The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-03-22
~-USy


Winthrope, still painting for breath
began to creep away, at the same time
unclasping a small penknife. He was
white with fear; but his gray eyes
which on shipboard Blake had never
seen other than extensively supercili-
ous-now glinted in manner that
served to alter the American mood.
'That'll do he said. Come here
and show me that knife
''Ill show it you where it will do the
most good" muttered Winthrope, ris-
ing hastily to repel the expected at
tack
80 you've got a little sand, too, y
said Blake, almost good-naturedly.
Say, that's not so bad. Well call it
quits on the matches. Though how
you could go and throw them away
Deuce take it, man, How should I
know? I've never before been in a
wreck"
Neither have this kind. But |
tell you, we've got to keep our think
tanks going. It's a guess if we see to-
morrow, and that's no joke. Now do
you wonder got hot?"
Indeed, no. I've been an ass, and
here's my hand to tiff you really
mean it's quits"
ITS quits all right, long as you
don't run out of sand" responded
Blake, and he gripped the others soft
hopd hn L,,,r li oa1
80; that's settled. I've got a hot
temper, but l don't hold grudges. Now,
where're your fish,"
"I-well, they were all spoiled"
"Spoiled?'
THE sun had shriveled them"
"And you call that spoiled! We're
like to eat them rotten before we're
through with this picnic. How about
the pools?"
Pools? Do you know, Blake, | never
thought of the pools. / stopped to
watch you, and then we were so anx.
ious about you"
Blake grunted and turned on his
heel to wade into the half-drained pool
in whose midst he had been deposited
by the hurricane.
Two or three small fish lay family
wriggling on the surface. AS Blake
spiashed through the water to seize
them his foot struck against a living
body which floundered violently and
flashed brilliant forked tail above the
muddy water. Blake sprang over the
fish, which was entangled in the
reeds, and with kick flung it clear
out upon the ground.
"A coryphene!" cried Winthrope
and he ran forward to stare at the
gorgeously colored prize.
"Coryphene?' repeated Blake, fol-
lowing his example. Good to eat?"
Fine as salmon. This is only a
small one, but"
Fifteen pounds if an ounce" cried
Blal'e, and he thrust his hand in his
pocket. There was a moments 81.
lence, and Winthrope, glancing up. saw
the other staring in blank dismay.
Whats up?" he asked.
z Lost my knife"
"When?-in the pool? If we felt
about"
No; aboard ship, or in the surf"
Here is my knife"
yes; almost big enough to whittle
a match! Mine would have done us
some good"
1T is the best steel"
"All right; let's see you cut I'm the
fish,
But you know, Blake, | shouldn't
know how to go about it. l never did
such thing"
And you, Miss Jenny? Girls are
supposed to know about cooking"
i never cooked anything in all nv
life. Mr.. Blake, and it's alive-and-
and am very thirsty, Mr.. Blake,"
Lord!" commented Blake. Give
me that knife"
though the blade was so small. the
Americans hand was strong. After
some little haggling, the coryphene
was killed and dressed. Blake washed
both 1t and his hands In the pool and
began to cut slices of flesh from the
flshs tail.
We have no fire." Winthrope re-
minded him, flushing at the word
That's true" assented Blake. in
cheerful tone, and he offered Win.
thrope two of the pieces of raw flesh
Here's your breakfast. The trimmed
piece is for Miss Leslie"
But It's raw! Really. I could pot
think OF eating raw fish. Could Won
Miss Leslie?"
Miss Leslie shuddered. "Oh mo-
and I'm so thirsty l could not eat anv.
thing" "'
You bet you cant" replied Blake
Both OF you take that fish and 90 70
chewing. It's the stun to ease vour
thirst while we look for water. Good
Lord!-in week you'll be glad to eat
raw snake. Finnicky over clean fsh
when you swallow canvas-back al, hn.
raw. and beef running blood and raw
oysters with their stomachs full of A..
integrated animal matter, to mt =.
pontely. You couldn't tell rattlesnala
orotn from chicken, and dog moi.
nrst-rate veal-when you've got 70 90,
1t. I've bad it straight from them th ba'
knows that over in France thew 90,
snails and fish-worms. It's al, cal
A.