The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-03-29

the last mile he had been tagging
farther and farther behind, and now
he had suddenly disappeared. At the
girls dismayed exclamation, Blake re-
leased his hold and she found herself
standing in foot or more OF mud ana
water. The sweat was streaming
down Blake's face. AS he turned
around, he wiped it of with his shirt
sleeves.
do yOu-can 1t be, Mr.. Blake, that
he has had sunstroke?' asked MISS
Leslie.
"Sunstroke? No; he's just laid
down, that's all. l thought he had
more sand-confound him.
but the sun is so dreadfully hot,
and l have his shade
"And he's been tumbling into every
other pool. No; it's not the sun. I've
half mind to let him lie-the paper
legged swell! 1t would no more than
square our aboard-ship accounts"
Surely, you would not do that, Mr..
Blake. It. may be that he has hurt
himself in falling"
"In this mud?-bah! But | guess
I'm in for the pack-mule stunt all
around. Now, now; don't yowl, Miss
Jenny. I'm going. But you can't ex-
pect me to love the snob."
AS he splashed away on the return
trail, Miss Leslie dabbed at her eyes
to check the starting tears.
ooh, dear-Oh, dear" she moaned;
what have done to be so treated?
Such brute. Oh. dear!-and am so
thirsty"
In her despair she would have sunk
down where she stood had not the
sliminess of the water repealed her.
She gazed longingly at the trees, in
the fore of which stood grove Of
stately palms. The half-mile seemed
an insuperable distance, but the ride
on Blake's back had rested her and
thirst goaded her forward.
Stumbling and slipping she waded
on across the inundated ground, and
came out upon half-baked mud-flat,
where the walking was much easier.
But the sun was now almost directly
overhead, and between her thirst and
the heat she soon found herself falter-
ing. She tottered on a few steps
farther. and then stopped, utterly
spent. AS she sank upon the dried
rushes she glanced around and was
vaguely conscious Of a strange, double
headed figure following her path
across the marsh. All about her be-
came black.
The next she knew Blake was
splashing her head and face with
brackish water out of the whisky flask.
She raised her. hand to shield her
face, and sat up, sick and dizzy.
That's it," said Blake. He spoke
In kindly tone, though his voice was
harsh and broken with thirst You're
all right now. Pull yourself together
and we'll get to the trees in a. jiffy."
MIR. Winthrope-?"
I'm here, Miss Genevieve. 1t was
only wrenched ankle. If had a
stick, Blake, fancy l could make a
go of 1t over this drier ground"
"And lay yourself up for a month.
Come, Miss Jenny, brace up for an
other try. It's only a quarter-mile.
and I've got to pack him."
The girl was gasping with thirst:
yet she made an effort, and, assisted
by Blake, managed to gain her feet
She was still dizzy; but as Blake
swing .Winthrope upon his back. he
told her to take hold of his arm. Win.
thrope held the shade over her head.
Thus assisted. and sheltered from the
direct beat of the sun-rays, she tot.
tered along beside Blake, half-uncon.
scious.
Fortunately the remaining distance
lay across a stretch of bare drv
ground. for even Blake had all but
reached the limit of endurance. Stem
by step he labored on, staggering un.
DER the weight of the Englishman and
gasping with thirst which his ex.
ertions rendered even greater than
that OF his companions. But through
the trees and brush which stretched
away inland In wall of verdure he
had caught glimpses of broad stream
and the hope Of fresh water called ont
every ounce Of his reserve strength
AT last the nearest palm was on,v a
Few PAGES distant. Blake clutched
Miss Leslie's arm and dragged her
forward with rush in final outbnrst
OF energy. A moment later all three
lay gasping In the shade. But the
river was yet another 100 yards dis.
tant. Blake waited only to regain his
breath; then he staggered up and went
on The others, unable to rise gazod
after him in silent misery.
/ soon Blake found himself rushino
through the jungle along a broad trail
pitted with enormous footprints. hut
ne was so near mad with thirst thu,
ne paid no heed to the spoor other
tnan to curse the holes for the trouhle
tney gave him. Suddenly the tra,1
turned to the left and sloped down =
low bank into the river. Blind To al,
else. Blake ran down the slope and
cropping upon his knees plunged hi,
head into the water.
(TO BE CONTINUED1