Part 11 (2/2)

”Gee!” he said ”Won't dey be a sore bunch in dethe balance of the party required but a few minutes and when the plan was explained to the Skipper Simms and Squint Eye It was decided that only the eatables be carried away on the first trip, and that if a second trip was possible before dawn the clothing, canvas, and cordage that had been taken froht then be purloined

Miller and Swenson were detailed to bring up the rear with Miss Harding, assisting her up the steep side of the cliff Divine was to act as guide to the new ca of the heights with the loot

Cautiously the party, with the exception of Divine, Miller, and Swenson, crept toward the little pile of supplies that were heaped fifty or sixty feet fro members of Simms' faction The three left behind walked in silence to Barbara Harding's shelter Here Divine scratched at the piece of sail cloth which served as a door until he had succeeded in awakening the sleeper within And from above Oda Yorimoto watched the activity in the little cove with intent and unwavering eyes

The girl, roused from a fitful slumber, came to the doorway of her primitive abode, alarmed by this nocturnal summons

”It is I, Larry,” whispered the irl, stepping out into the ht ”What do you want? What has happened?”

”We are going to take you away from Simms--Theriere and I,” replied the man, ”and establish a safe camp of our ohere they cannot one for the supplies now and as soon as they return we shall commence the ascent of the cliffs If you have any further preparations to et away from here as quickly as possible Should any of Siirl turned back into the shelter to gather together a handful of wraps that had been saved froe Theriere, Byrne, Bony Sawyer, Red Sanders, Blanco, and Wison were selecting the goods that they wished to carry with them

It was found that two trips would be necessary to carry off the bulk of the rations, so Theriere sent the mucker to suht of us can to the top of the cliffs,” he said ”hide it there and then coet it later if we are unable to ht”

While they aiting for Byrne to return with the two recruits one of the sleepers in Simms' camp stirred Instantly the five round behind the boxes and casks Only Theriere kept his eyes above the level of the top of their shelter that he ure sat up and looked about It was Ward Slowly he arose and approached the pile of salvage Theriere drew his revolver, holding it in readiness for an eency Should the first 's shelter hethere in the ht Theriere turned his own head in the direction of the shelter that he ht he saw that no one was in sight Either they had seen Ward, or for the sake of greater safety from detection had moved to the opposite side of the shelter

Ward was quite close to the boxes upon the other side of which crouched the night raiders Theriere's finger found the trigger of his revolver

He was convinced that the mate had been disturbed by theThe Frenchman knew that the search would not end upon the opposite side of the salvage--in a moment Ward would be upon them He was sorry--not for Ward, but because he had planned to carry the work out quietly and he hated to have to , especially on Barbara's account

Ward stopped at one of the water casks He tipped it up, filling a tin cup ater, took a long drink, set the cup back on top of the cask, and, turning, retraced his steps to his blanket Theriere could have hugged hi He merely had been thirsty and come over for a drink--in another h, before Byrne returned with Miller and Swenson, Theriere could bear the snores of the first ht uard Barbara Harding The second trip was made with equal dispatch and safety No sound or movement ca men On the second trip Divine and Theriere each carried a burden up the cliffs, Miller and Swenson folloith Barbara Harding, and as they came Oda Yorimoto and his saht pass unobserving

Theriere had the bulk of the loot hidden in a rocky crevice just beyond the cliff's suetation that covered the ground was strewn over the cache All had been accomplished in safety and without detection The camp beneath them still lay wrapped in silence

The uidance of Divine, was immediately undertaken On the return trip after the search for water Divine had discovered a well-e of the cliffs to a point opposite the spring, and another leading fronorance he had thought these the runways of anihways of the head-hunters

Now they presented a comparatively quick and easy approach to the destination of the mutineers, but so narrow a one as soon to convince Theriere that it was not feasible for hi the flank of his colureatly inconvenienced and retarded the heavily ladennear the center of the cavalcade until the new camp was reached

Here he found a fair-sized space about a clear and plentiful spring of cold water Only a fe bushes dotted the grassy clearing which was alle The men had deposited their burdens, and still Theriere stood waiting for the balance of his party--Miller and Swenson with Barbara Harding

But they did not come, and when, in alarm, the entire party started back in search of them they retraced their steps to the very brink of the declivity leading to the cove before they could believe the testi and the two sailors had disappeared

CHAPTER X BARBARA CAPTURED BY HEAD-HUNTERS

WHEN Barbara Harding, with Miller before and Swenson behind her, had taken up the march behind the loot-laden party seven dusky, noiseless shadows had eed from the forest to follow close behind

For half athe narrow trail une a half-dozen words with the girl and had again moved forward toward the head of the column Miller was not more than twenty-five feet behind the firstand Swenson followed at intervals of but three or four yards

Suddenly, without warning, Swenson and Miller fell, pierced with savage spears, and at the sa, and a silencing hand was clapped over her mouth There had been no sound above the muffled tread of the seamen It had all been accoirl did not comprehend what had befallen her for several minutes