Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-30
CHAPTER KILN.
Perilous Places.

by the shore squad from the cruiser,
felt her skirts plucked by a clutching
hand. She looked down. A native-a
mere bag of bones in a tumble of rags
-crouched at her feet.
Little white angel" whined the ma
tive in Spanish-and Annette had
learned enough Of the tongue to listen
to appeals for help-"my daughter
just like you-so kind, and pretty
She lies at deaths door. You have
food, you have medicine-and you can
lay your hand on her. She will get
well. What you have done for 9th
ers you can do for her"
An officer from the Albany turned
the corner Annette's heart 1eaped.
The man was Neal Hardin.
Meal" she cried, listen to him
talk to him for me. Ask him where
his daughter is-I'll go unless it's too
far"
Neal spoke to the man in his native
language. The man jabbered back
eloquently.
"Only a short distance out of town.
said Neal, "over that hill"
'T'll go" said Annette.
Neal pondered fer moment. "All
right" he said, "and I'm free just
now. I'll go with you
The native leaped to his feet with
alacrity and ran crookedly ahead of
them. Outside of the town they
plunged into underground and then
through woods-but the ground was
dry and the trail was fairly good.
At the door of a hut the native
paused and motioned them in.
Neal and Annette entered side by
side. In dark corner was huddled
shape under a filthy cloth. Annette
sprang toward it. At that instant the
native dropped to the ground and
clutched Meals ankles tightly in each
hand. At the same instant the hud-
died figure in the corner leaped to its
| feet-it was no stricken girl-it was
Hernandez, with the light of triumph
in his eyes. And at the same instant
Ponto and the brute sprang into the
fray.
1t was only a matter Of moment
before Annette and Neal found them
selves bound and lying on the floor.
Neal, after a few gasps for breath,
smiled at Annette forlornly.
Hernandez stamped his foot. Il
will give you two minutes to produce
the map of Lost Isle," he said, "and
II it is not then forthcoming.
He paused. 60 on" said Neal,
what then?"
At the end of two minutes he
thrust his watch back into his pocket.
He signed to Ponto. The helmets,
he commanded, "and the gloves"
Ponto produced two sets of crudely-
fashioned head nets and hand gloves
made of mosquito netting. Inez had
told him how to make them. Hern-
andez donned one set and Ponto
donned the other.
| Neal and Annette each with
guard of two behind, were forced to
leave the hut, and forced down the
trail on the farther side of the small
hill.
After fifteen minutes walk they
halted. Ponto spoke sharply to the
native who was with them.
Lead on" he commanded; you
know the way"
"Ah," said the native, Il and mighty
few beside. Be careful now"
Ponto turned to Hernandez. This"
he said, lis the cause of all the pesti-
lence-this is the quagmire at the bot
tom of our hill-mosquito swamp
There are not so many mosquitoes
here,' returned Hernandez, mot
enough in fact"
The native grinned. Not now-but
at night-at night they are LEGION
they are fiends, foul fiends. And they
breed pestilence. On. Follow me-"
Back at the Inn of the Spanish Don
Neal Hardin's mother began to grow
restive-Annette had not returned
Neal was nowhere to be seen. Once
the surgeon stepped in and inquired
for Neal. After that Mrs. Hardin
made inquiries of her own. No one
knew where he was-no one had seen
the little white angel
Out in the swamp Neal and Annette
were conducted to a small. swamp
islet, green with dark growth-upon
which there was barely foothold.
This" said the native to Herman
dez, '1s the place OF which I told.
From this there is no escape.
Hernandez bowed. You have chos-
en- pests and pestilerce. your friends"
he said. Goodnight, and pleasant
dreams. Now take us back
Back at the hut, the native was bow
ing low. Hernandez poured much
coin into his hand. And mind" said
Hernandez, "close mouth for two days
at any rate, you dog"
In one way he was close-mouthed.
In another way he we'll. he
started for the nearest tavern. and
bent his elbow with great frequency
and every time he bent his elbow he
opened his mouth-and to some pur-
pose 49,. after awhile he began to
treat-and falkland show his money