The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-05-16

up the cliff and had reached a ledge
near the brink when he heard a cry
from Chu, and looking up saw him In
the grasp Of the old priest, who was
threatening to hurl him into the vol.
cano.
Intent on carrying out this threat,
the cruel fanatic leaned far out over
the edge and as he did SO Tomas threw
one of his spare lariats and catching
him about the neck dragged him to
the fate he had planned for the Chi
nese. Quickly gaining the top. Tomas
and the terrified Chu made all speed
away from the Aztec village.
4 Meanwhile Dick, Polly. Stebbfns
and Teel were having tie widest ride
OF their lives. Borne upon the crest
OF the rushing torrent their raft dived
into the bowels of the mountain as a
chip Is swept into a culyert. For a
few moments after they had entered
the tunnel they could still see each
others face in the gray light that
penetrated for some distance into the
entrance, but soon that faded and
they found themselves swallowed by
the fmpenetrable darkness About
them they could hear the rush and
roar and hiss Of the water as 1t swept
past the rock wall, but the blackness
had become so dense that they could
not see their hands before their faces.
Absolutely powerless to guide their
craft, they could but sit helplessly as
they were whirled on to whatever
fate might lie in store for them. More
than once their raft striking some nm
seen object, careened violently, max
ing 1t necessary that they cling to
each other for their very lives lest
they be swept to death in the tor
rent, but each time the fragile craft
steadied itself and whirling and spin
ming went rushing on It's way. Dick.
drawing the girl close to him. smoke
words of encouragement In her ear.
4 think we are going to win
through, but II by any accident
should be swept away from you Just
cling to the raft and don't give up as
long as there Is an ounce Of strength
left In you. Unless my calculations are
wrong, this will take US into the ocean,
and once we get out In the light again
we will be all right" Above the roar
the voice Of the girl came back to
him.
you must not worry about me, Dick.
As long as we are together I have no
fear, so save your strength for any
emergency that may arise" Greatly
relieved that Polly was not frightened,
Dick raised his hand above his head
to the full length Of his arm. A Jagged
piece Of rock struck It, beating it
down, and instantly he called loudly
TO his companions.
lie down flat or we will have our
heads knocked Off by the roof of
this place. We are going about forty
miles an hour and the top Of this tun-
mel Is close over u.s. Warned by his
cry they Immediately Frustrated them
selves upon the raft as 1t ground and
bumped Its way ever deeper into the
heart Of the great mountain. Thus
In the blackness beneath the noun
tains the hurdle bearing Dick and
the others swept steadily along, and
when they awoke the morning Of the
third day they found themselves In
the Pacific mile off shore, but too
weak TO attempt to help themselves.
SO they waited, praying that kind
wind would blow the raft to the
beach.
Meanwhile, Scarface and his gang
had left the Aztecs and headed for
the ocean, camping the night Of the
second day within sight of Its shores.
And while they slept, Tomas and Chu
came upon their camp and rode off
with their horses. saddle bags and
rifles.
At dawn they had reached the wreck
Of the Lion and nearby a roofiess
stockade, which they proceeded to put
in a defensive condition in case Of an
attack by the outlaws.
The latter, cursing the loss of their
horses, finally gained the beach and
few rods offshore saw the raft with
its now unconscious passengers. Swim
ming through the surf they towed II
ashore and revived its hapless crew,
whose fate became subject of dis
cussion, ended by Scarface, who re-
marked:
"You all look tired and l am going
TO give you good, long rest"
Realizing what was coming, the cap
tives could not refrain from shudder-
ing as they contemplated what was
to be their fate. 1t would have been
bad enough had they been drowned
like rats In the depths of the noun
tain, but to be buried alive in these
sands and left prey for the oncreep-
Ing tide was enough to turn the brav-
est heart cold. Yet they were incap-
able Of resisting, and knowing that
it would be useless to ask for mercy,
they faced the ordeal that lay before
them calmly.
go ahead and bury us and be
honuad RI Won - coSd Nib Sn Coor-