Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-01-21


found how to twist the fiber and plat
1t into cord. At best 1t was slow
work. and she did not see how she
should ever make enough cord for a
fish-line. Yet, as she caught the knack
OF the work and her fingers became
more nimble she began to enjoy the
novel pleasure of producing something.
Shehad quite forgotten to feel injured,
and was learning to endure with pa
thence the rasping of the fiber between
her fingers, when Winthrope came
clambering around the corner of the
cliff.
What is it," she exclaimed, spring
ing up and hurrying to meet him. He
was white and quivering, and the look
in his eyes filled her with dread.
Her voice shrilled to a scream:
Hes dead!"
Winthrope shook his head.
Then he's hurt,--he's hurt by that
savage creature, and you've run off
and left him"
NO no, Miss Genevieve, must In
sist! The fellow is not even
scratched"
Then why"
ut was the horror OF 1t all. 1t actu-
ally made me ILL.,
you frightened me almost to death.
Did the beast chase your"
That would have been better, in
way. Really, 1t was horrible! I'm
still sick over it, Miss Genevieve."
Dat al OH OF
fire to the bushes in the cleft, as Mr..
Blake"
Yes; after we had fetched what we
could carry of that long grass--two big
trusses. 1t grows 10 or IL feet tall,
and is now quite dry. Part Of 1t Blake
made into torches, and We fred the
bush all across the foot of the cleft.
Really, one would not have thought
there was that much dry wood in so
green a dell. On either side of the
rill the grass and brush flared like
finder, and the flames swept up the
cleft far quicker than we had ex-
pected We could hear them cracking
and roaring louder than ever after the
smoke shut out our view
Surely, there is nothing so very
horrible in that"
mo, oh, no; it was not that. But
the beast--the leopard! At first we
heard one roar then 1t was that
dreadful snarling and yelling-most
awful squalling! The wretched thing
came leaping and tumbling down the
path, all singed and blinded Blake
fired the big truss Of grass, and the
brute rolled right into the flames. 1t
was shocking-dreadfully shockingl
The wretched creature writhed and
leaped about till it plunged into the
pool. When II sought to crawl out,
all black and hideous, Blake went up
and killed 1t with his club-crushed in
it's skull UGH"
Miss Leslie gazed at the unnerved
Englishman with calm scrutiny.
But why should you feel so about
it?" she asked. WAS it not the
beasts life against ours?"
But so horrible DEATH"
I'm sure Mr. Blake would have pre-
ferred to shoot the creature had he
a gun Having nothing else than fire.
/ think 1t 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, Miss 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 seaward. 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 hungry stare upon several
pieces of flesh, suspended over the
flames on spits of green twigs.
"Hello!" he sang out, as he heard
their footsteps Just in time, Miss
Jenny. Your broiled steak'll be ready
in short order"
ooh, 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"