Part 10 (1/2)

”It is nothing, senhor,” coolly answered the bowlance at the Peruvians said plainly that it would have been soain I say--lided away The Peruvian craft crawled on upstream in silence

When the next caotten the affair The h none mentioned Francisco's split n of en was held and at the usual ti to the sounds of the tropical wilderness seemed all that lay ahead of the secret sentinels

Sleep enveloped the huts Snores and gurgles rose and fell Tim himself, for the sake of effect, snored heartily at intervals, though his eyes never closed Through his uely, but he knew anyfrom the crew's quarters must cast a very visible shadow across that net, and to hi as a clear view of the substance But the hours crept on and no shadow cath, however, a small sound reached his alert ear--a sound different fro noise like that of a big snake or a huge lizard It caradually advancing toward his own hammock Whatever the creature was that ress was not human, but reptilian Puzzled, suspicious, yet doubtful, Tiht fell Head out, he watched for the crawling thing to come close

It came, and for an instant he was in doubt as to its character, for around it lay the deep shadow of some treetops which at that point blocked off theround andthat looked to be a , it raised its head and peered toward the hammock of Knowlton With thatof the head showed the face--the face of Francisco, the face of murder In its teeth was clamped a bare knife

Forthwith Tim applied General Order Number Thirteen

In one bound he was outside his net, colliding with Knowlton, oke instantly In another he was beside the assassin, ith a lightning grab at the knife in his rappling or clinching He kicked

His heavy boot, backed by the power of a hundred and ninety pounds of brawn, thudded into the Indian's chest Francisco was hurled over sidewise on his back Another kick crashed against his head above the ear He went lirated Tim ”Crawlin' on yer belly to knife a sleepin'

man, hey? Blast yer rotten heart--”

”What's up?” barked McKay froht attack, Cap If ye're coun on? Soay They're co was julance at the prostrate Francisco to make sure he was unconscious, Tiun

”Halt!” he roared ”First guy passin' this corner post gits shot Back up!”

The iht of Knowlton and McKay leaping out with pistols drawn, stopped the rush at the designated post But swift hands dropped, and when they rose again the linted on cold steel

”Capitan, what happens here?” demanded Jose, ominously quiet

”Knife work,” McKay replied, curtly ”Your man Francisco attempted to creep in and murder Senor Knowlton If you and the rest have similar intentions, now's your time to try If not, put away those knives”

”Knives! _Por Dios_, what do you mean?”

”Look behind you”

Jose looked At once he snarled curses and coht The paddlers edged backward to their own shack, leaving their _puntero_ alone

”The capitan has it wrong,” asserted Jose ”We awake to find our _popero_ being kicked in the head We want to knohy If Francisco has done what you say I will deal with him That I may be sure, allow me to look”

”Very well Look”

Jose advanced, stooped, studied the ground, the position of Francisco's body, the knife still clutched in the nerveless hand Tily vouchsafed a brief explanation of the incident When Jose straightened up, his mouth was a hard line and his eyes hot coals

”_Si Es verdad_ To-morroe shall have a new _popero_”

With which he stooped again, grasped the prone ed hi hi water!” he ordered

One of the paddlers, looking queerly at hi, sat up and scowled about hirimly ready, shoulder to shoulder, before their hut; veered to his mates bunched in sinister silence beside their own quarters; shi+fted again to lare of Jose His hand stole to his empty sheath