Evening star., 1933-12-31
CHAPTER XIV.
DANGEROUS PLAN.

)URT stepped back, livid with
anger. You irresponsible baby,
u If you &C do a trick IKE that t
foot and gag you! If you had
to have cigarette, why couldn't
you have hid your match? I've warned
you twice now; the third time I'm going
to try something stronger"
He Joined Paul and Tenn-Og again,
and they slipped on down the shore. A
pistol shot from the camp they crept
out on a shelving rock where they had
good view.
A single candle shone in the cabin.
Beyond it at the lean-tos glowed the
red Goals of a fire. Everything else
about the place was dark and quiet.
Paul motioned at the camp. NO
body'S there but Karakhan and his
four men. Sonya hasn't come yet"
Curt nodded. Yes, thank God, he
had got there in time. In spite of
their attempt to get Ralph out they
had providentially reached the lake
ahead of her.
To start trouble before Sonya came
would be gambling with her safety. If
one of those four men should break
away and take word to the party bring
ing her, that party would not come on
and she would never reach the lake at
all. She would be left in the power of
LIE Noir-and Siam-Klale. He had to
hold off till she came. Tenn-Og caid
there were only three men with her;
and three more would not stiffen the
fight too much.
Not long after they had crept out
on the rock, they heard the pack of
honey -colored huskieS leave the camp
and tear up along the landwash, bark
ing. little later they noticed a stir
and hustle at the lean-tos. Figures
passed in front of the fire, somebody
Quieted the dogs the cabin door opened
and an Indian vas framed for mo-
ment in the shaft of light.
Somebody's come in," Curt told
Paul 1T can't be Sonya and her
party: she'd have gone inside the cabin
and we'd have seen her. Let's slip
closer and find out who it is"
Tenn-Og objected. The huskies would
be sure to catch the white-man scent
and stir up commotion. He himself
would Co. He was Klosohee; the dogs
would pay no attention to him.
Curt agreed, and Tenn-Og left.
As they watched the campfire and
waited for him, Curt looked south in
thought across those leagues of dark
was.
From the references to Victoria in
her letter. he knew that she had used
her acquaintance with Karakhan to
play on the Russians weak point and
that her letter had been daring and
Superbly managed coup to find out
exactly where he was.
Where Baldwin and the whole Silent
Squad had failed to trace Karakhan,
she had picked up the mans trail and
followed it unerringly. Where he HIM
self had counted on having to search
for weeks or even months to locate the
CosSack, she had achieved it neatly and
swiftly, with three pages OF paper; and
Karakhan had actually sent his man
to fetch her!
In half an hour Tenn-Og reappeared
beside them. as silently as he had gone
He had crept in beneath the cabin
window and listened to the report which
three runners had brought Karakhan:
The main band. en- their way north,
had caught up with Sonya'S party, were
bringing her with them, and would
reach the lake about dawn.
The news iolted Curt. He dared
not make a move till Sonya came, but
when she did come the main band
would be there also. To get her back
with him again and to capture Karak-
han he would have to fight that whole
party.
In low tones he and Paul talked
their predicament over. There would
be at least two dozen Of the men;
Siam-Klale and LIE Noir would be lead
ing them, and the presence Of white
strangers in the very heart Of their
country would stir them to high pitch.
The prospect of fight with them, a
showdown fight. oaunted both him and
Paul: but there was no getting out OF
it now
They decided to find some good am
bush above the cabin, where they could
sweep the camp with their rifles. Iney
would have the advantage OF surprise;
and that would help considerably. Paul
was to have the first two shots-at