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


happened and the attitude seemed
to give her an immunity from ac-
cident The depth made no pull at
her sensibilities. Rocks remained
firm when she stood on them.
Slides braced to sustain her.
Doddap fortified himself for
each ticklish pitch with his chant
ing and the beating of his little
drum. At least. Anne thought such
was his object until she saw tears
streaming down his face.
What is it," she asked.
THE time approaches. ! fear for
the master" he said.
"But he's better off than any OF
us. Diana saw him escape.
He Is in great danger" and
the lama renewed the beating on
his little drum with a despairing
vigor.
Eventually they emerged on a
broad bleak tableland. Before
them stood a stonefenced en-
closure with cross fences Of stone
running here and there. dividing
the compound. In one section
stood a score or SO of horses, their
saddles on the fence beside them.
In one Of the yards stood two felt
tents. Smoke rose from the smoke
holes but there was no sign OF
dogs, people or fiocks The brown
plain stretched wide and empty to
distant snow clad peaks.
The Niagara chieftain led them
into the largest tent and Anne I'M
derstood at once that ii had been
erected by herdsmen and left for
travellers, but not for these trav-
elers. The leader posted a guard
| outside and then ordered the men
to sit down and get out their food
bowls that they carried in the ma
| tive style. The place was warm
and becoming sitting Anne re-
moved her leather coat and of
fered to ladle the food so that she
would not have to sit down with
the men.
The little lama was the last one
served.
What are they trying to do.
Doddap?s she asked, making a
slow and difficult task of filling
his bowl.
They win tell you" he an
swered s0mberly.
Aren't there any natives here
to rescue us?'
A camp ON the river bank deep
in the canyon. They do not intend
to return until morning when they
come with more food"
IF only we could let them
know that things are wrong herel"
A squat black bearded white
man thrust his food bowl between
them, labbering angrily. Doddap
sat down beside the door.
The leader is more of white
man than the others. she thought
hopefully, despite those bleak
bloodshot eyes
Sudden Death
a NNE choked down quantity
Of the food for her strengths
sake. as she crouched beside the
fire cage.
Presently the weary men
stretched out, smoking the tobac-
co they had taken from their Cap
tors. Then the leader came to her
and she rose hastily. He beckoned
for Doddap to join them and ex-
planned his intention to reach the
high priest Of the Nagaras and by
craft, or force il necessary, to
break his way through to Shy-a
Mayo. As bearer of the sacred dag
ger he believed Anne would be Of
use to him. He demanded look
at the weapon.
The man spoke with sharp i'm
patience and Doddap translated.
tonelessly. He says give it or he
will take it."
Anne saw the cold venom in the
white mans eyes. These three
stood alone in the center of the
tent back of the fire cage. The Ma
CARA chieftain had risen to his
knees and was watching them, the
blood drained from his brown
face. Anne. her back to the door.
slowly drew out the dagger, won.
dering desperately if there was
any use she could make of ii to
gain her freedom. If she struck
him with the weapon she would
be helpless, at the mercy of the
others. To use 1t on herself might
be the last resort. She thought of
the native taboo without much
hope he would be impressed.
Tell him." she directed Dod-
dap. that unless he has the right,
the touch OF this weapon means
DEATH"
In answer the man gave a short
mirthless laugh and took threat
ening step towards her. Anne
snatched the knife from its sheath
and held it in her palm point to-
wards him, the sharp blade
cleaning, the green eye glowing
unnaturally in the dusk like the
eye of a live animal.
"Come and get it if you don't
believe me-"
The man hesitated, staring
moment as if some instinct
warned him of danger he could
not see or believe In. Al jibe from
one of the men set him off, and
he seized the dagger from her
hand. His eyes had lifted looking
across her shoulder. Suddenly
they widened. LsetIes
His hand flashed up and threw
the knife.
Anne dropped instinctively. A
bullet opened the mans forehead,
and he crumpled to the floor.
Sherwood stood in the doorway,
the dagger hanging in the tent
felt beside him. AT his shoulder
was Mackey, a pistol in his hand.
To be cont ned