Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-11-25
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turns knotting them up into some
sort of a rope-ladder. I'm getting
mighty weary of hoofing it all around
the point every time l trot to the riv-
er. After this I'll go down the cliff
at that end of the gully
Winthrope, who had become very
irritable and depressed during the last
two days, turned on his heel, with the
look of a fretful child.
To cover this undiplomatic rude
ness, Miss Leslie spoke somewhat hur-
riedly. But why should you return
again to the river, Mr. Blake? I'm sure
you are risking the fever; and there
must be savage beasts in the jungle"
That's my business" growled Blake.
He paused a moment, and added, rath-
er less ungraciously: well, If you
care, it's this way-I'm going to keep
on looking for ore. Give me a little
iron ore, and well mighty soon have
lot of steel knives and arrow-heads
that'll amount to something. How're
we going to bag anything worth while
with bamboo tips on our arrows?
Those boar tusks are a fizzle."
80 you will continue to risk your
life for US? think that is very brave
and generous, Mr.. Blake!"
'How's that?" demanded Blake, not
little puzzled. He was fully CON
scious of the risk; but this wex the
first intimation he had received or
conceived that his motives were 9TH
er than selfish-"Um-m So that's the
ticket. Getting generous, eh?"
Not getting-you are generous!
When l think of all you have done
for us! Had it not been for you, | am
sure we should have died that first
day ashore"
We'll, don't blame me. l couldn't
have let a dog die that way; and
then, a fellow needs a Man Friday for
this sort of thing. AS for you,
haven't always had the luck to be
favored with ladies' company"
Thank you, Mr.. Blake. l quite ap-
preciate the compliment. But now,
must put on supper"
Blake followed her graceful move
ments with an intentness which, in
turn, drew Winthrope's attention to
himself. The Englishman smiled in
disagreeable manner, and resumed his
work on the bows, with the look of
one mentally preoccupied. After sup
per he found occasion to spend some
little time among the bamboos.
When at sunset Miss Leslie with
drew into the baobab, Winthrope
somewhat officiously insisted upon
helping her set up her screen in the
entrance. AS he did so, he took the
opportunity to hand her a bamboo
knife, and to draw her attention to
several double-pointed bamboo stakes
which he had hidden under the litter.
What is it?" she asked, troubled by
his furtive glance back at Blake.
Merely precaution, you know" he
whispered. "The ground in there 10
quite soft. 1t will be no trouble, 1
fancy, to put up the stakes, with their
points inclined toward the entrance"
But why"
Not so loud, Miss Genevieve! Il
struck me that If any one should seek
to enter in the night, he would find
these stakes deucedly unpleasant. Be
careful how you handle them. AS you
see, the sharper points, which are to
be set uppermost, run off into razor
edge. Put them up now, before 1t
grows too dark. You know how nine.
pins are set-that shape. Goodnight!
You see, with these to guard the en-
trance, you need not be afraid to go to
sleep at once"
Thank you," she whispered, and
began to thrust the stakes into the
ground as he had directed.
He had not been mistaken. The
vague doubts and fears which she al
ready entertained would have kept her
awake throughout the night, but
thanks to the sense of security af-
forded by the sword-bayonets OF her
silent little sentries, the girl was
soon able to calm herself, and was
fast asleep long before Blake wakened
Winthrope.
Immediately after breakfast, Blake
who had spent his watch in grind
ing the edges from a stone and ex-
perimenting with split and bent |
twigs-put Winthrope's keys in the
fire, and began an attempt to shape
them into knife.blade. To heat the
steel to the required temperature, he
used a bamboo blowpipe, with his
lungs for bellows.
Winthrope turned away with an in
different bearing; but Miss Leslie
found herself compelled to stop and
admire his deXterous use of his rude
tools.