Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-03

1
enough for us to venture to row to
Chagres, q tiny hamlet on the far
side of the Chagres River"
Twill the other boats land there?''
Chris asked eagerly.
1.-THE larger ones will attempt it,
at least, and from there we can send
messengers up to river to Gatun
Locks and have relief sent to us. We
shall get everybody safely into Colon
by night. l hope. Meantime there is
nothing to worry about. This boat
could live through a worse sea than
this, though it appears to be alarm
ing"'
| Where would Anne's boat land was
Chris next anxiety. If they were
separated by miles of coast line it
would be difficult to reach her.
| "Can we walk along the shore?" he
inquired.
1.-THE captain thought not. The
jungle is impenetrable all along here
and the coast line rough and dan
gerous."
Chris stopped talking and put all
| his strength into his oar. The sooner
| they reached the shore the sooner he
could go to Anne's assistance. His
thoughts went back to Sonia, who
was not in the boat. Probably the
crew would not be landed at present.
Too bad to have to ignore that part
| of Winston's instructions, no matter
what it signified. Anne came first
with Christopher Dahlgren. Sonia
and all the Russians in existence
could wait.
1t was a long, hard pull to land
and Chris was thoroughly tired out
when the Chagres River was reached
and the hamlet came into sight, but
to his dismmay only one other boat
had made that shelter, and there
was no sign Of Anne or Straine, the
seaman in charge insisting that no
such passengers had been with them.
"Mr. Winston and his mother were
with u.s." the man explained. "They
had to get to Gatun on urgent bust.
ness and hired native with a canoe
to paddle them in"
"Mr. Winston and his motherv'
Chris echoed in relief, for at least
he could find them. "They canoed UP
the Chagres River?"
Eyes; ought to make the locks in
a couple of hours. They'll send re-
lief after us, too. Meantime these
natives will give us fruit Wouldn't
advise you people to eat anything
though, and don't drink the water
There is enough in the boats to tide
AS ONCl IOI d lew HOuIS.
Chris did not waste any time in ex
ploring the little hamlet of Chagres
Interesting as such a place would
have been at any other time. he had
more important matters on his mind
One glance at the shore line convinced
him that he could not hope to make
his way to Anne over land. Wouldn't
1t be best for him to follow Winston's
example and reach Gatun Locks
cabling Immediately to reassure Prof
Morris, and going then to Colon tc
await Anne's arrival?
The more he considered this plan
TT more practical 1t seemed. He
could not hope to help Anne in any
other way, and by the time she
landed he might have secured a re
tn cable from her father and be
able to relieve her mind on that score
It was not difficult to secure the
services of a native and a canoe, and
the officer in charge OF his lifeboat
was soon persuaded to let him go.
II can't see any reason why you
should not leave the party in this
way, Mr.. Dahlgren," the man said
"Of course, I'm supposed to keep you
all together. but under the circum
stances / think I'm justified in com.
plying with your request. I'm sure
you'll find this native honest and
trustworthy; they're eager to pick up
what money they can from tourists. y
Chris thanked him and embarked in
the rude canoe. and was soon shoot.
| ing u the Chagres River.
| Some adventure this he grinned
at the thought, his eyes taking in the
brown-skinned. half-naked young fell
lo1 who piled the paddle with such
dexterity. MY but this is a beauti
full spot; how Anne would love it,
And as his eyes took in the wild tropic
vegetation, colored by birds and flow.
more intensely than at any time.
What a s~ot for a honeymoon, -
he unused, "a cabin and canoe safely
tucked away in the jungle, far from
the haunts of human feett Oh, boy.
he drew a long breath at the very
thought. closing his eyes for a clear
picture Of his beloved, placed in such
a setting!
The sun grew hotter, until Chris.
TOPPER felt as If he should be roasted
alive. and now and again the guide
paused beneath overhanging trees
and bathed his head, Christopher fol
lowing gratefully.
| At any other time, he reflected, such
|
hardship. Now nothing mattered, he
was going to help Anne!
| Even the grandeur and wonder of
the Gatun Locks. when they finally
came into sight, did not affect Chris.
TOPPER very much. He had the feel.
| iI4s that he could take in their mas
| sive wonder later on, VIXEN Anne had
been found and everything straight.
ened out.
| Paying off his guide, Chris hurried
to the proper authorities, making him
self known and inquirin;: for Winston
and his mother.
YES" he was treasured by the su.
perintendent of the locks, "Mr.
Winston got here nearly an hour ago
and went on his way. You know
Cristobal and Colon are practically
one city. You can go through on the
next boat. and you won't have long
to wait"
"Of course, you've notified Girls
tobal of the accident to the ship and
the refugees waiting up near
Chagres?"
Yes. we telephoned at once, and
when the sea quiets little a launch
will go around and pick them all up
The whole shipload will be rescued
by night, don't worry. You look
| PioIty "eA ueeu up uoW dpouI Soine
thing to eat?"
Chris was thankful to accept this
hospitable offer and was very much
restored. mentally and physically. by
a good meal and time to rest in the
shade before a steamer entered the
locks, and through the courtesy of the
superintendent he was accepted as a
passenger.
Great interest was displayed aboard
this steamer, q sister ship of the
Hope, returning through the canal on
her way to New York, and the cap.
tain heard his story with eagerness,
saying that thew would stop long
enough at CristobaI to find out what