, 1909-02-18

and wait"
But say, Blake" replied Win
thrope, 81 see animals over in the cop
pices, and you should know that l am
physically unable"
Nothing but antelope" interrupted
Blake. 1--WE seen them enough now
to know them twice as far OF. And
you can bet on 1t they'd not be there
II any dangerous beast was in smell
Ing distance"
THAT is SO clever of you Mr..
Blake" remarked Miss Leslie.
Simple enough when o happen to
think of it," responded Blake. Yes;
the onlv thing you've got to look out
for's the ticks in the grass. They'll
keep you interested. They bit me up
in great shape"
He scowled at the recollection,
nodded by way of emphasis, and was
OF like a shot. The edge of the plain
beneath the cliff was strewn with
rocks, among which, even with Miss
Lesl'l's help. W~inthrope could pick
his way nut slowly. Before they were
clear of the rough ground. they saw
Flake disappear among the man
groves.
The ticks proved less annoying than
they had a~pprehended after Blake's
warning. Blu when they approached
the mouth of the river, they were
alarmed to hear, above the roar Of the
surf. loud snorting, such as could only
BE made by large animals. Fearful
lest Blake had reused and angered
some forest beast, they veered to the
right and ran to hide behind a clump
Of thorns. Winthrope sank down ex-
hausted the moment they reached
cover; but Miss Leslie crept to the
far end of the thicket and peered
around.
oh, look here!" she cried. IT'S a
whole herd of elephants trying to
cross the river mouth where we did,
and they're being drowned. poor
things!"
"Elephants?" painted Winthrope, and
he dragged himself forward beside
her. why, so there are; quite a
drove of the beasts. Yet, l must say,
they appear smaller-ah, yes; see
their heads. They must be the hippos
Blake saw"
Those ugly creatures? | once saw
some at the zoo JUS the same, they
will be drowned. Some are right in
the surf"
Il can say, I'm sure, Miss Gene
We've. but l have an Idea that the
beasts are quite at home in the wa
ter. I fancy they enjoy surf bathing
as keenly as ourselves"
! Il do believe you are right. There
is one going in from the quiet water.
But look at those funny little ones on
the backs of the others!"
Must be the baby hippos.' replied
Winthrope, indifferently. IF you
please. I'll take a pull at the flask. I
am very dry"
When he had half emptied the flask.
he stretched out in the shade to doze.
But Miss Leslie continued to watch
the movements Of the snorting hippos,
amused by the %ponderous antics of the
grown ones in the surf, and the comic
appearance Of the barrel-like infants
al they mounted the backs of their
obese mothers.
Presently Blake came out from
among the mangroves, and walked
oSioDo " thC DCdCu, u lew ydTuS away
from the huge bathers. To all ap-
p%earances. they paid as little attention
to him as he to them. Miss Leslie
glanced about at Winthrope. He was
fast asleep. She waited a few mo-
ments to see II the hippopotami would
attack Blake. They continued to ig-
more him, and gaining courage from
their indifference, h stepped out
from behind the thicket, and advanced
to where Blake was crouched on the
beach. When she came up. she saw
beside him a heap of oysters. which
he was opening in rapid succession.
Hello! You're just in time to
help" he called. Where's VIM"
ASLEEP behind those bushes"
Worst thing he could do But lend
a hand. and Wen shuck these oysters
before rousting him out. You can
rinse those I've opened. Fill the pot
with water. and put them in to soak"
They look very tempting. How did
you chance to find them?"
Saw EN- on the mangrove roots At
low tide, arst time | nosed. around
here. Tide was well up today; but
managed to get these all right with
4 little diving. Only trouble, the
skeets most ate me alive"
Miss Leslie glanced at her compan
ions dry clothing. came back to
the oysters themselves. These look
very tempting. Do you like them
raw"
Cant say ! like them much any
way, as q rule. But II l did, / wouldn't
eat this mess raw"
"Yes?'
This must be the dry season here,
and the river il running mighty clear.
Just the same it's nothing more than
liquid malaria. Well not eat these
oysters till they've been pasteurized."