The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-12-10
CHAPTER III.
The Worth Of Fire.

M-SI MUM the sea "ltnln the
NM reefs was fast smoothing
3-& to CLASSY plain in the
dead calm they did not see Blake on
his return until he struck shallow Wa
ter and stood up to wade ashore The
tide had begun to ebb before he
started landward and though he was
a powerful swimmer the long pull
against the current lad so tired him
that when he took to wading he
moved at a tortoise-Iike gait.
THE bloomin lodfari" commented
Winthrope. He glanced quickly about,
and at sight OF Miss Leslie's arching
brows, fastened to add Beg par
don! He-ah-reminds me so much
of NAVY, You know"
Miss Leslie made no reply.
At last Blake was out of the water
and toiling up the muddy beach to the
spot where he had left his clothes.
While dressing he seemed to recover
from his eXertions in the water. for
the moment he had finished he sprang
to his feet and came forward at a
brisk pace.
AS he approached. Winthrope
"ayed his fifth cigarette at him with
ianguid enthusiasm, and called out as
heartily as his dry lips would per
nit: Il say, Blake, deuced glad the
sharks didn't get ynu,"
Sharks bah. All you have to do
is to splash little and they haul off. "
How about the steamer. Mr..
Blake?" asked Miss Leslie, turning to
face him.
"All under but the maintopmast--.
curse it!-wire rigging at that!
Couldn't even get bolt"
"a bolt?"
Not a bolt; and here we are as
good as naked on this infernal-Hey,
you! what you doing with that matcho
Light your cigarette-light it, Dam
nationl"
Needless of Blakes warning cry.
WINTHROP had struck his last vesta
and now, angry and bewildered, he
stood staring while the little taper
burned itself out. With an oath. Blake
sprang 10 catch it as it dropped from
between Winthrope's fingers But he
was too far away. 1t fell among the
damp PUSHES, spluttared and fared
out.
For moment Blake knelt. staring
at the rushes as though stupefed;
then he sprang up before Winthrope,
his bronzed face purple with anger.
Where's your matchbox? Got any
more?' he demanded
Last one, fancy-yes; last one.
and there are still two cigarettes. But
look here, Blake. can't tolerate your
talking so deucedly-"
You idiot. yOu-you- He'll! and
every one for cigarAttesi"
From growl Blakes voice burst
into a roar of fury, and sprang upon
Winthrope like a wild beast HIS
hands closed upon the Englshman's
throat, and he began to shake him
about, paying no heed to the blows
his victim showered upon his face and
body, blows which soon began to les,
sen in force
Terror-stricken. Miss Leslie put her
hands over her eyes, and began to
scramble piercing shrek that will
unnerve the strongest man Blake
paused as though transfxed and as the
half-suffocated Engishman struggled
in his grasp, he flung him on the
ground and turned to the screaming
girl.
Stop that squawking," he said The
girl cowed down. 50: that's better.
Next time keep your mouth shut"
'You-you brute"
Good! You've got little spunk,
eh?"
You coward-to attack a man not
half your strength"
Steady, steady, young lady! I'm
warm enough yet; I've still half a
mind to wiring his fool neck"
But why should you be so angry?
What has he done that you"
"Why-why? Lord! what hasn't he
done? This coast fairly swarms with
beasts. We've not the smell of a gun
and now this idiot-this dough-head-
has gone and thrown away our only
chance-ire-and on his measly ciga-
rettes!" Blake choked with returning
rage
Winthrope, still painting for breath.
began to creep away, at the same time
unclasping a small penknife. He was
white with fear; but bis gray eyes
which on shipboard Blake had never
seen other than extensively supercili-
ous-now glinted in manner that
served to alter the Americans mood.
"Thatll do" he said. Come here
and show me that knife"
'I'll show it you where it will do the
most good" muttered Winthrope, ris.
ing hastily to repel the expected at
tack
80 you've got little sand, too"
said Blake, almost good-naturedly
Say, that's not so bad. Well call 1t
quits on the matches. Though how
you could go and throw them away"
Deuce take 1t, man! How should |
know? I've never before been in a
wreck"
"Naithar have this kind. But |