The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-12-31


thrOpe's ankle-not for WinthrOpe-
Blake set so slow pace that the half
miles walk consumed over half an
hour. But his smouldering irri ion
was soon quenched when they drew
near the green thicket at the foot of
the cleft. In the almost deathlike
stiffness of mid-afternoon. the sound
of trickling water came to their ears,
clear and musical
"A spring." shouted Blake. 81
guessed right Look at those green
plants and grass; there's the channel
where it runs out in the sand and
dries up"
The others followed him eagerly as
he pushed in among the trees. They
saw no running water, for the tiny
rill that trickled down the lodges was
matted over with vines. But at the
foot of the slope lay a pool. some ten
yards across, and overshadowed by the
surrounding trees. There was no
underbrush, and the ground was
trampled bare as a floor.
by Jove," said Winthrope; see the
tracks! There must have been a drove
of sheep about"
Deer, you mean" replied Blake,
bending to examine the deeper prints
at the edge of the pool These amt
sheep tracks. A lot of them are
larger"
Gould you not uncover the brooke"
asked Misc eclio lie ava
been drinking here, one would prefer
cleaner water"
Sure" assented Blake. IF you're
game for climb. and can wait few
minutes. We'll get it out of the spring
itself We've got to go up anyway, to
get at our poultry yard!"
Here's a place that looks like a
path called Winthrope, who had cir
cled about the edge of the pool to the
farther side.
Blake ran around beside him and
stared at the tunnel-like passage which
wound up the limestone lodges be-
meath the overarching thickets.
odd place, is it not?" observed
Winthrope. Looks like a fox run,
only larger, you know"
TOO low for deer. though-and
their hoofs would have cut up the
moss and ferns more. Let's get a
close look"
AS he spoke. Blake stopped and
climbed a few yards up the trail to an
overhanging ledge, four or five feet
high. Where the trail ran up over
this break in the slope the stone was
bare of all vegetation. Blake laid his
club on the top of the ledge, and was
about TO vault after it, when, directly
beneath his nose, he saw the print of
a great catlike paw, outlined in dried
mud. At the same instant a deep
growl came rumbling down the fox
run Without waiting for a second
warning, Blake drew his club to him.
and crept back down the trail His
stealthy movements and furtive back
ward glances filled his companions
with vague terror. He himself was
hardly less alarmed.
Get out of the trees-into the open,"
as they crept away, white with dread
of the unknown danger, he followed at
their heels, looking backward, his club
raised in readiness TO strike.
Once clear Of the trees. Winthrope
caught Miss Leslie by the hand and
broke into a run. In their terror they
paid no heed to Blakes command to
stop. They had darted off so unex-
pectedly that he did not overtake them
short of 100 yards.
Hold on" he said, gripping Win
thrope roughly by the shoulder. It's
safe enough here, and you'll knock out
that blamed ankle
What is it? What did you see?"
gasped Miss Leslie
Footprint" mumbled Blake, ashamed
of his fright
"a lion's?" cried Winthrope
Not so large-'bout the size Of a
pumas Must be a leopard's den up
there. | heard a growl, and thought it
about time TO clear out"
by Jove, we'd better withdraw
around the point"
Withdraw your aunty, There's no
leopard going to tackle us out here in
open ground this time of day. The
sneaking tomcat, If only | had a
match. I'd show him how we smoke
rat holes"
Mr., WINTHROP spoke of rubbing
sticks to make fire" suggested Miss
Leslie.
Make sweat. you mean. But we
may as well try it now, if we're going
to at all The suns hot enough to fry
eggs. Well go back to a shady place
and pick up sticks on the way"
Though there was shade under the
cliff within some 500 feet, they had
TO go some distance to the nearest dry
wood-a dead thornbush. Here they
gathered quantity of branches, even
Miss Leslie volunteering to carry a
load
All was thrown down in a heap near
the cliff and Blake squatted beside it,
penknife in hand. Having selected the
dryest OF the larger sticks, he bored a
hole in one side and dropped in a
pinch Of powdered bark. Laying the
stick in the full glare of the sun, he
thrust a twig into the hole and began
to twirl it between his palms This