The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-02-19
Chapter 33 ESCAPE PLAN

ESCAPE PLAN
 DRANK scanned the message quickly, new hope rising tumul. tuously in his breast. He awakened his companion. Ill a low voice he read the note aloud, translating roughly in to English.
 "Get this Greene: Very estimable sir, and my friend: the talk within the city is that you and another man and a lady are to be sacrificed to Yum-Chac at the pyramid top to. morrow in the morning. It is with little hope l write you, but l have secured the extra pistol and some cartridges from our packs which were in the adkins dwelling place.
 CT did not go to the coast, for which please excuse me. followed you to the small ruin where you slept. watched you go into the city and return with the other man and the beautiful lady
 q heard the young rascal, Thought it was a lizard" There was tight ness in his throat as he chuckled 1t Juans naive compliment to Janice 5 beauty.
 "He says also, I saw these suble- vados capture you. Excuse me for being of no help. hoped to come into the city and make effective your release later. This l cannot do as your prison is very well guarded.
 "'There is an aeroplane in the central plaza. There are boxes of gasoline nearby. This knowledge may De of use to you.
 "'After you read this, throw the stone out to me and will tie to it two pistols. Juan Piedra.'
 Who's Juan Piedra?" asked Greene.
 Franks voice was soft. "A very courageous and loyal young man. A Mexican lad who came with me from the coast"
 There was moisture in Franks eyes as he tossed the stone through the window opening.
 ''It's a chance in a thousand" he commented as he drew the cord, heavy with the pistols through the bars. Thank God for Juan :. the young idiot. Perhaps, tomorrow. we may make a break, and shoot our way to the ship.
 If we could do that, and stand them off long enough to gas the bus and warm the engine, we might get away. Langton's message on the wall said his landing was okay, so the crates in good shape anyway. What luck that there's gas. They probably brought it from Merida. Wonder if it's high test?" l Greene asked, Was this Juan the ace you had I'D your sleeve when you threatened Ortega that you'd get him if he didn't get Janice out of this?"
 Frank shook lis head. Sorry if l raised your hopes on that one. was bluffing. l just had some idea that I might seal a message and send it out like Billy Langton did. But as soon as I said it I knew it would be practically impossible. Even if got hold of a bottle and could seal 1t, chances would all be against any ones finding it as they did Billy's."
 He talked swiftly. formulating plan after plan, discarding some as too hopelessly impractical, accept ing others as secondary ones, in case the break for the airplane was i'm possible.
 "DEST talk it all over." he said, "so D we can act upon whatever seems best at the time. At the very worst we die. Get that guy Ortega, Greene, if it's the last thing you do."
 Don't worry" replied Greene "Pd like to interfere with that ob1-;p hin, bo fo0p
 Here see if you can lift me up to the window" Hope gave him strength that had not been his when he attempted to climb that after noon. Clinging to the bars with his sound arm, he called softly.
 "Senor!" Juan's voice came from under the window.
 "Is the airplane guarded?"
 "No, senor.'
 Do you think you could go there and pour one or two cases into the tank? You will find the tank-cap in the hood just back of the engine. Put two or three more cases in the cock. pit as far back as you can" T will try. senor."