The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-03-01
Chapter 42 THE START


 "VXTITH luck" repeated Langton W q can be back here and gel you out. With a ship 1 could fly from the coast to here in twenty minutes"
 Frank smiled remotely. Turning on his heel he walked back to the shack. His movements thereafter were methodical.
 He brought out the balsa-wood jacket, and for the time being. sci it aside. He brought out two coco nut shells. split and put together again and sealed with pitch.
 Within them was quantity ol dried meat. matches. and he smiled at the apparent incongruity of 1.-the matted pad of his book oi travellers checks. They could be used at the coast--if ever he got there.
 The two coconut shells he slipped into bit of fiber netting he had made for them This arrangement could be tied to the jacket float.
 He put on the crude device that was to keep him afioat-with luck for the eight or ten hours he would be swept through the unknown cav ern. Although the morning was not warm beads of precipitation gath cred npon his face.
 It was with T straining effort Of will that he banished thoughts ot the accidents that might happen to him in the darkness.
 Would the river be like the sur face ones? Would there be water falls, rapids. or jagged submerged rocks to ear at him as he passed Might not eddies sweep him into blind pockets ere he would thrash his way about until exhaus- tion claimed him?
 He walked down the trail to the streams edge. Langton, straining at the tying of the last timbers of the raft. looked up startled. Janice. coils of fiber in her hands. ap. preached from upstream. Puzzled. she looked at the crude girth of the balsa wood racket.
 She said in a curious voice, Prank. what is that? What do you intend? :"
 Nothing doing. Frank that s my job." said Langton quietly.
 Franks voice as he replied was level and brittle.
 Nothing you can say--or do, for that matter-will alter the plan. Billy. This is just a job can do better than you can under the cir cumstances. We'll say no more about it!"
 Janice made gesture of appeal to Langton. Her face was pale be meath it's tanned silkiness. What is it Billy? What is he going to do?"
 Hes going to float down the cav. ern to the sea and get help. If a pop bottle made 1t. so can he, he thinks"
 The girl put the palm of her hand to her mouth. Her eyes widened. The coils of fiber over her slim shoulder fell to the ground.
 Mol" she whispered. "Oh, no please!"
 Frank stepped into the water. His face was set. Billy" he began, turn. ing to his friend. before 1 start, have few suggestions"
 JANICE splashed into the water o beside him. Her hands caught him by the shoulders and she pulled at him until he faced her.
 You're not going!" she ex. claimed breathlessly. You can't! You shouldn't" She tugged at him with little desperate jerks.
 Either Billy or l must. Please Janice. Billy will explain. We haven't much time now. since the rain. I've"
 You mustn't either you ol Billy. What do you think l am What do you think I'd be If I Tel you? :" Her voice broke on 6 little note of hysteria. "The raft is nearly ready. We'll all go together Why should one of us take risks fol the others? The raft will support us all-"
 Gently Frank put up his arms and disengaged the girls hands iron his shoulders. He turned his fact toward Langlon.
 Bill. 1t would be good idea, think, to make more of these jack cts to wear on the raft when th, water rises. Provide yourself witt a stout rope and a rock for an an chor. And a long rope with a ston, to throw to the bank. You nigh get close enough and high enougl to reach the cliff tops. I'll be back I,ll ha oll riphf-"