The Columbus journal., 1909-12-15

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"
'Tm-Tm just a little dizzy" she
murmured, clinSing 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
glance at her blushing face began
to gather up their scattered outfit.
His hat lay where he had weighted it
down with the cocoanut. He tossed
the nut into the skin bag and jammed
the hat on his head, pulling the brim
far down over his eyes. When he had
fetched his club he walked back past
the girl with his eyes averted.
Come on" he muttereG.
The scarlet in the girls cheeks
swept over her whole face in a burn
ing wave, which ebbed slowly and left
her cOlorless. Blake had started off
without a backward glance. She gazed
about with bewildered look at the
palms and the barren ridge and the
fiery tidal wave of flame. Her gaze
came back to Blake, and she fOlluwad
him. ..". ..
Within a short distance she found
herself out of the sheltering lee of the
ridge. The first wind gust almoA
overthrow her. She could never have
walked against such gale: but with
the wind at her back she was buoyed
up and borne along as though en-
wings. Her sole effort was to keep
her foothold. Had it been their morn.
ing trip she could have cried out with
Joy and skipped along before the gusts
like a schoolgirl. Now she walked as
soberly as the wind would permit. and
took care not to lessen the distance
between herself and Blake.
Mile by mile they fastened back
across the plain-on their right the
blue sea of water, with its white.
caps and spray; on their left the yel
low sea of fire, with its dun fog of
smoke. -.
Once only had Blake looked back
to see if the girl was following. After
that he swung along. with down-bent
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
crept through and rose to catch him
by the sleeve. ..-,.
tom, look at me- she said. Once
1 was most unjust to you in my
thoughts. 1 wronged you. Now /
must tell you that 1 think you are
the bravest-the noblest man"
Get away" he exclaimed. and he
shook of her hand roughly. Don't
be a fool! You don't know what
you're talking about"
But do, Tom. believe that you
are"
I'm a blackguard-do you hear?"
mo blackguard is brave. The way
you faced that terrible beast"
"Yes, blackguard-to've gone and
shown to you that I-to've let you say
q single word-Can't you see? Even
II I'm not what you call gentleman. I
thought knew how any man ought to
treat woman-but to 60 and let you
know, before we'd got back among
people!"
"But-but, Tom. why not II We"
t'eNo!" he retorted, harshly. I'm go
ing now to pile up wood ON the cltR
for q beacon IRE. In the morning I'll
start making that catamaran-"