The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-27
Chapter SO
THE ESCAPE

THE ESCAPE
n LII right" 5Ert agreed, "well
"A try the west. But understand
this. II anything happens It can't
happen too quick to keep me from
putting bullet between your eyes,
friend. You understand"
Tenn-Og nodded. without flicker
Of expression on his dusky face.
They vent back past their camp
island End padded on west toward
the mainland. They were not chal.
ienged. Three hundred yards from
the shore they swung south. Still
they heard no signals. saw no shad-
owy notifies.
surt hardly knew what to think.
Twice now the Indians advice had
proved right, very right. BY the
route had suggested they had got
free Of the island and through the
Gordon OF canoes. That didn't look
like treachery. Furthermore 1t was
Sonya who had sent him with that
boat: and certainly she had not
wanted them to meet harm.
With the wind pushing them
along. they dropped down toward
the narrows where FRANCOIS and
Jocku had been killed. The memory
ofthat death CRY was still vivid with
Curt As the dark bottle neck doomed
up Just ahead. be touched Tenn-og.
ANY men guarding that?"
Tenn-og nodded and held up six
fingers. when they call. ! answer.
you say nothing"
They skJrled into the entrance.
The dark timber fitted by. close on
either hand. Five hundred yards
down. down At the narrowest part.
they were suddenly challenged. The
voice came from a ciump OF jump
erB, ahead Of them and on the right
hand banl.. An instant later another
voice rang out on the left. Two hid.
den parties. with less than a hun.
dred feet separating them--no won.
der Francois and Jocku had met
doom there.
Tenn-0g stood up and answered.
Curt held his rife at alert, with the
trigger safety on red. The canoe
came In between the two parties.
Nothing happened. It drifted on
past. Still nothing happened. Be.
fore they could make themselves be-
lieve It. they were through the CANT
let. safe - with the open river
ahead!
A mile down, when they breathed
freely again and were speeding
south as fast as three paddles could
take them. Curt crept forward and
laid his hand on Tenn-Og's arm.
II make mistake" he said slowly.
IN the iargon. "Tenn Og talk
straight, save white.man friends.
I'm sorry. You understand"
Tenn-0e shrugged his shoulders
and grunted. with no more express
sion on bis claw-scarred face than
when they had suspected him OF
treachery ard had threatened to
shoot him.
C0METlME litter midnight they
~ came to an island where Curtis
party had camped on the up trip.
whipping ashore. they ate part OF
the food which TennOg had brought
and flung themselves down on the
sand for q flve-minute rest.
That camp site held memories for
Curt. poignant memories Of the eve.
Ming bis party had stayed there. A
cluster OF wllied anemones. the I'm,
print Of a .mall dainty moccasin
along the landwash. made him 70
cali how Sonya had wandered lone.
somely about the camp. trying by q
dozen little kindnesses to gel a.
friendly word out OF him.
AS be stared up at the stars and
thought Of her going north with
those three indian guides. It came
home TO him that In sending Tenn.
0g to them With the canoe she had
run : big risk. closely guarded as
she had been. II was pretty iine Of
her TO do -ha, II II hadn't been for
her. he would have gone across 20
the Klosohees camp and likely got
killed In his attempt 10 steal q boat.
The incident made him look back
on their whole relationship with
less bitterness and more honesty.
and he had 10 acknowledge that
from tlrst 10 last she had shot square
with him. She had not asked Tor
bis help on the trip: he had volun.
teerad II. that morning at the noun,
tain torrent.
And later. when she saw he was
falllng IN love with her. she had
said and done everything that q girl
could do 70 halt It. At least she had
q conscience. q thoughtful regard
Tor other peoples feelings. Resale
Marlin would never have tried 70