The Columbus journal., 1909-07-14
} [ldlE [P[E[[l{6=I I4dk}y11zN|
~


trot out some nuts. Well feed before
We move camp"
Miss Leslie is still sleeping"
Time, then, to roust her out. Hey,
Miss Jenny, turn out! Time to chew"
Miss Leslie sat up and gazed around
in bewilderment.
It's all right, Miss Genevieve," re-
assured Winthrope. Blake has found
safe place for the night, and he
wishes us to eat before we leave here"
Save Juggling the grub" added
Blake. Get busy, Pat"
As WinIhIope caught up nut the
girl began to arrange her disordered
hair and dress with the deft and grace
full movements of a woman thoroughly
trained in the art of self-adornment.
There was admiration in Blake's deep
eyes as he watched her dainty preen.
ing. She was not a beautiful girl-at
present she could hardly be termed
pretty; yet even in her draggled, mud
dy dress she retained all the subtle
charms of culture which. appeal so
strongly to man. Blake was sub
dued. His feelings even carried him
so far as an attempt at formal polite
ness when they had finished their
meal.
Now, Miss Leslie" he began, Its
little more than half an hour to sun
down; so, if you please. if you're ready,
we'd best be starting"
is it far"
Not so very. But we've got to
chase through the jungle. Are you
sure you're quite ready?'
quite, thank you. But how about
Mr. Winthrope's ankle?"
He'll ride as far as the trees. l
can't squeeze through with him.
though
Il shall walk all the way" put in
Winthrope.
NO, you won't. Climb aboard" re-
piled Blake, and catching up his club
he stopped for Winthrope to mount his
back. As he rose with his burden
Miss Leslie caught sight of his coat
which still lay in a roll beside the
palm trunk.
How about your coat. Mr.. Blake?"
she asked. Should you not put
ii on"
mo; I'm loaded now. Have to ask
you to look after it. You may need
it before morning. anyway. If the
dews here are like those in Central
America they are d-darned liable to
hrin0 IN N, L. rial fever"
Nothing more was said until they
had crossed the open space between
the palms and the belt of jungle
along the river. At other times Win.
!hrope and Miss Leslie might have
been interested in the towering screw.
palms, festooned to the top with
climbers, and in the huge ferns which
they could see beneath the mangroves
in the swampy ground on their left.
Now. however, they were far too con
cerned with the question of how they
should penetrate the dense tangle of
thorny brush and creepers which
rose before them like a green wall.
Even Blake hesitated as he released
Winthrope and looked at Miss Leslie's
costume Her white skirt was of
stout duck; but the fiimsy material Of
her waist was illsuited for rough
usage.
Better put the coat on unless you
want to come out on the other side in
full evening Dress" he said. There's
no use kicking, but wish you'd hap
pened to have on some sort of a jacket
when we got spilled
is there no path through the thick
et?" incurred Winthrope.
only the hippo trail, and it don't
go our way. We've got to run our
own line. Here's a stick for your
game ankle"
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 about her
throat Miss Leslie could not forego a
little grimace of repugnance. 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"
CTO BE CONTINUEDJ