The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-01-07

double the usual. Told us he had
to get in his assessment work before
the freez-up."
"The claim belongs to me-" Garth
replied. Il will pay you the double
wages"
"Ugh," growled Laney. "You out
played the d--n fourfluSher. It's a.
DEAL You're boss. We're working for
YOU"
Garth walked back into the black
ness of the spruce trees He returned
with the floursack packbag, his own
and Lilith's buckskin suits, and a.
hindquarter of fat caribou meat. At
his invitation, the men eagerly went
at the frozen meat with an ak, and
put the big teapot, full of snow, on
the fire
Lilith and Garth had eaten before
coming down from the igloo. They
sat back, on snowdrift, and watch
ed while the others devoured the
tender broiled meat and gulped
down cups of hot tea. The flesh of
the old she-bear had been as tough
as leather and her fat very rank.
Huxby continued to sit in morose
silence, with his back to the fire. The
feasters paid no heed to him. After
a time Lilith began to stir uneasily.
At last she had to act She handed
her pistol to Garth, and went to put
piece of meat on spit. When it
was broiled, she took it and cup of
tea to Huxby.
He started up at her as if dunn
founded. then shook his head Sullen-
ly. She put down the cup and plate
beside him, and returned to Garth.
At his look of cool inquiry, her eyes
flashed with defiance.
II don't care! It's not right to
starve anyone"
He replied in a noncommittal tone:
you're woman"
The murderer took up his cup of
hot tea in his manacled hands and
drank. He began to eat the meat.
When daylight came, Garth order
ed everyone out to the cabin plane.
The hard-frozen slush ice gave solid
footing over the bog. It also gave
solid foundation out at the plane
upon which were based the engi-
neer's lifting operations. The ice had
been chopped from around the
floats, and a crib built under the
inner end of es III wing. BY hosting
first on the outer end of one wing
and then the other, the cribs had
been heightened until the floats
were level with the top of the ice.
A glance inside the cabin showed
Garth the body of Constable Dillon
lying where he had left it. Laney
explained, with jerk of mittened
thumb to Hubby:
"He first says we'd chuck the stiff
under the ice. Then he says, no, to
wait an heave it out when we was
flying over the muskegs."
We'll wait still longer" Garth
said. ''That brave constable is going
to receive an honorable burial. Now
get to work with those sapling lev
ers. Another pair of logs on the
cribs will raise the floats high
enough to roller her clear"
Garth showed the men how to
skew the rollers for turning the
plane. He went to shove sidewalks
on the tail. The plane started to
curve around.
A shrek from Lilith Whirled Garth
face about. Hubby was rushing at
him, with an ak lifted high in his
manacled hands. Lilith flew at the
attacker as if frenzied She sought
to block his charge He gave her his
shoulder with the skill of football
player. It caught her on the chin and
sent her spinning.
But the slight check allowed
e. n l10
ak before the blade could Whirl
down on his head His left fist ap
peared to punch deep into the pit Of
Huxby's stomach. His right drove
up under the chin of the gasping
murderer. The uppercut lifted the
killer off his feet and dropped him
on his face, clean knocked out.
With no more than a glance at his
fallen attacker, Garth sprang to help
Lilith's dazed effort to sit up. well
played" he said. mot hurt, are
your"
'N-no-I-you-he didn't" she
cried, and burst into tears.
Garth gave her a pat on the head,
and turned away, embarrassed. mo
wonder you're overcome. It's been
too much for girl. Well hop out of
here at once"
He lashed the unconscious killers
wrists to his belt, tied his ankles to-
gether, and climbed into the cockpit
of the plane. After replacing the
breaker points, he had the men take
turns spinning the propeller. He then
tried the self-starter. The engine
roared. Pulled by the whirling pro-
peller, the plane slid forward off the
log rollers.
After cutting the gun, Garth or
dered two of the men to heave Hulk
by into the cabin. The third man he
sent for the rifles. 81 want the one
with which he shot Constable Dillon.
But you may as well bring the 9TH
also lot of that bear fat
He himself went to pick up the
still-weeping girl and help her to
the second seat in the cocpit. He
made sure of the supply of gasoline,
IL onoiTa - fhof