The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-06

AASs o4A-
stopped. She must have been think
ing more about Cliff Bogard than
she knew, and a little disconnected
at the knowledge, she drew off her
white blouse and laid it on the
bank. DC you remember my faith
Lilli?" she aske'
"Dr. Norman? Yes. He used to
come over when anybody was sick.
He came to see Vim once when he
had a fever SO bad they thought
he'd die"
you knew Vicente well?"
I'VE played together all the
time. Then when he had trouble
with the vaqueros ne went to live
in the Blacklands."
DO you see him often?"
81 used to. Not any more-not
since lc ook up fighting t va
queros." Resentment was manifest
in Lilli's face, and moodily she
added, IF anything happens to vi
cent? it'll be all the fault of his
leader. Sometimes l wish the va
queros would find him, whoever he
is. l said that to Vicente once and
he got mad. He says their leader
is the last hope of the Blacklaad-
ers."
"Lilli,"-Janet leaned forward
suppose you wanted to find vi
cente-wanted to find him very
badly-what would you do?"
I'D ride up the trail to the
Blacklands and ask the chicle
gatherers and the banana planters
if they knew where he was"
But hasn't he any place
to live?"
1T isn't safe for him to stay in
o:le place. He keeps moving
around. 1t might take a long ne
to find him." she glanced up at
Janet. What do you want to find
him for?"
Il was just wondering about
him." Janet answered.
Lilli lifted her arms and began
christening the back of her dress.
The single garment dropped in a
little circle about her feet, and for
a second she stood on the streams
edge, naked, s~un-bronzed, and
lovely.
Lets SWIM she said.
Wade and Cliff were waiting by
the canoe when the girls returned,
and for two hours more they pad
died steadily up the narrowing
stream. Lilli had relieved Cliff at
the bow. and he sat watching her
etfortlessly WELD the paddle,
shoulders and body moving in easy
rhythm. Wade too had been watch
ing his ward, and once, as she
raised her head, he asked, WHAT
is it, Lilli?"
Somebody is following us along
Cliff turned. l haven't seen any
thing-and Nv been watching that
bank"
cts there, just the same" She
spoke with quiet certainty.
For a time they padded in ST.
lence. then Lilli whispered, cts
still there"
"Who could it be?" Cliff asked
Wade.
might be a chiclero want to beg
some bacon or flour; might be an
Indian just keepin' tab on us. Jun
gle people are curious" Wade
seemed h oily u~nconcerned.
'Nothin' to worry about, anyhow.
1 got no enemies-never had-and
the Indians are all gentle"
Lilli shook her head. ut wasn't
an Indian"
Who was it," Cliff asked.
81 don't know"
For the next quarter hour Cliff
scanned every foot of the stream
bank for some movement. some
sign of life, but saw nothing. Not
even a leaf moved in the motion
less air, yet there raj a kind of
m%alevolent insolence in that unex-
planned presence keeping steady
pace, with them just behind the
screen jungle.
"Why not 60 ashore and see
what it's all about??" Cliff said
once.
Wade shook his head. by the
time we get there, whoever it is
would be gone. Besides, We'll be
landin' to make camp SOON"
Cliff found scant comfort in that.
The shadows were growing longer,
and at the next bend Wade turned
the canoe toward the bank, then
stepped out on a fiat limestone
rock. He listened for a full mo-
ment, his eyes questioning Lilli,
but she shook her head, and he
picked up a machete.
"Ill go ahead and brush out.
This trail amt been used for
months" He moved forward, hack
ing at the tangle Of underground
and lianas, while Lilli followed
him, her arms laden with camp
utensils and ponchos.
Cliff steadied the for
Janet, then shouldered what re-
manned of the camp equipment.
"What should I do?" Janet
asked.
"Follow Wade. And keep close. I
don't like this set-up."
The camp site iself was ideal,
several hundred yards back from
the stream, on the edge Of a clear
ing, with a deep, cold spring, and
a lean-to built for shelter against
storms. Around them great tree
trunks Isl straight and full and