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

ito" she asked. Was it not the
beasts life against ours?"
But so horrible a DEATH"
I'm sure Mr. Blake would have pre-
ferTed to shoot the creature had he
gun. Having nothing else than fire.
think it was all very brave of him.
Now we are sure of water and food.
Had we not best be going?"
1T was to fetch you that Blake
sent me-"
Winthrope spoke with perceptible
stiffness. He was chagrined, not only
by her commentator of Blake. but
by the Indifference with which she had
met his agitation.
They started at once. MSS Leslie
in the lead As they rounded the point
she caught sight of the smoke still
rising from the cleft A little later
she noticed the vultures which were
streaming down out of the sky from
all quarters other than seward. 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 a hungry stare upon several
pieces of flesh, suspended over the
flames on splits of green twigs.
"Hello." he sang out as he heard
their footsteps. Just In time, Miss
Jenny. Your broiled steak'n 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
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-
ton. As Blake had surmised. the
roast proved far other than tender
Hunger, however, lent It a most an
petiZing flavor. The repast ended
when there was nothing left TO devour.
Blake threw away his empty spit and
rose to stretch. He waited for Miss
Leslie TO swallow her last mouthful
and then began to chuckle.
Whats the joke?" asked Win
thrope.
Blake looked at him solemnly.
well now, that was downright
mean Of me-" he drawled; after rob-
bling them, to laugh at it,"
"Robbing who?"
The buzzards."
you've fed US on leopard meat!
lists disgusting!"
81 found 1t filling 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. 81 am thirsty"
We'll, l guess the fire is about burnt
out, assented Blake. Come on; we'll
see"
The cleft now had 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 unwithered 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
~ GIL NuIJuINiLS NoluSl vi lht
steep 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 cliff bat
through it, like a tiny box canyon.
The sides rose sheer and smooth as
walls Midway, at the highest point of
the cleft, the baobab lowered high
above the ridge crest, its gigantic
trunk filling a third of the breadth of
the little 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 a way to climb
it. 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"
"Umph--we'll see. What is it, Miss
Jannv9U