The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-05-03

roosting high in a tree. The next morn
ing they descended to the open again
selves from the sun. They then Toasted
on cocoanuts, the only procurable food.
Miss Leslie showed liking for Blake,
but detested his roukhness. Led by Blake
they established a home in some cliffs.
Blake found fresh water spring. Miss
Leslie faced an unpleasant situation
CHAPTER vlIi.-Continued.
They'll be dry in a day or two.
Say, Winthrope, you might fetch some
OF those stones-size of ball. l used
to be fancy pitcher when l was a
kid, and we might scare up rabbit or
something
Il play cricket myself. But these
stones"
"Better'n a gun, when you haven't
got the gun. Come on. Well go in
bunch, after all, in case need stones"
With due consideration for Win
thrope's ankle-not for Winthrope-
Blake set SO slow pace that the half
miles walk consumed over half an
hour. But his smouldering irritation
was soon quenched when they drew
the cleft. In the almost deathlike
stiffness of mid-afternoon, the, sound
of trickling water came to their ears,
clear and musical
"A spring. shouted Blake. 81
guessed right Look at those green
where it runs out In the sand and
dries up
The others followed him eagerly as
he pushed in among the trees. They
saw no running water, for the tiny
rill that trickled down the lodges was
matted over with vines. But at the
foot of the slope lay a pool. some ten
yards across, and overshadowed by the
surrounding trees. There was no
underbrush, and the ground was
trampled bare as a floor.
by Jove," said Winthrope; "see the
tracks! There must have been drove
Of sheep about
Deer, you mean" replied Blake.
bending to examine the deeper prints
at the edge of the pool. These amt
sheep tracks. A lot of them are
larger"
Gould you not uncover the brooke"
asked Miss Leslie. IF animals have
been drinking here, one would prefer
cleaner water
Sure" assented Blake. IF you're
game for a climb, and can wait few
minutes, we'll get it out of the spring
itself We've got to go up anyway, to
get at our poultry yard!'
Here's a place that looks like a
path called Winthrope, who had cir.
cled about the edge of the pool to the
farther side.
Blake ran around beside him and
stared at the tunnel-like passage which
wound up the limestone lodges be
meath the overarching thickets.
odd place, is it not?" observed
Winthrope Looks like fox run
only larger, you know"
TOO low for deer, though-and
their hoofs would have cut up the
moss and ferns more. Let's get a
close look"
AS he spoke. Blake stopped and
climbed a few yards up the trail to an
i, overhanging ledge, four or five feet
high. Where the trail ran up over
this break in the slope the stone was
bare of all vegetation. Blake laid his
club on the top of the ledge, and was
about to vault after it, when, directly
beneath his nose, he saw the print OF
great catlike paw, outlined in dried
mud At the same instant deep
growl came rumbling down the fox
+, run" Without waiting for a second
: warning. Blake drew his club to him
and crept back down the trail. His
stealthv movements and furtive back
ward glanc IS filled his companions
with vague terror. He himself was
hardly less alarmed.
D Get out of the trees-into the open!'
|, he exclaimed in hoarse whisper, ant
U as they crept away, white with drea(
0 If the unknown danger, he followed al
e their heels. looking backward, his clul
D raised in readiness to strike.
e Once clear of the trees. Winthrop
: caught Miss Leslie by the hand ant
0 broke into a run. In their terror the,
b Maid no heed to Blake's command t.
e stop. They had darted off so unex
pectedly that he did not overtake then
short of 100 yards.
Hold on" he said, gripping Win
). thrope roughly by the shoulder. Its
S safe enough here, and you'll knock GU
4 that blamed ankle
: what is it? What did you seer
gasped Miss Leslie.
Footprint" mumbled Blake, ashamed
of his fright.
"a lion's?" cried Winthrope.
"Not so large-'bout the size OF |
numa's. Must be leopard's den VI