The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-09
=. hy RffA fA1hlst flAns0n 2.

i lowed him to the opening of the
tent and stood beside him. He
told Maekey of his talk with Dod-
dap. Maekey nodded towards the
cash in the plain where the
river ran.
"Cheer up. Well soon be free.
That tumble of poles you see
isfarther down is the bridge where
1--we cross into Chinese territory.
1 Once past it we're on our own.
III hope the bridge is in repair.
| They never mend a bridge in this
country until it collapses and
kills a man or animal.
A postillion mounted the mid
die camel. The driver climbed
to his seat, the footman bowed TO
his passengers. Anne took her
place in the carriage followed by
Sherwood and called back to
Mackey;
q suppose they'll test the
bridge with us and if we survive
you riders may cross"
They'll probably have you
drive the camels over alone"
Mackey jested in return. 'sPve
heard of the natives making such
use of woman" He would have
mounted and ridden at their side.
but the captain of the troop held
him back.
Il wonder why?" Anne asked.
The tall angular beasts stretched
out with increasing speed. their
legs riSs-crossing like animated
saw-horses. Som etimes they
broke into a gallop.
Il presume the men have been
ordered to travel in certain for
nation said Sherwood, watching
an eagle that eircled above them.,
Look, he seems almost as big as,
some of the new midget air
planes"
Anne followed the bird with
her eyes. "Will we ever fly our
own machine as an eagle does?"
Il imagine it's all a matter OF
learning how" he said. Were
slowly acquiring the wisdom of
the animals. Perhaps that's one of
the reasons why we're here"
They rode while in silence.
Suddenly they noticed they
were being carried on past the
bridge they should cross, being
taken deeper into Yangsar terri
tory instead of cut to freedom.
No Bridge
CHERWOOD sprang forward and
~ caught the drivers shoulder.
They spoke sharply to each other,
the man whipping up his camels
and continuing on his way. Sher-
wood seized the whip from his
hand and ordered him to stop.
The other man grabbed at the
whip and in the struggle was
knocked from his seat to the
ground. He fell clear and the
driver halted.
Sherwood gave the command to
turn back. Instead the fellow
Jumped from the carriage pull
ing the white man after him.
Anne watched with dismay. The
native seemed to be something of
waestler and clever enough for
a while to give Sherwood no
chance To use his fists where they
would do any good. The other
native limped up and added HIM
SCI to the pile.
Mackey and the riders who had
Been some distance behind came
on the run, but Sherwood had
fought clear before they arrived.
the driver nursing a blackening
eye, the footman on his back, I'M
conscious.
Sweet serpents,'' howled Mac
key in delight. "can you be the
guy who's surrendered to Des-
tiny?"
They're not taking us to Chu-
ka," barked Sherwood.
sssHigh waters wrecked the
bridge. they tell me. We've got to
20 round. The river sinks into
the ground some distance ahead"
81 don't believe it"
Mackey looked back UP the
river. Maybe you're right" he
said tersely. The rest of the con-
yersation was continued in Turk
with the native men. Presently
Mackey and the captain of the
soldiers swung back UP the road
to examine the bridge.
Sherwood revived the fallen
footman and gave the driver an
American silver dollar TO- hold
on his eye. 1s1
'aThey're right" said Mackey
returning. "One end Of the bridge
is hanging in mid air. ~
Sherwood washed his hands
from the water skin and took his
place beside Anne, "The Captain
may have known that the bridge
was down but the driver didn't.
His orders were to go the way
we're going.
well, now that you've got me
thoroughly worried what are you
going to do about it?" inquired
Mackey.
Nothing" answered Sherwood,
his head ierked back by the sud-
den start of their camel. Mackey
and the riders dropped behind
again.
You're certainly a whirlwind
when you get started" said Anne.
"If the other natives had been off