The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-02-23
Chapter 37
 EXPLORATION

k hA-Nh tHouSu Ol IeCOHHOlIeTlnS their position but decided against {. It would leave Janice unprotected and at night he would discover but little of value.
 Unprotected, He smiled grimly. His joints ached, the wound in his pack pained him. He was compara- lively weaponless. There was not much protection he would be able to offer Janice.
 His eyelids dropped He arose and began to walk about the fire. But his limbs were leaden. Weariness forced him to lie upon the ground. His head sank lower. Sleep fell upon him with the speed of a dropping hawk.
 A thudding upon the ground woke him. He lay moment adjusting his mind to his surroundings. Overhead, in the turquoise sky of dawn, a vul- ture lowered. It drifted beyond his sight Through the arched fronds of leaning palm trees he saw the iungle-clad lip of low cliff. Its face arched back and under.
 Beneath it was a low mound of debris, topped with shrubbery. h. stantly he knew that it was upon this mound that Janice and he had fallen. This was verified as he noted the break in the vegetation at the cliffs edge where the old Maya road had abruptly terminated in space.
 The thudding recommenced-a vi bration upon the ground that was transmitted to his ear.
 Swiftly he arose to his feet. and glanced about him. The fire was dull embers in white ashes. Janice was not in sight. He parted his lips to call when he caught sight of her within the palm grove. With the machete she was pounding at an ob- ject upon a rock.
 As he approached she looked up with smile.
 Breakfast, maybe" she told him. These cocoanuts are like leather. And not at all like the kind we have at home"
 Frank chuekled. "The greatest wonder" he informed her, lis that you recognized them for cocoanuts. Here, let me have the knife. The one you're working on is rather old I'll get some good ones."
 LIE LAUGHED at her crestfallen II face. Swapping the machete to his waist he approached one of the smaller trees.
 q haven't skinned since was kid but .. watch me-"
 He made the ascent. Reaching the lower leaves, he hacked at a cluster of green nuts. He called to Janice to watch out.
 The nuts thudded to the ground. He slid down.
 Chopping at the green fiber, soon he had two of the nuts open at the top. He passed one to Janice.
 Here's how" he grinned. Drink all you can, and scoop out the pulp with your fingers. Fingers were made before spoons, you know"
 But not mine" she answered with a little mock grimace.
 It was little enough for breakfast. but it must serve. They tossed away the emptied husks and stood look ing at each other She seemed to sense the trouble in his eyes. I'm pulsively she put forward her hand and rested it upon his sleeve.
 Never mind," she said. wen get out somehow"
 "Of course" he answered with forced cheerfulness. But the memory of Greens and Juans sacrifice for them lay like a pail upon him. In that instant he took oath with him. self that their heroic act would not have been in vain. He would, some how, get Janice out of this.
 Lets take a look around" he suggested. "We can't get back the way we came, 90 let's continue on in the direction of the broken road. I think l saw another cliff a few hundred yards across this little val ley.
 Perhaps we can climb up to there and continue on the road. Consider ing the direction of the sun, the road runs roughly east and west. Might be able to follow it to the sea-" HE RECOVERED his coat from II the side of the fire and they began to work their way toward the spot where another cliff, similar to