The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-17
BY ROBERT AMES BENNETT
Copyright, 1908, by
A. G. McClurg 4 Co.
CONTINUED from our last issue.
CHAPTER vi.
The Serpent Strikes

AS WINTHROP had succeeded In
dragging himself to and from the
headland without a collapse, the
following morning, as soon as
the dew was dry, Blake called
out all hands for the expedition.
He was in the best of humors,
and showed unexpected consider
alton by presenting WINTHROP
with a cane, which he had cut and
trimmed during the night.
Having sent Miss Leslie to fill
the whisky flask with spring
water, he dropped three cocoanut
shell bowls, a piece of meat and
a lump of salt into one of the
earthenware pots, and slung all
over his shoulder in the antelope
skin. With his bow hung over
the other shoulder, knife and ar
rows in his belt and his big club
in hand, he looked ready for any
contingency.
"We'll hit first for the mouth
of the river" he said. I'm go
ing on ahead. If I'm not in sight
when you come up, pick tree
where the ground is dry, and
wait" and he was off like a shot.
The edge of the plain beneath
the cliff was strewn with rocks
among which even with Miss Les
lies help, Winthrope could pick
his way but slowly. Before they
we're clear of the rough ground,
they saw Blake disappear among
the mangroves.
Winthrope sank down exhaust
ed the moment they reached
cover.
"If you please, I'll take pull
at the flask. am very dry" he
| said.
When he had half emptied the
flask, he stretched out in the
shade to doze. Presently Blake
came out from among the man
groves, and walked across to the
beach. Miss Leslie glanced al
Winthrope. He was fast asleep.
She stepped out from behind the
thicket, and advanced to where
Blake was crouched on the beach.
When she came up, she saw beside
him a heap of oysters. which he
was opening in rapid succession.
| Hello! You're just in time to
help" he called. where's VIM"
! asleep behind those bushes
| worst thing he could do. But
lend a hand, and we'll shuck
these oysters before rousting him
out. You can rinse those I've
opened. Fill the pot with water
and put them in to soak"
| "They look very tempting. Dc
you like them raw"
/ Cant say I like them much
any way, as a rule. But IL I did
l wouldn't eat this mess raw"
/ "Yes?"
il This must be the dry season
here, and the river is running
mighty clear. Just the same, it's
nothing more than liquid malaria
Well not eat these oysters til
they've been pasteurized."
j ''If the water is so dangerous,
fear we will suffer before we car
return" replied Miss Leslie, ant
she held up the flask.
What" exclaimed Blake
Half gone already? That wa
Winthrope."
"He was very thirsty. Could W,
not boil q potful of the rive
water?"
Eyes, when the ebb gets stron,
II we run too dry. First, though
we'll make a try for cocoanuts
Let's hit out for the neares
grove now. The main thing /
to keep moving"
AS he spoke, Blake caught u
/ the pot and his club, and starte,
/ for the thorn clump, leaving tn
skin, together with the meat an
the salt, for Miss Leslie to carry
: Winthrope was awakened, and al
three were soon walking ava
from the seashore, Just within tn
shady border of the mangrov
wood.
"The brute!" exclaimed Win
thrope. ITO leave such load TO
you, when he knew that I can d
SO little!"
The girl met his outburst wit
. a brave attmpt at smile. "Pleas
: try to look at the bright side, MI
WINTHROP. Really, 1 believe h
thinks 1t is best for us to exer
ourselves"
4 HE has other opinions wit
!. which we of the cultured elias
would hardly agree, Miss Leslie
The mans impertinence is intol
. cradle"
. "Still, I think we should d.
what Mr.. Blake says"
my dear Miss Genevieve, 70
; your sake l will endeavor not I,
break with the fellow. Only, yol
know, II is deuced hard to keel
ones temper when one consider
what a bounder-what an unmiti
gated cad"
"StopI I will not listen to an
other world" exclaimed the girl
and she turned to hurry afte
Blake. when she caught sight of |
gorgeous crimson blossom unde
the nearest tree. 1t vas the frs
flower she had seen since beinl
shipwrecked. She uttered a littl
cry of delight, and ran to plucl
tho blossom.
i Winthrope, glancing about q
| her exclamation. saw her gtOO1