The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-02-21
Chapter 35 SACRIFICE


 SACRIFICE
 THE poised knife descended. | Frank heard the thud; he saw the shoulder n41scles of the priest working, like those of dog over buried bone. There was sigh from the multitude like dry wind rus tling througl. a parehed forest.
 Then the mans arm arose. It was dark with blood that streamed from his clenched fist. Grahame averted his gaze. He saw Juan gazing with fascinated terror. Janice leaned against her guard, her body stiff with horror. Greene stared at him with eyes distended. The little mans lips parted in a grimace.
 "God!" he breathed, and gulped Grahame swore savagely. Guns out, Greenen he rasped. His voice was thick with fury. His left hand fumbled under his bandaging.
 Then Greene did an incredible thing. He ;hook off his guards and stood away from them pace. His voice rose in shrill yell that fo- cused the glance of every person on that platform of death upon him.
 The ahkin whirled and stared. After his first bewilderment, Ora hame stood, his hand within his ban dage, his eyelids narrowed. Greene, of course, had gone mad with shock. Quite mad.
 But the voice of the little man was clear with decision; his words were coldly sane.
 "Janice!" he cried. "Goodbye. And you, too, Grahame. I'm pulling a Tosti and a Brodie together. If I make break for you, take it!"
 As he talked he shuffled backward toward the priest. His guard S seemed frozen.
 "I'm taking it on the lam, and you'd better, too. God hates pikerl Camera! Ready! Everybody quiet . .. This is the picture-Damn youi-"
 He spun about, and drove his fist into the priests throat. Again he struck, but this time fell forward against the other. He dragged him around the altar.
 The man clawed and strove to break the little mans hold. But Greene's hold was heroic. He pulled them closer to the edge.
 They stood there locked against each other, swaying against the brassy sky. The guards seemed para lyzed.
 Whereupon a figure broke from among them. Grahame groaned. The show was over. But as the figure lurched toward those others sway ing on the brink, he heard it cry out in Juan's voice.
 Bravo, amigo!"
 He saw the slight form of the boy throw itself against the two. Like a shutter snapped in camera he saw the image of Greene and the priest flash over, and beyond, the brink.
 Juan spun on the edge. Slowly, almost as if he were fading back ward, he saw the lad topple out ward. His teeth flashed in a last smile; he was gone!
 A roar surged deafeningly about the pyramid. He pushed his own guards backward and strode toward Janice. One of the men clutched at his wounded arm. He ripped his gun from the bandage and shot him through the body.
 He clu5bed his guns barrel against the head of one of the girl $ guards, and shot the other as he began to lift his gun. The mans rife fell toward him, and he caught it between his elbow and his side "T>AKE it!" he shouted to Janice.
 l She took the gun and pushed behind him. He went forward, beat ing at face and heads with the heavy barrel of his automatic. Suddenly they were out of the crowd and leap ing down the eastern steps of the pyramid.
 Frank gasped advice as they half jumped, half-fell down the steer descent.
 Run straight ahead. There's ar airplane at the end of this straight away. Can you shoot?"
 The girl compressed her lips ant nodded.
 Shoot where it hurts" he advised They were on the level now, anC Franks breath labored in his lungs He cursed the wound that sappeC his strength. Janice. he noted witt satisfaction, was running like i; whippet, despite the heavy rife sht carried.
 An armed native. coming iron nowhere. quartered into their path