The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1934-01-16
Chapter IS
DANGEROUS PLAN

CURT stepped back. livid with
anger. "You irresponsible baby,
IL you do a trick like that aagin. I'll
hogtie you hand and foot and gag
you! If you had to have a cigarette.
why in hell couldn't you have hid
your match? I've warned you twice
now: the third time I'm going to try
something stronge.."
He joined Paul and Tenn-Og
again. and they slipped on down the
shore. A pistol shot from the camp
they crept out on shelving rock
where they had a good view.
A single candle shone in the cabin
Beyond it at the lean-to's glowed the
red Goals of fire. Everything else
about the place was dark and quiet
Paul motioned at the camp. mo.
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 bringing 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 said
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 t h 2
camp and tear up along the land
wash, barking. A little later they
noticed a stir and hustle at the lean
to's. Figures passed in front of the
fire. somebody quieted the dogs. the
cabin door opened and an Indian
was framed for a moment in the
shaft of light.
Somebody's come in" Curt told
Paul. ut 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 go. He was Kloso
hee; the dogs would pay no atten
ton 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 river and wondered how near
Sonya was.
IRON 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 a daring and superbly man
aged 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 1t unerring-
ly. Where he himself had counted
on having to search for weeks or
even months to locate the Cossack,
she had achieved 1t neatly and swift
ly. with three pages of paper: and
Karakhan had actually sent his
man to fetch her!
In half an hour Tenn-Og reap.
peared beside them. as silently as
he had gone. He had crept in be-
meath the cabin window and listened
to the report which three runners
had brought Karakhan:
The main band. on their way
north, had caught Up with Sonya's
party. were bringing her with them
and would reach the lake abou,
dawn.
The news jolted Curt. He dared
not make a move till Sonya came
but when she did come the main
band wouldSbe there also. To gel
her back with him again and to
capture Karakhan 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 LeNoir would be
leading them. and the presence o.
white strangers in the very heart Of
their country would stir them to s
high pitch. The prospect OF fighI
with them, a showdown fight. daunt