The Washington times., 1912-07-31

| creepers taut, to make the descent
easier for Winthrope. Cutting short the
latter's thanks. he caught up his club
and pointed across the little plain to
beach. :
We'll hit first for the mouth of the
| river. I'm going on ahead. If I'm not
in sight when you come UP. pick tree
| where the ground is dry and wait.
I But 1 say, Blake" replied Winthrope,
II see animals over in the coppices. and,
you should know that am physically
Nothing but antelope" INTERRUPTED
Blake. I've seen them enough now to
| know them twice as far off. And you
can bet on 1t they'd not be there If any
dangerous beast was in smelling dis
tance."
THAT, is so. clever of you. Mr.. Blake"
| remarked Miss Leslie,
Simple enough when you happen to
think Of it." responded Blake. "Yes,
the only thing you've got to look out
for the ticks in the grass. They'll keep
you interested. They bit me up in great
! shape" .... ..........
He scowled at the recollection. nodded
| by way Of emphasis and was of like a
shot. The edge of the plain beneath the
] cliff was strewn with rocks, among
thrope could pick his way but slowly.
Before they were clear of the rough
ground they saw Blake disappear among
the mangroves.
Tne uckS proved less annoying tnan
they had feared after Blake's warning.
But when they approached the mouth
of the river they were alarmed to hear,
| above the roar Of the surf, loud snort
Ings such as could be made AMY by
Fearful that Blake had reused the
anger Of some forest monster. they
veered to the right and ran to hide be-
hind a clump Of thorns. Winthrope sank
reached cover, but Miss Leslie crept t to
the far end of the thicket and peered
"oh, look here" she cried. IT'S
the river mouth Where we did and they
are being drowned, poor things.
'Elephants?" painted Winthrope,
dragging himself forward beside her:
t"Why. so they are, quite a drove of
pear smaller-ah, yes, see their heads.
They must be the hippos Blake spoke
Those ugly creatures? once saw
surf!
I 7 can't say; I'm sure. Miss Gene
TssS We've, but ,th have AN, an Idea that the
! fancy they enjoy surf bathing as
keenly as ourselves"
II do believe you are right. There is
one going in from the quiet water. But
backs Of the others!"
,,,SIq Must be the baby .hippos." replied
please, I'll take a pull at the flask. I
When he had half emptied the flask,
he stretched out in the shade to doze.
But Miss Leslie continued to watch the
movements of the snorting hippos,
old ones in the surf, and the comic ap-
| pearance of the barrel-like infants as
they mounted the backs of their
| mothers
Presently Blake came out from among
the mangroves and walked across to
| the beach few yards away from the
| huge bathers. To all appearances. they
paid as little attention to him as he
| to them. Miss Leslie glanced about
at Winthrope. He was fast asleep.
She waited few moments to see II
the hippopotami would attack Blake.
They continued to ignore him, however.
| ana gaining courage from their indif-
/ Terence. she stepped out from behind
the thicket and advanced to where
Blake was crouched on the beach.
b,n bMhen she she came up she saw beside
I opening lr rapid succession.
he said. Where's VIM"
Asleep behind those bushes"
Worst thing he could do. But lend
hand and Wen shuck these oysters
before rousing him out. You can rinse
those those I've NS U'I, opened Fin the pot with
They look very tempting. How did
you chance to find them?"
saw 'em on the mangrove roots at
low tide. first time nosed around here.
Tide was we'll up today, but / managed
to get these all right with a little diving.
Only trouble, the skeets most ate me
alive"
Miss Leslie glanced at her compan-
ions dry clothing and came back 20 the