The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-02-22
Chapter Is
Back To The Linkang

Back To The Linking
a NEW molly horror had got in
"A side Of me. In spite Of what
Clyde said, it was not true that the
Linkang could Withstand the at
tack of the Malay war praus; and
even If by some miracle she saved
herself, she certainly could not
save the Avon. / knew with alto
Eefher too much clarity exactly
what was going to happen to Chris
tine FORESTER when the Malays
forced the river and took the
Avon. That would be Mantusen's
next quick move, If I failed to
burst the Dyaks-anc | was sure
b fail. Clyde's idea was impossi-
bic. II could not be done. / said so
to Clyde. ignoring Mantusen.
This is your chance Of a life
time" Clyde answered. ~You will
succeed simply because you've got
TO succeed. Go out there now, and
blow this Dyak blockade sky high
and he'll wideI"
81 can't do it." kept saying over
and over. Il can't"
aMr. Thorne," my uncle said.
you viii do exactly as you are
told"
Eyes, sir"
NY knees felt as weak as Il the
tendons had been cut. As stood up
I Thought at first that would need
10 help myself with my hands
Mantusen was watching me with
q smile Of pleased contempt.
Christine Forester was waiting
on the Linkang when we came
aboard
Ne had reached the shore OF
Balingong bay two hours before
dawn, and after that we waited in
terminably for daylight. The extra
time was due to my allowing three
hours for getting from Balingone
70 the beach. although Lundok
who guided US. had wanted nc
more than one.
I suppose | had thought there
would be a lot of crawling around
on our bellies in the bush, and hair
raising delays with proving
Dyaks trying to hunt as out; buf
there was very little Of this non.
sense. We opened our foray By
crawling 400 yards on our hand:
and knees, but after that we stood
up; and Lundok led us. by intricatG
trails he knew. almost directly
through some Of the strong Dyal
camps. He had long ago Learned
the exact lines of the Dyak ring
which not even mouse deer coulc
have crossed. and found q way
within the lines to reach the bay
His knowledge was of no service
to Mantusen. to whom the sea wa.
least safe Of all: but 1t served u:
now.
Christine's Concern
Il FTER We reached salt watel
a there was nothing to do bu
wait on the Shiny beach until day
light came. Grogan, weak and few
erish from his wound. was IN seri
Gus difficulty. He kept mumblinl
sheepishly that he was all right
but he was not. His foot was mes.
after an hours trot in jungle dirt
/ washed il with salt water, anC
bandaged il with strips Of my shirt
but. tropic mud being what il is
/ know that we stood fine chanc'
Of losing that man
When daylight was plain we sig
raled the Linkang watcl. by wav
ing what was left OF my shirt: anC
after what seemed to me an un
necessarily long delay. our boa
put in and picked Us up.
II would have seemed like com
ing home to safe and friendly
things. after that nightmare in thI
Ssderong river. il only Jane
Clyde had been there.
Then, as I swarmed over IN,
Llnkang's counter. ! saw tha
Christine Forester was waiting
at the rail.
where is he? Where's Captain
Clyde7" She vas pale, and Their
were blue shadows under her eyes
so that ! knew at once she had no
slept that night why don't yol
answer me9
John Blair. that set-faced silen
man who was Clyde's second mate
stood behind her. his face yer.
Erisl: and al down the deck IN
crew was waiting. al ears. TheS
people, every one Of them. knev
that Clyde must be dead.
Captain Clyde is with the Raial
MantuSen." / said
Hes alivel He's all right7"
@Was when / left
She gave little gasp that mus
have been relief. and leane'
against the rail Her lips moved IN
certainly. without making an,
sound.
Please stand back I told hel
shy men have to come aboard"
Hell BE Killed."
CHE blazed into speech again. ne
- words racing. But he cant sta.