Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-16

stop" grOwSed Mcoufrs. @Dut X he stays, yOu
win have to guard the camp all day, now thas
Ugly has gone"
RUT even this the pair positively refused %
do; they seemed now to be as much afraaa
81 the old medicine man a. they were Of tho
mysterious Kurdaitcha.
'Bin win have to stop, then" said Bun.
~somebody must keep camp o. we shall hava
the natives in. and they'll clear our stun righe
out"
Being thus nominated for the lob. was
obliged to remain and look after the camp, q
duty was not cveranxious for. seeing that there
was more than possibility OF hostile natives
prowling around Nevertheless, made the bese
Of 1t. and, with Winchester within easy reach.
settled myself 10 watch while the Others went
on to work. All day the old fellow sat and
covered at me, keeping up ceaselessly his say.
age mumbling Of curses and inprecations. wI,iIe
l. inWardly quaking. expected every minute 10
see shower OF spears come flying out Of the
scrub. to be followed by quick rush Of naked
savases. But nothing Of the sort happened.
I passed an anxious day until Just about
dusk, hearing by brother and BuIl returnina
the old fellow went away, stin muttering
Next morning was left in charge again, and.
- on the previous day. the old medicine man
appeared and sat the day long on his boulder
mumbling and cursing. Pretending TO take him
as . joke. I strolled over and endeavcred to
strike up some sort Of o conversation with him.
But soon gave Il up. He hared into such an
ecstasy Of rage ct my attempted friendIiness
that his very venom daumted me.
returned to my place and the day tlrifted
BY uneventfully. When my mates returned af
dusk was ready to laugh at our fears. was
determined, declared that would not waste 4
third day In keeping guard. Jimmy or Joe could
do that
When morning came, however. the two ma
GWea TORN faar
Mad been amongst US during the night. they as
serted, and BY way Of proof they showed us d
curious bone dagger which Jimmy had picked
up few yards from where he had slept This
dagger was very simple affair, being merely q
splinter OF bone about six inches long, sharp
ened at one end to . needle point.
How did It get there?" Bun demanded OF the
trembling boys.
"Kurdaitcha. Him drop it." was their trou-
bled explanation. 'Kurdaitcha come last night
We dead men soon"
what Is this Internal KurdaitchaPD demand
ed Bull FIRST him or Il, took Ugly and now
It comes after you'll spit out the yarn. what
Is this hoodoo that's providing around?s
The natives. however, could not explain.
Kurdaitcha was complete mystery 10 them.
They knew 1T existed, and killed men BIZ magic
but what it was, or where Il came from. was
something known only to the chief medicine
men. They did know. however. that they were
doomed.
I'VE dead men soon." they repeated dolefuIly.
THAT old fella point de bone ct us and send
Kurdaitcha. Dead men US"
Nor could anything shift them from their
belief We examined every visible portion Of
their bodies in search Of wound or even q
mark made by the bone dagger they feared 90
much. but could find nothing
You're all right" Bull declared at last aJusk
pull yourselves together"
Under this Stimulus Jimmy and Joe bright-
ened somewhat and consented 10 accompany
my brother and me to the diggings while Bull
remained IN camp to interview "Kurdaitcha,s
PAL" as he humorously put e.
We had scarcely settled down to work when
We heard the sharp crack u q rife. aBuFIs
done iti" cried my brother. the two natives