The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-23
III FORBIDDEN VALLEY
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I willow island. They lifted out four
canoes. and they're over in that
brush"
The news startled Curt.
"Only four canoes?'' he asked.
"Only four. I think they are carry.
ing two men apiece. One turned
broadside to the moons reflection
and saw it distinctly. It carried
just two"
"That means we've only got eight
men to deal with. Those eight We
saw today. We ought to stand them
OF without much trouble" After .
few moments thought, he directed:
"You 60 back to your post. Paul. II
they start across, try to stop 'em by
shooting over their heads. II they
keep coming on, ricochet your bull
let's through their canoes. I'll stay
here and watch for others. They may
be planning to box us from two sides.
II that party over there is the only
one. I'll help you turn 'em around
and head 'em the other way"
When Paul had left, he suggested:
I'D better take you back to the
boulders. Sonya. It's safer there.
Well likely have some swift work
for minute or two"
I'D rather stay here, IL you'll let
me. I can help. too. II it comes to .
real fight"
Her hand crept inside her blouse.
and came out with some black
metallic object. Curt saw it was .
small automatic, q little purse-size
thing, but nevertheless an effective
weapon for close work. Once on .
portage when he had lifted her down
from q pile of windfall he had felt
something hard beneath her blouse.
It must have been this same gun.
She must carry it with her all the
time now.
IN THE willow island he saw
~ nothing, heard n othing. The
minutes dragged by interminably.
He almost wished the fight would
start. Anything was better than
waiting. waiting.
The big cloud had drifted on out
from the eastern range till it was
only a little distance from the
moon. But a strong up.current
from the valley had seized 1t and
it lowered uncertainty. sending out
feathery wisps this way and that
Down toward the camp q patter.
ing noise suddenly arose. 1t sounded
az though the tents and canoes were
being pelted with small stones.
Sonya touched his arm. "Curt.
what's that?"
ARROWS! They're shooting up our
camp. You see, they expected to
kill or wound part of us before we
got out Of our blankets"
"Why." Sonya gasped. "you
must've known-that's why you
made US stay away from the tents!"
II didn't know they'd do it, but
I suspected they might. SO played
SAFE"
The patter Of arrows kept up for
two or three minutes. then stopped.
Maybe they think they killed 10
all or that We sneaked away before
they got here" Sonya suggested.
THAT'S an idea I'd better let 'em
know we're still around. or they
might come across to investigate"
He called dowE to Paul, using tho
Jargon so that the Klosohees would
understand:
"Are the mosquitoes bad there
with you. friend? It seems to me
that > whole flock Of them are buzz
sing out Of those willows yonder."
Paul took the hint and answered.
with scornful laugh: "They are
bad. yes: but their buzzing does not
annoy mo much. They are nothing
for q man to worr. about"
At the two voices. the Klosohees
let loose . storm OF darts. The At
tack would have worn itself out
harmlessly II tho two guides had
obeyed orders. But FRANCOIS lab.
bersd something IN excited voice to
Jocku. An instan. later their heavy
''bear" Wholesalers split tho silence
with blaring kyo0ns.
Over on the island q man cried
out the long-drawn cry Of Z man
hard hit
Curt sprans &c his feet You
damned crazy loons!-stop that
shooting Or I'll como down there
and shoot you!"
They did break Of, then. He
thought his threat had stopped them.
but hs found out later that Paul
had sprung back to the rock best
and disarmed them at tho point Of
his gun.
About twenty minutes afterward
Paul came walking up tho land
wash.
"Gons?s Curt asked.
SYeG They're over on tho main.
land b. now"
The good news left Curt cold. The
crazy bang-banging Of those two
cowardly breeds had exploded his
last hope Of making friends with
that band.
(0opyyight. 1855, William B. Kopsyv)
Ioimorrow Curt cares for badly
wounded man.