Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-07-29

SKINS. One morning Larry aWOhe 10
find the camp deserted of all but Be-
noni and Johnny. The horses were
gone and even the little Arab had dis
appeared.
What! are we lost in this Jungle?
Betrayed and deserted?" questioned
Larry.
mo. indeed, 1 sent them away. We
cannot leave here till nightfall, SO
sleep again or lounge till 1 return" re-
piled Benoni II will be back in q few
hours"
Divesting himself of his garments.
Benoni swathed his loins with a girdle |
of flexible grass, and strobe away in
to the Businesses of the thiclSet
Larry reused the sleeping Johnny |
rudely. 'Firehead, get up. and tell me
what you think of It," he commanded |
Johnny, roughly disturbed from
dreams of home. kicked viciously in
Larry's grasp
Cant you let fellow sleep when
he's having a pleasant dreamT he de-
manded. You're worse than an alarm
clock!"
Look around and go dream again"
growled Larry.
Johnny sat up. safety razors!" he
cried. whats become of them?"
Whats going to become of us?"
| grunted Larry. "Benoni said he'd be
back"
Then think he WILL" allowed
Johnny. did he leave US anything to
eat?"
There's some dates, that confound-
ed meal cake they make in this coun-
| try and some figs," itemized Larry,
land. say, Johnny, these look like
hens eggs!"
well, you can sample them,
| won't!" declared Johnny, with visions
of the stomachic illness that had be-
set him early on the route, thanks 10
an overly curious appetite. "Tl stick
to the viands that have come the least
near to killing me during our African
peregrination. Were we fools to come
Larry, or not?"
"Oh, I don't know, quit your kick
ing" said Larry. II suppose If Be-
noni don't come back we might stay
here all night"
II reckon we WILL" added Johnny,
grimly.
For the want of better occupation,
their meal finished, they fell to play
ing mumble-peg in the clearing where
camp had been struck. Mumble-pc
failing as a time killer, they tried roll
ing marbles out of the soft clay, and
had put up a very passable game of
"Mibs" when they heard a rustling
and cracking in the brush and foliage
around them.
Bets on a lion," said Johnny.
"Oh, make it a cannibal king or a
boa constructor" suggested Larry.
Something novel;"
Benoni appeared at the edge Of the
clearing.
Larry wins" was Johnny's greet
ing Il bet on a lion-he said twas
a cannibal king approaching"
I'm neither" answered Benoni. 81
: want to sleep. l worked all night
while you fellows rested. Will you
keep watch for me? Wake me at the
slightest sound. And If I'm not up y
starlight, call me then. Don't forget"
Long before that hour, though the
great black was up and ready. All of
their luggage he stacked In a great
heap and set fire to it. They waited
till the pile gave signs of thorough liz .
, milton, then led by Benoni the trio set
out through the jungle.
:. The walk was a fight for breath
t There were briars that pricked, gnats
. that stung, knotted vines that trapped
, unwary feet. Sometimes the foot
stepped upon a sodden snake, causing
I the reptile to coil around the ankle In
$ a horrifying snarl. But Benoni paused
: for nothing. With one arm plunged
e forward, with the other he grasped
hold of Larry and bade him pull John
e ny in their wake. This nightmare
struggle lasted not longer than quar-
ter Of an hour, but when they haG
e come out of the jungle Larry wa:
y shaking like a leaf in the wind ant
Johnny was too far gone for words
q A tramp over an arid plain brought
them to a loathsome, turgid stream
:, From a small cove in the bank Benon
e punted out a iat-bottomed scow will
!. small sail. He leaped into it and bad,
S the others follow. Then began a pull
to which the struggle through the jun
gle was as childs play. The days ant
e far outdone. And through it all the,
: lived! This was the wonder that cam
to Larry afterward. For they Tough
e hand to hand battles with snakes an,
hideous water reptiles, fat crocodile
: leered at them and more than one
!. sent them scurrying high on the bank
: Once the punt overturned and Benon
u stood breast high in water, a black
Shiny ooze that reached to Harrys chi,
y and almost overflowed into his mouth
81 Poor Johnny, the shortest of the thret
was carried off his feet and almos
drowned, but they got ashore somehow
J. but all their food except two tins O
biscuits in waterproof canisters wer
t. soaked. This happened their third da
e on the river, and they had yet anoth
er days travel ahead Of them. Th