Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-03-11

| AiiS Two companions how
~ i7lieVe the worst of their distress,
NC tropical incoming sped in heat. ST.
L9ice and half slumber At O'clock
Doiiohl reused the little caravan. and
"1'er nasty supper, told them to
make ready for a long, hard ride. All
hAsht they journeyed. Through desert
wastes and over rocky Businesses IN
Sleep mountains and across half-stag-
iiahe' swallow rivers. And even when
en0 odWn came there was no resting.
Aho horses, faded and covered with A
Co0IAls OF dust and sweat, stuck their
toot "earlediy into the sand or chung
i1S'iessiy to the hilly slopes. Larry
was weak as a woman, and Johnny
| LOO worn to talk. The sun conferred the
SKY when Benoni let them halt, They
were just past a strip of desert waste.
ana near tiny oasis Of parched grass
anu ScraWny palms. A murky pool of
water Knocked them with resemblance IS
| vi Apolilnar1s, settlers, e-flushed
lehlonades and carbonated beverages to
| De quaned in the blessed land at home.
| Johnny exhausted had dropped from
MS morse and was trying to drag him
| self towards the muddy pool
benonl was as mistaken as the palm
tree standing motionless in the desert
calm He pulled Johnny up, bolstered
him along with a draught from his
| mask. and set him to rights generally
How are you, Morris?" he asked.
On, fair" replied Larry. This gaunt
American found it hard to admit ply
steal fnferiority to the black
| We can rest but an hour or two
volunteered Benoni CURLY. Then we
must go on"
But where?" asked Larry. 81 con-
| fess wanted to go into darkest Afri-
ca, but this affair is growing too shad-
owy for me. [ don't care about being
handled like a packinghouse cow"
Benoni turned a reproachful eye
upon him. Il have promised to help
you find the girl you seek, can you
| not rely upon me? I know my Africa,
am trusting you. and trying to repay
you for aiding me to escape from that
| cafe mob-that corral filled with worse
| than the beasts of the jungle-drunken,
| Infatuated swine that once were men"
| Hello, what's this?" asked Johnny.
| TN always finding things-now amt
l? Look at this, and in the desert,
| tool" He held up to view a plump
pigeon, Apparently it had been hurt
in fight with some heavier denizen Of
| the air. For it was quite dead and it's
| head was severed almost from it's body.
Benoni reached out his hand for the
bird.
| Doves like that nest in but one
place in all this continent" he remark
| ed, and his face became ashen gray as
he noted the odd markings of purple
and brown on it's snowy breast. only
one place" he repeated.
| Johnny had been turning the bird
| over and over, rumpling up the help
! less wings. Something caught his eye,
and he held the dead dove out with up
raised wing for the others to see.
| Scratched on it's wing in rude letters
they read;
| Betty Lancey. Africa!"
| Betty" cried Larry. Then he seiz-
ed Benoni by the wrist. IF doves like
! that nest in but one place on this con-
! tinent, take us there, take US at once,
What place is 1t? Where? Would she
| be safe? Or in the hands of sava ges ?"
| THAT is where we have been trav-
cling to, my friend" answered Benoni.
81 had suspected. but / had not GER
tafnIy known. We will not even rest
for the hour. if you wish"
" must" answered Johnny. Safety
razors. I'm beat out. I'm not a camel
for six months!"
Tell me, tell me something" plead
ed Larry.
But the sands were not more silent.
Benoni made but one reply. Il dare
not. It might destroy all hope!"
| Dav after day, cIinked off this ardu-
ous travel. Once they met caravan
and Benoni bargained for fresh horses.
The erstwhiIe novelty was succeeded
~, feverish unrest. Both Americans
we're dead with fatigue, the little Arab
s+ood the Journey well, and Benoni
~,-os IN the pink of condition. Ten days
later they found a second pigeon.
Tbis one was alive and f1uttered to
choir very luncheon table Larry COW
erad If with his hat, and bent its wings
hack ferceIy only to find bitter dis
appointment. for there was no message
traced upon the wing.
Two DAVIS later they reached native
village. hanging tassel-like upon the
borders of an immense jungle. Benonl
hired beaters to break the way for
them. and for week they journeyed III
q setting of tropic grass and dusky
skins. One morning Larry awoke to
find the camp deserted of all but Be
noni and Johnny. The horses We're
cone and even the little Arab had dis"
appeared
.swhat! are we lost in this jungle
Betrayed and deserted?" questioned
! Larry.
mo. indeed, I sent them away. we
cannot leave here till nightfall, SO
sleen again or lounge till return, re-
plied Benoni. Il will be back IN Ie"
hours"
D,vesting himself of his garments
Renoni swathed his loins with a glrdIe
~ 4exib1e grass, and strobe away in
to the Businesses OF the thicket.
larry reused the sleeping Johnny
rudely. 'Firehead. get up, and tell me
u,h.+ Won think of It." he commanded