, 1909-03-04
HE three saw nothing nor

H@ OF each other that day.
Miss Leslie had withdrawn
into the baobab and Blake had gone off
down the cleft for more salt. He did not
return until after the others were
asleep. Miss Leslie had gone without
her supper, or had eaten some of the
food stored within the tree.
When, late the next morning. shr
finally left her secluslon Blake was no.
where in sight. Ignoring Winthrope's
attempts to start a conversation, she
hurried through her breakfast, and.
having gathered a supply of food end
water. went to spend the day on the
headland.
Evening forced her to return to the
cleft. She had emptied the water.
Flask by noon. and was thirsty. Win
fhrope was DOING beneath his can.
ppy. which Blake had moved some
yards down towards the barricade.
Blake was cooking supper
He did not look up, and met her at.
Tempt at a pleasant greeting with an
t~narticulate grunt. When she turned
o enter the baobab, she found the
opening Uttered with bamboos and
green creepers and pieces of large
branches with charred ends. On either
side, midway through the entrance, a
vertical row of holes had been sunk
through the bark of the tree into the
boft wood.
What is this?" she asked. Are
Fou planning a porch?"
aybe." he replied.
But why should you make the holes
10 far in? l know so little about these
matters, but l should nave fancied the
holes would come on the front of the
tree."
You'll see in a day or two"
How did you make the holes? They
ook black. as though"
Burnt 'em, Of course-hot stones"
That was so clever of you'll"
He made no response.
Supper vas eaten in silence. Even
Winthrope's presence would have been
relief to the girl; yet she could not
30 to waken him, or even suggest that
her companion do so. Blake sat
throughout the meal sullen and stolid,
ind carefully avoided meeting her
gaze. Before they had finished. twi-
light had come and gone, and night
was upon them. Yet she fingered for
last attempt.
Goodnight. friend!" she whispered.
He sprang up as though she had
struck him and Numbered away n
The darkness.
In the morning 1t was as before. He
had zone off before she wakened. h
fingered owe. breakfast; but he did
pot appear, and she could not endure
fVintilrope's suave drawl. She went
or another day ON the headland.
So returned somewhat earlier than
Fn the previous day. AS before, Win.
hrope was doing in the shade. But
blake was under he baobab, raking
logether a heap Of rubbish. His hands
we're scratched and bleeding. TO the
girls surprise. he met her with a
cheerful grin and a clear, direct glance.
Look here" he called.
She stepped around the baobab and
food staring. The entrance from the
f-ourd to the height Of IL feet, was
walled up with q mass Of thorny
branches, interviewer with yet thorn
|er creepers.
"How's tl.at for a front dcor?" he
demanded.
"Door?"
Yes"
But it's so big. I could never
move it."
"A child could. Look" He grasred
q projecting handle neal the bottom OF
TIE thorny mass. The lower hall OF
the door swung up and outward, the
upper half in and downward. see
It's balanced on a crossbar In the
middle. Come on in"
She walked after him in under the
now horizontal door. He gave the IN
ner end a light upward thrust, and the
door swung back in its vertical circle
until 1t again stood upright in the
opening. From the inside the CIR
could see the strong framework to
which was dashed the facing OF the
thorns. 1t was made of bamboo and
strong pieces of branches, bound TO
eether with tough creepers.
Petty good grating, eh?" remarked
Blake. when those green creepers
dry thaurl akrink upA hold tight ~