The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-02-19
eleventh sINSTALLMENT
TIE DREADFUL PIT
CHAPTER XVIII,
. Dangerous Delay.

Inc Ire OF FERNANDEZ was now thor
oughly aroused, A quicksilver mine
on the Lost Isle of Cinnabar-proba-
bly, unworked for century or more
meant millions, many millions. Her
nandez realized the fact He was play
Ing for high stakes-very high. "
my ancestors" he told Ponto, had
a coat 4 Of arms "A motto. Ride
through'-that was what it said,
friend Ponto. I shall follow it-that
Injunction. I shall ride through
They were lounging, breathless,
painting, against a5tree trunk that had
fallen athwart one of the invisible
trails Of Central. Ann rican jungle.
With them was Senorita Inez Castro.
What we want most of ALL he
continued, land what we must get
is the Lost Isle of Cinnabar We have
The evidences of ownership save
the Spanish grant in the hands of the
Fathers. Of the Santa Maria mission.
Let US seek at once the mission. Let
US get all evidences of ownership
Then, as the crow flies, the four of us
will seek Lost Island-yes and find it.
Once found-possession may be nine
tenths of the law-well have posses
sion. But to us possession will be
more than that. We know no law
At Chantillo some few miles away,
things were happening. Ensign Neal
Hardin with his squad of fifty men
from the cruiser Albany across the
1o1 IN nd tIo In
ship Missouri, waiting for them in
the waters off Chantillo. These were
the fifty men who had so nearly lost
their lives on the dirt cars Of Mon
trada
Annette was with them-and Neal
was at her side. They were grouped
On the wharf.
Neal beckoned to the captain of the
little coast steamer that was tied up
to the wharf.
"Senor," he said, behind me is the
long arm of the United States govern
ment. My government protects it's
citizens. Here is a citizen--Miss IL
ington. Here is another-my mother.
Here is third-my friend Welcher.
Dire things nave happened, senor
Look. Somewhere in that jungle hide
three desperadoes and woman. They
have many methods-but one in par
ticular. At night they will come to
you and offer money to be taken
aboard He tossed a stern glance at
the captain and tapped him on the
arm. "Senor,' he continued, least
your eye over the Missouri there-my
ship. Think of the long arm of my
government. Take these desperadoes
aboard at your peril-at your peril,
senior. I have warned you. The rest
is up to you"
The little captain shivered a Bit
Isl, senor," he returned, swiftly,
with bow, lit shall be as you say
Meantime the third member of An
nette's party, Mr.. Joseph Welcher,
had strolled behind convenient shed
to find asresting place for his weary
bones and to smoke his fiftieth ciga-
rette that day. He struck a match
started to- light his cigarette Then
something happened The match went
0ut--the cigarette was knocked. un-
tremendously from his lips
What the" he began Then he
stopped. A stone was lying at his
feet. It was this stone that had
knocked the cigarette from between
his glips-and had almost knocked q
tooth or two as we'll. But there was
.onnething else to wonder at. I "A bit
Of crumpled paper had f1uttered to the
ground. q Il EssS" lrss @5sT
Welcher picked the paper up and