Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-04-21
CHAPTER TX.
waltlnu for Dawn.


the girl and with his back to her re-
treating assailant- He had to drop al
most vertically In order to avoid be-
ing blown out into the sea after he
struck the ice. Even as 1t was, he
went slithering down the CLASSY slope
toward the water. and only managed
to check his impetus by throwing him
sell nat on his face aud ciutching at a
hummock which CHANGED to offer him
precarious hold. He had come down
"all adrift' as sailors say. and his
monstrous wings. powerless for flight
but instinct with Tapping perversity,
cost him momentary struggle while
he was getting them bundled into con
trollable shape.
But, thanks as much to luck as to
skill. he presently found himself upon
his feet uninjured He at once set
out, making what haste he could,
across the ice toward where he had
last seen the girl. shouting up the
gale to her at the same time. to know
If she were safe. He heard no an
swer, but presently made her out, dim
ly only a pace or two away. His first
act then, even before speaking, was to
take out his pocket electric bulls-eye
and turn it full upon her.
It's just to make sure you're not
hurt-that ! really got down here in
time" he apologized 81 wish / might
have saved you the terror, but 1t
wasn't until you cried out that I
knew"
I'm not hurt" she assured him.
I'm little dazed, that's all.--No,
not with fright, with wonder. / hard
ly had time to be frightened. But I
thought you'd gone this morning, that
you had abandoned us just as you said
you would And yet, when cried
out just now, for help. It was you that
] called to. And then you
came, out of the sky, Just as I was
sure you would. For l was certain,
with the same certainty one has in
dreams. Now, that it's over, ! find
myself wondering again If you are
real. I'm not hurt at ALL"
Before he could find anything to say
in answer, they heard another shot,
fnuffied in the fog. from the direction
of the Aurora, and In prompt reply to
it. another volley.
Wasn't there firing before?" she
asked Can any one be attacking the
yacht? There Is no one there but
Tom, you know, and he's disabled
Can't we-can't I, get out there any
way? The boat ! came ashore in is
right here"
Without making her any answer, he
carried the unwieldly bundle his wings
made into the hut and left 1t there,
then returned to her and offered her
his hand
Wen go down and look for your
boat" he said.
Along the waters edge they
searched, aided by the little beam from
his bu]l's-eye, the sound of intermit-
tent firing from the yacht urging haste
all the while But 1t did not take long
to force the conviction upon them that
the boat was gone, Blown adrift,
most likely, was Cayley's explanation.
He felt her trembling. Whether
with cold or dread, ne 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 as you
think. I'll 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 off. 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 | mean
that the yacht was likely to be attack
ed told them so myself, and then
their pretended guide confessed"
How did you know about the Wal
rus?" she asked curiously
THE Portuguese was one 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
well, he made a clean breast of it. 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
ly, his sentences punctured by the
sounds OF firing from the yacht. BY
tha t}rpo ho fptched thew were almost