The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-14
A NOVEL A WEEK.
Next Week
Another Great Story.
BY Robert Ames Bennett.

l"Say, that's not SO bad. We will
call it quits on the matches.
Though how you could go and
throw them away"
Deuce take it, man! How
should l know? I've never be-
fore been in wreck"
Neither have this kind. But
it's quits all right, long as you
don't run out of sand" respond
ed Blake. 1--WE got a hot tenn
per, but don't hold grudges.
Now, where's your fish,"
"I-well, they were all spoiled"
"Spoiled?"
1.-The sun had shrivelled them.
And you call that spoiled!
We're like to eat them rotten be-
fore we're through with this pic
mic. How about the pools?"
Pools? Do you know, Blake,
| never thought of the pools.
stopped to watch you, and then
we were so anxious about you
Blake grunted, and turned on
his heel to wade into the half
drained pool in whose midst he
had been deposited by the hurri-
cane.
AS Blake splashed through the
water, his foot struck against a
living body which floundered vio-
lently and flashed a brilliant
forked tail above the muddy
water. Blake sprang over the
fish, which was entangled in the
reeds, and with a kick flung it
clear out upon the ground.
"A coryphene!" cried Win
thrope, and he ran forward to
stare at the gorgeously colored
prize.
"Coryphene?" repeated Blake,
following his example. Good to
eat?"
Fine as salmon. This is only
a small one, but"
Fifteen pounds, IL an ounce!"
cried Blake, and he thrust his
hand in his pocket. There was a
moments silence, and Winthrope,
glancing up. saw the other staring
in blank dismay.
whats up he asked.
Lost my knife"
Here is my knife"
Yes; almost big enough to
whittle a match. Mine would
have done us some good"
1T is the best STEEL"
"All right; let's see you cut up
the fish"
But you know, Blake, I should
not know how to go abobt it. l
never did such a thing"
"And you, Miss Jenny? Girls
are supposed to know about cook
ing"
II never cooked anything In all
my life, Mr.. Blake, and it's alive
-and-and l am very thirsty,
Mr.. Blake!"
Heavens" commented Blake.
"Give me that knife"
Though the blade was so small,
the Americans hand was strong.
After some little haggling, the
coryphene was killed and dressed.
Blake washed both 1t and his
hands in the pool, and began to
cut slices of flesh from the 'fish's
tail.
He offered Winthrope two Of
the pieces of raw fish. Here's
your breakfast. The trimmed
piece IL for Miss Leslie"
But it's raw! Really, I could
not think of eating raw fish.
Could you, Miss Leslie?"
Miss Leslie shuddered. ooh,
no!-and I'm SO thirsty I could
not eat anything"
"You bet you cant" replied
Blake. Both of you take that
fish, and go to chewing. It's the
stuff to ease your thirst while we
look for water. Finnicky over
clean fish, when you swallow can
vas-back all but raw, and beef
running blood"
ITO be sure, the japanese eat
raw fish," admitted Winthrope.
Eyes; and you'd swallow your
share of it If you had an invite to
Ia swell dinner in Toxic. Go on
now, both of you. It's no joke, l
tell you. You've got to eat, If you
expect to get to water before
night. See that headland south?
Well, it's hundred to one we'll
not find water short of there, and
II we make 1t by night, we'll be
doing better than ! figure from
the look of these boys. Now go
to chewing. That's all. That's
fine, Miss JENNY"
Miss Leslie had forced herself
to take a nibble of the raw fish
The flavor proved less repulsive
than she had expected, and its
moisture was SO grateful to her
parched mouth that she began to
eat with eagerness. Not to be
outdone, Winthrope promptly fol-
lowed her lead. ! Blake had al
ready cut himself second slice.
After he had cut more for his
companions, he began to look
them over with a closeness that
proved embarrassing to Miss
Leslie.
Here's more of the good
stuff" he said. while you're
chewing II, we'll sort OF take
stock. Everybody shell out ev-
erything. Here's my outfit
three shillings. Say, have you
seen my whisky flask?"
Here it is, right beside me.
Mr.. Blake" answered Miss Leslie.
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