The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1934-01-16

rifles. They would have the advan-
tage of surprise, and that would
help considerably. Paul was to have
the first two shots-at Siam-Klale
and LeNoir, With his deadly marks
manship he would probably get them
both before the fight really began.
# he did. it would be half the battle.
"There's one hing" Curt added,
t"that I'm going to guard against
now When the rifle talk starts,
Karakhan is dead sure TO make a
break for the hangar. to get into his
plane and get away. I'm going to
swim down TO tina. hangar and put
his plane out OF commission. Then
we'll have him."
He stripped off his clothes. slipped
into the water. headed out into the
lake a short distance. and circled in
toward the hangar He intended to
disable the plane by removing the
dog from the timer box. Karakhan
would never get a splutter out of the
engine. but the ship would not be
injured in the least. BY keeping the
dog he would have plane himself.
to take Sonya and the others out.
Maybe two planes. If Karakhan's
plane had gas enough to divide.
Twenty strokes from the hangar
be suddenly heard low cultural
voices ahead. 1t stopped him short.
just in time. In the darkness he
could see the outlines of the building
but could not locate the men at all
except that they we're near the plane
shed.
yxIHAT were they doing there?
w Just casual meeting and chat?
For ten minutes he treaded water
and listened. thinning they would go
away But they stayed where they
were.
SGbmerging himself. he swan
closer. came up very cautiously. aud
raised his eyes above the surface of
the water.
He was near enough then to see
the men. There were two of them
They were sitting on the ends of the
catwalk. one on each side of the
hangar entrance.
He'll" he swore. Guards
watching the planet" Reluctantly
he backed away and returned to the
shelving rock.
at doesn't matter" Paul assured
him. HE can't get five steps from
the cabin. II he makes break. sc
much the better-it'l merely save
sus the trouble of taking him out OF
this country"
They hurried back to the cove
ate bit of food from the emergency
rations in the plane, and cleaned
their guns carefully. Before leaving.
Curt gave Smash his final orders.
|ag' You're to stay here with the
plane and keep under cover. Now
here's what | want you to do. II
anything happens to us-and want
you to wait till you're absolutely
sure we're out of the picture-you
hop into the plane ara get as far
from here as the gas'll take you
Head for Fort Nelson on the Lard:
it's nearer than Juneau or Russian
Lake
when the gas runs out and you
have to come down. get out the can
vas canoe and try to make Fort
Nelson. If you get to Nelson. borrow
motor-canoe from Bob Fraser.
streak for the signal corps station
at Providence. and wireless AK.
Tell him it was my request that he
should send big patrol in here and
try to find Sonya volkov."
Circling up slope through the
heavy timber. they headed for a
cave which Tenn-Og had mentioned
and which Curt thought might be
good place for an ambush.
The Indians familiarity with the
slope was amazing. Eight hundred
yards above the camp he turned and
led them down toward the cabin till
they came out on top of a high
| limestone cliff.
Without hesitating. even In the
intense dark, the Indian took them
down through dangerous assure.
At the foot of the cliff he turned
left. led them dozen steps along a
game trail. and stopped at the wide
black mouth OF cave.
Curt started to enter and look
around. but Tenn-Og seized his arm
and jerked him forcibly back. VERY
bad place!" he warned, In stumbling
Jargon. "You fall. fall down deep,
no man ever see you any more.
take you in. Stay behind me, put
hand on my shoulder"
About ten steps inside. the Indian
stopped. With no danger of a light
being seen. Curt struck a double
match. Just in front of them yawned
a black chasm. only fifteen feet wide
but apparently bottornless. Across
1t stretched two logs. six-inch pines.
From somewhere down in the chas m
came the gushing Of water. good.
sized underground stream.
fCopgriqht. William b. MoperyJ