eJe-rusalemv" observed Blake; "thi | old boar must have been somethini of a scrapper his own self Tn India they have been known | kin a tiger, Can you knock out th l tusks?"
 What for?"
 Well you said we had nothing 10 arrow points"
 Good boyi Wen cinch them am ask questions later" | A few blows with the club loosene' the tusks. Blake handed them over | winthrope, together with the whisk flask, and led the way to the hall broken patch through the thicket. 1 free use of his club made the path little more worthy of the name, am as there was less need of haste thal on the previous evening, Winthrop and Miss Leslie came through wit only a few fresh scratches. Once o open ground again, they soon gaine tue fallen palms.
 At word from Blake. Miss Lesli hastened to fetch nuts for Winthrop to husk and open Blake, who ha plucked three leaves from a fan palr
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