The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-03
GODDESS


eyes. "Listen!"
Grahame leaned over him. The
words came slowly. twisted, as IL
they were strangled before they
passed his lips. Grahame stored the
broken sequence of words and made
no attempt to prompt or question
the man.
His name was McGrath, he said.
He was from Hollywood and had
come to Yucatan ION location"
Other people were to follow him.
He hopet' they would not, and
thought that they could not since
OFtega. his guide, no doubt had
been captured when they were fred
upon from ambush three days be-
fore. without ortega they would
not know where he, McGrath, had
gone.
Who did it? Indians. McGrath
thought. He saw one while he lay
by the trails side. He thought Or
tega had been captured because he
had heard his voice talking with
the others. But he couldn't be sure.
He'd been nearly unconscious: they
had taken him for dead.
They went through my pockets. I"
whispered MeGrath, Then they
threw me into the brush like !.
like a hunk of meat!"
my gun had fallen in a swamp.
remembered, that and fished it out
when | came to. They had gone"
Juan crashed through the brush
and crouched, painting. b esd e
Grahame.
"Senor!" He spoke swiftly. They
come! | went back to watch and
heard them. They are just behind
mel"
Good boy" bFeathed .Grahame.
a LMOST with one gesture he emp
"A tied the pan of water upon the
smouldering fire. and heaped dirt
over the steaming embers. He
glanced toward the trail and was
satisfied that they were sufficiently
screened from the company OF men
which would pass within the next
few minutes. Already he could hear
their vague shuffiing trail noises.
It was late afternoon. Grahame
blessed the luck that had given
them this emergency when shadows
were deep. Any tell-tale sign they
may have left h d good chances Of
being overlooked in that deceptive
haze OF pre-dusk.
He saw white moving through the
screen Of brush and trees: then they
were abreast Of him. Almost he held
his breath. On the other side of the
wounded man, Juan lay. Studiously
the boy kept his eyes fastened upon
the moving feet that padded the
trail so few yards away.
Grahdme smiled It Is said that
jungle-wise folk can feel eyes upon
them. ana Juan was taking no
chances. McGrath's breathing too.
seemed quieter.
Mosquitoes and gnats whined at
the sweat on Grahame's face. He
ached to brush them away-to grind
his palms against the skin that
twitched in protest against the pun
ishment It was taking.
The column Of figures that passed
them seemed to be without end. He
saw patches Of white drifting by
the ammunition cases upon the
backs of men. Once the line halted.
His hands frightened over the stock
OF his rifle. There was a faint call
from ahead and the fragments Of
white moved again.
Then suddenly the last figure
passed. Still Grahame and the boy
lay immobile. All sound ceased. For
minutes the American remained
without movement, then slowly he
began to draw one leg forward, pre-.
pairing to rise. He felt Juan's hand
grip his ankle. Again he relaxed.
He heard his wrist watch ticking
q yard from his ear. Then came q
soft sound from the trail,-the
breathing Of men. 1t sounded as
close as II he were locked in a closed
room with several sleepers. He saw
nothing although his eyes ached
from the intentness or his gaze.
Then a shadow drifted by between
him and the traits edge. and van
ished.
Il seemed hours later when some
where OF to the LEFT sounded the
call OF q brush turkey. A small ami
nal aarted into the tangle ahead OF
him. moving too swiftly to be iden.
titled. Again the turkey called.
nearer this time. Juan arose.
Wings fluttered in the branches
about as IL his movement had dis
turbed them.
at is all right now" said the boy.
1T was very curious that no birds
moved or called after the main com.
pany passed. knew then that 9TH
ers followed to protect the rear"
He drew Q breath deeply. I'VE were
very lucky" he concluded.
That's right" said Grahame
simply. He turned and looked at
McGrath. "McGrath!" he called
sharply.
kcs.I. anaa Il