The Columbus journal., 1909-07-14
CHAPTER IV.-continued.

carry Miss Leslie on account OF wearl-
ness.
CHAPTER lv.-continued.
At first his throat was SO dry that
he could no more than rinse his mouth.
With the first swallow his swollen
tongue Knocked him with the salt,
bitter taste of sea-water. The tide
was flowing! He rose, suffering and
choking and gasping He stared
around. There was no question that
he was on the bank of a river and
would be certain of fresh water with
the ebb tide But could he endure the
agony of his thirst all those hours?
He thought of his companions.
Good God" he groaned, they're
goners, anyway"
He stared DULY DIP the river at the
thousands of waterfowl which lined its
hanks. Within close view were herons
and black ibises, geese, pelicans, ia
mingOes. and a dozen other species OF
birds of which he did not know the
names. But he sat as though in a
stupOT. and did not move even when
StS VI lUe ItNOUu iOSS vi uuu-
shoal few yards upstream opened
an enormous mouth and displayed two
rows of hooked fangs. 1t was other
wise when the noontime stiffness was
broken by violent splashing and
loud snortings downstream. He
glanced about and saw six or eight
moEs;rous heads drifting towards
him with the tide.
What in Vince! a whole herd OF
hippos," he muttered. That's what
the holes mean"
. The foremost hippopotamus was
headed directly for him. He giared
at the huge head with sullen resent
ment For all his stupor he perceived
at once that the beast intended to
land: and he sat in the middle OF its
accustomed path. His first impulse
was to spring up and yell at the crea-
ture. Then he remembered hearing
that a white hunter had recently been
killed by these beasts on one of the
South African lakes. Instead of leap
ing up ne sank down almost fiat and
crawled back around the turn in the
path Once certain that he was hid
den from the beasts he rose to his
feet and FASTENED back through the
jungle.
He was almost in view of the spot
where he had left Winthrope and Miss
Leslie. when he stopped and stood
hesitating
Il can't do it." he muttered; Il can't
tell her-poor girl"
He turned and pushed into the
th;cket. Forcing a way through the
tangle of thorny shrubs and creepers
until several yards from the path he
began to edge towards the face of the
jungle. that he might peer out at his
companions unseen by them.
There was more of the thicket be-
fore him than he had thought, and he
was still fighting his way through it
when he was brought to stand by I.
peculiar cry that might have been the
bleat of a young lamb: 'Ba-ba!"
What's that" he croaked.
He stood listening. and in a moment
he again heard the cry. this time more
distinctly: ''Blak,-Blak."
There could be no mistake. 1t was
Winthrope calling for him, and call
ing with a ciearness of voice that
would have been physically impossible
half an hour since. Rlake's sunken
eyes lighted with hope. He burst
through the last screen Of jungle and
stared towards the palm under which
he had left his companions. They
were not there.
Another call from Winthrope d.
rectei his gaze more Seaward. The
two were seated beside fallen palm.
and Miss Leslie had large round OBJ
ject raised to her lips. Winthrop was
waving TO him.
"Cocoanuts," he yelled. Come on"
Three of the palms had been over
thrown by the hurricane. and when
Blake came up he found the ground
strewn with nuts He seized the first
he came to; but Winthrope held out
one already opened. He snatched it
from him and placed the hole to his
swollen lips. Never had champagne
tasted half so delicious as that cocoa
nut milk. Before he could drain the
last of it through the little opening
Win;hrope had the husks torn from
the ends of two other nuts, and the
convenient germinal spots gcuged
open with his penknife.
Flake emptied the third before he
spoke Even then his voice was
hoarse and strained. How'd you
strike en-
y couldn't help it, explained Win
thrope. Hardly had you disappeared
when / noticed the tops of the fallen
Palms and thought of the nuts. There
was one in the grass not 20 feet from
where We lay"
Lucky for you-and for me. too,
guess said Blake. We were all
three down for the count. But this
settles the first round in our favor.
How do you like the picnic, Miss
jenny"
Miss Leslie. if you please replied
the girl. with hauteur.
.'Oh. say, Miss Jenny" protested
Blake, geniaIly We live in the same
boarding house now Why not be
foiksy9 You're free to call me Tom
Pass me another nut, Winthrope.
Thanks, BY the way. what's your
front name? Saw it aboard ship
Cyril"
Cecil corrected Wiuthrope, in a
low tone.
.Cecil-Lord Cecil, eh ?-or is it only
the Honorable Cecil?"