The newspaper., 1909-08-20
CHAPTER XVI.
The Savage Manifest.

WlNTHhOPE had sue
ceeded in dragging him.
L - self to and from the head
land without a collapse. the following
morning. as soon as the dew was dry.
Blake called out all hands for the ex-
pedition. He was in the best of hu-
mors. and showed unexpected consid-
Grafton by presenting Winthrope with
a cane, which he had cut and trimmed
during the night
whisky flask with spring water. he
dropped three oocoanut-shell bowls. a
piece of meat and = lump OF salt into
one OF the earthenware pots. and
siung all over his shoulder in the anse-
lope skin. With his bow hung over
the other shoulder. knife and arrows
In his belt. and his big club in his
hand. he looked ready for any contin-
gency.
Wen hit first for the mouth of the
river" he said. I'm going on ahead
IL I'm not in sight when you come up.
pick a tree where the ground is dry.
and wait"
"But | say. Blake" replied Win
thrope. Il see animals over in the COP
pices. and you should know that l am
physically unable
Nothing but antelope. interrupted
Blake. I've seen them enough nov
to know them twice as far on. And
you can bet on IL they'd not be there
IL any dangerous beast was In smell
ing distance
That is SO clever of you. Mr.
Blake remarked Miss Leslie.
Simple enough when you happen to
think OF g." responded Blake. Yes.
the only thing you've got to look out
:or's the ticks in the grass. They'll
keep you interested. They bit me up
IN great shape"
He scowled al the recollection.
nodded by way Of emphasis. and wa.
OF like a shot The edge of the plain
beneath the cliff was strewn with
rocks. among which. even with Mis-
i>slie's help. Winthrope could pick
his way but slowly. Before they were
clear Of the rough ground. they saw
plake disappear among the man
groves
The ticks proved less annoying than
hftN Nau hDIlfAAf AAF-sl alAtI tNAahf
warning Tfui wnsn tney approaches
the mouth OF the river. they ve-e
alarmed TO hear. above the roar Of the
surf. loud snorting. such as could only
be made by large animals. Fearful
lest Blake had reused and ang ,rcl
some forest beast. they veered to the
right and ran to hide behind a clump
Of ihorns. Winthrope sank down eN-
hausted the moment they reached
cover: but Miss Leslie crept to the
far end OF the thicket and peered
around
oh. look herei" she cried ITS a
whole herd OF elephants trying to
cross the river mouth where we did
and they're being drowned. poor
thingsi"
Elephants painted Winthrope. and
he dragged himself forward beside
her. why. so there are: quite a
drove OF the beasts. Yet. must say.
they appear smaller-ah, yes: see
their heads. They must be the hippos
Blake saw"
Those ugly creatures? once saw
some at the ZOO. Just the same. they
will be drowned Some are right in
the surf"
Il can't say. I'm sure. Miss Gene
We've. but | have an idea that the
beasts are quite at home in the wa
ter. / fancy they enjoy surf bathing
as keenly as ourselves"
Il do believe you are right There
is one going in from the quiet water
But look at those funny little ones on
the backs OF the others"
Must be the baby hippos." replied
Winthrope. indinerently. III you
please. I'll take a pull at the flask.
am very dry"
When he had half emptied the flask.
he stretched out in the shade to doze
But Miss Leslie continued to watch
the movements OF the snorting hippos
amused by the ponderous antics of the
grown ones In the surf, and the comic