The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-11-10

I heA havlna q wasssant dreams~ A@ 80
manded. You're worse than an aiarn
clock.~
Look around and SO dream asaln.'
crowded Larry.
Johnny sat up, safety razorsl" hs
cried. whats become Of themG"
whats going to become Of usy
grunted Larry. ~Renoni said he'd b
back"
Then I think he will.- allowed
Johnny. ibid he leave as anything g
eats-
There's some dates. that eonfound-
"a meal cake they make IN this coun-
try and some figs" itemiaed Larry,
and. say, Johnny. these look like
hens eggsis
WON'T" declared Johnny, with visions
OF the stomaehle Illness that had be-
set him early on the route. thanks %
an overly curious appetite. I'm stick
to the viands that have come the least
near to killing nae during our African
peresrlnation Were we fools 10 come.
Larry. or not7"
@oh, don't know. quit your kick
ing" said Larry 7 suppose II Be-
noni don't come back we might stay
here all night"
4 reckon we wlII.~ added Johnny.
Erimly.
Fer the want OF better occupation.
their meal finished. they fell TO play
ing mumble-peg in the clearing where
camp had been struck. Mumble-peg
falling as a time killer. they tried roll
ing marbles out OF the soft clay. and
had put up q very passable game OF
'Afibs" when they heard q rustllng
and cracking in the brush and foliage
around them.
Bets on a Hon" said Johnny.
~Oh. make it cannlbal king or a
boa constructor" suggested Larry.
Something novei.~
Benoni appeared at the edge Of the
clearing.
Larry wins. was Johnny's greet
Ing 4 bet on a Homie said twas
cannibal king approaching
I'm neither answered Benoni q
want to sleep. worked all night
while you fellows rested VIII you
keep watch for meg Wake me at the
slightest sound And il I'm not up ; "
starlight. can me then. DON'T forget
Long before that hour though. the
great black was up and ready. All NJ
their luggage he stacked in a great
heap and set IRE to L. They waited
till the pile gave signs Of thorough ig-
milton. then led BY Benonf the trio set
out through the jungle.
The walk was a fight for breath
There were briars that pricked, gnats
that stung. knotfed vines that trapped
unwaFy feet Sometimes the foot
stepped upon a sodden snake. causing
the reptile to coil around the ankle ia
a horrifying snarl. But Benonf paused
for nothing With one arm plunged
forward. with the other he xrasped
hold OF Larry and babe him pun 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 leaf In the wind and
Johnny was too Tar gone for words.
A tramp over an arid plain brought
them 70 a ioathsome. turgid stream.
From small cove in the bank Benoni
punted out a hat-bottomed scow with
small sail He IeaDed into It and babe
the others follow. Then began a pull
to which the struggle through the jun
gle was as chIId's play The days and
the nights had all the furies' tortures
far outdone. And through II ali fhey
lived. This was the wonder that came
10 Larry afterward. For they fought
hand 10 hand battles with snakes ana
nideous water reptiles. rat crocodiles
Ieered at them and more than once
sent them scurrying high on the bank.
Once the punt overturned and Benonf
stood breast high In water. a black.
Shiny ooze that reached to Harry's chin
md almost oyerhowed into his mouth.
Poor Johnny. the shortest Of the three.
was carried on his feet and almost
but they got ashore somehow,
,ut an their food except two tins OF
biscuits in waterproof canisters were
soaked. This happened their third day
IA the river. and they had yet anoth-
r days travel ahead OF them. The
lext day the rains commenced and the
liver teemed with the floods. Benonl
noored the punt at the mouth OF 4
ave that yawned from a little hflIock
N what had once been the rivers
,ank.
fTr q. e1~tfr,.od