The newspaper., 1909-08-20


as they mounted the backs of their
obese mothers.
Presently Blake came out from
among the mangroves, and walked
across to the beach, a few yards away
from the huge bathers. To all ap-
pearances, they paid as little attention
to him as he to them. Miss Leslie
glanced about at Winthrope He was
fast asleep. She waited a few mo-
ments to see If the hippopotami would
attack Blake. They continued to ig-
more him. and gaining courage from
their indifference, she stepped out
from behind the thicket. and advanced
to where Blake was crouched on the
beach. When she came up. she saw
beside him heap of oysters. which
he was opening in rapid succession.
Hello! You're just in time to
help" he called. Where's VIM"
Asleep behind those bushes"
Worst thing he could do. But lend
a hand. and we'll shuck these oysters
before rousting him out You can
rinse those I've opened. Fill the pot
with water. and put them in to soak"
They look very tempting. How did
you chance to find them?'
Saw 'em on the mangrove roots at
low. tide. first time I nosed around
here. Tide was well up to-day; but
| managed to get these all right with
a little diving. Only trouble, the
skeets most ate me alive"
Miss Leslie glanced at her compan-
ions dry clothing. and came back to
the oysters themselves. These look
very tempting. Do you like them
raw?"
Cant say l like them much any
way. as rule. But II l did, wouldn't
eat this mess raw"
"Yes?'
This must be the dry season here,
and the river is running mighty clear.
Just the same it's nothing more than
liquid malaria Wen not eat these
oysters till they've been pasteurized."
IF the water is SO dangerous, fear
we will suffer before We can return
replied Miss Leslie. and she held up
the flask
What" exclaimed Blake. Half
gone already? That was winthrope."
He was very thirsty. Could We not
boil a potful OF the river water?"
Yes. when the ebb gets strong. II
We run too dry. First. though. well
make a try for cocoanuts. Let's hit
out for the nearest grove now. The
main thing is to keep moving"
As he spoke. Blake caught up the
pot and his club and started for the
thorn clump. leaving the skin. togeth-
er with the meat and the salt. for Miss
Leslie TO carry. Winthrope was
wakened by a touch of Blake's foot,
and all three were soon walking away
from the seashore. just within the
shady border of the mangrove wood
At the first fan-palm Blake stopped
TO gather a number Of leaves. for their
palm-leaf hats were now cracked and
broken. A little farther on a rudy
antelope. with lyrate horns. leaped out
OF the bush before them and dashed
OF toward the river before Blake
could string HIS bow. As II in mock
cry OF his lack OF readiness. a troupe
OF large green monkeys set up a wild
chattering in tree above the party
I say. Miss Jenny. do you think you
can lug the pot. II We go slow. II isn't
far now.
Good for you. little woman. Thatll
give me a chance TO shoot quick"
They moved on again for a hundred
yards or more: but though Blake kept
a sharp lookout both above and below.
he saw no game other than a few
small birds and a pair OF blue wood
pigeons. When he sought to creep up
on the latte-. they few into the next
tree. In following them. he came
upon a conical mound of hard clay.
nearly four feet high.
Hello: this must be one of those
white ant-hilis." he said. and he gave
the mound a kick.
Instantly a tiny object whirred up
and struck him in the face.
Wheel" he exclaimed. springing
back and striking out a hornet, No:
rs a bee"
Did It sting yov7" cried Miss Les
lie
"Sting7 Keep back: there's a lot
more OF 'em. Sting? oh. no. he only
ypodermicked me with red hot
darning needle' Shy around here.
There's whole swarm of the little
devils. and they're hopping mad Hear
'em buzz,"
But where is their hiver" asked
Winthrope. as all three drew back be-
hind fh, nearest bushes