The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-01-07

from one headland to the other, eSti-
mating their relative distances. His
grunt of satisfaction was lost in Win
thrope's exclamation: by Jove, look
at the cattle!"
Blake and Miss Leslie turned to
stare at the drOves of animals NOV
ing about between them and the Dor
der OF the tall grass. Miss Leslie was
the first to speak. They can't be
cattle, Mr.. Winthrope There are some
with stripes. I do believe they're
zcbras!"
Get down." commanded Blake.
They're all wild game. Those big OK
like fellows to the left of the nebras
are Gland. Whee! wouldn't we be in
it if We owned that water hole? I'll
bet Id have one of those fat beeves
inside three days"
How l should enjoy juicy steak"
murmured Miss Leslie.
Raw or jerked?" questioned Blake.
What is jerked?'
Dried"
oh, no; I mean broiled-just red
inside"
q prefer mine quite rare" added
Winthrope.
that 5 the way you'll get it, damned
rare-Beg your pardon, Miss Jenny,
Without fire, we'll have the choice of
raw or jerked."
Horrors"
"Jerked meat is all right. You cut
your game in strips"
With a penknife!" laughed Miss
Leslie.
Blake stared at her glumly. That's
so. You've got it back on me-Butch-
er beef with a penknife, Wen have
to take it raw. and dog-fashion at
that"
Haven't l heard of bamboo
Knives?' said Winthrope
Bamboo"
I'm sure l can't say, but az re-
member, it seems TO me that the var
nish-like glaze"
Silica? Say, that would cut meat.
But where in-where in hades are the
bamboos?"
I'm sure l can't say. Only l re-
member that l have seen them in 9th
er tropical places, you know"
Meantime l prefer cocoanuts, until
we have fire to broil our steaks" re-
marked Miss Leslie
Ditto, Miss Jenny, longs we have
the nuts and no meat I'm a vegetari-
an now-but maybe my mouth amt
watering for something else. Look at
all those chops and roasts and stews
running around out there"
They are making for the grass"
observed WINTHROP. Hadn't we bet
ter start"
Nuts won't weigh so much without
the shells. Wen eat right here"
There were only a few nuts left
They were drained and cracked and
scooped out, one after another. The
last CHANGED to break evenly across
the middle
Hello" said Blake, the lower part
of this will do for a bowl, Miss Jen-
ny. When you've eaten the cream,
put 1t in your pocket. Say, Win, have
you got the bottle and keys and"
"All safe-everything."
Are you sure, Mr.. Winthrope,"
asked Miss Leslie. Mems pockets
seem so open. Twice I've had to pick
up Mr.. Blake's locket."
'Locket?" echoed Blake.
The ivory locket. Women may be
curious, Mr.. Blake, but | assure you,
did not look inside, though"
Let me-give it here-quick!"
gasped Blake.
Startled by his tone and look, Miss |
Leslie caught an oval shaped object |
from the side pocket of the coat, and |
thrust it into Blake's outstretched |
hand. For a moment he stared at 1t, |
unable to believe his eyes; then he |
leaped up, with a yell that sent the |
droves Of zebras and antelope flying |
into the tall grass
oh! OH" screamed Miss Leslie. |
rs it a snake? Are you bitten?"
"Bitten?-Yes, by John Barleycorn! |
Must have been fuzzy drunk to put it !
In my coat. Always carry 1t in my |
fob pocket. What a blasted Internal |
idiot I've been! Kick me, Win,-kick
me hard!"
81 say, Blake, what is It? | don't |
quite take you. II you would only"
"Fire!-fire! Can't you see? We've |
got all hell beat Look here"
He snapped open the slide Of the |
supposed locket, and before either of |
his companions could realize what he
would be about, was focusing the |
lens of a surveyors magnifying- glass |
upon the back OF Winthrope's hand.
The Englishman jerked the hand
away
COW! That burns!'
Blake shook the glass in their be- |
wildered faces.
Look there!" he shouted, there's
fire; there's water; there's birds |
eggs and beefsteaks! Here's where we
trek on the back trail Wen smoke
out that leopard in short order!"
You don't mean to say, Blake"
mo; | mean to do! Don't worry
You can hide with Miss Jenny on the
point, while l engineer the deal. Fall
in"
The day was still fresh when they |
found themselves back at the foot of !