The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-11-24

a
>'A ly at the inner surfaces OF
pair of raw hyena skins.
so you've killed more camel" she
exclaimed.
Game? No; hyenas. I hated to
waste good poison on the brutes; but
nothing else showed up, and l need
new pair of pa-er-trousers."
Was it not dangerOus-great beasts
like these?"
Not even enough to make 1t inter
esting. I'd have had some fun.
though, with that COMPOUNDED lion
when the moon came up il he hadn't
sneaked of into the grass"
"A Iion?"
Eyes. Didn't you hear him? The
skulking brute prowled around for
hours before the moon rose. when 1t
was pitch dark. 1t was mighty lone
some, with him yowling down by the
poo:. Half a chance and I'd given him
something to yowl about. But it
wasn't any use firing of my arrows in
the dark, and, as l said. he sneaked
of before"
"Tom-M- Blake!-you must not
risk your life!"
Don't you worry about me. I've
learned how to look out for Tom
Blake And you can just bank on 1t
I'm going to look out for Miss Jenny
Leslie, too! But say, after breakfast.
suppose we take a run out on the clih
for eggs?"
Il do not wish any to-day. thank
you"
He waited a little. studying her
down.bent face.
Well" he muttered; you don't
have to come. l know I oughtn't to
take a moments time. did quite
bit last night: but II you think"
She glanced up. puzzled. His mean
ing flashed upon her. and she rose.
''Oh, not that! I will come" she
answered, and FASTENED to prepare
the morning meal.
When they came to the tree-ladder
she found that the heap Of stones
built I'D by Blake to facilitate the first
part of the ascent was now so high
that she could climb into the branches
without difficulty. She surmised that
Blake had found 1t necessary to build
up the pile before he could ascend
with his burden.
They were at the foot of the heap,
when, with q sharp exclamation, Blake
sprang up into the branches and
scrambled to the top in hot haste.
Wondering what this might mean.
Miss Leslie followed as fast as she
could. When she reached the top she
saw him running across towards an
outjutting point on the north edge OF
the cliff.
She hac hurried after him for more
than half the distance before she per
ceived the vultures that were gath
cred in q solemn circle about q long
and narrow heap Of stones on ledge
down on the sloping brink Of the cliR.
While at the foot Of the tree Blake
had seen one Of the grewsome flock
to Join the other. and.
fearful of what might be happening,
had rushed on ahead.
: At his approach. the croaking watch |
ers hoped awkwardly from the lodges
and SCARED away: only to wheel and
circle back overhead. Miss Leslie |
,hrank down. shuddering. Blake came
back near her, and began to gather |
an the pieces Of loose rock which |
we're strewn about beneath the
lodges on that part Of the cliR.
Il know I piled up enough" he ex-
planned, in response to her look. "Al
the same, a few. more will do no
HARM"
"Then you are sure those awful
birds have not"
Eyes, I'm sure"
He carried an armful OF rocks to
lay on the mound. When he began
10 gather more she followed his ex-
ample. They worked in silence, pilins
he rough stones gently one upon an
,ther, until the cairn had grown. to
vice its former SIZE The air on the I
open cliff top was fresher than In the
left, and Miss Leslie gave little heed
% the absence of shade. She would
,ova vorked nm under the burning sun