Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-02-11


In the morning Miss Leslie found
that Blake had built substantial
canopy over the invalid, In place OF
the first ramshackle structure.
Its best for him to he ont in the
air." he explained; $50 fixed this up
to keep of the dew. But whenever 1t
rains, wen have to tote him inside"
"Ah, yes: to be lure How II hef"
murmnred the girl.
Hes about the ,ame this morning.
But he got little sleep. Keep him
dosed with all the hot broth he'll take.
And say. roust me out at noon. I've
had my breakfast Now I'll have a
snooze. So long,"
He nodded, and crawied under the
shade Of the nearest bush, too drowsy
to observe her look Of dismay.
At noon, having learned that Win
thrope's condition showed little change.
Blake ate hearty meal. and at once
set OF down the cleft. He did not re-
appear until nightfall; though at In
tervals Miss Leslie had heard his step
as he came up the ravine with his
loads of thorn-brush.
This course Of action became the
routine for the following ten days. 1t
was broken only by three incidents.
all relating to the important matter Of
food supply. Winthrope had soon
| tired of broth, and showed such an In
satiable craving for cocoanut milk
that the stock on hand had become
exhausted within the week.
The day after. Blake took the rope
ladder. as he called the tangle Of
knotted creepers, and went of towards
the north end of the cleft When he
| returned, little before dark. the
| lower part OF his trousers was torn to
| shreds. and the palms Of his hands
| were blistered and raw but he carried
| heavy load of cocoanuts. After
| vain attempt to climb the giant palms
| on the far side OF the river, he had
found another grove near at hand, in
| the little plain. and had succeeded In
| reaching the tops of two OF the
smaller palms.
Under his directions, Miss Leslie
| clarified a bowl OF bird fat-goose-
| grease, Blake called it--and dressed
his hands. Yet even with the band
| ages which she made of soft inner
bark and the handkerchiefs. he was
| unable to handle the thorn-brush the
| following day. Unfortunately for him.
| he was not content to sit idle. During
the night he had cut . bamboo fishing
| pole and heightened Miss Leslie's line
| OF plated cocoanut-nber with = long
| catKut leader In the afternoon he
completed his OUTFIT with = hairpin
hook and q piece Of half-dried meat.
He was back an hour earlier than
usual, and he brought with him a
dozen or more fair-sized fish. His
mouth was watering over the prospec-
tive feast, and Miss Leslie showed her
self hardly less eager for . change
| from their nonotonous diet. As tho
FISH were already dressed. she raked
| up the Goals and quickly contrived q
| grill Of green bamboos.
When the odor Of the broiling fish
spread about in the still air, even Win
| thrope shifted and turned over, while
Blake watched the crisping delicacies
with q ravenous look. Unable to re-
| strain himself, he caught up the
| smallest fish, half cooked, and bolted
| 1t down with such haste that he burnt
! his mouth. He ran over to the spring
for drink, and Winthrope cackled
| derisively
| Miss Leslie was too absorbed In her
cooking to observe the result of
| Blakes greediness She had turned
| the fish for the last time, and was
about to lift them off the fire. when
Blake came running back, and sent
grill and all flying with violent kick.
Salt he gasped-"where's the
salt? I'm poisoned
| ''Poisoned?"
Poison fish! Don't eat! God!-
| Where's the salt?"
| The girl stared at him. His agony
was SO great that beads Of sweat were
| rolling down his face. He writhed, and
| stretched out quivering Salt,
| quick.-warm water-salt!"
But there's none left! You remem-
! Der. yesterday"
Cod" groaned Blake. and for a
moment he sank down, overcome by
| racking convulsion. Then his jaw
closed like bulldogs, and gritting his
| teeth with the effort he staggered up
| and rushed off down the cleft.
| Stop. stop, Mr.. Blake! Where are
| you going?" screamed the girl.
She started to run after him, but
| was halted by an outburst OF delirious
| laughter. WINTHROP was sitting up
| right and waving his fever-blotched
| hands-"Hi, hi, look at i'm run! Els
| got wat'll do for i'm! Run. you swine;
| you"
There followed torrent of cockney
| abuse SO foul that Miss Leslie blushed
scarlet with shame as she sought to
| quiet him. But the excitement had SO
! heightened his fever that he was in a
| raving delirium. 1t was close upon