Evening journal., 1922-11-01
CHAPTER II

little ridge traversing wet land
Quintana halted TO listen.
Sard and Sanchez, supposing hin
to be az their heels, continued on
pushing their way biindly through
the cedars. clinging to the har,
ridge IN terror of sink-holes. Blu
their progress was very slow; ant
they were still IN sight. fighting {
painful path amid the evergreens
when Quintana suddenly squattet
close TO the moist earth behind g
juniper hush.
At first. except for the threshinl
OF Sard and Sanchez through th'
massed distractions ahead. there
was not sound In the woods.
But. presently. came a soft, swift
rhythm like the pace OF fores
creature IN haste--a discreetly hurry
ing tread which was more a series
of light earth-shocks than sound.
Quintana kneeling on one knee
lifted his pistol. He already felt the
slight vibration of the ground or
the hard ridge. The cedars were
moving just beyond him now. He
waited until. through the parted
foliage a face appeared.
The loud report of his pistol struck
Sard with the horror OF paralysis
Sanchez faced about with one spring,
snarling a weapon in either hand.
In the terrible silence they could
hear something heavy houndering
in the bushes. choking. moaning,
thudding on the ground.
CO 20 haNtr .
Sard, more dead than alive. crawled
at his heels. Presently they saw
Quintana, waist deep in juniper,
looking down at something.
And when they drew closer they
saw Georgiades lying on bis back
under a cedar, the whole front OF
: his shirt from chest 20 belly sop
ping mess OF blood.
There seemed no need of explana
ton. The dead Greek lay there
where he had not been expected.
and his two pistols lay beside him
where they had fallen.
5 Sanchez looked stealthiiy at Quin
tana, who said softiyi
,Bfen sure. In his left side
pocket I believe"
Sanchez laid cool hand on the
dead mans heart; then. satisfied,
rummaged until ne found Georgi-
AIDES share OF the loot.
sard. furriedly displaying a pair
OF clean but shalxy hands. made the
division.
When the three men had silently
pocketed what was allotted to each
Quintana pushed curiously at the
dead man with the toe OF his shoe
"Pester' ne remarked. IT had
place. for security, a YER large
damon in my pistol barrel. Now
II 10 within the interior OF this gem
tlsman. % He turned TO SAN
chez: cell him to you. One sap
phire. YesR"
Sanchez shook his head with a
slight sneer; I'VE wait--if you want
your diamond. mon capitaine."
ouintana hesitated. then made a
grimacs and shook his head.
no" he sadi, he has swallow
Lot hfm digest Ailonsi SfArohl"
But after they had gone on--two
hundred yards. perhaps-ssnchez
stopped.
'sWell7" inquired Quintana. Then
with a sneer; II now recollec' that
once you have been butcher in
Madrid. Suit your tase, Fam
Sanchez"
Sard gazed at Sanchez out OF
sicksned eyes
you keep away from me until
you've washed yourself he burst
out, revolted. Don't you come
near me TIL you're cleani"
Quintana laughed and seated him |
self Sanchez. with . hand-dos
s:Anoe at him, turned and sneaked
back on the trail they had traversed.
Before he was out OF sight Sard saw
him fish out Spanish knife from
his hip pocket and unclasp Il.
Sanchez made no effort TO ind /
hour before he had finished the /
business that had turned him back. l
As he stood there, examining his
clothing. and washing what he could (
OF the ominous strains from sleeve
and shoe. very far away 10 the
north he heard curious noise-a
far. faint sound such as he never
before had heard.
II Il were voice OF any sort
there was nothing human about It.
: Probably some sort Of un-
known bird. Perhaps a bird
OF prey That was natural,
considering the attraction that
Georgiades would have for such
creatures. II It were a bird
Il must be a large one. he thought
Because there was a GER
tain volume 10 the cry !. Per-
haps It was beast. after all |
Some unknown beast of the
forest.
Sanchez was suddenly afraid.
Scarcely knowing what he was do
ing he began 70 run along the edge
Of the bog.
He was tired, or thought he was.
but the alarming sounds were hiling
HIS ears now; the entire forest
seemed full OF them, echoing in ALI
directions. coming In upon him from
everywhere. so that he knew not in
which direction 10 run.
The next instant he fell headiong
over 9 ledge. struck water. felt him
self whirled around in the icy, rush
ing current. rolled over. tumbled
through rapids. blinded. deafened.
choked. swept helplessiy in vast
green wall OF water toward some
thing that thundered in his brain
IN instant, then dashed Il into roar
ing chaos.
Half mile down the turbulent
sheet OF green water pours thirty