Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-01-07

reached the limit OF endurance. Step
by step he labored on. staggering I'M
der the weight Of the Englishman and
gasping with thirst which his en-
ertions rendered even greater than
that Of his companions. But through
the trees and brush which stretched
away inland in a wall of verdure he
had caught glimpses Of broad stream
and the hope of fresh water called out
every ounce of his reserve strength.
At last the nearest palm was only
few PAGES distant. Blake clutched
Miss Leslie's arm and dragged her
forward with rush in final outburst
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, gazed
after him in silent misery.
Soon Blake found himself rushing
through the jungle along broad trail
pitted with enormous footprints but
he was SO near mad with thirst that
he paid no heed to the spoor other
than to curse the holes for the trouble
they gave him. Suddenly the trail
turned to the left and sloped down
low bank into the river. Blind to all
else, Blake ran down the slope and
dropping upon his knees plunged his
head into the water
At first his throat was so dry that
he could no more than rinse his mouth.
With the first swallow his swollen
tongue Knocked him with the salt,
bitter taste Of sea-water The tide
was flowing! He rose, suffering and
choking and gasping He stared
around. There was no question that
he was on the bank Of river and
would be certain of fresh water with
the ebb tide. But could he endure the
agony of his thirst all those hours?
He thought of his companions.
Good God" he groaned, they're
goners, anyway"
He stared DULY up the river at the
thousands of waterfowl which lined it's
banks. Within close view were herons
and black ibises, geese, pelicans, fla
mingoes, and a dozen other species of
birds of which he did not know the
names. But he sat as though In a
stupor, and did not move even when
one OF the driftwood logs on a mud
shoal a few yards upstream opened
an enormous mouth and displayed two
rows of hooked fangs. 1t was other
wise when the noontime stiffness was
broken by violent splashing and
loud snortings downstream. He
glanced about and saw six or eight
monstrous heads drifting towards
him with the tide.
What in Wheel a whole herd of
hippos," he muttered. That's what
the holes mean"
The foremost hippopotamus was
headed directly for him. He glared
at the huge head with sullen resent
ment. For all his stupor he perceived
at once that the beast intended to
land; and he sat In the middle of Its
accustomed path. His first impulse
was to spring up and yell at the crea-
ture. Then he remembered hearing
that white hunter had recently been
killed by these beasts on one of the
South African lakes Instead of leap
ing up he sank down almost fiat and
crawled back around the turn in the
path Once certain that he was hid
den from the beasts he rose to his
feet and fastened back through the
jungle.
He was almost in view of the spot
where he had left Winthrope and Miss
Leslie, when he stopped and stood
hesitating.
Il can't do It," he muttered; 81 can't
tell her-poor grill"
He turned and pushed into the
thicket Forcing way through the
tangle OF thorny shrubs and creepers
until several yards from the path he
began to edge towards the face of the
jungle, that he might peer out at his
companions unseen by them.
There was more of the thicket be-
fore him than he had thought, and he
was still fighting his way through II
when he was brought to stand by a
peculiar cry that might have been the
bleat of young lamb: "Ba-ba!"
whats that?" he croaked.
He stood listening, and in a moment
he again heard the cry, this time more
distinctly: "Blak,-Blak!"
There could be no mistake. 1t was
Winthrope calling for him, and call
ing with a clearness of voice that
would have been physically impossible
half an hour since. Blake's sunken |
eyes lighted with hope. He burst
through the last screen of jungle and
stared towards the palm under which
he had left his companions. They |
were not there.
Another call from Winthrope d.
rected his gaze more seaward. The |
two were seated beside fallen palm, |
and Miss Leslie had large round OBJ !
ject raised to her lips. Winthrop was
waving to him,
"Cocoanuts," he yelled. "Come on"
rrL.ao 80 t1o paIr,e bod baap ovnr- /