, 1908-12-24
CHAPTER v.
The Re-Aseent Of Man,

Nr iEnNooN was far ad-
H vanced and Winthrope was
beginning to feel anxious
when at last Blake pushed out from
among the close thickets. AS he ap-
preached he swung an unshapely club
OF green wood. pausins every few
paces to test its weight and balance
on a bush or knob of dirt.
by Jove!" called winthrope; that's
cot half bad! You look as II you could
bowl over an OK"
Blake showed that he was hattered.
"Oh. don't know" he responded;
the things blamed unhandy. Just the
same, guess well be ready for callers
tonight"
"How's THAR"
Show you later. Pat, me by. Now
trot out some nuts. Wen feed before
we move camp"
Miss Leslie is still sleeping"
Time, then. to roust her out. Hey,
Miss Jenny. turn out! Time to chew"
. Miss Leslie sat up and gazed around
in bewilderment.
It's all right. Miss Genevieve," re-
assured Winthrope. Blake has found
a safe place for the night. and he
wishes us to eat before we leave here"
Save Juggling the grub" added
Blake. Get busy, Pat"
AS Winthrope caught up q nut the
girl began to arrange her d%isordered
hair and dress with the def and grace
full movements Of a woman thoroughly
trained in the art of self-adornment
Their was admiration in Blake's deep
eyes as he watched her dainty preen-
ing. She was not a beautiful girl-at
present she could hardly be termed
pretty; yet even in her draggled, mud
dy dress she retained all the subtle
charms Of culture which appeal so
strongly to a man. Blake was sub
dued. His feelings yer carried him
SO far as an attempt at formal polite
ness when they had finished their
meal.
Now. Miss Leslie" he began, Its
little more than half an hour to sun
down; so. II you please. If you're ready.
we'd best be starting"
rs 1t far?".
Not SO very. But we've got to
chase through the Jungle. Are you
sure you're quite ready"
Quite. thank you. But how about
Mr.. Winthrope's ankle?"
He'll ride az far as the trees. /
can't squeeze through with him.
though"
"I shall walk all the way" put in
Winthrope.
mo. you won't. Climb aboard" re-
piled Blake, and catching up his club
he stopped for Winthrope to mount his
back. As he rose with his burden
Miss Leslie caught sight Of his coat,
which still lay in a roll beside the
palm trunk.
How about your coat. Mr.. Blaks?"
she asked. Should you not put
1t on
No; I'm loaded now. Have to ask
you to look after II. You may need
1t before morning, anyway. II the
dews here are like those In Central
America they are d-darned liable to
bring on malarial fever"
Nothing more was said until they
had crossed the open space between
the palms and the belt Of jungle
along the river. At other times Win
thrope and Miss Leslie might have
been interested in the towering screw
palms, festooned to the top with
climbers, and In the huge ferns which
they could see beneath the mangroves
in the swampy ground on their left.
Now, however. they were far too n
cerned with the question Of how they
should penetrate the dense tangfs Of
thorny brush and creepers which
rose before them like a green wall.
Even Blake hesitated as he released
Winthrope and looked at Miss Leslie's
costume. Her white skirt was Of
stout duck; but the fiimsy material Of
her waist was illsuited for rough
Usage.
Better put the ooat On unless you
want to come out on the other side in
full evening Dress he said. There's
no use kicking, but I wish you'd hap
pened to have on some sort Of . jacket
when we got spilled"
as there NO path through the thick
et?" inquired Winthrope.
only the hippo trail. and 1t don't
20 our way. We've got to run u
" line. Here's q stick for you
game ankle"
Winthrope took the half-green
branch which Blake broke from the
nearest tree and turned to assist MSS
Leslie with the coat. The garment
was Of such coarse cloth that as Win
thrope drew the collar close about her
throat Miss Leslie could not forego a
little grimace of ropusnance. The
crease between Blake's eyes ~deepened,
and the girl haseened to utter an ex'
~planatory exclamation: Not so
tight. Mr.. winthrope. please! 1t
scratches my neck"
You'd fnd those thorns . whole lot
worse" nuttered Blake.
ITO be sure; and Miss Leslie niiy