The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-08

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unconscious form, he dragged 1t IN
side. Swiftly he bound the guard
hand and foot, then used the extra
strip to gag him. Once, in the dim
light, Cliff glanced across the pros
trate body at Janet. She was
kneeiing, testing his knots.
He went back to the door-all
quiet out there. Ready"
She nodded and together they
ran from the shack. Cliff picked
UP the guards knife as he passed,
and a second later they were IN
the jungle. Holding her by the
hand, he led the way, cropping
through almost total darkness,
thankful that the underground was
sparse beneath the trees: and not
until they dropped down into a
shallow valley did he dare snap on
the Haslight.
Easier going now. He slackened
his pace, for Janet was stumbling
in an effort to keep up, and her
breath Vas coming in spaslnodic
gasps. IF she goes to pieces now"
he told himself, we're sunk" AT
the end of an hour they reached a
small brook, and lifting Janet in
his arms, he began wading to OBJ
literate their trail.
'Vicente will be after US by
dawn" he said once, While they
rested. He'll start first for the
place where they caught US, SO
our best chance is to wade down
this stream and head for the
river"
81 can wade if you don't go leo
fast" she told him.
Together they splashed along The
stream-bed. until at length the,
were in a little leafy glade, wet Il
the wiast and nearly exhausted
There the battery of the flashlish
expired, and disgustedly Cliff
threw it into the stream. "Tha
means we camp here" he said
and heard Janet sigh in relief.
"All in?" he asked.
Dead" And curling up CT
the bank, she fell asleep.
Slowly the night passed. On the
bank beside him Cliff could heal
her quiet, steady breathing, like
WORKOUT child. Once, without wax
ing, she stirred and gave a little
cry, and he thought with forebod'
ing of the coming day. She'd be
stiff and doubly weary after a
night on the ground. It might be
better to take off her shoes and
wet socks, but that would waken
her. If only it had been Lilli in
stead of this girl of the cities!
with Lilli there would have been
every chance of escaping; she
could take care of herself.
Sometime before dawn a damp,
chilling wind sprang up, and TAX
ing off his leather jacket, Cliff
spread it over the girl, then with
a start he felt her hand touch his.
Thanks" she said sleepily.
you awaken"
I'm cold" And ono more her
breathing told him she was asleep
again.
To the east the sky began
Frightening: a flock of parakeets
few past. and rousing himself,
Cliff bent over her. She lay with
her head pillowed on n arm, legs
curled up in an effort to keep
warm, thick hair flowing about her
shoulders like a scarf Of red gold.
Physically she was certainly far
from fragile; the broad shoulders,
high breasts, and full rounded neck
all attested that; it was rather as
if by some perverse effort OF will
she held in check the vitality with
in her. And the face, in sleep, was
singularly free of care. The wari-
ness had gone, the long lashes lay
like tiny curving scimitars across
her cheek. For a long moment he
hesitated, reluctant to awaken her.
then his hcnd touched her shoulder,
but so deep was her sleep that she
did not move. Gently he shook her.
"Janet," he said aloud. it was
the first time he had called her
by that name.
Slowly the dark eyes opered, she
looked sleepily up at him, then as
consciousness returned, the eyes
took on their old wariness. and she
sat bolt upright. Are the Black
landers after us?' she whispered.
"They will be 500 There's a
game trail. up ahead, and I think
it leads to the river. If We can
get through by noon. We may pick
up Pablo" He helped her to her
feet. Il know you're dog-tired. but
our only hope is to keep going"