The newspaper., 1909-07-16
CONTINUED from page threel

| 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
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.
"Hello!" he sang out, as he heard
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
and fell to eating without further ques-
tion. AS Blake had surmised the
roast proved far other than tender
| Hunger, however. lent II n most ap-
petizing flavor. The repast ended
when there was nothing left to devour
Blake threw away his empty spit and
lose to stretch. He waited for Miss
Leslie to swallow her last mouthful
and 'theL began TO chuckle.
What's the joke" asked Win
thrope.
Blake looked at him solemnly.
Well now. that was downright
mean of me-" he drawled: after rob
1.ng them. to laugh at it,"
''Robbing who7"
The buzzards."
You've sfed us on leopard meat,
.t's-it's disgusting"
Il found 1t filing 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. Il am thirsty"
We'll. guess the fire is about burnt
out" assented Blake. Come on: well
sec"
The cleft now had a 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 unwlthered 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 yet smouldering.
Blake picked a path along the edge
of the rill. where the moist vegetation.
though scorched. had refused to burn.
/ After the first abrupt ledge up which
] Blake had to drag his companions. the
ascent was easy But as they climbed
/ around an outiutting corner OF the
] efeen right wall OF the cleft Blake
muttered curse Of disappointment.
He could now see that the cleft did
not run to the top OF the clin. but
through IT. like tiny box canyon.
The sides rose sheer and smooth as
walls Midway NJ the highest point of
! he cleft. the baobab lowered high
above the ridge crest. its gigantic
trunk filling a third of the breadth OF
The littls gorge Unfortunately It
stood close TO the left wall.
Here's luck for you." growled
Blake. why couldn't the blamed old
tree have grown on the other side?
We might have found way to climb
Il. Guess we'll have to smoke out
another leopard. We're no nearer
those birds nests than we were yes
terday."
by Jove. look here." exclaimed
Winthrope. This is our chance for
antelope, Here by the spring are
bamboos-real bamboos-and only
half the thicket burned"
What OF them?" demanded Blake.
"Bows-arrows-and did you not
agree that they would make knives? p
"Umph-we1l see. What is It. Miss
jenny"
Isn't that hole in the big tree?"
Looks like It. These baobabs are