Charlevoix county herald., 1909-08-14
CHAPTER Ix.-Continued.


Blake picked a path along the edge
of the rill, where the moist vegetation
though scorched, had refused to burn.
After the first abrupt ledge, up which
Blake had to drag his companions, the
ascent was easy. But as they climbed
around an outjutting corner of the
steep right wall of the cleft Blake
muttered a curse of disappointment.
He could now see that the cleft did
not run to the top Of the cliff, but
through it, like tiny box canyon.
The sides rose sheer and smooth as
walls. Midway, at the highest point of
the cleft, the baobab lowered high
above the ridge crest, its gigantic
trunk filling a third of the breadth of
the little gorge. Unfortunately it
stood close to the left wall.
Here's luck for you" growled
BLAKE. "Why couldn't the blamed old
tree have grown on the other side?
We might have found way to climb
l. Guess We'll have to smoke out
another leopard. We're no nearer
those birds nests than We were yes
'terday."
by Jove, look here!" exclaimed
WINTHROP. This is our chance for
antelope! Here by the spring are
bamboos-real bamboos-and only
half the thicket burned"
What Of them?" demanded Blake.
"Bows-arrows-a did you not
agree that they would make knives?"
&c Micc
Jenny?"
Isn't that hole in the big tree?"
Looks like it. These baobabs are
often hollow"
perhaps that is where the leopard
had his den," added WINTHROP.
Shouldn't wonder. Well go and
Gee"
but, Mr.. Blake" protested the girl,
may there not be other leopards?"
Might have been; but I'll bet they
Il, out with the other. Look how the
tree is scorched. Must have been
stacks of dry brush around the hole,
'nough to smoke out fireman. Well
look and see if they left any soup
bones lying around. First, though,
here's your drink, Miss Jenny"
AS he spoke, Blake kicked aside
some smouldering branches and led
the way to the crevice whence the
spring trickled from the rock into a
shallow stone basin. When all had
drunk their fill of the clear cool water
Blake took up his club and walked
straight across TO the baobab. Less
than 80 steps brought him to the mar
row opening in the trunk of the huge
tree. At first he could make out moth
ing in the dimly lit interior; but the
fetid, catty odor was enough to con-
vince him that he had found the
leopards' den.
He caught the vague outlines Of a
long body, crouched five or six yards
away, on the far side Of the hollow.
He, sprang back, his club brandished
tAystrike. But the expected attack did
not follow. Blake glanced about as
though considering the ACCESSIBILITY of
a retreat. Winthrope and Miss Leslie
were staring at him, white-faced. The
sight Of their terror seemed to spur
him to daredevil bravado; though his
actions may rather have been due to
the fact that he realized the futility of
fight, and so rose to the requirements
of the situation-the grim need to
stand and face the danger
Get behind the bamboos." he
called, and as they hurriedly obeyed.
ne caught up a stone and flung it in at
the crouching beast.
He heard the missile strike with
soft thud that told him he had not
missed his mark, and he swung up his
club in both hands. Given half a
chance he would smash the skull of
1fs female as he had crushed her
b1Inded mate. One moment after an
other passed, and he stood poised for
the shock tense and scowling. Not
so much as a snarl came from within.
The truth flashed upon him.
"Smothered!" he yelled.
The other saw him dart in through
the hole. A moment later two limp
grayish bodies were flung out into the
open. Immediately after Blake reap
peared, dragging the body of the moth
er leopard.
IT'S all right; they're dead" cried
Winthrope, and he ran forward to
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