The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-08-11
CHAPTER vliI.-continued.

al uHpfsdsdsft
CHAPTER vIII.-continued.
They'll be dry in a day or two.
Say. Wipthrope, you might fetch some
If those stones-size of a ball. ] used
to be a fancy pitcher when ] was a
KID, and We might scare mp a rabbit or
something"
Il play cricket myself. But these
s:c~cs-'
Better'n a gun, when you haven't
got the gun. Come on. Well 20 in a
bunch. after all, in case need stones.
With due consideration for Win
blake set so slow a pace that the half
.cs ok consumed crer half an
hour. But his smouldering irritation
vas soon Quenched when they drew
uCa- The green thicket at the foot of
t.. cleft. In the almost deathlike
s!i!iaess of mid-afternoon. the sound
Of tricklinS water came 10 their ears,
clear and musical.
A spring." shouted Blake. Il
guessed right Look at those green
Plants and grass: there's the channel
where il runs out in the sand and
dies up
The others followed him eagerly as
he pushed in among the trees. They
saw no running water. for the tiny
riil that trickled down the lodges was
NTH vii mt af tho
foot of the slope lay pool. some ten
yards across. and overshadowed by the
surrounding trees. There was no
uDGerbrush. and the ground was
trampled bare as floor.
BY Jove." said Winthrope: see the
Of sheep about"
Deer. you mean" replied Blake.
bending to examine the deeper prints
at The edge of the pool. These amt
sheep tracks. A lot of them are
larger"
Gould you not uncover the brook
asked Miss Leslie. II animals have
been drinking here, one would prefer
cleaner water.
Sure" assented Blake. IL you're
game for q climb. and can wait a few
minutes. we'll get il out of the spring
itself. We've got to 60 up anyway. to
ge; at our poultry yard"
Here's a place that looks like a
path" called Winthrope. who had cir
cied about the edge of the pool to the
farther side.
Blake ran around beside him and
stared at the tunnel-like passage which
wound up the limestone lodges be-
meath the overarching thickets.
Odd place. is it not" observed
Winthrope. Looks like a fox run.
only larger. you know"
Too low for deer. though-and
their hoofs would have cut up the
moss and ferns more. Let's get a
close look"
As he spoke. Blake stopped and
climbed few yards up the trail to an
overhanging ledge. four or five feet
high. Where the trail ran up over
this break in the slope the stone was
bare of all vegetation. Blake laid his
club on the top of the ledge. and was
about to vault after II, when, directly
beneath his nose, he saw the print Of
a greet catlike paw. outlined in dried
mud At the same instant deep
srowl came rumbling down the fox
run" Without waiting for a second
warning. Blake drew his club to him.
and crept back down the trail. His
stealthy movements and furtive back
ward glanc IS filled his companions
with vague terror. He himself was
hardly less alarmed.
Get out of the rrees-into the OPEN!
he exclaimed in a hoarse whisper. and
as they crept away. white with dread
Of the unknown danger, he followed at
their heels. looking backward. his club
raised in readiness to strike.
Once clear of the trees. Winthrope
caught Miss Leslie by the hand and
broke into q run. In their terror they
paid no heed to Blake's command to
stop. They had darted on 50 unex-
tectedly that he did NOT overtake them
short of 100 yards.
Aioiu w. NC SoiV, SilVpiuS |" III
thrope roughly by the shoulder. Its
safe enough here, and you'll knock out
that blamed ankle"
What is il? What did you see,"
Easped Miss Leslie.
Footprint" mumbled Blake, ashamed
Of his fright. III
"A ion's7" cried WINTHROP.
Not. so large-'bout the size of a
punla's. Must be leopard's den up
there heard a growl, and thought it
about time TO clear out"
by Jove. we'd better withdraw
around the point"
Withdraw your aunty. There's no
leopard going TO tackle us out here in
open ground this time of day. The
sneaking tomcat! If only I had a
match. Id show him how We smoke
raj holes
Mr.. Winthrope spoke of rubbing
sticks to make fire." suggested Miss
Leslie
Make sweat. you mean. But we
may as well Try it now, if we're going