The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-02-14
Chapter q THE RAID

Y HAD hoped" Frank explained l "to make friends with the na- tives and get information through them. The chicleros. the men who gather chewing-gum sap, cover this country rather thoroughly, and see some strange things. thought, per haps. to learn enough through them to give me clue to the spot where Langton had crashed. If he fell here they would surely know"
 He shrugged his shoulders. and continued: ..
 There's not chance getting anything from these buzzards. how ever. Nothing short of a squad of men with machine-guns could make any impression. If 1 get out of this alive. I'm coming back. no foolin'" 1"
 He interrupted himself to smile. q mean when we get out of here
 Janice shook her head. Her eyes glowed and her chin was firm. but there was hint of Encouragement in her voice as she spoke.
 They're terrible. They're cruel. You should have seen" She sup pressed small shiver. When they appeared from the jungle. they stood calmly and shot our men down like, like =.
 We left Merida, MT. Greene, Ho- garth our director. and Wallace and Bill Jaehne, the two cameramen Ortega guided us. We had eight natives to do the work. and take care of the burros that carried our costumes and film and stuff. We didn't need many props as we were only going to take long shots here. and some authentic jungle footage with native types.
 "We trusted Ortega. He said Me Grath. who was our production man. had gone ahead to prepare quarters for us. He"
 "I know about that. Tell you later. What happened?"
 I've came into one Of those open meadows. savannahs l think they're called. Without any warning we were surrounded by these people and they began shooting. It was just at the edge of these ruins, on the other side.
 "l think Hogarth and the two cameramen were killed instantly. They were almost blown off their burros. MT. Greenes burro ran away and thr v him. At first they thought he was dead. but found he wasn't. They were going to shoot him then. but they decided to take him in with me, alive.
 "As we left that spot, could hear an occasional sho l think they were shooting our poor Mexicans
 What of Crtega? asked Grahame already knowing the an swer.
 That beast! He was smoking a cigaret when we came into the clearing. He was smoking the same cigaret en we left. He watched everything with those muddy eyes of his. sitting quietly on his burro, and smiling little. think he would have helped the attackers if his arm hadn't been wounded" A H." breathed Grahame. q gave
 , him that. A pity l didn't hold more to center"
 He answered her question by tell. ing her of his trip with Ortega and their parting. He spoke of the boy Juan who had travelled with him to the spot, and of their meeting with McGrath.
 "He was bush whacked, the same as your party was. It seems to be a custom of the country. AS far as 1 can make out, these people are liv- ing in this old city like a race of human spiders. turing people in here for robbery and"
 
 He broke off to stare at the floor.
 But why didn't they kill me. then? They took the jewels l car. ried around my neck in a chamois bag, but they seemed"
 Her eyes widened as if with a sud den thought. Her teeth caught at her lower lip, and she drew a deep breath. She essayed a pale smile. Her hand reached toward Grahame until the fingers rested upon his arm.
 But we'll get out of here, won't we? I'm not a bit worried. really. Frank"
 Good girl" The man smiled.
 He lifted his glance to meet hers. He moved his arm outward to take her fingers in his own. and reassure her. Midway. his hand paused. Over her shoulder. and silhoutted against the entrance. was a mans head!
 A rife cra3hedI In the narrow confines of the room the sound fiat