The Washington times., 1912-07-13
THE TINES DAILY SERIAL STORY.
NTOTHE PRIMITIVE
ROBERT AMES BENNETT
(copyright. lsl2 Frank A. Munsey Coz

on Blake's back had rested her, and
| thirst goaded her forward.
Stumbling and slipping, she wadcd
on across the inundated ground and
came out upon half-baked mud nat,
Mhere the walking was much easier.
But the sun was now almost directly
overhead, and between her thirst and
the heat she soon found herself falter-
ing:
She tottered on a few steps farther.
| and then stopped. utterly spent. As she
sank upon the dried rushes she glanced
strange double-headed figure following
her path across the marsh. Then all
ABOUT her became black;
ing. her head and face with brackisn
raised her hand to shield her face, and
sat up, sick and dizzy.
/ That's II" said Blake. He spoke In
kindly tone, though his voice was
harsh and broken with dryness. You're
al right now. Pull yourself together,
and we,ll get to the trees in jiny."
I'm here, Miss Genevieye. II was
| only a wrenched ankle. II had
| stick, Blake, 1 fancy I could make q
go OF It over this drier ground"
Come, Miss Jenny, brace up. for an
and I've got to pack him"
she nG made sn eors snd %'n assisted by
Blake, managed to gain her feet.
She was still very dizzy, but as Blake
swung Winthrope upon his back, lie
thrope held the shade over her head.
Tus assisted and sheltered from the
direct heat of the sun, she tottercd
along beside Blake, half unconscious.
lay across stretch of bare, dry ground,
for even Blake had all but reached the
limit of endurance.
Step by step he labored on. stagger-'
Ing under the weight Of the English
man. and sasping with thirst which
his exertions rendered even greater
than that of his companions. But
through the trees and brush which
stretced away inland in a wall of YER
dure he had caught glimpses of a broad
stream. and the hope OF fresh water
called out every ounce of mis- reserve
At last the nearest palm was only a
Few PAGES distant Blake clutched Miss
Leslie's arm and dragged her forward
with rush In final outburst of en-
ergy.
A moment later all three Law gaspiny
IN the shade. But the river was yet
another hundred yards distant Blake
waited only to regain his breath, then
ne staggered up and went on. The
others, unable to rise. gazed after him
In silent misery.
Very soon Blake found himself rush
Ing through the jungle along a broad
trail pitted with enormous Footprints,
but he was so near mad with thirst
that he paid no heed to the spoor other
than to curse the holes for the trouble
they gave him.
Suddenly the trail turned to the left
and sloped down a low bank into the
river. Blind to all else, Blake ran
down the slope. and. dropping upon his
knees. plunged his head into the water.
At first his throat was so dry that he
could no more than rinse his mouth
Then with the first swallow, his swollen
tongue Knocked him with tho salt. bitter
ing!
He rose. spluttering and choking and
gasping. He started around There was
no question but that he was on the
fresh water with the ebb tide. But
could he endure the agony OF his thirst
all those hours?
Then he thought of his companions.
Good GodT' he, groaned. They're
goners. anyway"
He stared DULY up the river at the
thousands of waterfowl which lined its
banks.
Within close view were herons and
black ibises, geese. pelicans, famingoes.
which he did not know the names. But
he sat down as though In a stupor. and
did not move even when one of the
driftwood logs on a mud-shoal a few
| yards upstream opened an enormous
mouth and displayed two rows OF
| hooked fangs.
1t was otherwise when the noontime
| stiffness was broken by a violent splash
| ing and loud snortings down stream.
| He glanced about and saw six or eight
monstrous heads drifting toward him
with the tide.
A Continuation of This Story Will
BE Found In Tomorrow's