Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-12-24
ROBERT AME,J RENN

Indeed. no! rTs been an ass, and
here's my hand to it--if you really
mean it's quits"
tits quits all right, long as you
don't run out of sand" responded
Blake, and he gripped the others soft
hand until the Englishman WINGED.
so; that's settled. I've got hot
temper, but | don't hold grudges. Now.
where're your fish,"
"I-well. they were all spoiled"
'Spoiled?"
The sun had shriveled them"
And you call that spoiled! We're
like to eat them rotten before we're
through with this picnic. How about
the pools?"
Pools? Do you know. Blake. Inever
thought of the pools. | stopped to
watch you, and then we were so anx-
ious about you"
Blake grunted and turned on his
heel to wade into the half-drained pool
in whose midst he had been deposited
by the hurricane.
Two or three small fish lay family
wriggling on the surface. As Blake
splashed through the water to seize
them his foot struck against a living
body which floundered violently and
flashed brilliant forked tail above the
muddy water. Blake sprang over the
fish, which was entangled In the
reeds, and with a kick flung Il clear
out upon the ground.
"A coryphene!" cried Winthrope,
and he ran forward to stare at the
gorgeously coloreG prize.
"Coryphene?" repeated Blake, fol-
lowing his example. Good to eat?"
Fine as salmon. This is only a
small one, but"
Fifteen pounds II an ounce!" cried
Blake, and he thrust his hand in his
pocket. There was a moments ST.
lence, and Winthrope, glancing up, saw
the other staring in blank dismay.
Whats up?" he asked.
Lost my knife"
When Pin the pool? II we felt
about
NO; aboard ship, or in the surf"
Here Is my knife"
Eyes: almost big enough to whittle
a match, Mine would have done us
some good"
ut is the best steel"
"All right; let's see you cut up the
fish,
But you know. Blake, shouldn't
know how to go about it, ! never did
such a thing"
"And you, Miss Jenny? Girls are
supposed to know about cooking"
Il never cooked anything In all my
life. Mr.. Blake, and it's alive-and-
and am very thirsty, Mr.. Blake!"
Lord" commented Blake. Give
me that knife
Though the blade was SO small. the
Americans hand was strong. After
some little haggling, the coryphene
was killed and dressed Blake washed
both it and his hands in the pool, and
began to cut slices of flesh from the
/, fsh's tail.
I'VE have no fire." Winthrope re-
minded him, flushing at the word.
That's true" assented Blake, in a
cheerful tone, and he offered Win
thrope two of the pieces of raw flesh.
Here's your breakfast. The trimmed
piece is for Miss Leslie"
"But it's rawl Really. l could not
think of eating raw fish. Could you,
Miss Leslie?"
Miss Leslie shuddered. ooh, MOI
and I'm so thirsty could not eat any
thing"
You bet you cant" replied Blake.
both of you take that fish and go to
chewing. It's the stuff to ease your
thirst while we look for water. Good
Lord!-in week you'll be glad TO eat
raw snake. Finnicky over clean fish.
when you swallow canvas-back all but
raw, and beef running blood, and raw
oysters with their stomachs full of dis
integrated animal matter, to put 1t
politely. You couldn't tell rattlesnake
broth from chicken. and <dog makes
first-rate veal--when you've got to eat
It. I've had 1t straight from them that
knows that over in France they eat
snails and fish-worms. It's all mat
ter of custom or the style"
"To be sure, the Japanese eat raw
fish," admitted Winthrope.
ichs anu gOu oWdllOW soui budit
of 1t if you had an invite to swell
dinner in Tokyo. Go on now. both of
you It's no joke. | tell you. You've
got to eat, IL you expect to get to wa
ter before night Understand? See
that headland south? Well, it's 100 to /
Wen not find water short Of there, and
II we make it by night, we'll be doing
better than figure from the looks Of
these bogs. Now go to chewing. That's
IT. That's fine, Miss Jenny"
Miss Leslie had forced herself to
take nibbIe of the raw fish. The
favor proved less repulsiye than she
had expected. and its moisture was so
grateful to her parched mouth that
she began to eat with eagerness. Not
TO be outdone, Winthrope promptly
followed her lead. Blake had already