The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-05-31
|N1fW llHIE Y6 H[4fAdE5 ZZ1l

turns knOtt1ng them up lntO some
sort of a rope-ladder. I'm getting
mighty weary Of hoofing 1t all around
the point every time I trot to the riv-
er. After this I'll go down the clih
at that end OF the gully"
Winthrope, who had become very
irritable and depressed during the last
two days, turned on his heel, with the
look of fretful child.
To cover this undiplomatic rude
ness, Miss Leslie spoke somewhat hur-
riedly. But why should you return
again to the river, Mr.. Blake? I'm sure
you are risking the fever; and there
must be savage beasts in the Jungle"
That's my business" growled Blake.
He paused a moment, and added, rath-
er less ungraciously: We'll, If you
care, it's this way-Tm going to keep
on looking for ore. Give me little
iron ore, and we'll mighty soon have
a lot of steel knives and arroW-heads
thatll amount to something. How're
we going to bag anything worth while
with bamboo tips on our arrows!
Those boar tusks are a fizzle."
$50 you will continue to risk your
life for US? think that is very brave
and generous, Mr.. Blake!"
"How's that?" demanded Blake. MI
little puzzled. He was fully COO
scious of the risk; but this was the
| first intimation he had received OF
conceived that his motives were 9th
er than selfish-"Um-m! So that's thu
ticket Getting generous, eh?"
mot getting-you are generous
When l think of all you have done
for us! Had it not been for you, an
sure we should have died that frs
day ashore" =
well, don't blame me. l couldn'
have let a dog die that way; ant
then, fellow needs Man Friday TO
this sort of thing. AS for you,
haven't always had the luck to b
favored with ladies' company"
Thank you, Mr.. Blake. l quite al
preciate the compliment. But now,
must put on supper"
Blake followed her graceful move
ments with an intentness which, i
turn, drew Winthrope's attention t
himself The Englishman smiled in
disagreeable manner, and resumed hi
work on the bows, with the look {
one mentally preoccupied. After SUI
per he found occasion to spend som
little time among the bamboos.
When at sunset Miss Leslie Will
drew into the baobab, Winthrop
somewhat oficiously insisted upo
helping her set up her screen in th
entrance. AS he did so, he took til
opportunity to hand her bambo
knife, and to draw her attention I
several double-pointed bamboo stake
which he had hidden under the lite
What is it," she asked, troubled b
his furtive glance back at Blake.
Merely precaution, you know" b
whispered. The ground in there
quite soft. 1t will be no trouble,
fancy, to put up the stakes, with the
points inclined toward the entrance
But why"
Not so loud, Miss Genevieve!
struck me that il any one should see
to enter in the night, he would fir
these stakes deucedly unpleasant. T
careful how you handle them AS ye
see, the sharper points. which are
4 be set uppermost, run off into raz'
edge. Put them up now, before
( grows too dark. You know how min
pins are set-that shape. Goodnight
S You see. with these to guard the e
, trance, you need not be afraid to go
i sleep at once"
f Thank you," she whispered, al
e began to thrust the stakes into Il
e ground as he had directed
g He had not been mistaken. tt
: vague doubts and fears which she
i ready entertained would have kept h
I awake throughout the night, b
i thanks to the sense of security {
d forded by the sword bayonets of h
:, silent little sentries, the girl W,
soon able to calm herself, and W
: fast asleep long before Blake waken,
= Winthrope.
l. Immediately after breakfast, Bla
d who had spent his watch in grin
r ing the edges from a stone and G
e perimenting with split and be
v twigs-put Winthrope's keys in I
d fire, and began an attempt to sha
l. them into knife-b blade. To heat t
s steel to the required temperature,
r used bamboo blowpipe, with /
e lungs for bellows
II Winthrope turned away with an
e different bearing; but Miss Les
n found herself compelled to stop a.
d admire his dexterous use of his ru
e tools.
v (TO BE CONTINUED.)