The Columbus journal., 1909-10-20

let 1t settle a bit. here in the shade
and then hit the home trail"
Gould We not first go to the river
Mr.. Blake? My hands are dreadfully
sticky"
Win will take you. It's only a lit
tie way to the bank here and there's
not much underbrush."
If you think it's quite safe" re
marked Winthrope.
Its safe enough. Go on. You'll
see the river in half a minute. Only
thing. you'd better watch out for ALI
gators"
Il believe that-er-properly speak
ing. these are crocodiles."
You don't say! Heap of difference
it will make if one gets you"
Miss Leslie caught Winthrope's eye
He turned on his heel. and led the
way for her through the first thicket
Beyond this they came to a little glade
which ran through to the river. When
they reached the bank, they stepped
cautiously down the muddy slope, and
bathed their hands in the clear water
AS Miss Leslie rose, Winthrope bent
over and began to drink.
"Oh, Mr.. Winthrope!" she ex
claimed; please don't! In your weak
condition, I'm SO afraid"
do not alarm yourself. l am per
fectiy we'll, and am quite as compe
tent to judge what is good for me as
your-ah-countrym
Mr.. Winthrope, l am thinking only
of your own good"
Winthrope took another deer
draught, rinsed his fingers fastidious
ly. and arose.
My dear Miss Genevieve," he OBJ
served, "a woman looks at these mat
tiers in such a different light from a
man. But you should know that there
are some things a gentleman canno,
tolerate"
You were welcome to all the water
in the flask. Surely with that you
could have waited, if only to please
me-"
"Ah, If you put it that way, l must
beg pardon. Anything to please you
I'm sure! Pray forgive me, and for.
get the incident. 1t is now past"
Il hope SOL" she murmured; but her
heart sank as she glanced at his sal
low face. and she recalled his languid
feeble movements.
Piqued by her look, Winthrope
started back through the glade. Miss
Leslie was turning to follow, when
she caught sight of a gorgeous Grim.
son blossom under the nearest tree. II
was the first flower she had seen since
being shipwrecked. She uttered a lit
tie cry of delight, and ran to pluck the
blossom.
WINTHROP, glancing about at her
exclamation, saw her stoop over the
f1ower-and in the same instant he
saw a huge, vivid coil, all black and
green and yellow. fash up out of the
bedded leaves and strike against the
girl She staggered back, screaming
with horror, yet seemed unable to run.
Winthrope swung up his stick, and
dashed across the glade toward her.
What is it-a shaker" he cried.
The girl did not seem to hear him.
She had ceased screaming. and stood
rigid with fright, glazing down at the
ground before her. In a moment Win
thrope was near enough to make out
the brilliant glistening body, now ex-
tended full length in the grass. It was
rearly five feet long and thick as his
thigh. Another step, and he saw the
hideous triangular head, lifted few
inches on the thick neck. The cold
eyes were fixed upon the girl in q
malignant, deadly stare.
Snake! snake!" he yelled, and
thrust his cane at the reptiles tail.
Again came flashing leap of the
beautiful ornate coil. and the stick
vas struck from Winthrope's hand.
He danced backward, wild with ex-
element
"Snake!-Hi, Blake: monster!-