Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-11-23
CONTINUED from Previous Issue.)
CHAPTER xxx.
BY His Eyellds.

Hernandez and his two companions
reached the tree. They reeonnoitered.
Above him in the swaying branches,
all ignorant of the group below. Neal
wigwagged his signals toward the Al.
bany. His heart leaped within him.
for the Albany wigwagged in return.
She was doing more-she was sending
of her fastest launch shoreward.
crowded to the ganwale with marines
marines who knew their business.
Below Hernandez smiled diabolical
smile. He was watching. not Neal,
but the swaying of the tree.
Look" he said to Ponto, see how
these roots tug at this seant earthen
covering. She is a tree growing on a
rock. She totters. And she is more
than tree growing on a rock-she
grows on the edge OF s cliff. Beast,
come here. Tell him. Ponto. what to
do"
Ponto told him, emphasizing his
commands with the ever-ready whip.
The brute obeyed. He set his shoul.
ders to the tree trunk and began stead.
lily. tirelessly, persistently to push.
Now, now" cried Hernandez, IL a
frenzy of excitement "On, on.
The tree crashed desperately over
the edge and toppled into the depths
beneath.
AS she did so there was a scream
woman's scream -Annette's. Her.
nandez heard it; so did Ponto; but
they could not locate it. Out OF their
sight, somewhere along that cliff. An
nette was crouching watching with
eyes wide with terror She saw the
tree bend slowly outward, though she
did not know the cause.
Then her heart ieaped within her,
for the tree had dropped topping
head over heels, so to speak, but by
some great chance Il ned brushed
Neal lightly. not heavily. against the
Cliff, and then had plunged down to its
own doom leaving aim graphing Tor
his life with a clump of pushes on a
narrow ledge below
She saw all this and so did Herman
DEE and his partner. Ponto. Ponto
smote the brute upon the shoulder He
pointed to huge stone at his feet.
Finish him." he commanded GO
down and finish him.
The brute seized the stone and crept
warily down a narrow path ana
reached the ledge upon which chung
Neal
The brute slowly raised the rock
above his head. As ne did so a small
firm hand clutched him by the shout
der-a woman's hand. He turned and
looked into the eyes of Annette fIing.
ton. AS though hypnotized he dropped
the rock
Help him." commanded Annette,
help him. Do as ! say.
Hernandez, white with rage, thrust
Ponto behind him and leaned far over
the edge of the cliff shaking his
clenched hand impotently at the brute.
DO as l say" he commanded. u
will fay you if you don't"
He leaned too far, not for his own
safety. but for the safety of some of
his belongings. A paper packet wrig.
gled easily and joyously out of his
breast pocket and slipped easily. and
joyously down the cliff, landing almost
at Annette's feet.
The brute turned suddenly, darted
forward stretched forth a huge hand
and jerked Neal from mis- precarious
position up to the ledge-up to safety.
The three stood there eIinging to
the side of the cliff; the brute pant
ing with wonder, Neal and Annette
painting with relief. Suddenly Annette
stopped and picked up a packet that
lay at her feet. She uttered a little
cry of recognition-and with good
cause.
1t was the identifying map-part of
the evidence that linked her with the
Z lost Isle of Cinnabar.
I Ten minutes later Neal flung up
I his hands and cheered-and with good
1 cause. Over the brow of a hill, clam.
I bering like mad, there swarmed up
( through the jungle crowd of United
/ States marines.
Hernandez and Ponto saw them
I from above and with wild oaths turned
and incontinently fed The brute,
obeying sudden impulse, crept swift
4 ly along the ledge and followed his re
treating masters.
Neal and Annette assembled more
cautiously and carefully They met
the little squad or marines on the tor
Of the cliff and joined them in the
/ double quick toward the Aztec strong
hold. They reached the clearing. The
+ gates Of the walled city were open and
the walls bristled with armored Aztes
warriors The marines fixed their bay
onets and made ready for a charge.
Suddenly. however, Neal held up his
hands Listen he exclaimed. From
/ the unseen waters beyond there wal
the boom Of gun.
It's my gun" said Neal know
her when she speaks my six-incf
gun"
The officer in charge of the squad
held 10 his hand. Halt he com
/ manded.
His squad halted Il was well the,
did. Through the open gate thes
could see the Sun gods demoniaca
countenance twisting ard mounting il
the red glare Of the affairs flames
Across the strip of jungle they couls
hear the boom-boom of the gun.
Neal slapped his thigh with Joy
"He's got the range already, boys, hi
1 cried .sTFasf Fook-Ioo1r--loolzo