Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-12-16
CHAPTER xIV-continued.

AZ noon, having learned that Win
'hrcpc's condition showed little change,
Iiiate ate n hearty meal. and at once
SeC Off down the cleft He did not re-
appear until nightfall; though at in
teVals Miss Leslie had heard his step
"a he came up the ravine with his
loads OF thorn-brush.
This course of action became the
routine for the following ten days. 1t
was broken only by three incidents,
all relating TO the important matter of
food supply. Winthrope had soon
tired of broth, and showed such an in
'Eatiabie craving for cocoanut milk
that the stock on hand had become
exhausted within the week.
The day after, Blake took the rope
ladder. as he called the tangle of
,Enotted creepers, and went off towards
the north end of the cleft. When he
returned, little before dark, the
lower Fart of his trousers was torn to
shreds, and the palms .t his hands
were blistered and raw but he carried
a heavy load OF cocoanuts. After a
dl4l Ii iNVAupN " NtllllD llic giant palms
on the far side of the river, he had
found another grove near at hand in
tie little plain and had succeeded in
reaching the tops of two of the
mailer palms.
Under his directions, Miss Leslie
clarified a bowl Of bird fat-goose-
grease, Blake called it-and dressed
- l.,
ages which she made of soft inner
bark and the handkerchiefs. he was
unable to handle the thorn-brush the
following day. Unfortunately for him,
he was not content to sit idle. During
the night he had cut bamboo fishing
pole and heightened Miss Leslies line
of plated cocoanut-fiber with a long
catgut leader. In the afternoon he
completed his outfit with a hairpin
hook and piece Of half-dred meat.
He was back an hour earlier than
usual, and he brought with him a
dozen or more fair-sized fish. His
mouth was watering over the prospec-
tive feast, and Miss Leslie showed her
self hardly less eager for a change
from their monotonous diet. AS the
fish were already dressed she raked
up tho Goals and quickly contrived a
grill of green bamboos.
When the odor of the broiling fish
spread about in the still air, even Win
thrope shifted and turned over, while
Blake watched the crisping delicacios
with ravenous look. Unable TO re-
strain himself he caught up the
smallest fish, half cooked, and bolted
It down with such haste that he burnt
his mouth. He ran over to the spring
for drink, and Winthrope cackled
derisiyely.
Miss Leslie was too absorbed in her
cooking 10 observe the result of
Blakea grcedincss. She had turned
the fish for the last time, and was
about to lift them off the fire, when
Blake came running back, and sent
grill and all flying with violent kick.
Sail" ne gasped-"where's the
salt? I'm poisoned"
"Poisoned?"
Poison fish! Don't eat! God!-
Where's the SALT"
The girl stared at him. His agony
was 50 great that beads of sweat were
rolling down his face. He writhed, and
stretched out quvering hand-"Salt
Guickl'-warm water-salt!"
bat there's none left! You remem
ber yesterday"
Cod" groaned Blake, and for q
moment he sank down, overcome by
racking cunvulsion. Then his jaw
closed like bulldogs, and gritting his
teeth with the effort, he staggered uI
and rushed off down the cleft
stop! stop Mr.. Blake! Where are
you going?" screamed the girl.
She started to- run after him, but
was halted by an outburst OF delrious
laughter. Winthrope was sitting up
right and waving his fever-blotcheo
Asnds-"Hi. hi! look al Inn runI E'S