Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-11-04

C
path, all singed and blinded Blake
fired the big truss of grass, and the
brute rolled right into the flames. 1t
was hoeking-dreadfully shockingl
The wretched creature writhed and
leaped about till it plunged into the
pool. When it sought to crawl out,
all black and hideous, Blake went up
aSld killed it with his club-crushed in
its skull Ugh!"
Miss Leslie gazed at the unnerved
Englishman with calm scrutiny.
"But why should you feel so about
it?" she asked. WAS it not the
beasts life against ours?"
But so horrible a DEATH"
I'm sure Mr.. Blake would have pre-
ferred to shoot the creature had he
a gun. Having nothing else than fire.
| think it was all very brave of him.
Now we are sure of water and food.
Had we not best be going?"
ut was to fetch you that Blake
sent me-"
Winthrope spoke with perceptible
stiffness. He was chagrined, not only
by her commentator of Blake, but
by the Indifference with which she had
met his agitation.
They started at once, Miss Leslie
in the lead. AS they rounded the point
she caught sight of the smoke still
rising from the cleft A little later
she noticed the vultures which were
streaming down out of the sky from
all quarters other than seaward. Their
focal point seemed to be the trees at
the foot of the cleft A nearer view
showed that they were alighting in the
thorn bushes on the south border of
the wood.
OF Blake there was nothing to be
seen until Miss Leslie, still in the
lead, pushed in among the trees. There
they found him crouched beside q
small fire, near the edge of the pool.
He did not look up. His eyes were
riveted in hungry stare upon several
! pieces of flesh, suspended over the
flames on spits of green twigs.
their footsteps. "Just in time, Miss
Jenny Your broiled steakll be ready
| in short order"
"Oh, build up the fire! I'm simply
| ravenous!" she exclaimed, between i'm
| patience and delight.
Winthrope was hardly less keen;
| yet his hunger did not altogether
| blunt his curiosity.
Il say, Blake" he inquired, where
did you get the meat?"
"Stow it, Win, my boy This amt
a packing house. The stuff may be
tough, but it's not-er-the other
thing. Here you are. Miss Jenny
| Chew it off the stick"
Though Winthrope had his suspi.
cions, he took the piece of half-burned
flesh which Blake handed him in turn
ana fell to eating without further ques-
] ton. AS Blake had surmised, the
roast proved far other than tender
| Hunger, however, lent 1t most ap-
petizing flavor The repast ended
when there was nothing left to devour
| Blake threw away his empty spit and
rose to stretch. He waited for Miss
Leslie to swallow her last mouthful
and then began to chuckle.
What's the joker" asked Win
thrope.
Blake looked at him solemnly.
well now, that was downright
mean Of me-" he drawled; after rob-
birg them, to laugh at it,"
"Robbing who?"
"The buzzards."
You've fed us on leopard meat!
It's-it's disgusting!"
Il found it filling How about you,
Miss Jenny?"
Miss Leslie did not know whether to
laugh or to give way to a feeling Of
nausea. She did neither.
Can we not find the spring of which
you spoke?" she asked. 81 am thirsty"
well, l guess the fire is about burnt
out" assented Blake. Come on; We'll
see"
The cleft now had far different as
| pect from what it had presented on
their first visit The largest of the
trees, though scorched about the base,
still stood with unwithered foliage,
little harmed by the fire. But many
of their small companions had been
killed and partly destroyed by the heat
and flames from the burning brush. In
| places the fire was vet Smouldering