The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-12-10

die; and as the lady cant walk she's
going on my back It's a case of
have-to."
NO, | am mott am not. I'd sooner
die"
I'm afraid you'll find that easy
enough later on. Miss Jenny Stand
by, Winthrope, to help her up Do
you hear? Take the knife and fish and
lend a hand"
There was a note in Blake's voice
that neither Winthrope nor Miss Les
lie dared disregard Though scarlet
with notification she permitted her
self to be taken pick-a back upon
Blake's broad shoulders and meekly
obeyed his command to clasp her
hands about his throat Yet even at
that moment, such are the inconsis-
tencies of human nature, she could not
but admire the ease with which he
rose under her weight
Now that he no longer hadsthe slow
pace Of the girl to consider. he adj
vanced at his natural gait. the quick.
tireless stride of an American railroad
surveyor, His feet, trained to swamp
travel in Louisiana and Panama,
seemed to find the firmest ground as
by instinct. and whether on the half
dried mud of the hummocks or in the
ankle-deep water Of the boys, they felt
their way without slip or stumble
Winthrope, though burdened only
with the half-eaten coryphene, toiled
along behind, greatly troubled by the
mud and the tangled reeds. and now
and then flung down.by some unlucky
misstep. His modish suit. already
much damaged by the salt water, was
soon smeared afresh with a coating OF
greenish slime. His one consolation
was that Blake, after jeering at his first
tumble, paid no more attention to
him. On the other hand, he was cut
by the seeming Indifference OF Miss
Leslie. Intent on his own misery, he
failed to consider that the girl might
be suffering far greater discomfort and
humiliation.
More than three miles had been COW
cred before Blake stopped on hum
mock. Releasing Miss Leslie. he
stretched out on the dry crest of the
knoll and called for a slice Of the fish
At his urging the others took a few
mouthfuls, although their throats were
so parched that even the moist flesh
afforded scant relief Fortunately for
them all, Blake had been thoroughly
trained to endure thirst. He rested
less than ten minutes: then taking
Miss Leslie up again like a rag doll,
he swung away at good pace.
The trees were less than half a
mile distant when he halted for the
second time. He would have gone to
them without a pause, though his mus
Giles were quivering with exhaustion.
had not Miss Leslie CHANGED to look
around and discover that Winthrope
was no longer following them. For
the last mile he had been tagging
farther and farther behind, and now
he had suddenly disappeared. At the
girls dismayed exclamation, Blake re-
leased his hold and she found herself
standing in foot or more of mud and
water. The sweat was streaming
down Blake's face. AS he turned
around, he wiped 1t off with his shirt
sleeves
DO you-can It be, Mr. Blake, that
he has had a sunstroke?" asked Miss
Leslie
"Sunstroke? No; he's just laid
down, that's all. | thought he had
more sand-confound HIM"
But the sun Is so dreadfully hot,
and have his shade"
And he's been tumbling into every
other pool. No; it's not the sun. I've
half mind to let him lie--the paper
legged swell! 1t would no more than
square our aboard-ship accounts"
Surely YOU would not do that Mr.