Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-12-31
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trained to endure thirst. He rested
less than ten minutes; then taking
Miss Leslie up again like a rag doll,
he swung away at a good pace.
The trees were less than half
mile distant when he halted for the
second time. He would have gone to
them without pause, though his mus
cles were quivering with exhaustion,
had not Miss Leslie CHANGED to look
around and discover that Winthrope
was no longer following them. For
the last mile he had been tagging
farther and farther behind, and now
he had suddenly disappeared At the
girls dismayed exclamation, Blake re-
leased his hold and she found herself
standing in foot or more of mud and
water. The sweat was streaming
down Blake's face. AS he turned
around, he wiped it off with his shirt
sleeves.
do you-can it be, Mr.. Blake, that
he has had sunstroke?" asked Miss
Leslie
"Sunstroke? No; he's just laid
down, that's all. / thought he had
more sand-confound himi"
But the sun is so dreadfully hot,
and | have his shade"
And he's been tumbling into every
other pool. No; it's not the sun. I've
half a mind to let him lie-the paper
legged swell, It would no more than
square our aboard-ship accounts"
Surely. you would not do that, Mr..
Blake. 1t may be that he has hurt
himself in falling"
in this mud?-bah! But I guess
I'm in for the pack-mule stunt all
around. Now. now; don't yowl, Miss
Jenny. I'm going. But you can't ex-
pect me to love the snob'
As he splashed away on the return
trail, Miss Leslie dabbed at her eyes
to check the starting tears.
'Oh, dear-Oh, dear!" she moaned;
what have l done to be SO treated?
Such brute. Oh. dear!-and / am SO
thirsty"
In her despair she would have sunk
down where she stood had not the
sfminess of the water repealed her
She gazed longingly at the trees, in
the fore of which stood a grove of
stately palms. The half-mile seemed
an insuperable distance, but the ride
on Blake's back had rested her and
thirst goaded her forward.
Stumbling and slipping she waded
on across the Inundated ground and
came out upon a halfbaked mud-fiat,
where the walking was mach easier
But the sun was now almost directly
overhead. and between her thirst and
the heat she soon found herself falter-
ing. She tottered on few steps
farther, and then stopped, utterly
spent. AS she sank upon the dried
rushes she glanced around and was
vaguely conscious of strange, double
headed figure following her path
across the marsh. All about her be-
came black.
The next she knew Blake was
splashing her head and face with
braekish water out of the whisky flask,
She raised her hand to shield her
face, and sat up, sick and dizzy.
That's it," said Blake. He spoke
III Il kindly tome, lEOugH MS voice was
harsh and broken with thirst. You're
all right now. Pull yourself together
and Wen get to the trees in jiffy'
Mr.. Winthrope-?"
I'm here, Miss Genevieve. 1t was
only wrenched ankle. If | had
stick, Blake, fancy l could make
go of it over this drier ground"
And lay yourself up for month
Come. Miss Jenny, brace up for an
other try. It's only quarter-mile,
and I've got to pack him."
The girl was gasping with thirst;
yet she made an effort, and, assisted
by Blake, managed to gain her feet
She was still dizzy; but as Blake
swing Winthrope upon his back, he
told her to take hold of his arm. Win
thrope held the shade over her head
Thus assisted. and sheltered from the
direct beat of the aun-rays, she tot
tered along beside Blake, half-uncon-
scious.
(To be continued