Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1909-07-31


they established home In some cliffs
Make found fresh water spring. Miss
leslie faced an unpleasant situation.
CHAPTER WiI.-centInued.
They'll be dry in a day or two.
Say. Winthropc. you might fetch some
of these stones-size Of ball. / used
to bs a fancy pitcher when I was a
kid, and we might scare up rabbit or
something"
Il play cricket myself. But these
stones"
'Better'n q gun. when you haven't
got the gun. Come on. Well go ~ a
5unch, after Gil, In case need ston1,. I"
With due consideration for Win
thrope's ankIe-rot for Winthrope-
Blake set so slow a pace that the half
miles walk consumed over half an
hour. But HIS smouldering irritation
was soon quenched when they drew
near the green thicket at the foot of
the cleft. In the almost deathiike
stiffness of mid-afternoon. the sound
OF trucking water came to their ears.
clear and musical.
"A spring." shouted Blake. IL
guessed right Look at those green
plants and grass: there's the channel
where it runs out In the sand and
dries up"
lathe others followed him eagerly as
he pushed in among the trees. They
saw no running water, for the tiny
rill that trickled down the lodges was
matted over with vines. But at the
foot OF the slope lay a pool, some ten
yards across, and overshadowed by the
surrounding trees. There was no
underbrush, and the ground was
trampied bare as a floor.
"By Jove," said Winthrope; see the
tracks! There must have been a drove
OF sheep about"
Deer, you mean" replied Blake.
bending to examine the deeper prints
at the edge OF the pool. These amt
sheep tracks. A lot OF them are
larger"
Gould you not uncover the brook"
asked Miss Leslie. III animals have
been drinking here, one would prefer
cleaner water"
Sure" assented Blake. "If you're
game for a climb, and can wait few
Ainutes, we'll get it out Of the spring
Itself. We've got to go up anyway. to
get at our poultry yard"
Here's a place that looks like a
path" called Winthrope, who had cir
cled about the edge OF the pool to the
farther side.
Blake ran around beside him and
stared at the tunnel-like passage which
wound up the limestone lodges be-
meath the overarching .thickets.
odd place. is 1t not?" observed
Winthrope. Looks like q fox run,
only larger. you know"
TOO low for deer, though-and
their hoofs would have cut up the
moss and ferns more. Let's get q
lose look"
AS he spoke. Blake stopped and
,limbed few yards up the trail to IN
,verhanging ledge. four or five feet
ugh Where the trail ran up over
ibis break In the slope the stone was
bare OF all vegetation. Blake laid his
club ON the top OF the ledge, and was
shout to vault after II, when. directly
Beneath his nose, he saw the print OF
q great catlike paw, outlined in dried
mud. At the same instant deep
growl came rumbllng down the fox
run" Without waiting for second
warning, Blake drew his club to tf,
and crept back down the trail. IcA
stealthy movements and furtive back
ward glanc IS filed his companions
with vague terror. He himself was
hardly less alarmed.
Get out of the trees-into the open!"
he exclaimed In hoarse whisper, and
as they crept away, white with dread
of the unknown danger, he followed at
their heels, looking backward. his club
raised In readiness to strike.
Once clear OF the trees, WINTHROP
caught Miss Leslie by the hand and
broke into a run. In their terror they
paid no heed to Blake's command to
Ap. They had darted OF so unex'
pectadly that he did not overtake them
short OF 100 yards.
Hold on!" he said. gripping Win
thrope roughly by the shoulder. TITS
safe enough here, and you'll knock out
that blamed ankle"
"Whot is u? What did you see?'
gasped Miss Leslie.
Footprint" mumhled Blake, ashamed
II his fright.
"A lion's?" cried Winthrope.
Not SO lerge-'bout the size of a
una's. Must be leopard's den w