The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-15
BY ROBERT AMES BENNETT
Copyright, 1908, by
A. G. McClurg x Co.

CONTINUED from our last lssuc.)
well, hold on to what you've
got left. They may come in for
fishhooks. Now, Winthrope,
what you got beside the knife?"
Winthrope held out a bunch of
long flat keys and his cigaret case.
Blake thrust the empty whisky
flask into his hip pocket, and
passed a sling of reeds through
the gills of the coryphene.
"All ready now" he called.
"Let's get a move on. Keep my
coat closer about your shoulders,
Miss Jenny, and keep your shade
up. If you don't want a sun
stroke"
In a temperate climate, ten
miles over firm ground is a
pleasant walk for one accustom-
ed to the exercise. Quite a DIFF
ferent matter is ten miles across
mud-flats, covered with tangle
of reeds and rushes, and fire.
quently dipping into salt marsh
and ooze. Before they had gone
three miles the girls strength be-
gan to fail.
ooh, Blake" called Winthrope.
for the American was some yards
in the lead, pull up bit on that
knoll. Well have to rest a while,
l fancy. Miss Leslie is about
pegged."
whats that?" demanded
Blake. Were not halfway yeti"
Winthrope did not reply. 1t
was all he could do to drag the
girl up on the hummock. She
sank, half-fainting, upon the dry
reeds.
WELL" said Blake finally.
we've got to get to water, or
die; and as the lady can't walk,
she's going on my back. It's a
case of have-to."
mo! am not-I am not! I'd
sooner die!"
Pm afraid you'll find that
easy enough later on, Miss Jenny.
Stand by, Winthrope, to help her
up. Take the knife and fish, and
lend a hand"
Though scarlet with mortifica-
ton, Miss Leslie permitted her
self to be taken pick-a-pack upon
Blake's broad shoulders, and
meekly obeyed his command to
clasp her hands about his throat.
More than three miles had
been covered before Blake stop
ped on a hummock. Releasing
Miss Leslie, he stretched out on
the dry crest of the knoll. and
called for a slice of the fish. He
rested less than ten minutes;
then, taking Miss Leslie up again
like a rag doll, he swung away
at a good pace.
The trees were less than half
a mile distant when he halted for
the second time. He would have
gone to them without a pause.
though his muscles were CULVER
ing with exhaustion, had not
Miss Leslie CHANGED to look
around and discovered that Win
thrope was no longer following
them. At the girls dismayed ex-
clamation, Blake released his
hold, and she found herself stand
ing in foot or more of mud and
water.
AS Blake splashed away on the
return trail. Miss Leslie would
have sunk down where she stood
had not the sliminess of the wa
ter repealed her. She gazed
longingly at the trees, in the fore
of which stood a grove OF stately
palms.
Stumbling and slipping, she
waded on across the inundated
ground, and came out upon a half
baked mud-flat. where the walk
ing was much easier. She totter-
ed on few steps farther, and
then stopped, utterly spent.
The next she knew, Blake was
splashing her head and face with
brackish water out of the whisky
flask. She raised her hand to
shield her face, and sat up. sick
and dizzy.
That's it," said Blake. He
spoke in a kindly tone, though his
voice was harsh and broken with
thirst. you're all right now.
Pull yourself together, and we'll
get to the trees in a iffy."
I'm here, Miss Genevieve. II
was only a wrenched ankle. IL I
had stick, Blake, I fancy I could
make a go OF It over this drier
ground"
"And lay yourself up for
month. Come. Miss Jenny. brace
up for another try. It's only
quarter-mile. and I've got to pack
him."
Fortunately the remaining dis
lance lay across q stretch of bare.
dry ground. for even Blake had
all but reached the limit of endur-
ance. At last the nearest palm
was only few PAGES distant.
Blake clutched Miss Leslie's arm.
and dragged her forward with
rush, in final outburst OF energy.
But the river was yet another
hundred yards distant. Blake
waited only to regain his breath;
then he staggered up and went on.
The others, able to rise, gazed aft
er him in silent misery.
Soon Blake found himself rush.
ing through the jungle along a
broad trail pitted with enormous
footprints; but he was so near