The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-03
Chapter %
THE SHOT

HE SFfQt
THEY started forward. Juan's
= arm was uplifted to push aside
q tree branch. A rife spat viciously
from aeress the. swamp. Grahame
glfmpsed the fash and saw Juan
plunge sidewise into the brush. The
American dropped to his knees and
craWled toward the boy.
"Hurt. SOM" he called softly.
For an instant there was silence,
then: Il do not think so, senior. The
bullet hit my pack and knocked me
down."
For a quarter of an hour they lay
quiet. Their position was embar-
RAISING. Ahead Of them was the open
swamp. Behind them the jungle.
but there was a space between. and
Il looked impossible for them to
cross it unobseryed by the hidden
rffieman.
They should walt until dark, but
again, IL was impossible to tell when
the party that haE been to the coast
would return. II It were soon, the
rifieman could warn them with a
shot, and Grahsme and the boy
would be neatly caught.
II would Re better. thought Frank.
TO bolt for cover and chance the
Workmanship. of the ambushed
man. He sold his thought to Juan.
"But surely" Juan agreed.
Ready then"
They arose and plunged toward
the screen Of jungle behind them.
But no shot followed them. They
lay painting behind a log and peered
through the screen of hanging
vines. Grahame thought he heard a
call.-a cry coming family across
the swamp.
He saw a fash Of white as of
clothing from the far side Of the
muddy causeway. Juan flung his
gun to his shoulder bnt Grahame
knocked the muzzie into the air.
Wait" he commanded.
A man name into sight. and head
ed toward them. He lurched be-
tween the uptiung branches OF the
felled trees. His chin was sunk to
his chest and he dragged a rife by
its muzzle with the butt scraping in
the mud.
"It's q white mani" exclaimed
Frank. He half rose, but Juan
caught his arm.
wait" This time It was Juan
who spoke the word. at may be
trick. l do not trust this country"
The man came close. It was ap-
parent 10 Grahame that he was stag
gering. whether purposely as Juan
had suggested. on 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 YEARLY up to firmer ground.
Then without warning. his knees
huckled. He was so near that the
hidden two heard hi.s breath whistle
in his throat. The stranger fell for.
ward on his face.
GRAHAME Ieaped to his side and
~ half rolled him over. Mud and
blood smeared the face. but the man
was white. Sweat trickled through
the stumble 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.
SIN done for" whispered the Eel.
low. Il know It. 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 10 build q are and
heat water. He drew his sheath
knife and swiftly cut at the torn
and stained clothing Of the stranger.
loQea ewhlssled softly beneath
bis breath. The man was badly
wounded: Grahame wondered at the
vitality that kept him alive.
There was q bullet hole In the
mans abdomen at the right side.
not far above the line Of the hip
bone. The back was mass OF torn
flesh where the bullet had passed
through. Grahame compressed hIs
lips.
Dum-dums. A brutal wound.
There wasn't . ghost OF q chance
for the fellow. Probably the lung
was nicked TOO. since he had com
planned Of his inability 10 breathe.
Frank took his lrst-aid box from
his pack. He spread his hypodermic
hit before him. The strangers eyes
followed his movements.
"Thanks." be whispered. -But
don't need the shot. Don't waste
vonr morphina I can't feel any.