Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-05-06
ROBERT AMES BENNETT
Illustrations BY
RAY WALTERS

kEsa1N..,-nt Isos. By A. C. McClury & Coz
u.oa to be inhabited, and we may
across an abandoned village"
% do not see that the discovery
ouH do US any good"
@I1ov about the chance of grain or
nanas still growing? But that's all
anoes We're going because we
led a change.
che nodded and FASTENED to pre-
70 breakfast, while he packed a skin
with food and examined the slen-
D. tins Of his arrows. AS matter
rrecaution. he had been keeping
avn IN the cigarette case. where the
o,,ts would be certain of coat of
Q sticky poison and at the same time
narded against innicting a chance
,ornd But as he was now about to
81 ant on a journey he fitted tips into
he heads Of his two straightest
hats.
The morning was still fresh when
|hey closed the barricade behind them
nd descended TO the pool. There was
game in sight, but Blake had no
7,eb TO hunt at the commencement
the trip. The steady southwest
ind had blown the sky clear of its
halarial haze and gave promise of a
av which should know nothing of
rIfrv calm-a day on which game
ould be hard to stalk, but one per-
ectly suited for long tramp.
Mindful of ticks, Blake headed OBJ
jouelv across to the beach. Once on
he smooth, hard sand, they swung
hong at brisk pace, light-hearted
Ind keen with the spirit of adventure.
Never had they felt more compan-
1onable. Miss Leslie laughed and
fhatted and sang snatches OF songs,
while Blake beat time with his club,
or sought to whistle grand opera-he
had healed his bllstered lips some
line before by liberal applications of
8ntelore tallow
Gulls and terms circled about them
pr lowered over the water ready to
woop down upon their fnny prey.
Eandripers ran along the beach within
\ stones throw, but the curlews
fhowed their greater knowledge of
pankind by keeping beyond gunshot,
Once a great flock of geese drove
flgh overhead, their leader honking
he alarm as they swept above the
suspicious figures on the beach. Like
fhe curlews, they had knowledge of
Pnankind, Hut the flock of white
PeHcans which came sailing along in
stately leisure on their immense
Wigs foated past so low that Blake
felt certain he could shoot one. He
raised his bow and took aim, but re-
trained from shooting at the thought
that it might be a sheer waste of his
precious poison.
A little later a herd of large ami
malS appeared on the border of the
grass jungle, but wheeled and dashed
oack INTO cover so quickly that Blake
barely had time to make out that they
were buffaloes-the first he had seen
on Ibis coast, but easily recognized by
'nelr resemblance to the Cape va
Iety Their fight gave him small
concern; for the time being he was
more interested in topography than
game.
ne southern headland now lay
close before them, its seward face
ie"fing up sheer and lofty, but the
$pFioach behind running down in
o'o6eH terraces. Mid-morning found
Ie explorers at the foot of the ridge.
BAKE squinted up at the bowider-
S'feWn slopes and the crannies of the
0Foken lodges.
likely place for snakes. Miss Jen-
lead" 'e'' u oe''e'
lager as she was to look over into
~. wv country beyond, the girl dropped
at" second place and made no CON-
pant = about the wary slowness Of
nVr companions advance. She found
'e most difficult parts of the ascent
ia. ANNi hSt training on the
Ias ll'uuer' Blake could have taken
,euSes and all at a run, but as he
n ,'ounted each terrace he halted to spy
7 Tue ground before him. Like Miss
~ he was looking for snakes,
w ,Jousn Tor an exactly opposite reason.
- "'shed to add to the contents of
'ne cigarette case.
tho 'gaIly to his disappointment and
=, si'l 8 relief neither snake nor sign
~ -, snake was to be seen all the way
cr. .ue ridge. AS they neared the
ba blake turned to offer her his
i ,'ao up the last lodges, and In the
-, they gained the top.
en-. ne wind, now freshening to a gale,
sbo N me girl with such force that
Do would have been blown back
clntl, me lodges had not Blake
tha Neu her wrist. Needless alike OF
NJ - PAINFUL grip which held her and
tbo | gusts which tore at her skirt,
daa., slII stood gazing out across the
ave- le swamps which stretched
eve 10 the southwest as far as the
r 5e could see. She did not sneak
sbe ,n Blake led her down behind the
w w OF the crest lodges.
W Hat & tho