The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-11-19

out the wolfskin knapsack anchor,
with its load of platinum alloy. The
girl and the two men lay in a stupor
of starvation. He himself was so tir-
ed that he could not have lifted even
Lilith ashore.
AS he rested on the west sedges he
recalled the place as one of his for
nner camp sites. A spruce-covered
ridge of higher grounce here thrust
out into the muskeg. The first re-
membrance brought another The
second gave him strength to pull his
rifle from the canoe and climb aslant
the ridge end. There was a berry
patch on the east slope. The fruit
would be better than nothing. He
hoped, however, for something more.
Circling to get the wind in his face
he crept through the spruce thickets
until he could peer out on the open
ground of the berry patch. Luck was
with him. The old black bear had
gone off and left her cub. He rested
the rifle barrel on spruce branch
to get sure aim.
That was the end of famine. Gorg-
ed upon the fat, tender meat of the
bear cub, event Mr.. Ramin rapidly
regained strength. He was still rath-
er weak, however, when they came
to the last portage.
The approach to solid ground was
across narrow belt of muskeg. Near
the far side of the swamp, the mil
lionaire failed to jump squarely up
on a tussock of niggerhead grass. He
slipped and plunged headfirst into
pool
Hubby was following close behind,
alert for every move of his partner.
He sprang to grasp the feet of the
sinking man. A heave dragged him
out, slimed and spluttering. Hubby
worked over him, scraping off mud,
until Lilith fastened back to help
assist her father across the rest of
the quagmire. Once on firm ground,
the millionaire joked about his mis-
hap.
Haven't had bath since the last
rain" he said. "This one is higher
class-equal to the mud baths at
Hot Springs. How about my pack
Lilith?"
She looked in his foxskin bag.
Everything there, Dad-with some
mud added"
Garth had been too far ahead,
with his heavy pack and canoe, to
see or hear the accident. Mr.. Ramill
joked again about his extra bath
when they took to the canoe at the
far side TO the portage. But all the
time until they reached the evening
camp and he started to wash the
mud from the leather coat, he did
not notice that the pistol was miss
ing.
At the announcement of the loss,
Huxby met Garth's gaze with a
stare of cold hostility. Garth walked
up to him, empty-handed.
eff you've done what think you
have" he said, II call you for a
showdown"
The engineers lips frightened in an
ironical smile. He put up his hands.
Not to be fooled by the seeming
bluff, Garth went over Huxby's tat
tered clothes, from coat collar to
moccaSins. The pistol was nowhere
on the engineer.
'This is one time I'm due to apollo
gize," Garth admitted.
II accept no apology from you"
Huxby replied.
Lilith looked from one to the 9TH
er, her own lips Tightening.
Mr.. Ramill spontaneously inter-
posed, as he hung the washed leath-
er coat before the fire: Postpone
your fight, boys. We're still in the
I'll build cockpit for you
when we get out"
That won a chuckle from Garth.
Huxby smiled with his lips-not
with his eyes. AS Lilith looked from
Garth to him, her eyes narrowed
and her lips frightened.
(TO BE CONTINUED)