Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-11-30

as can, and / may scare out the
rest. Under no circumstances are you
to run the risk until I go down."
Never fear for that Mother Hor-
ton said. 1--WE know where our
breads buttered."
How about trying to line up the
Aleuts?" Nan asked.
ut can't be done on such short no
tice, If at all. | know 'em, they'll Just
stand and stare. II they took pat
at all 1t would be on Sandomar's side.n
The silence fell again. At last Nan
turned quietly to Roy. "What are you
going to do7"
I'm going to do the mtIonal thing,
try to get away in the boat and save
your life" Roy answered calmly. ITO
stay here and fight would be a ges7
ture, an empty piece of folly, that.
thank God, makes nj appeal to me-"
How about Eric7 Is 1t 4 piece of
folly for him, too?"
ITS his own funeral This is hfs
show. first to last, and he apparently
enjoys 1t. His way Is not my way.
And when he gets himself killed on,
I'd favor our turning back to the
Island In the dawn, when the mems
heads are cool, and making terms with
them"
A shadow that might have been
terror swept across Eric's face. Hh
arms rose, then fell to his side. Nan,
will you make me q promiseF' ne
asked tensely.
what is itf'
"Will you swear that IL Sandomar
wins and you have to go, that you'll
never turn back7 That no matter
what happens, storm or hunger OK
thirst, you won't let Roy bring you
back7 That you'll jump overboard
first7H
The fading light showed Mans couH-
tenance calm and strong, her long
eyes bright with tears. Il promise,
Eric"
And I'll stand by her." Mother Hor-
ton said. IF they return, 1t will be
over my dead body"
Eric could only nod his thanks.
'sThen all OF you buck up and get
busy. Don't show any fear-act the
same as always-only be ready. And
| think wen all come through all
right
The group broke up and sauntered
back to the cooking fire. 1t was only
a moment later that Sandomar and his
henchmen came tramping over the
bluff, their figures dark and ominous
against the twilight sky.
Eric had given orders for the satisfy
OF passengers and crew from now on,
he alone must plot the course and
turn the wheel. Coo1-headed seaman
ship would be needed tonight. Why
shouldn't he push the quarrel himself,
Perhaps 1t was the best, the only way
out to hesitate might be a fatal mis-
take. But Eric could not drive him
self SO far. Strong arguments ar
rayed themselves adverse. In the first
place, the gun might misfre again:
he had little real confidence In the old,
corroded rim-fire shell In the cham
Der. His one cartridge spent, he would
hold In his hand naught but an empty
tube of steel set In a stick. On the
contrary, a cold strong blur might
save him and his powder, too.
III he we're forced to shoot, who
would be his victim7 1t was not az
simple a question as II seemed. IL
the tiger dropped, the jackal might
20 mad. rushing tn with that awful
frenzy of little, cowardly things. It
would seem wise to destroy Cargo,
and thus crush Sandomar beneath a
wall OF silence. Yet again Eric's In
stincts triumphed. Sandomar WAS his
own and Mans arch enemy: IL Eric
must fall, the ju~ngle-beast must lie
beside him.
1t would not be long now. The gulls
were wailing the days departure: the
sea was one purple shadow blending
into dusk. Horton rose, spoke In I'M
steady tones OF being tired, and with
the three women, left the freight.
Sandomar watched hungrily until they
vanished In the shadows, but he made
no attempt to follow, doubtless con-
soled by the thought that, when he
needed them, he would find them In
their turfhouse. Evidently he had
no suspicion of the real truth.
A half hour passed. Sandomar's
men shifted uneasify. appearing and
disappearing through the ring Of Are
light. Presently Eric beckoned Roy
up beside him.
"You can't help me here" he muir
INJURED. 'Take a circle around and see
how they're coming on with tho boat.
Before You go. caution Wilcox to be
ready to duck as soon as the fireworks
| begin. IT may be any minute now
Presently he and Wilcox were left
| alone with his enemies-unless he
counted DeValera as a friend. The
sQuaws, including F1reheart, drifted
on a few at a time. Finally only
| Chechaquo and three or four Of the
| hunters crouched In the shadows.
@Chechaquo, IL I get In a fight will