The Detroit times., 1915-10-25
CHAPTER XVI
The Razor Back

anu AOTDAuolu8. ~ @8sUO1 - AeSs
It was not MI rock. this cli6--e
large part Of ito formation vas OF
clay. Down the face u this cliR.
its sharp edges rising now and then
into the air like peaks, there trailed
q path. narrow and perilous, from
shore to cliff edge, known to cer-
tain of the inhabitants Of Martin
ique "a the Razor Back.
Along this sharp. steep edge ran
a rope. and climbing the Rasor
Back. clingfng to this rope with .
huge burden on his shoulders, up
ward crawled q man. Below him.
thrusting it's nose into the beach.
was . MISUNDERSTANDING boat lad
en- with heavy wooden boxes.
This man. In reality giant, look
ed like q pigmy from below ~ he
crawled hand over hand to the
heights above. At the edge Of the
cliff he was assisted by two other
men who dragged him on to tern
nrma and who relieved him Of his
burden. This burden they carried
between them to hut. Before do
ing so they cut the big man across
the shoulders with . whip and point
ed to the shore below. The big man
nodded. He stood for one moment
on the edge Of the cliff and gazed
about him. He gagged the grade Of
the wicked, sharp. big Razor Back.
and nodded once again: then nimbly
he leapsd over the face Of the clin.
striking his heels into the edge Of
that perilous path some 80 feet Or
more below--and then In spite OF
his huge bulk ran like deer down
to the beach.
The men above dropped their
burden and watched him.
"Ah," said Hernandez to his com.
rade Ponto. "the beast--he knows
that Razor Back. He has not for.
gotten IL years ago"
There was touch upon Herman
dez' shoulder. Hernandez whirled
as though at the fall of trigger.
A third man faced him, low-browed.
cunningeyed. Hernandez breathed
sigh of relief.
| Half an hour later, with his final
load strapped to his back. the brute
climbed for the last time over the
edge Of the cliff, this time bearing
his own burden to the hut. The
three men already within the hut
admitted him.
There was no window to this hut.
and the light within was dim. The
| room was bare. Tidy little bungai
low. friend smuggler. Of Martinique"
he said.
The other man smiled grimly IN
his turn. Tidy IL the word, soldier
Of fortune" he returned. AT any
rate. it's safe. You think all the
palace matches 1t. Come with me-"
He strobe to the corner OF the
hut and threw aside a matchbox
Leaning down he cleared away a
number Of short, worm-eaten
boards. then he lifted up sheetiron
door. With an exclamation of sur
prize Hernandez and his compan-
ious observed that there was a mar.
row passageway cut through the
solid earth. One by one each man
lowered himself into this passage
way and followed his leader. From
perpendicular shaft the corridor
shelled on into passage almost
horizontal and widened as II went
This" said the smuggler Of Mar.
Unique, "is the third story, as 1t
were. Neat. not gaudy."
Nov for the bathroom. II you
please"
This time they descended q wild
er set of stairs and stepped out
upon ledge that surrounded deep
and limpid pool of water. Herman
dec regarded this pool attentively.
First 1t RISES" he exclaimed.
land then It falls"
"Ah," said the man OF Martinique.
we are at sea level. This IL q cave
and there Is ooutlet to It."
Somewhere there is." returned
Hernandes.
Eyes. In the attic--the sky par.
lor," said the othr man.
"Somwhere else" said Hernandez.
"Oh. well. II you will" said the
smuggler. but one must swim un-
der water to nnd the other outlet"
He folded his arms. what do you
think of my palace now?" he said.
He stopped and plucked at anoth.
ed iron ring in the floor. II dis
closed . smaller hole--filled with
contents OF strange appearance.
Hernandez stixed the lantern.
What Of this," he said. "This
commodity do not know"
Careful" exclaimed the other
man. "If those gh>uls. the authori.
ties. ever have the temerity to dis.
cover my cache. shall not be here.
I shall be mile away--a mile. not
less; and from that safe point of
vantage shall press a button and
--pouf--none will ever live to tell
the tale--none. save myself"
Hernandez eyed the other man
with undisguised admiration.
How should like to see II