The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-04-12
CHAPTER X.-Continued.

NnAP ] Elk V.-ContInued.
You'd find those thorns whole lot
worse" muttered Blake.
ITO be sure; and Miss Leslie fully
appreciates your kindness interposed
Winthrope.
Il do indeed, Mr. Blake I'm sure
never could go through here without
your coat"
That's all right. Got the handker-
chief?"
Il put it in one of the pockets"
It'll do to tie up your hair"
| Miss Leslie took the suggestion,
knotting the big square of linen over
her fluffy brown hair.
Blake waited only for her to draw
ont the kerchief before he began to
force a way through the jungle. Now
and then he beat at the tangled vege-
tation with his club. Though he held
to the line by which he had left the
thicket, yet all his efforts failed to
open an easy passage for the others.
Many OF the thorny branches sprang
back into place behind him. and as
Miss Leslie, who was the first to fol-
low, sought to thrust them aside the
thorns pierced her delicate skin until
her hands were covered with blood.
Nor did Winthrope, stumbling and hob
bling behind her, fare any better
Twice he tripped headlong into the
brush, scratching his arms and face.
Blake took his own punishment as
matter of course, though his tougher
and thicker skin made his injuries less
painful. He advanced steadily along
the line of bent and broken twigs that
marked his outward passage, until Inc
thicket opened on a strip of grassy
ground beneath wild fig-tree.
by Jove." exclaimed WINTHROP,
"a banyan!"
"Banyan? Well, If that's British for
] daisy, you've hit it, responded
Blake Just take squint up mere
. How's that for roost?"
Winthrope and Miss Leslie stared w
obviously at the edge of a bed OF
reeds gathered in the hollow of one OF
the huge flattened branches at lts
junction with the main trunk OF the
banyan, 20 feet above them.
Twill not the mosquitoes poster Us
here among the trees?" objected Win
thrope.
"Storm must have blown 'em away
haven't seen any yet
"There will be millions after sun
set"
Maybe; but l bet they keep below
our roost."
"But how are we to get up so hlgn !
inquired Miss Leslie.
81 can swarm this drop root, an
I've a creeper ready for you two, ea
planned Blake.
Suiting action to words, he climbe
mn the small trunk of the air root an
swung over into the hollow where Il
had piled the reeds. Across III
broad limb dangled rope-like creepe
one end of which he had fastened 10
= branch higher up. He flung down III
free end to Winthrope.
Look lively, Pat he called. I'm
suns most gone, and twlllgnt oon
last all night in these parts. Get IN
line around Miss Leslie, and do wn'
you can on boost
81 see; but, you know, the vine
too stiff to tie"
p,ora stif,ed an oath and jerked TT
end of the creeper up into MS nan
When he threw it down again 1t WI
1ooned around and fastened IN DO
line knot.
"Now. Miss Leslie, get aboard al
we'll have you up in jiffy, ne Sal
"Are YOU sure you can lift me
asked the girl, as Winthrope sipp'
the loon over her shoulders.
Blake laughed down at them. we
puess yes, Once hoisted fellow o
of a 5O-foot prospect hole-ols
Dutchman at that. You don "ei'
over 100" .,
. He had stretched out across =
~ broadest part of the branch AS M,
70 Leslie seated herself in the loop
roached down and began to haui up
the creener. hand over hand. lhou
frightened by the novel manner VI .,
= cent the girl chung tightly TO the IL
- ohovo her head, and Blake had no u
fculty in raising her until she swu
directly beneath him. Here ~
over he found himself In qualua
Tho girl seemed as helpless as a Gu
n and he was lying fiat. How couiu
left her above the level OF the oranc
"Take hold the other line ne sa
The girl hesitated DO you -, nee .
! Crab II quick, and pull up hard IL y
don't want tumble! .
The girl seize> the part ~
creeper which was fastened ano ,e .
drew herself up with convulsiVe
ergy. Instantly Blake rose 10 To-,
tnees. and grasping the taut cree'