The newspaper., 1909-07-23

t'other side. The woods almost soft
as punk. We could drive in pegs.
and climb up the trunk"
There are other trees beyond it."
remarked Miss Leslie.
Then maybe we can shin up"
Il fear the branches that overhang
the cliff are too slender to bear any
weight"
And it's too internally high to
climb up to this overhanging baobab
limb"
II say" ventured Winthrope. IF we
had an ak, now. We might cut up one
Of the trees, and make a ladder"
"Oh, yes; and If We had a ladder,
we might climb up the cliff"
But, Mr.. Blake, is there not some
way to cut down one OF the trees?
The tree itself would be a ladder if it
fell in such way as TO lean against
the cliff"
There's only the penknife." an
swered Blake. SO guess Wen have
to scratch eggs off our menu card
Spring leopard for ours Now. il yea
really want TO help. you might scrare
the soup bones out of your boudoir
and fetch lot more brush. tn take
a big fire to rid the hole Of that cat
smell"
"Will not the tree burn"
No: these hollow baobabs have
green bark on the inside as well IS
out. Funny thing. that We'd have
to keep a fire going a long time to
burn through"
yet It would burn in timer"
Yes; but we're not going to"
Then why not burn through the
trunk OF one of those small trees. in
stead of chopping 1t down"
"By-hecF, Miss Jenny, you've got
an American headpiece, Come on.
Sooner we get the thing started. the
better"
Neither Winthrope nor Miss Leslie
was reluctant TO leave the vicinity Of
the carcasses. They followed close
after Blake. around the monstrous
bole of the baobab. A little beyond it
stood a group of slender trees. whose
trunks averaged eight inches at the
base. Blake stopped at the second
one. which grew nearest TO the sea
ward side OF the cleft.
Here's our ladder" ne said. Get
some firewood- Pound the bushes
though. before you 40 poking into
them. May be snakes here"
"snakes?-oh," cried Miss Leslie
and she stood shuddering at the dan.
ger she had already Incurred.
The fire had burnt itself out on a
bare ledge of rock between them and
the baobab. and the clumps of dry
brush left standing in this end of the
cleft were very suggestive OF snake
now that Blake had called attention
TO the possibility Of their presence
He laughed at his hesitating com
panions. Go on. go on, Don't squca'
till you're bit. Most snakes hike out.
II you give them half a chance. Take
stick each OF you. and pound the
bushes"
Thus urged. both started TO work
But neither ventured into the thicker
elumps When they returned. with
large armfuls OF sticks and twigs
they found that Blake had used his
glass 10 light handful OF dry bark
out in the sun. and was nursing 81 In.
10 a small FIRE az the base OF the tree.
on the side next the cliff
Now. Miss Jenny" he directed
you're TO keep this going-not too big
a fire-understand3 Same time you
can keep on fetching brush to fumi
gate your cat hole II needs &. all
right"
VIII not that be rather too much
for Miss Leslie?" asked Winthropc
Wei. II she'd rather come and rub
brains on the skins.-Indian tan. you
know.-or-"
How can you mention such thinss
before LADY," protested Winthrope
Beg your pardon. Miss Leslie. you
see. I'm not much used TO ladies' com
pany. Anyway. you've got to see aud
hear about these things. And now I'll
have TO get the strings for Wins
bamboo bows. Come on. Win. We've
got that old tabby TO peel. and a lot
more besides"
Miss Leslie's FIRST impulse was to
protest against being left alone, when
at any moment some awful venom
Gus serpent might come darting at her
out of the brush or the crevices in
the rocks. But her halfparted lips
drew firmly together. and after a mo
ment's hesitancy. she forced herself
TO the task which had been assigned
her The fire. once started. required
little attention She could gfve most