Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-03-11

he's having pleasant dream7" he de-
manded. You're worse than an alarm
clock."
Look around and go dream again"
growled Larry.
Johnny sat up. Safety razors!" he
cried. What's become of them?"
| What's going to become of u.s."
grunted Larry. t'Benoni said he'd be
back"
Then I think he will" allowed
Johnny Did he leave US anything to
| eat?"
There's some dates, that confound-
ed meal cake they make in this coun-
try and some figs" itemized Larry,
and say, Johnny, these look like
hens eggs!''
Well you can sample them. I
| won t! declared Johnny, with visions
OF the stomachic illness that had be-
set him early on the route, thanks 70
an overly curious appetite. TN stick
10 the Viands that have come the least
! near to killing me during our African
peregrination. Were we fools to come,
Larry, or not?"
'Oh, I don't know, quit your kick
Ing" said Larry. Z suppose if Be-
noni don't come back we might stay
here all night"
Il reckon we will" added Johnny.
| grimly.
For the want of a better occupation,
their meal finished, they fell to play
Ing mumble-peg in the clearing where
| camp had been struck humble peg
failing as time killer, they tried roll
| ing marbles out of the soft clay, and
had put up a very passabIe game Of
| 'Mibs" when they heard a rustling
| and cracking in the brush and foliage
| around them
Bets on Non," said Johnny.
"Oh, make it a cannibal king or 4
boa constructor" suggested Larry.
Something novel;"
Benont appeared at the edge os the
| clearing.
Larry wins" was Johnny's greet
| ing. I bet on a Homie said twas
a cannibal king approaching"
I'm neither" answered Benonf. ST
want to sleep. I worked all night
while you fellows rested. Will you
keep watch for me? Wake me at the
| slightest sound. And If I'm not up "
starlight, call me then. Don't forget"
Long before that hour. though. the
| great black was up and ready. All Of
| their luggage he stacked in great
| heap and set fire to 1t. They waited
| till the pile gave signs Of thorough ig-
| milton, then led by Benoni the trio set
out through the jungle.
The walk was fight for breath
There hria ho re-
| that stung, knotted vines that trapped
unwary feet. Sometimes the foot
stepped upon a sodden snake, causing
the reptile to coil around the ankle in
| a horrifying snarl But Benoni paused
| for nothing. With one arm plunged
| forward, with the other he grasped
hold of Larry and babe him pull John
| ny in their wake. This nightmare
| struggle lasted not longer than a quar-
ter of an hour but when they had
| come out Of the jungle Larry was
| shaking like a leaf in the wind and
Johnny was too far gone for words.
A tramp over an arid plain brought
| them to a lOathsome, turgid stream
| From a small cove in the bank Benont
punted out flat bOttomed scow with
small sail He leaped into it and babe
| the others follow. Then began a pull
| to which the struggle through the jun
gle was as child's play. The days and
| the nights had all the furfes' tortures
| far outdone. And through it all they
| lived! This was the wonder that came
| to Larry afterWard. For they fought
hand to hand battles with snakes and
hideous water reptiles, fat croCodiles
| leered at them and more than once
sent them scurrying high on the bank
| Once the punt overturned and Benonf
stood breast high in water, black
! Shiny ooze that reached to Harry's chin
| and almost overlooked into his mouth
Poor Johnny, the shortest OF the three,
was carried off his feet and almost
| drowned, but they got ashore somehow,
but all their food except two tins Of
biscuits in waterproof canisters were
soaked. This happened their third day
on the river, and they had YET anoth-
er days travel ahead Of them. The
next day the rains commenced and the
river teemed with the foods Benoni
| moored the punt at the mouth of a
cave that yawned from a little hIllocll
| on what had once been the rivers
| bank.
| Ito be continUed.)
|