The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-26
Chapter ~
The START

The START
'TXIITH luck" repeated Langton.
w = can be back here and get
you out. With ship I could ny
from the coast to here In twenty
minutes"
Frank smiled remotely. Turning
on his heel he walked back to the
shack. His movements thereafter
we're methodical.
He brought out the balsa-wood
Jacket. and for the time being. set
Il aside. He brought out two coco
nut shells. split and put together
again and sealed with pitch.
Within them was quantity of
dried meat. matches. and = he
smiled at the apparent incongruity
Of 1.-THE matted pad of his book OF
travellers checks. They could be
used at the coast--if ever he got
there.
The two coconut shells he slipped
into a bit OF fiber netting be bad
made Tor them. This arrangement
could be tied TO the jacket fioat.
He put on the crude device that
was to keep him afioat-with luck
for the eight or ten hours he would
be swept through the unknown cav
ern. Although the morning was not
warm beads Of Precipitation gath
cred upon bis face.
II was with q straining effort of
win that be banished thoughts Of
the accidents that might happen to
him IN the darkness.
Would the river be like the sur
face ones7 Would there be water
falls. rapids. or jagged submerged
rocks to ear at him as he passed
Might not eddies sweep him into
blind pockets where he would
thrash his way about until exhaus'
ton claimed himf
He walked down the trail to the
streams edge. Langton, strainins
q the tying OF the last timbers Of
the raft. looked up startled. Janice,
coils Of fiber In her hands. ap
preached from upstream. Puzzled
she looked at the crude girth Of the
balsa-wood jacket.
She said IN q curious voice,
-FFank. what is that7 What do you
intend7 -
Nothing doing. Frank = that's
mp Job. said Langton quietly.
Franks voice as he replied was
level and brittle. '.,.s :.
Nothing You can say--or do. Tor
that matter-wIll alter the plan
Billy. This Is Just Job | can do
better than you can under the cir
cumstances. Wen say no more
about itls
Janice made q gesture OF appea
20 Langtcn. Her face was pale be
meath It's tanned sickness. "Wha'
10 II Billy? What Is he going to dor
-He's going TO float down the cav
ern to the sea and get help. II |
pop bottle made It. so can he. b,
thinks"
The girl put the palm Of her hant
10 her mouth. Her eyes widened
The coils OF Hber over her slim
shoulder fell to the ground.
-Nol" she whispered. "Oh. no :.
pleased"
Frank stepped into the water. Hi
face was set. "BIlly." he began. turn
Ing to his friend. before start.
have Q few suggestions"
JANICE splashea into the waite
- beside him. Her hands caugh
him By the shoulders and shl
pulled at him until he faced her.
You're mot 6 DIN g!s she ex
claimed hreathlassly. sYou can't
You shouldntl" She tngged at hin
with little desperate jerks.
'Either Billy or | must. Please
Janice. Billy win explain. w
haven't much time now. since th
rain. I've
-You mustn't either you o
Billy. What do Jon think am
What DO you think I'd be Il I Il
pour Her voice broke on
little note OF hysteria. 1.-THE raft
nearly ready. Wen al 60 together
Why should one OF na take risks e
the othersf The raft VIII suppol
na ALL
Gently Frank put mp his arms IN
disengagsd The girls hands froI
his shoulders. He turned his FAC
toward LangIon.
-Bill. II would be Q good idea.
think. to make more ok these jacl
eta 20 wear on the raft when q
water rises. Provide yourself vii
q stout rope and Q rock for en- q
Choir. And . long rope with . ator
% throw 20 the bank. You migl
set close enough and high enous
20 reach the elf tops. III be hacl
III be all right