The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-02-06
Chapter 23 THE SHOT

THEY started forward. Juan's l arm was 1plifted to push aside a tree branch. A rife spat yiciously from across the swamp. Grahame glimpsed the flash and saw Juan plunge sidewise into the brush. The American dropped to his knees and crawled toward the boy.
 Hurt. son?" he called softly.
 For an instant there was silence, then: q do not think so. senor. The bullet hit my pack and knocked me down."
 For a quarter of an hour they lay luiet. Their position was embar. rassing. Ahead ot them was the open swamp. Behind them the jungle. but there was space between. and it looked impossible for them 10 cross it unobserved by the hidden rifleman.
 They should wait until dark. but again. it was impossible to tell when the party that ha, been to the coast would return. If it were soon, the riheman could warn them with a shot, and Grahame and the boy would be neatly caught.
 It would oe better. thought Frank, to bolt for cover and chance the marksmaLship of the ambushed man. He ,old his thought to Juan.
 "But surely" Juan agreed.
 Ready then"
 They arose and plunged toward the screen of jungle behind them. Bat no shot followed them. They lay panting behind a log and peered through the screen of hanging vines. Grahame thought he heard a call.-a cry coming faintly across the swamp.
 He saw a flash of white as Of clothing from the far side of the muddy causeway. Juan flung his gun to his shoulder but Grahame knocked the mLzzle into the air.
 Wait" he commanded.
 A man came irto sight. and head ed toward them. He lurched be- tween the upfung branches of the felled trees His chin was sunk to his chest and he dragged rife by its muzzle with the butt scraping in the mud.
 Its white mafil" exclaimed Frank. He half rose. but Juan caught his arm.
 Walt" This time 1t was Juan who spoke the word Tt may be a trick. do not trust this country"
 The man came close. It was ap parent to Grahame that he was stag. gering. whether purposely as Juan had suggested. ol from some hurt
 The man crossed the causeway. he was now within yards of the two men hidden by the trail's-side. He plodded wearily up to firmer ground.
 Then without warning, his knees buckled. He was so near that the hidden two heard his breath whistle In his throat. The stranger fell for. ward on his face.
 TRAHAME leaped to his side and o half rolled him over. Mud and blood smeared the face. but the man was white. Sweat trickled through the stubble of several days growth of beard.
 The eyelids twitched and two blue eyes glared into Grahame's. The stranger struggled to speak.
 Take it easy. old man." eau toned Grahame.
 'I'm done for" whispered the fol. low. T know it. I can't breathe any more."
 With the help of the boy Grahame lifted the inert white man and car. ried him away from the trail. He commanded Juan to build a fire and heat water. He drew his sheath knife and swiftly cut at the torn and stained clothing of the stranger.
 Once he whistled softly beneath his breath. The man was badly wounded; Grahame wondered at the vitality that kept him alive.
 There was a bullet hole in the mans abdomen at the right side. not far above the line of the hip bone. The back was a mass of torn flesh where the bullet had passed through. Grahame compressed his lips.
 Dum-dums A brutal wound. There wasn't a ghost of a chance for the fellow. Probably the lung was nicked too. since he had com. plained of his inability to breathe.
 Frank took his first-aid box from his pack. He spread his hypodermic kit before him. The strangers eyes followed his movements.
 Thanks" he whispered. But don't need the shot. Don't waste your morphine. I can't feel any.