The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-01-30
GODDESS
by Herberf Jensen

Raoul, a haciendado whose planta- tion was some distance along the coast. was leaving that day. Agree ably he found a man to take Grahame's baggage down to the wharf and make arrangements for the voyage.
 Ortega did not look like plarta- ton owner. Haciendados kept up the traditions of the !ndolent gentle men land-owners,-men whose air was that of being aloof from the peonage, and whose hands were soft.
 Since their discussion of his name Ortega had showed almost an i'm pertinent curiosity regarding his passenger. Moreover he had disre- garded Franks avoidance of his in- quiries.- Aside from the obvious bad taste of what Grahame considered Ortega's mpertinences the man seemed to be inscnsible to the fact that on the outposts of any country mans motives were his own. There is an unwritten law that a mans identity shall not be inquired into. nor condolences sought. Inquisi- tiveness sometimes had a penalty that carried sting with it. Rut still he nersisted
 But you cannot want to be left on little island of the coast. That island scarcely supports a few fish. ing families"
 Grahame remained silent.
 "The jungle, behind the coast at that spot is uninhabited. and dan gerous."
 Grahame tossed his cigaret over. side "Yet. Don Raoul. you have a plantation whereabouts" answered Grahame.
 "Yes," said Ortega. He watched the American closely "i am famil. far there. It is not dangerous for me"
 The other shrugged his shoulders. Then why should it be dangerous for me? can take care of myseif.'
 "Ah -" The Mexican looked ex' pressionlessly at Grahame. Tt is possible, then, that you seek a dan, 1 gerous place. for reasons of youI own, where someone could not fol low?"
 Perhaps" replied Grahame in differently.
 THEY ate just before dusk. the l inevitable beans and rice. with slabs of a delicious mackeral-like fish one of the crew had hauled aboard from a .roll.ine. Grahame spread his blanket in the bow of the launch and rolled himself with. in it. Ortega seated himself in the cockpit with the two that composed the crew and the American could hear their voices above the ehug of the engine, talking between them selves.
 Drowsily he wondered why they had set out no running lights but decided that the tr.ffic in that part of the coast warranted no such pro- lection.
 He wondered about that point again the next day. They had been sailing within quarter of mile of the coast when Ortega pointed astern. The crew followed his ges- ture with their gaze, and Grahame noticed smudge of smoke over the distant horizon.
 Immediately the helm was put oyer and the launch headed for the beach and a point where the surf diminished. There were no orders given, but one oi tEe men went be. 1 low and the exhaust of the engine immediately picked up. As they approached the shore Grahanfe noted that the beach swept back into the opening of lagoon Within a few minutes the launch passed through .he narrow straits and onto the placid waters of la goon that stretched back paraileling the beach. Mangrcves hid the launch from the sea. They stopped the en zine and threw over the anchor.
 Grahame was curious. The three men seemed perturbe ed and watched the smoke come closer un til the steamer unquestionbly be came. outlined as an. old-time gun boat blowing along at no great speed two miles eff shore. Grahame be lieved he could make out the flag il flew as Mexican He asked Ortega l about this.
 "A gunboat surely" he replied Mexican" ag
 And we avoid it?' Ortega shrugged. One could mol tell, he explained, what the military might do. They had so little to dc that they might stop them and search the launch. It was often done It was a bother and great annoy ance, so 1t was better to avoid the meeting.
 .But even if they searched you what could they find?" Juan, the younger member of the crew laughed. and Ortega's fact
 wrinkled with a sort of subduet mirth.
 "They would find occupation. per haps."