The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-02-11
CHAPTER XVI.
The SAVAGE Manifest,


land without collapse. the following
morning, as soon as the dew was dry,
Blake called out all hands for tho ex-
petition. He was in the best of hui
mors. and showed unexpected consid-
Grafton by presenting Winthrope with
a cane, which he had cut and trimmed
during the night.
Having sent Miss Leslie to fill the
whisky flask with spring water. he
dropped three cocoanut-shell bowls, a
piece of meat and lump of salt into
one of the earthenware pots, and
slung all over his shoulder in the ante
lope skin With his bow hung over
the other shoulder. knife and arrows
in his belt, and his big club in his
hand, he looked ready for any contin-
gency.
Well hit first for the mouth Of the
river" he said I'm going on ahead.
If I'm not in sight when you come up.
pick a tree where the ground is dry.
and wait"
But l say, Blake" replied Win
thrope, Il see animals over in the cop
pieces, and you should know that am
physically unable"
Nothing but antelope" interruotcd
Blake. I've seen them enough now
to know them twice as far off And
you can bet on it they'd not be there
if any dangerous beast was in smell
ing distance"
That is so clever of you, Mr..
Blake" remarked Miss Leslie.
Simple enough when you happen to
think of it." responded Blake. Yes:
the only 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 scowed at the recollection.
nodded by way of emphasis, and was
off like a shot The edge Of the plain
beneath the clif was strewn with
rocks, among which. even with Miss
Leslie's help, Winthrope could pick
his way but slowly. Before they were
clear OF the rough ground, they saw
Blake disappear among the man
groves.
The ticks proved less annoying than
they had apprehended after Blake's
warning But 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
De 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. WINTHROP 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
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. | must say,
they appear smaller-ah. yes: see
their heads They must be the hippos
Blake saw"
Those ugly cree ures? | once saw
some at the zoo. Just the same. they
will be drowned. Some are right in
the surf"
Il cant say, Pm sure. Miss Gene
We've, but have an idea that the
beasts are quite at home in the wa
ter. fancy they enjoy surf bathing
as keenly as ourselves"
81 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
WINTHROP, indifferently. IF you
please, III take pull at the flask.
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 snortinx hippos.
amused by the ponderous antics of the
grown ones in the surf and the comic
appearance Of the barrellike infants
as they mounted the backs Of their
obese mothers
Presently Blake came out from
among the mangroves. and walked
across to the beach few yards away
from the huge bathers To all ap-
pearances, 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, she stepped out
from behind the thicket. and advanced
to where Blake was crcuched 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
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, first time | nosed around