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

as statue. AT IasJ steaUny Footsteps
sounded on the outer side of the thorn
wall, and an animal began to creep
through the wall, smiling for the bait.
Blake waited with the immobiIity of
an Eskimo. The delay was brief.
With boldness for which Blake
had not been prepared, the beast
leaped through and seized the meat.
Even in the dim light, Blake could
see that he had lured an animal larger
than any jackal But this only served
to lend greater force to his blow. AS
he struck, he leaped to his feet. The
brute fell as though struck by light
ming and lay still
Blake prodded the inert form warily:
then knelt and passed his hands over
it. The beast had whirled about just
in time to meet the descending club,
and the blow had crushed in its skull.
Chuckling at the success of his ruse.
be drew the palm back into the open
ing, and swung his prize over his
shoulder. When he came to the FIRE. a
glance showed him that he had killed
a fullgrown spotted hyena
In the morning. when Miss Leslie
appeared, there were two hides
stretched on bamboo frames, and the
air was dark with vultures streaming
down into the cleft near the barricadt
Blake was sleeping the sleep of the
just, ard did not waken until she had
built The fire and begun TO broil the
steaks which he had saved.
Again they had a feast of the fresh
antelope meat But with repletion
came more Of Righteousness. and
Blake agreed with Miss Leslie when
she remarked that salt would have
added to the flavor He set OFF pres
emily, and spent half q day on the
talus Of the headland gathering salt
from the rock crannies.
For the next three days he left the
cleft only to gather eggs The great
sr part Of his time was spent in tan
ming the hyens and antelope skins
Meantime Miss Leslie continued to
nurse Winthrope and to gather Are
NOOO' = liGNi lSlchC n ilSCtlOls, sic
also purified the salt by dissolving
it in a pot of water, and allowing the
dirt to settle. when the clarified solu-
ton was poured off and evaporated
over the fire in one of the earthen-
ware pans.
At first Winthrope had been too
weak to sit up. But treated to a lib
eral diet of antelope broth, raw eggs
hot water, and cocoanut milk, he
gained strength faster than Blake had
expected. On the fourth day Blake
set him to work on the final rubbing
of the new skins; on the fifth, he or
dered him to go for eggs.
Much to Miss Lesle's surprise. Win
thrope started OF without a word Of
protest. All his peeyish irritability
had gone with the fever, and the girl
was gratified to see the quiet manner
in which he set about a task which
seemed an imposition upon his half-re-
gained strength. But the very motive
which, seemingly, prevented him from
protesting, impelled her to speak for
him
Mr. Blake," she exclaimed. "Mr.
Winthrope is going off without a
word; but l cant endure It! You have
no right to send him on such an err
rand It will kill him"
Blake met her indignant look with
a sober stare.
What If it doos?" he said. "Better
for him TO die in the gallant service
Of his fellows, than to sit here and
rot. Eli VIM"
DO not trouble yourself, Miss
Genevieve. hope l shall pull through
all right. If not"
NO, you shall not. I'll go myself"
See here, Miss Leslie" said Blake
somewhat sternly; who's got the re-
sponsibility Of keeping you two alive
for the next month or so? I've been
in the tropics before. and | know
something OF the way people have to
live to get out again. I'm trying to
do my best, and tell you straight, if
you won't mind me, I'm going TO make
you, no matter how much it hurts
yohi iCciIhSn iou SEQ INV uiCc anu
meek Win takes his orders. l ex-
planned matters to him last night"
81 assure you, Blake, you shall have
no cause for complaint as to my con
duct" muttered Winthrope. 81 should
like to observe, however, that in
speaking to Miss Leslie"
There you are again, with your
everlasting talk. Cut it out, and get
busy. Tomorrow we all go on a hike
to the river"
AS Winthrope started off, Blake
turned to Miss Leslie, with a good
natured grin.
you see, It's this way, Miss Jen-
ny" he began. He caught her look
of disdain and his face darkened
Mad, en-? So that's the racket"
"Mr. Blake, will not have you talk
to me in that way. Mr.. Winthrope is
a gentleman, but nothing more to me
than friend such as any young wom-
an"
THAT settles it! I'll take your
word for it, Miss Jenny" broke in
Blake, and sprineing up, he set about
mis- work whisting.
The girl sazed at his broad back
and erect head, uncertain whether she