Evening star., 1933-12-31
IL I,.FORBIDDEN VALLEY
a. S4 uJilGmm BYsom rovs4

Siam-Klale and lie Noir. With his
deadly craftsmanship he would proba-
bly, get them both before the fight really
began. If he did, it would be half the
battle.
There's one thing" Curt added,
"that I'm going to guard against now.
When the rifle talk starts, Karakhan Is
dead sure to make a break for the
hangar, to get into his plane and get
away I'm going TO swim down to that
hangar and put his plane out Of COM
mission. Then we'll have him"
He stripped off his clothes, slipped
into the water, headed out into the
lake a short distance, and circled in
toward the hangar. He intended to
disable the plane by removing the dog
from the timer box. Karakhan would
never get splutter out Of the engine,
but the ship would not be injured in
the least. BY keeping the dog he would
have plane himself, to take Sonya
and the others out. Maybe two planes,
if Karakhan's plane had gas enough
to divide.
Twenty strokes from the hangar he
suddenly heard low cultural voices
ahead. 1t stopped him short, just in
time. In the darkness he could see
the outlines of the building. but could
they were near the plane shed.
What were they doing there? Just
a casual meeting and chat? For 10
minutes he treaded water and listened,
thinking they would go away. But
they stayed where they were.
Submerging himself, he swan closer,
came up very cautiously, and raised his
eyes above the surface Of the water
He was near enough then to see the
men. There were two of them. They
we're sitting on the ends Of the catwalk,
one on each side Of the hangar en-
trance
He'll" he swore. "Guards-watch-
ing the planet" Reluctantly he backed
away and returned to the shelving rock
1T doesn't matter" Paul assured
him. He can't get five steps from
the cabin. If he makes a break, so
much the better--itll merely save US
the trouble of taking him out Of this
country"
They hurried back to the cove, ate
a bit of food from the emergency
rations in the plane. and cleaned their
guns carefully. Before leaving, Curt
gave Smash his final orders.
you're to stay here with the plane
and keep under cover. Now here's what
1 want you to do. If anything happens
to uS-and 1 want you to wait till you're
absolutely sure we're out of the picture
you hop into the plane and get as far
from here as the gas'll take you. Head
for Fort Nelson on the Lard; it's nearer
than Juneau or Russian Lake.
When the gas runs out and you
have to come down, get out the can
vas canoe and try to make Fort Nelson,
If you get to Nelson, borrow motor
he
Signal Corps station at Providence. and
wireless AK. Tell him it was my re-
quest that he should send big patrol
in here and try to find Sonya VolkoV."
Circling up slope through the heavy
timber they headed for a cave which
Tenn-Og had mentioned and which
Curt thought might be good place
for an ambush.
The Indians familiarity with the
slope was amazing. Eight hundred
yards above the camp he turned and
led them down toward the cabin till
they came out on top Of high lime
stone cliff
without hesitating. even in the in
tense dark. the Indian took them
down through dangerous fSsure. At
the foot Of the cliff he turned left. led
them a dozen steps along game trail,
ana stopped dl tIe Wlue, DldCh HIOuIh
of cave.
Curt started to enter and look
around. but Tenn-Og seized his arm
and jerked him forcibly back. Very
bad place." he warned. in stumbling
jargon. You fall. fall down deep,
no man ever see you any more. take
you in Stay behind me, put hand on
my shoulder"
About 10 steps inside. the Indian
stopped. With no danger of a light
being seen. Curt struck double match.
Just in front of them yawned a black
chasm. only Is feet wide, but appar-
emily bottomless. Across it stretched
two logs. 6-inch pines. From some
where down in the chasn came the
gushing of water. a good-sized under
ground stream.
Tomorrow. Sonya arrives on her