The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-15
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(con,lnued from Our last issue)

. 'N'i'ie's QhANt uAiANifhA HaAA't
Is ten milas across mnd-flats. GOV
cred with tanglo OF reeds and
rushes. and frequently dipping into
salt marsh and ooze. Before they
had gone three miles tho girls
ttrength begin TO fail.
"oh. Blake" called winthrope
for the American was some yards
in the lead. pull up n bit on that
knoll Wen have 10 rest n while
fancy. Miss Leslie II about
pegged."
What's that" demanded Blake,
Were not halfway yeti"
Wiuthrope did not reply. IL was
all he could do 10 drag tho girl
up on tho hummock. She sank. half.
fainting. upon tho dry reeds.
Well. said Blake finally. we We
got TO get TO water. or die. and
as the lady can't walk. she's COINS
on my back It's case OF hava.to. %
mol am not--i am mott Id
sooner DIE"
I'm afraid youil find that easy
enough. later on. Miss Jenny.
Stand by. winthropc. TO help her
up. Take the knife and fish. and
lend n hand"
Tho scarlet with modification,
Miss Leslie permitted herself TO be
taken pick-a-back upon nlake's
broad shoulders. and meekly obeyod
his command to clasp her hands
about his throat.
More than three miles had been
covered before Blake stopped on n
hummock. Releasing Miss Leslie,
he stretched out on the dry crest
of the knoll. and called for slice
OF the fish. lie rested less than
Item minutes: then. taking Miss
Leslie up again like n rag doll. he
swung away at a good pace.
The trees were less than half q
mile distant when he halted for the
second time. He would have zone
to them without pause. tho hla
muscles were auivefing with rx.
haustlon. had not Miss Lesli.
chanced To look around and discov.
cred that Winthrope was no longer
following them. At the girls dis
mayed exclamation. Blake released
his hold. and she found herself
standing in a foot or moro Of mud
and water.
As Blake splsShod away on the
return trail. Miss Leslie would have
sunk down where khe stood had not
the sllmlness OF the water repealed
her. She cared longingly at the
trees. In the fore OF which stood a
grove OF stately Palms.
Stumbling and slipping. she
waded on across tho inundated
ground. and cam. out upon a half.
baked mud.nat. where tho walking
was much easier. She tottered on
fcw steps farther. and thcn
stopped. utterly spent.
Tho next she knew. Blake was
splashinE her head and face with
brackish water out OF tho wniskcy
flask. She raised her hand 20
shield her face, and sat up. x!ck
and dizzy.
That's ~" said Blake. He spoke
in Kindly zone. tho bis voice was
harsh and broken with thirst
You're all right now. Pull your.
self together. and we'll &c, TO the
trees in n iltfy."
I'm here. Miss Gcn.vieve. II
was only a wrenched ankle. n
had n stick. Blake. | fancy I could
make a 20 Of IL over this drier
ground
And lay yourself up for a month.
Come. Miss Jenny. brace up for an,
other try ia only a auarter.uile.
and I've got to pack him
Fortunately the remaining dis
lance iay across a stretch OF bare.
dry ground. for even Blake had all
but reached the limit OF endurance.
At last tho nearest palm was only
few PAGES distant. Blake ciutched
Miss Leslle's arm. and dragged her
forward with a rush. in a final out.
burst OF energy.
But the river was yet another
hundred yards distant Blake wait.
cd only 10 regain his breath: then
he staggered up and went on. The
others. nabIe TO rise. gazed after
him in silent misery.
Soon Blake found himself rushing
thru the jungle along a broad trail
pitted with enormous footprints.
but he was so near mad with thirst
that. blind to all else. he ran down
the slope. and. dropping upon his
knees. plunged his head into the
water.
| At first his throat was 80 dry
that he could no more than rinse
his mouth. With the first swallow.
HIS swollen tongue Knocked him
with the salt. bitter taste Of sea.
water. The tide was flowing
Suddenly the noontime stiffness
was broken by violent splashing
and loud snortlngs downstream.
He glanced about. and Jaw six or
eight monstrous heads drifting 10.
wards him with the tide.
What in-Wheel a whole herd
OF hippos!" he muttered. That's
what the holes mean"
The foremost hIppopotamus was
headed directly for him. He sank
down almost fiat, and crawled back
around the turn in tho path. Once
certain that no was hidden from the
beasts. he rose TO his feet and
hastened back thru the Jungle.
He was almost in view OF the
spot whore he had loft Winthrop
and Miss Leslie. when he stopped
and stood hohitating.
81 cant do IT," he muttered: 81
can't tell her-poor girl"
But no turned and pushed thru
the last screen OF jungle. and start.
ed towards the palm under which
he had left his companions. They
were not there.
A call from Wlnthrope directed
his gaze more seward The two
we're seated beside fallen palm.
and Miss Leslie had n large. round
object raised 10 hor lips. Win.