Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-01-25

SO long had broken at last. There
could be no truce, no compromise
Lie was reduced to its first form
XIII or be killed, the brute battle Il
survive.
What now, EricY' Horton asked.
III looks to me like a fight to the
finish. now"
y we're only four men against
seYen-one of 'em Sandomar. How
are we going to even up those odds?'
Eric glanced to Nan. then to Mother
horton and Marie. At the last and
the worst, all three would strive like
the women Of the covered wagons on
the plains. Nan was dead white, but
her eyes burned. Mother Horton
looked cold and deadly; Marie's black
brows were knitted.
There are seven of us, too" Eric
said.
Gould we get any of their crowd
to come over to ours?' Horton asked
I'll promise EN- anything
Not a chance. They've all turned
brute. The island did part of 1t, San
domar the rest. Remember that
Gooky and Big Smith were both In
that slaughter on the yacht-and
they'll give or ask no quarter. Little
Smith will stick by his brother !;
Petroff is a fanatic nihilist. Sydney
Bill Is the most decent of the lot.
Don't count on Sydney BILL" VII
cox said quietly. He wants Marie;
and he'll kill to get her."
How about trying to get away In
kayaks?" Roy asked. "The way that
little shell of yours weathered the
Storm
Eric shook his head. you know
what happened to Chechaquo's tribes
men. good paddlers every one, when
they We're blown from Ignak harbor
onto the shoals. Kayaks are fine In
deep water. but no good in the rocks.
think we'd stand a better chance
lighting. II we can kill Sandomar and
Cargo, we may bluff out the rest And
there's one little chance"
He paused. afraid to give words to
the feeble hope. But Nan swayed
forward, her fevered eyes gazing Into
his, and whispered what was In both
their hearts.
The Aleuts might help us |"
In the startled silence. Roy grunt-
ed disbelief. They'd be more likely
to help Sandomar. He's more their
kind; and his whole gang has made
pals Of EN- while we've been bosslnK
them around"
Its a chance, Just the same" Eric
persisted. mo one ever knows what
an Aleut Is thinking"
His words were drowned out by a
dull thud In front OF the house. AS
they listened, riveted In their tracks.
the sound was repeated, and some
thing bombed and shook the door.
Mans quick mind was the first to
guess the truth.
They're locking us fni'
-
Eric sprang toward the threshold.
then stopped, baffled. Plainly Sando-
mar and his crew had put their shout
ders to one Of the immense volcanic
rocks strewn on the ridge and had
rolled 1t to the door. Yet probably the
situation was nc more desperate than
before. The prisoners could break out
at any moment through the wall In
the meantime there was no place for
them to go.
what do those men mean to DOR
Nan asked, wide-eyed.
u s'pose they want to keep us
rounded up till they're ready for u.s.
But Eric concealed what he deemed
their main purpose While one or
two OF their pack guarded the Dris-
oners. the other could haul up the
boats and seize the paddles. There
would be ne flight to sea, but war to
the last ditch. Well, II was better 10.
Sandomar was strong. but the sea
currents were stronger. The stones
hurled were not so dangerous al
the billow-swept rocks of the shoals.
Presently they heard a familiar
voice through the window. asEar.
you r.
Eric crept close to the wall. care
ful not to cast his shadow ON the
oiled pelt that acted as a glass pane.
"Wha do you wantTs There was
naught but defiance In his tone.
Il want to talk to orion, not Won
Wen talk to you later-on the beach
I'm ere to give I'm till sunup to meet
our terms"
what are your terms?s 2, Horton
spoke huskily.
Turn over Ericsson and the two
gals to us. We don't promise what
ven do to 'im-we've got plenty for
% pay 'em back, but the gals won't
AXE no special arm. Sandy and neil
Keep one, Sydney Bill the other. The
est OF you can live ere in peace"
"And II we refuse?r
'You won't. You've got too much
'ense. II you don't and 'em over by
'nn-up, we're coming In through the
'oof to get 'em, and wen let a few
'ocks come first to pave the way"
They heard the ratty little man snip-
ter In the darkness.
There was only a moments walt.