Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-05-18
Ha felt hor tramblinr.
whether

he felt nor trembling. Whether
with cold or dread, he did not know,
but he took her arm and steadied her
with the pressure of his own.
Come back to the hut" he said
"The situation isn't as bad al you
think. III tell you when we get to
shelter where we can talk"
She turned obediently. and breasted
the icy slope with him. Neither spoke
again until they were safe in the lee
of the hut. Then he said:
Il don't think Fanshaw is alone
there on the yacht. The relief party
and the first party from the Aurora
got together some time this afternoon
and started back toward the shore.
They should be aboard the yacht by
now, though when the fog fell 1t put
an end to my activities. The Walrus
people have undoubtedly attacked
them. but they shouldn't have any
trouble in beating them of. They out
number them and they are better
armed; in fact, so far as / know, the
Walrus people aren't armed at all.
They knew-your people I mean-
that the yacht was likely to be attack
ed. l told them so myself, n then
their pretended guide confessed"
"How did you know about the Wal
rus?" she asked curiously.
"The Portuguese was n of them;
he had guided your first party down
into a little valley of perpetual fog,
under orders to abandon them there.
When he saw me sailing about over
head-through the fog, you know-he
broke down and confessed and then
| we'll, he made a clean breast OF 1t. He
knew nothing OF the details Of his
leaders plans; but the mere fact that
he had been delegated to guide the
party into a place from which 1t was
to be expected they could never get
out, was conclusive as to his inten-
tons at least"
He had spoken rather disconnected
1y, his sentences punctured by the
sounds of firing from the yacht. by
the time he finished they were almost
continuous.
why does it sound SO much fainter
than 1t did?" she asked. ITS not
nearly so loud as that first volley we
heard"
Its a trick of the fog, very likely
he said. Fog is a frightfully treach'
erous thing. It deceives mems ears as
well as their eyes. There's 40 1udg
ing distance through it. When YOU
cried out Just now, l couldn't tel
whether you were so feet below me OF
500 feet. l was up above 1t, you see
and l hadn't any way of telling how
deep it was.-There! Do you hearT
he went on. "The firing has stopped
altogether. Your people are almos'
certainly safe"
Twill you let me 60 inside this hut
he asked, "and see II 1t is habitable'
If It is, you'd better go in and let mt
make you as comfortable as can.
don't think you need have any fear
about the Walrus people. And worry
ing wouldn't do any good any way
There's nothing we can do but wal
for daylight. Nothing can happen any
where until then"
He had, very distinctly, in min
what might happen then If the Walru
people we're repulsed from the yach'
Unless they were all destroyed in tn
attack. they would undoubtedly max
trouble as soon as morning reveale
the fact that they had two hostage
in their hands. But he. could hgf
them off better from the doorway (
the hut than from anywhere else. An
there was no need Of troubling tn
girl with that consideration, not fe
the present, at least.
TITS all right in there" she salt
Il spent l don't know how man
hours there reading before you CAM
!, But the candle has burned out"
The open door behind them gave a.
! cess into a tiny shed, p%rotruding froi
the corner of the hut and serving, ev
IDENTIFY, as a vestibule for 1t. The Il
ner door, a heavier and stronger a
fair. opening at right angles to !
gave access to the interior Of the hu
Cayely switched on his bulls-ey
and cast a brief glance about th
room. There were two or three rud
fimsy-looking doors which andoubte'
ly opened into small, cabin-like be-
rooms; but the principal part of !
hut was taken up by the room
which they found themselves.
Cayley set his little bull-eye on
shelf where they could make the mo
Of its thin pencil Of light. He the
turned his attention to the door, al
after a little struggle succeeded
getting 1t shut, and, what was NOR
securely bolted, by means OF a heaV
wooden bar which dropped into 6
iron crotch. If they were attack
with the first Of the daylight, tn
place would afford them security uni
the people from the Aurora cou
come to their rescue. His revolv
was a Colt, 45, and his belt was full
cartridges. With that weapon, he I
membered that he had once been co
sidered the best shot in the army.
The girl, when he turned to look
her, was seated on the edge Of a bun
1 at the other side Of the hut. Her p,
1 lor. the traces of tears he could s
1 in her eyes, the pathetic droop to b
| lips, all emphasized the thing h
] voice had told him already, namel
that some emotional crisis. whi
she had been through in those rece
hours. had left her quite exhausted.
Without q word, he turned to /
bundle which he had deposited in
corner OF the room, and fished Q
from 1t his sheep-skin s~leeping-bag.
was not until he approached her, wi
it across his arm, that his eye 4
l ..11n tbn rocomnnd h0Y and tina m