The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-18

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THAT rider went out there and he
certainly didn't come back"
Once more he rode along the
bank. then sat looking over the ex-
panse Of ,stagnant water. With a
jerk he Strengthened in his saddle.
"That's queer!" He pointed to
a tree close beside the bank.
That's a red mangrove. And
there's another one beyond-a line
of them leading into the swamp,
and those mangroves only grow in
shallow water" His eyes were
glowing-perhaps the thing was
beginning to make sense. HAS
this swamp always been here?" he
asked.
emo. They made it when they
drained the Blacklands."
"Then why couldn't those man
groves mark an old trail that's
under water now? I'm going to
try it again."
"If you go" Lilli's vote was
tremulous-'I'm coming too"
Don't keep too close to me,
then"
This time 1t took all Cliffs
Workmanship to force his sweating
animal down over the edge and
into the swamp. Nervously sniff.
fling every foot, the horse began
wading' through the green slime,
Cliff guiding him along the line
Of mangroves. Twice the animal
Numbered from what must have
been a submerged and narrow
trail, but both times recovering,
went slowly on. Above their heads
clouds Of insects lowered, and on
either side blunt noses of alligators
raised cautiously, and small, ruby
eyes kept patient. hopeful watch.
1t was like moving in some lost.
prehistoric world.
Curving ever south, the man
groves led on until Cliff wondered
if they were not taking him back
to shore again. Then suddenly he
felt his horse quicken its pace,
and looking up, saw higher land
ahead.
"We're nearly over" he called,
and soon they were climbing OF
hard, hinty ground that gave no
sign Of tracks. Tall trees and
palms had replaced the stunted
swamp vegetation; even the air
seemed fresher, and Cliff felt a
vast relief to have honest earth be-
hearth their horses feet. Once,
leaving the trail. he made his way
out over a ledge Of rock to the top
o. a low bridge. About him, as far
as his eyes could pierce the haze,
stretched the stagnant waters of
Big Swamp-they were on an
island. And the solitary rider was
there too.
Cliff stiffened-a faint sound far
to the left, as of someone chopping
woodland dismouting, he walked
back to where Lilli waited.
Lets do the rest Of this afoot,"
he said. 'It will he less noisy"
lettering their horses in a
clump of bamboo, they moved UP
the slope. Sleeper now. The sound
Of chopping seemed to come from
directly ahead, and reaching the
~ridge-top, Cliff parted the under
growth, then motioned the girl to
his side.
Below them, at the bottom of a
long slope, stood a roughly cir
cular stockade, built Of upright
logs securely lashed together.
Within the enclosure -Four men
were walking about, and Cliff saw
that at the narrow entrance stood
an armed guard.
He put his lips against Lilli's
ear. who. are those men inside
the stockade?"
Ely their clothes, I think they're
Madison's vaqueros."
Cliff nodded. $50 do /. More
than that, I think they're the va
queros who disappeared-the mes
who never came back" His voice
quickened with excitement. II have
a bunch this may be the hiding
place of the Blacklands chief"
Keeping behind the dense shelter
Of the underground. they made
their way along the ridge, then
once again they stopped. Just
ahead lay a clearing, dotted with
mahogany trees, and in its center
stood a dwelling Of much sturdier
construction than Cliff had seen in
all the Blacklands.
While they watched. a barefoot
Indian boy came out Of the jungle.
his arms filled with firewood, and
disappeared inside the house. For
a moment the clearing lay emp
ty of life-then with a whispered
words Of warning, Cliff fattened to
the ground and drew Lilli beside
him. A man had emerged from
the house and began walking in
their direction. He was hatless,
dressed in khaki field clothes, and
even at that distance Cliff could
see he was powerfully built - al
man perhaps in middle fifties.
Suddenly, with a choked cry,
Lilli started to her feet, and Cliffs
arms swept about her, pulling her
back beside him.
BE quiet!" He put his hand over
her mouth.
She lay trembling; he could see
her heart pounding beneath the
thin blouse.
"What is it," he breathed.
She fought to find her voice,
cts Miss Janet's father-Dr. Nor
~ - -Centinus1l
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