The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-03-17

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. II
was hocking-dreadfully shocking!
| The wretched creature writhed and
! leaped about till it plunged into the
pool. When it sought to crawl out,
all black and hideous, Blake went up
and killed 1t with his club-crushed in
its 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
gun. Having nothing else than fire,
| think it was all very brave of him.
Now we are sure of water and food.
Had we not best be going?"
ut 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
| et, nf hn clr
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 a
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 steakll be ready
in short order"
"Oh, 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 altogethe,
IL blunt his curiosity.
AZ 81 say, Blake" he inquired, "wher'
IL did you get the meat?"'
"Stow it, Win, my boy. This ain
er packing house. The stuff may b
10 tough, but it's not-er-the othe
~ thing. Here you are, Miss Jenny
" Chew it off the stick"
IT. Though Winthrope had his susp
ie cions, he took the piece Of half-burne
or flesh which Blake handed him in tur
su and fell to eating without further quet
ie ton AS Blake had surmised, tn
vi roast proved far other than tende
III Hunger, however lent It a most al
III petizing flavor. The repast ende
a. when there was nothing left to devou
e. Blake threw away his empty spit an
rose to stretch. He waited for Mis-
ne Leslie to swallow her last mouthfl
Ut and then began to chuckle.
," What's the ioke?" asked Wi
he thrope.
Blake looked at him solemnly.
ch well now, that was downrigl
ne mean of me-" he drawled; after ro
ne bing them, to laugh at it,"
- "Robbing who?"
sd' The buzzards."
Id you've fed us on leopard meat
en- Its-it's disgusting"
ne II found it filling. How about yo
ne Miss Jenny?"
Miss Leslie did not know whether
- laugh or to give way to a feeling
ne nausea. She did neither.
oA Can we not find the spring of whic
you spoke?" she asked. Il am thirsty
- We'll, / guess the fire is about burr
out" assented Blake. Come on; we
see."
an The cleft now had far different a
pect from what it had presented @
n their first visit. The largest of II
on trees though scorched about the bas
still stood with unwithered foliag
little harmed by the fire. But man
tr of their small companions had bee
killed and partly destroyed by the hei
II and flames from the burning brush.
places the fire was yet smouldering.
ITO PE rONTTN-JTL,nA