The Falls City tribune., 1908-12-25

SaAiN Alhl1
Winthrope took the half-green
branch which Blake broke from the
nearest tree and turned to assist Miss
Leslie With the coat. The garment
was of such coarse cloth that as Win.
thrope drew the collar close aboNt her
throat Miss Leslie could not forego a
little grimace of r~epugnance. The
crease between Blake's eyes |deepened
and the girl fastened to utter an ex-
planatory exclamation: Not SO
tight, Mr.. Winthrope, please. 1t
scratches my neck
You'd find those thorns a whole lot
worse mfttered Blake.
TO be sure; and Miss Leslie fully
appreciates your Kindness" interposed
Winthrope.
Il do indeed. Mr.. Blake, I'm sure l
never could go through here without
your coat
That's all right. Got the handker-
chief"
Il put it in one of the pockets"
It'll do to tie up your hair"
Miss Leslie took the suggestion.
knotting the big square of linen over
her fluffy brown hair.
Blake waited only for her to draw
out the kerchief before he began to
force a way through the jungle. Now
and then he beat at the tangled yege-
tation with his club. Though he held
to the line by which he had feft the
thicket, yet all his efforts failed to
open an easy passage for the others.
Many Of the thorny branches sprang
back into place behind him, and as
Miss Leslie, who was the first to fol
low, sought to thrust them aside the
thorns pierced her delicate skin until
her hands were covered with blood.
Nor did Winthrope, stumbling and hob
bling behind her, fare any better.
Twice he tripped headlong into the
brush. scratching his arms and face.
Blake took his own punishment as
a matter of course, though his tougher
and thicker skin made his injuries less
painful. He advanced steadily along
the line of bent and broken twigs that
marked his outward passage, until the
thicket opened on a strip OF grassy
ground beneath a wild fig-tree.
BY Jove," exclaimed Winthrope,
"a banyan,'
"Banyan? Well, if that's British for
a daisy, you've hit it," responded
Blake. Just take a squint up here.
How's that for a roost?"
Winthrope and Miss Leslie stared up
obviously at the edge of a bed OF
reeds gathered in the hollow of one of
the huge fattened branches at its
junction with the main trunk OF the
banyan, 20 feet above them.
will not the mosquitoes poster us
here anon the trees?" objected Win
thrope.
Storm must have blown EN- away.
| haven't seer n yet"
There will be millions after sun
set"
Maybe; but l bet they keep below
u roost.'
But how are we to get up so high? ?"
inquired Miss Leslie.
Il can swarm this drop root, and
I've a creeper ready for you two" ex-
planned Blake.
Suiting action to words, he climbed
up the small trunk of the air root and
swung over into the hollow where he
had piled the reeds. Across the
broad limb dangled a rope-like creeper,
one end of which he had fastened TO a
branch higher up. He flung down the
free end to Winthrope.
Look lively, Pat" he called. The
suns most gone, and twilight don't
last all night in these parts. Get the
line around Miss Leslie, and do what
you ear on a boost
II see; but, you know, the vine is
too stiff to tie"
Blake stifed an oath and jerked the
end of the creeler up into his hand.
When he threw it down again it was
looped around and fastened in a bow
line knot.
Now, Miss Leslie, get aboard and
we'll have you up in a jiffy," he said.
Are you sure you can lift me?"
asked the girl, as WINTHROP slipped
the loop over her shoulders.
Blake laughed down at them. well.
I guess yes! Once hoisted a fellow out
of a 50-foot prospect hole-big fat
Dutchman at that. You don't weigh
over 120."
He had stretched out across the
broadcast part of the branch. AS Miss
Leslie seated herself in the loop he
reached down and began to haul up on
the creeper, hand over hand. Though
frightened by the novel manner of as
cent the girl chung tightly to the line
above her head, and Blake had no diff
ficulty in raising her until she swung
directly beneath him. Here, how
ever, he found himself in a quandary.
The girl seemed as helpless as a child.
and he was lying fiat. How could he
left her above the level OF the branch
Take hold the other line" he said.
The girl hesitated. do you hear?
Grab it quick, and pull up hard If you
don't want a tumble!"
The girl seized the part OF the
creeper which was fastened above and
drew herself up with convulsive en-
erSy Instantly BLAKE rose tO his