The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-08-25
CHAPTER discontinued.

CHAPTER discontinued.
Blake picked a path along the edge
Of the riil, where the moist vegetation
though scorched. had refused 10 burn
After the first abrupt ledge. up which
Blake had to drag his companions, the
ascent was easy. But as they climbed
around an outjutting corner of the
steep right wall of the cleft Blake
muttered a curse of disappointment
He could now see that the cleft did
not run to the top OF the cliff, but
through it. like tiny box canyon.
The sides rose sheer and smooth rs
walls. Midway, at the highest point of
the cleft. the baobab lowered high
above the ridge crest, its gigantic
trunk filling third of the breadth of
the little gorge Unfortunately il
stood close 10 the left wall.
Here's luck for you" grOwled
Blake. Why couldn't the blamed old
tree have grown on the other side ?
We might have found a way to climb
it. Guess wei have TO smoke out
another leopard. We're no nearer
these birds nests than We We're yes
terday."
BY Jove look here" exclaimed
Winthrope. This is our chance for
antelope. Here by the spring are
bamboos-real hamboos-and only
half the thicket burned"
What of them" demanded Blake.
''Bows-arrows-and did you not
agree thar they would make knives"
''Umph-we-H see What is it, Miss
Jenny"
Isn't that a hole in the big tree"
Looks like it. These baobabs are
Often hollow"
Perhaps that is where the leopard
had his den" added WINTHROP.
Shouldn't wonder. Well go and
see
But. Mr. Blake" protested the girl.
may there not be other leopards?"
Might have been: but I'll bet they
lit out with the other. Look how the
tree is scorched. Must have been
stacks of dry brush around the hole.
'nOugh TO smoke out fireman. Well
look and see il they left any soup
bones lying around. First, though.
here's your drink, Miss Jenny"
As he spoke. Blake kicked aside
some snonldering branches and led
the way TO the creyice whence the
spring trickled from the rock into a
shallow stone basin. When all had
drunk their fill Of the clear cool water
Blake took up his club and walked
straight across to the baObab. Less
than 30 steps brought him to the mar
row opening in the trunk of the huge
tree. A, first he could make out moth
ing in the dimly lit interior: but the
fetid catty odor was enough to con-
vince him that he had found the
leopards' den.
% He CAUGHT the vague outlines OF a
long body. crouched five or six yards
away. on the far side of the hollow.
He sprang back. his club brandished
10 strike. But the expected attack did
not follow. Blake glanced about as
though considering the ACCESSIBILITY of
a retreat Winthrope and Miss Leslie
were staring at him, white-faced. The
sight Of their terror seemed to spur
him to daredevil bravado: though his
actions may rather have been due to
the fact that he realized the futility of
fight. and so rose to the requirements
Of the situation-the grim need to
stand and face the danger.
&c. behind the bamboos" he
called. and as they hurriedly obeyed. |
he caught Up a stone and flung it in at
the crouching beast.
tie heard the missile strike with a |
soft thud that told him he had not |
missed his mark. and he swung up his |
club in both hands. Given half a |
chance he would smash the skull Of
the femah as he had crushed her !
blinded mate. One moment after an
other passed, and he stood poised for
the silock. tense and scowlinG. Not
so much as snarl came from within.
The truth flashed upon him.
"Snpthe-ed." he yelled.
, The other saw him dart in through
the hole. A moment later two limp
grayish bodies were flung out into the
open. Immediately after Blake reap
peared. dragging the body of the moth
or leopard.
its all right: they're dead" cried
WINTHROP, and he ran forward to
lock al the bodies.
Miss Leslie followed. hardly less
curious.
Are they all dead. Mr.. Blake" she
inquired.
Wiped out-whole family. The old
cat stayed by her kittens, and all
together-lucky for us: Get
busy with those bamboos, Win I'm
going TO have these skins, and the
sooner we get the cub meat hung up
and curing, the better for u.s.
Leopard meat again." rejoined
Spring leopard. young and tender! /;
What more could you ask? Get a
move on you" I,