The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-12

The news Slartleu Curt.
 "Only four canoes?" he asked.
 "Only fcur l think they are carry ing two men apiece. One turned broadside to the moon reflection and I saw. it dis..rctly. 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 off without much trouble" After few moments thought, he directed: "You go back to your post, Paul If they start across, try to stop 'em by shooting over their heads. If they keep coming on, ricochet your bull lets 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 oD,y 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. We'll likely have some swift work for minute or two"
 'Id rather stay here, if you'll let me. can help, too, If it comes to 8 real fight"
 Her hand crept inside her blouse, and came out with some black metallic object. Curt saw it was a small automatic, little purse-size thing, but nevertheless an effective weapon for close work Once on a portage when he had lifted her down from a pile of windfal, he had felt something hard beneath her blouse. It must have been thls same gun. She must carry it with her all the time now.
 nN THE willow island he saw O nothing, heard nothing. 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 1t was only a little distance from the moon. But a strong up-current from the valley had seized it and it lowered uncertainty, sending out feathery wisps this way and that.
 Down toward the camp batter ing noise suddenly arose. It sounded as though the tents and canoes were being pelted with small stones.
 Sonya touched his arn;. 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!"
 q didn't know they'd do it. but 1 suspected they might, so I played safe"
 The batter of arrows kept up for two or three minutes. then stopped.
 Maybe they think they killed us 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 dowr to Paul. using the Jargon so that the Klosohees would understand:
 Are the mosquitoes bad there with you, friend? It seems to me that a whole flock of them are bug zing out of those willows yonder."
 Paul took the hint and answered. with a scornful laugh: They are bad. yes; but their buzzing does not annoy me much. They are nothing for man to worr- about"
 At the two voices, the Klosohees let loose a storm of darts. The at- tack would have worn itself out if the two guides had obeyed orders. But Francois 1ab- bered something in excited voice to Jocku. An instan. later their heavy bear" Winchesters split the silence with blaring kroom.
 Over on the island man cried out, the long-drawn cry of man hard hit.
 Curt sprang tt his feet. You damned crazy looms! -stop that or I'll come down there and shoot youl"
 They did break off. then. He ! thought his threat had stopped them, but he found out later that Paul had sprung back to the rock nest md disarmed them at the point of his gun
 About twenty minutes afterward Paul came walking up the land- wash.
 "Gone?' Curt asked.
 "Yes. They're over on the main and by now"
 The good news left Curt cold. The 'razy bang-banging of those two .nwardly breeds had exploded his st hope of making friends with hat band
 f4I .I I-l i
 ToT-o'row Curt cares for badly