The newspaper., 1909-10-01

ridge.
Step by step Blake drew back. His
heel struck against something soft
He looked down and saw Miss Leslie
lying on the sand, white and still.
She had tainted, overcome by fear or
by the uncomfortable heat The heat
must have stupefied him as we'll He
stared at her, dull-eyed. wondering if
she was dead. His brain cleared He
sprang over to where the flask lay be-
side the remnants OF the lunch
He was dashing the last drops of
the tepid water in her face when she
moaned and her eyelids began to 1ut-
ter. He fung down the flask and fell
to chafing her wrist
+ TOM" she moaned.
yes. Miss Jenny. I'm here. It's all
right" he answered.
Have / had a sunstroke, Is tha.
why it seems So I can hardly
breathe"
Its all right, / tell you. Only a
little bonfire / touched of Guess you
must have tainted. but it's all righ:
now"
1T was silly OF me to faint. Blu;
when l saw that dreadful thing leap"
She faltered and lay shuddering. Fear
full that she was about to swoon aga..
Blake slapped her hand between his
palms with stinging force.
You're it," he shouted The
jokes on you, Kitty jumped just the
other way. and he won't come back
in a hurry with that fire to head him
on. Jump up now and weu do jig
on the strength of f."
She attempted a smile and a trace
OF color showed in her cheeks With
an idea that action would further her
recovery he drew her 10 a sitting posi-
tion. stepped quickly behind and. with
his hands beneath her elbows. lifted
her upright But she was still too
weak and giddy to stand alone As.
he released his grip she swayed and
would have fallen had he not caught
her arm.
Steady" he admonished. Brace
up; you're all right"
'I'm-Tm Just a little dizzy she
murmured. clinging TO his shoulder
1t will pass in a minute It's so silly.
but I'm that way-Tom II think you
are the bravest man"
Yes. yes-but that's not the point
Leave go now. like a sensible girl
It's about time TO hit the trail
He drew himself free and without
a glance at her hlushiug face began
to gather mp their scattered outfit
His hat lay where he had weighted 90
down with the cocoanut He tossed
the nut into the skin bag and jammed
the hat on his head. pulling the briri
far down over his eyes. When he had
fetched his club he walked back past
the girl with his eyes ayerted.
Come on" he muttered.
The scarlet in the girls cheeks
swept over her whole face in burn
ing wave. which ebbed slowly and } o.
her colorless Blake had started
without a backward glance. She saz o
about with a bewildered look at the
palms and the barren ridge and tre
fiery tidal wave Of flame. Her Eaz-
came back 10 Blake. and she follow
him.
Within a short distance she fouul
herself out of the shelterins lee Of thu
ridge The first wind gust almos,
overthrow her She could never have
walked against such a gale. but with
the wind az her back she was bloyc
mp and borne along as though o.
wings. Her sole effort was to ker
her foothoId. Had it been their no.
ing trip she could have cried out W
JOY and skipped along before the su
like a schoolgirl Now she walked a
soberly as the wind would permit an
took care not 10 lessen the distanc5
between herself and Blake.
Mile by mile they fastened baCf
across the plain-on their right the
blue sea of water. with its white
caps and spray: on their left the vel
low sea of fire. with its dun fog OF
smoke
Once only had Blake looked back
to see IL the girl was following. After
that he swung along. with down-benJ
head. his gaze upon the ground. Even
when he passed in under the grove
and around the pool to the foot OF the
cleft he began the ascent without
waiting to assist her up the break in
the path. The girl came after. her
lips firm. her eyes bright and ex-
pectant. She drew herself up the
ledge as though she had been bred to
mountain climbing.
Inside the barricade Blake was
waiting TO close the opening. She