The Washington times., 1912-07-15
CHAPTER v.-(continued.)
4 8 there no path through the thick
et?' inquired Winthrope.

ctr inquired Winthrope.
II "0nly the hippo trail and 1t
h don't 60 our way. We've got to
run our own line; Here's stick for
Winthrope took the half-green branch
which Blake. broke from the nearest
tree and turned to assist Miss Leslie
with the coat.
The garment was of such coarse cloth
that as Winthrope drew the collar close
about her throat Miss Leslie could not
forego little grimace of repugnance.
The crease between Blake's eyes deep
ened and the girl hastened to utter an
explanatory exclamation: Not so tight
MT; Winthrope, please! 1t scratches my
! You'd fnd those thorns a whole lot
worse" muttered Blake.
TO be sure; and Miss Leslie fully APP
preoiates your Kindness" interposed
iWinthrope.
~ do, indeed, Mr.. Blake! I'm sure l
b never could go through here without
your coat"
chief?'
II put it in one of the pockets"
':Itn do to tie up your hair"
Miss Leslie took the hint, knotting the
kerchief over her fluffy brown hair
Blake waited only for her to draw it
Through the jungle. Now and then he
beat at the tangled vegetation with his
club Yet, though he held to the line
by which he left the thicket, all his
EFFORTS failed to open an easy passage
for the others. Many of the thorny
branches sprang back Into the place be-
hind him, and as Miss Leslie, who was
aside the .thorns pierced her delicate
skin until her hands were covered with
blood.
!. Nor did Winthrope. stumbling and
Twice he tripped headlong into the
brush, scratching his arms and face.
Blake took his own punishment as a
matter Of course, though his tougher
painful. He advanced steadily along the
Hne or bent anu broken twigs that mark
ed his outward passage until the thick
cts opened on a strip of grassy ground
beneath a wild fig tree.
BY Jove" exclaimed Winthrope. "a
"Banyan? Well, II that's British for
daisy, you've hit It," resi-, onded Blake.
tSst Sust ,or take as sg3uyint up here. How's
Winthrope and Miss Leslie stared up
dubtously at the edge of bed of reeds
gathered in the hollow of one of TIE
with the main trunk of the banyan,
twenty feet above them.
VIII not the mosquitoes poster us
here among the trees?" objected Win
Storm must have blown them away.
haven't seen any yet"
There will be millions after sunset"
Maybe, but I bet they keep below
our roost."
But how are we to get up SO high?"
inquired Miss Leslie.
II can swarm this drop-root and I've
cfeeper ready for you two." explained
suiting action to words, he climbed up
the small trunk of the atr-root and
swung over into the hollow where he
limb dangled rope-like creeper, one
end of which he had fastened to a
branch higher up, He flung down the
free end to Winthrope.
Look lively, Pat he called. The
suns most gone, and the twilight don t
last all night in these parts. Get the
lime around Miss Leslie. and do what
you can on a boost"
II see;; but you know. the vine is
too stiff to tie.'
Blake stif1e an oath and jerked the
end of the oreeper up into his hand
When he threw it down again It was
1ooped around and fastened in a bow
line knot.
Now. Miss Leslie. get aboard, and
we'll have you up in jiffy," he said.
Are you sure you can lift me?" asked
the girl, as Winthrope slipped the loop
over her shoulders.
Blake laughed down at them.
well, l guess yes Once Ecisted a
fellow out of a fifey-foot prospect hole
big fat Dutchman. at that You don't
weigh over a hundred and twenty"
broadest part of the branch. AS Miss
Leslie seated herself in the loop he
reached down and began to haul up on
the creeper, hand over hand
Though frightened by the novel man
ner of ascent. the girl clung tightly to
the iine above her head, and Blake had
no difficulty In raising her until she
swung directly beneath him. Here. how
ever, he found himself in a quandary.
The girl seemed as helpless as a child.
and he was lying fiat. How could he
life her above the level of the branch.
Take hold of the other line," he said.
The girl hesitated.
do you hear? Grab 1t quick, and pull
up hard, II you don't want tumble!"