The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-12-01
CHAPTER XIII,
The End of the World.

49, ing. which, however, did
not altogether conceal his desire to
be on friendly terms. Having re-
gained her selfcontrol, she responded
to this with such tact that by evening
each felt more at ease in the new re-
lationship. and Blake had lost every
trace of his morOseness. The fact
that both were passionately fond of
music proved an immense help. 1t
gave them an impersonal source of
mutual sympathy and understanding
"a common meeting-ground in the
world of art and culture, apart from
and above the plane of their material
wants.
Yet for all his enjoyment of the
girls wide knowledge of everything
relating to music, Blake took care
that their talks and discussions did
not interfere with the activities of
their primitive mode of life. As soon
rs he had finished with the barricade
he devoted himself to his tailoring
and shoe-making: while Miss Leslie.
between her cooking and wood-gather-
ing and daily visits to the cliff for
eggs. had much to occupy both her
thoughts and her hands.
At first every ascent of the cliff was
embittered by a painful consciousness
OF the cairn over the north edge. For
tunately 1t was not in sight from the
direct path to the headland, and. as
she refrained from visiting 1t, the new
happenings of her wild life soon thrust
Winthrope and his death out of the
foreground of her thoughts. Each day
she had to nerve herself to meet the
beaks and wings of the despoiled nest
owners: each day she looked with
greater hope for the expected rescue
ship. only to be increasingly disap
pointed.
But the hours she spent ON the clid
crest after gathering the days supply
Of egED wore not spent merely in
watching and longing. The inconven-
fences OF carrying the eggs in . hand
kerchief or In one of the heavy jars
suggested Q renewal of her attempt at
basketmaking. Memory, persever-
ance and q trace of inventiveness en-
abled her to produce a small but
serviceable hamper of split bamboo.
Encouraged by this success she
gathered . quantity Of tough. wiry
grass, and wOve hat to take the
place Of the fiimsy palm-leaf make
shift. The result was by no means
satisfactory with regard to style, its
shape being intermediate between q
Mexican sombrero and a funnel; but
aside from its appearance, she could
not have wished for a more COM
Portable h0adcover. Before showing
il to Blake. she wove second one for
him. 20 that they were able to cast
aside the grotesQue. palm-leaf Affairs
1t the same time.
The following morning Blake ap-
peared In IN outfit to match her
leopardskfn dress. He had singed Oh
the hair OF the hide out Of which he
had made his moccasins, and his
hyenaskin trousers quite matched the
bristling stubble on his face.
Hey, Miss Jenny" he hailed:
VIDAL q you t0lnk OI tulS lOT I8uCy
needlework?
Splendid! You're the very picture
Of an Argentine vaquero."
"Greaser.-ugh! Let me get back
20 the Weary Willy pants"
Il mean you are very picturesque"
That's Il, Is It? Glad I've got
something to cali your leopardine
gown that won't make you huffy."
I'VE can at least call our costumes
se-viceable. and mine has proved
much cooler than I expected"
But our new hats beat all for that
regular sunshades. What do you
say?-there's q good breeze Let's
take q hike"
Not to the river! The very thought
of that dreadful snake"
No; just the other way. I've been
thinking for some time that We ought
to run down to that south headland
and take a squint at the coast be-
yond. Ten to one it's another stretch
of swamps, but
You think there is a chance we
may find a town."
About one chance in a million.