The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-10-01
Chapter 81
Nagaras Again

possess himself OF me fss,e :
mans pistols. Now keen sfhas<
birds on the left s6f the Are - go
covered. Mackey. I'll take care q
the others" y
Anne had risen tremblinalv ans
backed away from the dead man
Come here" directed ,Sher.
wood She oheyed. He asked 4
any OF the men would Ike To try
their luck and remove the dagger
from the felt and see If he co1Id
night his way free. There were
brave and staggering men amonr
them. men unterrifled by ths
superstitions Of primitive people
For all they knew their future
was q wall and a firing SQUAD
Yet no one volunteered. He
smiled slightly.
Anne, put the knife where II
belongs She hesitated.
Put It away" Sherwood or
dered sharply. Now sit down and
get hold Of yourself she
dropped to an empty chest near
by. the Niagara chief staring al
her, his eyes shining with a fan
nRtlcal Light. Was she not PROV
ing the dagger-and herself?
Respiration stood out on Sher-
woods face.
This is risky" he said to Anne
Through set teeth, but safer than
trying to disarm the men," He
directed the fellow nearest him
on the right TO advance towards
the IRE cage, deposit his weapons
on the felts and return to his
place.
The man dropped his revolver,
unslung his rife and bandolier
and lay them beside it. Sherwood
spoke sharply and the fellow re-
moved his cartridge belt and
threw it to the ground along
with his dirk after which he re-
turned TO his place.
Anne felt that Sherwood had
everything his own way. She
could not understand the strain
she sensed he labored under.
Get hold Of those weapons and
the ammunition" be ordered @and
see il you know how to handle
the revolver" He gave her a few
directions for loading the weapon.
Now grab your coat and get
out and hide behind the second
stone fence at the front before
these men gather their wits and
gang Up on US. If any of them
gets free and approaches you.
shoot to kill"
She stood staring at him for
a moment in dismay.
Get out" he yelled.
She ran and crouched behind
the second wall as he directed.
having passed the guard lying on
the ground bound like a bundle
Of hides. She understood now
where Sherwood and Mackey had
got their guns.
Doddap followed her and took
cover near by. She could hear
Sherwood barking orders TO the
men, The Niagara chieftain came
out armed, and joined the lama.
Then Sherwood and Mackey
whipped through the door. Shots
followed. but not men. They
vaulted the stone fences and
found the others.
Master" said Doddap. there's
a Niagara camp in the canyon be-
low here"
The Nagaras are just as dan
gerous to Blaze as these white
men are" Anne reminded the
lama. I'VE must escape them
both"
Sherwood shook his head. ~Not
you, Anne. You're safer with the
Nagaras."
He spoke to the chieftain
through Doddap, directing him to
take Anne to the camp on the
river and notify the people of the
presence of the white outlaws. He
allowed the chieftain one of the
rifles. The man stood up. A bull
let cut his coat sleeve.
asa, New Attack
WITH fusilIade OF gunire the
w men burst from the tent and
took refuge behind the first wall.
TOO late" groaned Sherwood
TO Anne. You'll have to stay
here"
Il can shoot" she said. He set
her to guard the gate.
Don't raise your head above
the wall whatever you do. But If
anyone shows at that opening. get
him." He posted the other men
and lively volley began
One OUTLAW vaulteG the fence
and was dropped. Another es-
capped unframed. Then another
their numbers too much for the
little defense party.
Crouching, Sherwood ran along
the fence to Anne. 1T looks"
he began. The Niagara chieftain
shouted. There was q rush of men
from the plain. tFibesmen from
the camp below. FIVE, ten. twenty
warriors armed with swords and
rifles. Their clanSman. the chief
tain, set them straight as 70 the
trouble.
Stay here TIN return for vou.
Sherwood admonished Anne and
followed the natives. The shoot
ing ceased. It had become a'hahd
to hand encounter Of shouting
and screaming men. Anne clapped
her hands 10 her ears in hoFrer.
She did not know how long Ehe
crOlIched there. HoV6rIug clouds
had covered the sky.
Finally Doddap returned to her.
Sherwood says you must stay
here until things are made clean
He viii come soon
She shuddered. did the Ma
garas take any prisoners?
'sTheir villagers were nlassa-
cred. They do as they are done
by"
NJ