The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-10-26
csy~sa. Dps. v 4 AL..x., S.>sz

so we set out for town to raise q
posse and search the mountains for
you. 1t makes me shudder, darling. to
think Of what you have escaped
Don't worry about IL any more,
dear" said Cleo, putting her lips up
to be llssed. I'm safe In your arms
again I'm afraid. Jarvis, that
/ can't walk any farther tonight
my ankle pains too much. Hook
doesn't look as though he felt like
walking very far, either" she added.
pointing to the old seaman. who was
seated on a log holding his throbbing
head in his hands.
"You guessed right, Miss Cleo"
groaned Hook. ~ couldn't walk an
other step tonight, not for a million
dollars. My head feels like boiler
that's being pounded with a sledge-
hammer. That murderous Jap certainly
gave me one awful wallop IL
| ever lay hands on him he'll be sorry
that he ever was born"
'It would be foolish for us to at
tempt to get down the mountain to-
night" said Hope decisively. at is
almost dark and we don't know the
path anyway. The best thing we can
do is TO make ouselves as comfortable
as possible for the night and start
fresh in the morning"
Cant we start fire?" begged Cleo,
shivering, "rm awful cold"
Its taking chance" said Hope,
little doubtfully, because II Mahlin
and Satsuma are still looking for us
II might attract their attention. But
fancy that, they've given up the
chase as hopeless by this time .
and without fire we would freeze
to death before morning. You stay
here with Hook, dear, and I'll skirmish
around and see II we can find a place
where we can build fire without
Its being seen."
In half an hour he was back.
1--WE found n place that might have
been made for u.s." he announced, and
led the way q short distance up the
mountainside to shallow niche In
the face of the cliff. Though barely
large enough to hold the three Of
them. 1t was dry and clean, while the
great mass of rock which overhung Ii
like a porte-cochere served the double
purpose OF shielding 1t from observa-
ton and from the weather. On the
level rock In front Of the niche Hope
started q brisk fire and, with Hooks
assistance, dragged a PROSTATE tree
trunk into place so as to form back
log.
The fire started, Hope disappeared
only to return a few minutes later
staggering under load of leafy
boughs which he laid to a depth OF
half foot on the rocky floor of their
sleeping place. Over this woodman's
mattress Cleo helped him to spread a
thick layer of dry leaves and grass.
"It isn't quite up to the standard
of Fifth avenue hotels" he remarked
viewing his work with satisfaction
"but it's softer and cleaner than lots
OF beds that I've slept in. There
may be some Jumps in it, but we're
too tired to notice them. Now, we
would be quite comfortable IL we only
had something to eat"
"Pve some chocolate" announced
Cleo, producing from the pocket OF
her skirt good-slzed cake. ~ thought
we might be hungry before we soi
back to town, so put 1t In my pocke
before we left the cabin"
"Bully for you, DEAR" cried Hope
"We won't have to 60 to bed hungry
In any event"
''That's only the first course" she
laughed gayly, as she proudly display
ed three grape leaves heaped hlgf
with luscious wild backberries. "Ths
bushes are covered with them" she
explained. ~ picked them while yor
were gathering the wood"
After they had consumed their scanty
but none the less satisfying meal
Hope insisted on examining Cleo.
ankle. which was badly swollen ant
was causing her acute distress. Clos,
} by mountain stream tumbled down
! ward In series Of cascades and pool.
and, In order to reduce the swelling
Hope ordered Cleo to put her foo
for a time IN the icy water. Aftel
bathing the ankle with whisky In lIey
of alcohol, he skilifully bandaged Il
with strip torn from the bottom o.
J her skirt, and, lifting her in his arms
carried her back to the niche In tn,
rock, where Hook was already asleeI
: and snoring. Then, after gathering
fresh supply of firewood, he crnwleC
, into the niche, which, as he had pre-
dicted, was comfortably warm, ant
, stretched his aching body on tn,
boughs besides Cleo
Awakened by the mciVing sun. the!