The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-05-27

he's having pleasant dream :" ne d.
manded You're worse than m alarm
| clock!'
Look around and 60 dream again."
growled Larry.
Johnny sat up Safety raxors!" he
cried. What's become OF them?"
What's going to become OF u.s."
grunted Larry. "Benoni said he'd be
back"
Then I think he will" allowed
Johnny. did he leave US anything to
eatf"
! There's some dates. that contours
ed meal cake they make in this coun-
| try and some figs," itemized Larry.
land, say, Johnny, these look like
| hens eggs!"
| We'll. 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. It'll stick
to the viands that have come the least
near to killing me during our African
/ Reorganization. Were we fools to come,
Larry, or not?"
"Oh, don't know. quit your kick
ing" said Larry. Il suppose II Be-
| noni don't come back we might stay
here all night"
Il reckon we WILL" added Johnny,
grimly.
For 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
failing as time killer, they tried roll
| ing marbles out of the soft clay. and
| had put up very passable game Of
"Mibs" when they heard q rustling
and cracking in the brush and foliage
| around them.
BETS on a lion," said Johnny.
"Oh. make 1t cannibal king or q
boa constructor" suggested Larry.
Something novel;"
Benoni appeared 1T the edge Of the
clearing.
Larry WINS" was Johnny's greet
ing. Il bet on a lion--he said twas
a cannibal king approaching"
I'm neither" answered Benoni. II
want to sleep. worked all night
while you fellows rested. will you
keep watch for me? Wake me at the
| slightest sound. And IL I'm not up v
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 a great
heap and set fire to it. 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 were briars that pricked, gnats
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 quar-
ter of an hour, but when they had
come out Of the jungle Larry was
shaking like a leaf in the wind ana
Johnny was too far gone for words.
1 A tramp over an arid plain brought
them to a loathsome, turgid stream.
From a small cove in the bank Benoni
punted out a 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 fun
| gle was as child's play. The days and
| the nights had all the furies' 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 Benoni
stood breast high in water, a black.
Shiny ooze that reached to Harry's chin
and almost overlooked into his mouth.
Poor Johnny, the shortest OF the three.
was carried of 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 floods Benoni
moored the punt at the mouth of a
cave that yawned from little hillock
on what had once been the rivers
| bank.
| Ito be continued)
i
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