The Falls City tribune., 1909-03-19

esting. ii have had SOME fun.
though. with thai %eonfonnded lion
when the moon came up if he hadn't
sneaked of into the grass
\ Ion
Yes. Didn't yen hear him The
sknlhing brute nrowled around Tor
hours before the moo rose. when It
WAS pitch dark. II vas mighty lone
some. with him yowling down by the
pool. Half a chance aud ID given him
something 10 Nowl about. But II
wasn't any Use firing off my arrows in
the dark. and. As | said. he sneaked
of before
efom-Mr. Blake,-you must not
risk your life
Don't YOU Worry about me. I've
learned how To look out for Tom
Blake. And yoa can Just bank On Il
I'm going 10 look out fer Miss Jenny
Leslie. too But say, after breakfast.
suppose W take a run out on the cliff
for eggs D.
I do not wish any to-day. thank
YOU
IL waited a little. studying hef
downbent faee.
Well he muttered: YOU don't
have 10 come. l know l oughtn't 10
take a moments time. | did quite II
bit Last night; but If you think
she glanced UP, puzzled. His mean.
ias flashed upon her, and she rose.
oh. not that | will come" she
answered. and fastened 10 prepare
the morning meal. 81
When they came To the tree ladder
she found thai the heap of stones
built up by Blake 10 facilitate the first
part of the ascent was nov SO high
thai she could climb into the branches
without difficulty. She sarmised that
Blake had found II necessary 10 build
up the pile before he could ascend
with his burden.
They we're nj the foot of the heap.
when. with a sharp exclamation, Blake
sprang up into the branches and
scrambled to the top In hot haste.
Wondering what this might mean.
Miss Leslie followed as fast as she
could. When she reached the top she
saw him running across towards an
out-jutting point ON the north edge OF
the cliff.
She had hurried after him for more
than half the distance before she per
ceived the vultures that were gath
cred In a solemn circle about a long
and narrow heap of stones on a ledge
down on the sloping brink of the cliff.
Will. - tho raat Of tho tran Rial la
had seen one of the grewsome flock
descending TO join the other, and,
fearful of what might be happening,
had rushed on ahead.
At his approach, the croaking watch
ers hoped awkwardly from the lodges
and scared away; only to wheel and
circle back overhead. Miss Leslie
shrank down, s|hnddering. Blake came
back neal her, and began to gather
up the pieces oil loose rock which
were strewn about beneath the
lodges on that part of the cliff.
4 know ! piled up enough he ex.
planned. in response TO her look. All
HARM
Then You are sure those awful
birds have not
Yes. I'm sure"
He carried an afmful Of rocks to
lay on the mound. When he began
10 gather more she followed his ex-
ample. They worked in silence. piling
the rough stones gently one upon an
other, until the caifn had grown TO
twice its former size. The air on the
open cliff top was fresher than in the
cleft. and Miss Leslie gave little heed
to the absence of shade. She would
have worked on under the burning III
without thought of consequences.
But Blake knew the need of modera-
ton.
There; thatll do he said. He
may have been-all he was; but we've
no more than done our duty. Now,
we'll stroll out on the point"
Z should prefer to return
no doubt. But it's time you
learned how to go nesting. What II
you should be left alone here2 Be
sides, 1t looks to me like the signal is
tearing loose
She accompanied him out along the
cliff crest until they stood in the midst
of the bird colony. half deafened by
their harsh clamor. She had never
ventured into their %concourse when
alone. Even now she cried out, and
would have retreated before the charp
bills and beating wings had not Blake
walked ahead and kicked the squawk.
ing birds out of the path. Having
made certain that the big white flag
was still secure on its staff he led the
way along the seaward brink of the
cliff, pointing out the different kinds
of seafowl and shouting information
about such of their habits and quail
ties as were of concern to hungry cast
aways.
lie concluded the lesson by descend