Evening star., 1933-12-09
CHAPTER XIII.
NIGHT ATTACK.

"TTY yards away Q canoe stopped
L. and hovered moticnless. A hg-
rre stood up In It and stared
l. down toward the island. For
perhaps i've minutes the craft
lowered there. Then 1t slowly backed
away, blurred to. nothingneA. disap-
Spying out our .oamp!" curt
breathed to himself.
Gradually the pink glow faded from
the mountain peaks. A big cloud hove
in sight over the eastern range. Curt
watched It anxously, afraid 1t would
come on west and blot out the moon
ana plunge the lake into darkness Just
when he and Paul might have to beat
OF an attack.
Moccasined footsteps came UP the
west landwash. Paul, he thought. A
moving blur shaped itself to q human
figure. Then he saw 1t was not Paul.
L A dozen steps away the f1gure stop
ped, looked around for him.
"Sonya," he called quietly.
She came on to the little barricade.
els one allowed to talk to the guard?''
she asked whimsically. She crouched
down with him. Il brought you one of
my blankets and q tin cup Of coffee.
I raked enough sand on the tire to heat
this, but didn't expose the Goals"
Curt squeezed her hand. "It was
sweet Of you-all the trouble, dear. But
you'd better take the blanket. This
mountain air gets chilly when . person
isn't moving around" He put the
blanket around her shoulders.
Thanks, Curt. The air does have q
bite in It,"
She did not free her hand or object
to his endearing word. Her nearness
and that shock Of golden-brown hair
SO close to his shoulder almost robbed
him Of his restraint
"Tired?" he asked gently.
"A little"
He put his arm around her and made
her snuggle against him. Isn't that
better. dear?"
"Lots, Curtl" But then she caught
herself up and admitted more cautiously,
"T mean-lots better than the cold
rocks"
His lips touched her hair, her fore
head. "Sonya, look up at me-"
Don't, Curt-please-"a whisper
Of protest from her as he sought her
lips. She would not allow him. Dear.
YOU must not" She reached up her
hand and touched his hair, running
her fingers over it. "Curt, you've been
so good, you're so unselfish and generous
I'D hate myself If caused you any
pain"
"Pain-to me9 Why. sonya. you
couldn't do that!"
but could! You'll want me-you
do even now, Curt-to be more than .
friend, and I don't-cant- Oh. I
wish we could continue to be Just the
good friends we have been"
Curt started little. Cant" he
repeated. do you mean that we-that
I can't be more than friend?"
please, Curt, I'd rather not tax
about it."
you've never told me anything at
all about yourself. I don't even know
your name, your real name.
"Or where you come from, or where
you're going when this trips ended. Is
that fair, Sonya?"
"It's grossly unfair. I've treated you
unfairly all along, Curt. But I can't
help myself. When this trip Is over,
maybe then I can afford to be honest.
I don't blame you for asking questions.
but {. . think I'll 60 back to the rocks
down there"
please don't" Curt begged.
She leaned her tired head back
against his shoulder, but Curt felt she
was far away from him, alone with her
own thoughts. He seemed shut out by
a granite wall Of aloofness. For days
he had been vaguely aware OF some
barrier between them; now he felt 1t
forcibly and unmistakably. Can't
had she really meant that portentous
little word?
Moccasined footsteps again. quick
fHA
Sonya hastily freed herself and drew
apart from Curt.
Here, Paul"
The young Canadian came up to
them. "a party just landed on the
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. think they are carrying
two men apiece. One turned broadside
to the moons reflection and saw 1t
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 q few moments
thought, he directed: "You 60 back to
your post, Paul. If they start across
try to stop 'em by shooting over their
heads. II they Keep coming on flcocnet
your buleets through their canoes. I'll
stay here and watch for others. They
may be planning to box us from two
sides. If 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:
It'd better take you back to the bould-
ers, Sonya. It's safer there. Well likely
have some swift work for q minute or
two"
I'D rather stay here, If you'll let me.
I can help, too, If it comes to real
fight"
Her hand crept inside her blouse and
came out with some black metallic
object. Curt saw it was q small auto
matte, a little purse-size thing, but
nevertheless an effective weapon for
close work. Once on q portage when he
had lifted her down from pile Of wind