The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-13
CHAPTER XXI

The celebration continued until well past noon, and Bob was forced to do some tactful limiting in order to get more food for himself and 'Lissa.
 "Evidently white gods aren't supposed eat much," Bob g-um- bled good-naturedly. "I'd give a lot to sit down to one of Honey Bees meals right now"
 Me toop Lisa agreed. Say wonder what's happening back in camp, Bob?" Don't you imagine Uncle Hades is likely to start after us?"
 "Your guess is as good as mine. It all depends on what the cook tells. Unfortunately, we ordered her not to tell anything, you know. We've got to get out of here as soon as possible"
 Bob need not have worried about their escape, for the brown people themselves had been planning. When the huge bonfire had died down and the merrymaking sub- sided, the chieftsin approached Bob, with great deference. The two men talked, with signs and a few words which Bob had picked up, for more than an hour. A ring of villagers stood arourS. to watch, at respectful distance.
 q think we understand each other, at last" Bob eventually said to Lissa. "The chief here is beg !sing a boon for his people. He petitions us never to reveal the lo- cation of their village to their ersmies."
 "Lissa stared questioningly at Bob.
 Who are their enemiesP Now I mean?"
 Nobody. But they don't un- derstand that. The. word-of- mouth history tells of raiding cut- throats, who drove their ancestors out of the cliff castle. you know. They fled re to hide. They've be .n hiding for a long time, and thsy don't know anything else" -t
 'Oh that's right. And I don't much blame them, Bob."'
 "Nor I. They begged us not to destroy tEem ourselvse, too. I promised, provided we would have an escort back up the cave trail"
 I.issa wasn't sure she wanted ever to see the inside of any cave again. But Bob told her there might be no other way out of the box canyon, even with dangerous climbing. The brown chief said so, and his people surely ought to know. Rock walls can be defiant of man.
 However, I'll bet Hades Jones and Hoffman and I could figure a way to get out" Bob was staring speculatively at t he cliffs. Take some lengths of rope, spiked shoes, a short miners pick, and"
 Bob aren't you assuming too much, thought? These people have no rope. Or shoes. Or metal tools of any kind"
 That's right. sweetheart. But I was ju.t supposing. Anyhow I want to go back through the cave. Wen have a guide back to my .ost shoulder pack. And I marked our own way down to there, you re- member"
 'Lissa shuddered, in memory. But she nodded agreem; 1t.
 twill you come back here soon?" she asked, looking up at his eyes.
 He hesitated q long while be- fore answering. What do you think? Would you?" He kissed her full on the lips. I'm going to be busy for a while, getting mar ried, ard making love, and"
 She blushed at that, smiled at him. Most gentlemen make love to girls first, then get mar ried, sirl"
 Not me I'm going to make love right along, true enough but believe me Miss Lane you're going to marry your business partner as quickly as we can get license and 6 preacher"
 ''Fraid I'd run away9" she leased.
 Maybe. Wouldn't blame you a lot. I'm taking no chances"
 But honey" She snuggled to him then. "You will want to see this place again, and you know it.. This would fascinate any archae- ologist."
 "Lissa girl this experience has been bigger than any archaeology, or any C.her science. Why this is