The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-07

Do koT an hour tney Kept steadily
on, until at last Cliff heard dogs
barking and saw flames flickering
among the trees ahead-they had
reached the Blacklanders' camp.
A strange, unreal scene. Three
fires. tended by barefoot 1idsa an
women, cast 1ickering shadows
across a little clearing where sad
dies, blankets and utensils were
slung about in a disarray that bore
evidence Of a very temporary habi-
tation. At the edge OF the clearing
clustered several palm-leaf shacks,
their sagging roofs telling CT long
disuse.
Then from beneath his horses
shoulder Cliff heard a voice say,
This is as far as you CO."
A heavy-set Blacklander with a
stubble beard unfastened Cliffs
wrists. and as he dismounted the
man pointed to the nearest shack.
Get il there, and don't come out
until you're called"
It was jet black inside, but feel
ing about him, Cliff tested the
strength of the walls. They were
made Of stout bamboo poles driv.
en- into the ground and laced to-
gether with lianas so securely they
could not bulge. Except for a
coarse wooden blanket the shack
was empty not even a palrn-leaf
mat. The place smel1ed wet and
muSty.
Cliff walked back to the door.
Propped against a tree his captor
sat, a brush knife lying in his lap.
The women, meanwhile, had
thrown wood on the fires until they
were burning ~fiercely, lighting up
the lean, tanned features OF the
Blackland riders. Most OF the men
were busying themselves with the
horses, some were helping the wo-
men. There were no sentries, and
except for his unshavea jaJer. no
one seemed to pay the slightest
attention to Cliff. Only the uhre.
uniting watchfulness of that one
men kept escape from seeming
a. fair possibility.
Foot by foot he began exploring
the shortest and safest way to
cross the clearing. considering the
location of every tree, every bush.
Not much cover even at night. but
if he could just make the fringe
of jungle, the rest would be -
His eyes stopped. Dear God!"
he groaned. There she is again!"
Across the clearing, the freight
%glittering in her coppery hair,
stood Janet Norman. She had
just disrnounted, and even as Cliff
caught sight Of her a Backlander
pointed in the direction Of Bogard's
shack.
Cliff felt a surge Of baffled rage
with her on his hands, his hopes
Of escape went glimmering. She
would be more Of an obstacle than
his bearded jailer.
He watched her walk toward
him, threading her way among the
Blacklanders, and as she came up
to the guard, she stopped uncer-
tainly, then seeing Cliff, ran for
ward. Pm SO glad you're here"
she burst out.
That's just fine" He gave 4
short laugh. PERSONALLY ! can
think of places I'd rather be-"
II mean" she amended, "I'm
not SO frightened now you're here.
l thought l was all alone"
| The guard was listening, and
Cliff dropped his voice. did vi
cente bring you here?"
mo. l haven't seen Vicente.
Three Blacklanders brought me-"
That accounts for it. I was
wondering why Vicente would kid.
nap you after you helped him es-
cape"
She shook her head. II wish I
had helped hin-I'd be better Off"
Cliff glanced at her with an
increduleus smile. "You don't
have to cover up with me, you
know"
But l didn't help him, 1 tell
you. / intended to, but whea / went
down to the cage he was already
. gone" She looked around. what
are they going to do with us?"
II can think of a better ques-
tion-what am I going to do?
"You mean escape?"
"Why not? What have I to 1ose?"
| She was silent, her eyes clouded
with indecision, then she asked.
why do you always say T.?