The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-10

loves. Suddemlv tho Klosohes III.
dams swrrostnd Ctrt's tsl0rd camp,
aud the little pdrty. rms Tor 2 rock
s sne a nSR gt e Ssas ,s o. ia, shs at
tered the scildcrxess Nth Eonyd,
remained behind sDhen che left.
Chapter SO
BATTLE
ID ALPH!" Curt yelled 1t him.
~ "What're you doing3 Get in
here with us!"
Don't have any gun!" Ralph
called over his shoulder. Got to get
gum"
Let It 90. They'll cut you OIL"
But Ralph courageously went on.
Flinging themselves behind the
rock shelter, the two Of them turned
their rifles toward the canoes to the
south.
Curt dropped q handful Of clips
into Paul's pocket. "Aim low. Paul.
Bounce your slugs OF the water. We
cant hope to hit the men, but we
can tear holes through those canoes
and sink 'em."
They emptied their magazines at
the six craft. The range was too long
for dark shooting. and the moon re-
Election was wrong. The canoes came
straight on and skinned into the
shadows. Reloading. Curt and Paul
blasted into them again. frantically
trying to knock them back. One
canoe turned broadside and sank,
but the two occupants leaped out
and splashed ashore; and the other
five canoes drove on in unchecked.
Jumping to shelter on the island,
the Klosohees began sizzling arrows
at the rife flashes. to cover the land
ing Of the other parties.
Ralph came running out Of the
dark with rife, belt-gun and three
cartons Of cartridges in his hands.
Il got 'em!" he painted. Couldn't
have helped out if I hadn't gone
and"
His rejoicing ended In an agonized
gasp. Within two steps Of the barri.
cade he suddenly stumbled and
flung up his crms. The gun and car.
tons dropped with . chatter. Pitch.
ing forward with all the momentum
OF his dash, he smashed head-on
against rock. rolled over and lay
still.
Curt vaulted over the barricade,
grabbed him. lifted him into the
shelter. "Ralph!" he cried. kneeling
down and shaking his limp COM
rade. Ralph did not move. And then
Curt saw hard-driven arrow pro-
truding from his back. and q stream
Of blood trickling from his mouth.
The suddenness Of the blow struck
Curt dumb. He shook Ralph's arm
again but got no response. Dead or
dying-he did not know.
The i've canoes to the west were
less than . hundred yards out Paul
had got the range I was ricochet-
ing his bullets OF the ripples with
whitening effect. One canoe wabbled
craxily and collapsed. In another !
figure leaped up and toppled over.
board.
Look north" Paul cried. Keep
those back. I'll handle these"
For the first time Curt noticed
that three canoes were skirling in
toward the upper tip. At his flrst
shot . figure rose mp in the leading
canoe and shouted . command. The
voice sounded to him like Tenn-Og's.
Damn yov!" - the thought
flashed through his mind 1--WE
patched you up and treated you
white when your buddies ran away
and left you: and now you're lad.
Ing men to spear ~. I'll set you any.
way!" He poured . whole clip Of
vengeful bullets ct the dgurs. The
Klosohes IT'LL stood up. waving his
arms and shouting orders. The 9th.
or two craft stopped and began mill.
Ing about uncertainty. A. Curt
snapped IN another clip. swearing
savagely ct missing Teun-Og. I'll
three Of the canoes veere1 around
and skinned hack ont of sight
THEIR sudden flight astonished
= him: hs had hit nobody, done no
damage that hs could Geo.
He laid II 70 cowardicA and
whirled to help Paul again.
OF the i've canoes to the west, Paul
had collapf ID one. knocked . man
out Of . second and sent Il drifting
helplessly. and had sunk Z third IN
the shadows Together hs and Curt
ran q burst ct the other two. They
sank both Of them IN tho space Of
I'VE seconds. but the men jumped out
into the water, sprang ashore and
Joined their confederates.
Grabbing their automatics, Curt
and Paul tensed themselves for the
hand-to-hand fight.
Keep down!" Curt snapped, a.
Paul rose up to see better. Don't
| expose yourself. We've got Z chance
to win this"