The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-30
Chapter SO
The Dagger Strike

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The Dagger Strike
AHACKEY'S hand came down
VI hard on Anne's shoulder.
They iattened below cliff edge.
The rest lodged behind stones
and the Nagaras sent few wild
shots up the glen.
Sweet serpentsl" exclaimed
Mackey Have the Nagaras enc
mics IN their own territory"
Might ii be somebody trying
10 rescue us?" Anne asked.
1T could be scouting party
from Shani Lun looking for
Blaze" he admitted.
The half dozen Nagaras left un-
hurt had organized their rife fire
and checked the advance from the
glen where the sniping had begun.
Mackey risked glance over the
ledge and dncked as a bullet
whizzed above hts head.
They're men wearing the
Turk headdress Of YangSar,n he
cried excitedly. They must be the
Russian renegades. ia
What are they after now?"
Anne asked, thoroughly terrified.
"God knowsw He looked around
desperately. i wish could get
you out of here or even hide YOU
We're safer with the natives than
with these birds"
Judging from the rifle fire the
attackers had superiority Of num-
bers and they seemed to be adj
vancing.
"Damn-why haven't a gum"
groaned Mackey. But before the
words had left his lips his right
hand went up, palm out in the
sign Of surrender. Two men, rifles
IN hand were convergine on them
from the rear, creeping along
close to the ground. Suddenly,
shouting and blows could be heard
in other directions. II had become
hand to hand conflict. The enc
my rose and came forward boldly.
They're the Russians. all
right" whispered Anne. noticing
that one OF the men had blond
beard.
And they're armed to the
teeth" said Mackey, rising and
helping her to her feet. They were
motioned to keep up both hands
and were searched expertly The
blond man scrutinized Anne
sharply with his bleak. bloodshot
eyes. When he found the dagger
belt he spoke to her in Russian.
She could not understand. but
Mackey did.
He calls you the Eye OF Shy-a
Mayo. He's the leader of the gang,
he says. He recognizes the dag
ger. It's you he's after"
Instead Of taking the weapon
from her as she half expected he
fastened a chapped and grimy
hand 10 her wrist. while the other
fellow proceeded to bind Mackey'sI
wrists with cord. Mackey at
tempted to talk 10 them and was
struck for his pains.
Be careful. Anne. they're dan
Eerous." he warned through
bleeding lips. and was knocked
down and kicked until he got I'D
again. Anne's captor drew her for
ward roughly TO the center of the
camp, The Nagaras had been dis
armed and trussed. Diana and her
husband and Beth were brought
forward, hands tied. From behind |
a rock two men dragged Oliver
fighting senselsssly. Suddenly one
OF them, in rage, grabbed the
gun from his belt and struck the
American, cutting a bloody cash
IN his head Oliver. fell, stunned.
and was left where he lay. Larry
submitted with better Judgment.
Doddap likewise, talking himself
into a job as interpreter. Anne
was quick to observe that Sher-
wood did not appear.
Has he been wounded or--or
-" she stopped, sic with Al
dreadful apprehension.
II don't know" admitted
Mackey. pressing his lips against
his coat sleeve to staunch the
blood.
No Hope
THE leader directed another
man to bind Anne's hands,
after which he pushed her down
on a stone and admonished her.
she supposed, TO stay there.
Two bodies were brought and
laid beside the native who had
fallen into the ashes. Neither of
them was Sherwood's. Anne saw.
The lama answered a cali of the
leader to interpret parley with
the Niagara chieftain.
sBlazei Biazei Blaze" Anne felt
afre with the silent summons.
She saw Diana catch the
leaders eye and give him look,
half appealing, half coquettish as
she lifted hand in a little femi-
nine gesture.
He scowled at her and stopped
before Anne, motioning her to
rise. where is Blazer" Anne cried
while the man was unbinding her
hands.
Diana looked at her, He es-
capped" she said, though / sup.
pose you're sorry he's not dead.
Anne said nothing, rubbing her
wrists, her eyes downcast that no
one might see the sudden relief
that had sprung to them.
The Niagara chiefain had been
freed likewise. Now he was mo-
tto,,oI N lead fha way the lama