Charlevoix county herald., 1909-08-28
- Ygfll;;2

IuTnS hnOItluS tnem up lntO Soiuo
sort of rope-ladder. I'm getting
mighty weary OF hoofng 1t all around
the point every time 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 fretful child
To cover this undiplomatic rude
ness, Miss Leslie spoke somewhat hur-
riedly. But why should VOC return
again to the river, Mr.. Blake? I'm sure
you are risking the fever; aud there
must be savage beasts in the Jungle"
That's my business" growled Blake.
He paused a moment, and added, rath-
er less ungraciously: We'll, If you
care, it's this way-Im going to keep
on looking for ore. Give me a little
iron ore, and we'll 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 fizzle."
$50 you wifi continue to risk your
life for us? l think that is very brave
and generous, Mr.. Blake!"
"How's that?" demanded Blake, not
a little puzzled. He was fully con-
scious of the risk; but this was the
first intimation he had received or
conceived that his motives were 9TH
err than selfish-"Um-m! So that's the
ticket. Getting generous, eh?"
'Not getting-you are generous!
When I 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 Man Friday for
this sort of thing. AS for you, l
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
disagreeabfe 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
| IDin hnr In, I,
entrance. AS he did so, he took the
opportunity to hand her bamboo
,.nife 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 is
quite soft 1t will be no trouble,
fancy, to put up the stakes, with their
points inclined toward the entrance"
But why"
mot so loud, Miss Genevieve! II
struck me that II any one should seek
to enter in TIE night, he would find
these stakes deucedly unpleasant. Be
|
see, the sharper points, which are to
be set uppermost, run off into razor
edge. Put them up now, before it
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"
| ohn uyhi
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 wakensd
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 bamboo blowpipe, with his
lungs for bellows.
WINTHROP turned away with an In
different bearing; but Miss Leslie
found herself compelled to stop and
admire his dexterous use Of his rude
tools.
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)