Part 17 (2/2)
”Wot we done to dem chinks was sure a plenty, kiddo,” he rely as strong as ever, shaking hiuess it's lucky youse butted in when you did, old pot,” he added, turning toward Theriere; ”dey jest about hadat the man in wide-eyed a hi before her talking as unconcernedly as though he had not received a scratch--he seemed totally unaware of his wounds At least he was entirely indifferent to them
”You're pretty badly hurt, old man,” said Theriere ”Do you feel able to le? The japs will be back in a moment”
”Sure!” cried Billy Byrne ”Co for the
”Pass de kid up to me Quick! Dey're co to theThen Billy extended a hand to the Frenchether outside the hut
A dozen sa toward thele lay a hundred yards across the clearing There was no ti,” cried Theriere ”I'll cover our retreat withclose behind you”
Theher across his shoulder The blood froht, kiddo,” he cried, and started at a brisk trot toward the forest
Theriere kept close behind the two, reserving his fire until it could be effectively delivered With savage yells the sa quarry The natives all carried the long, sharp spears of the aboriginal head-hunters Their swords swung in their harness, and their ancient are, weird picture that the oddly contrasted party presented as they raced across the clearing of this forgotten isle toward a jungle as pri were the third day” An Ahest social caste borne in the arms of that most vicious of all social pariahs--the cri them with drawn revolver, a French count and soldier of fortune, while in their wake strea pack of half-caste demons clothed in the habili the barbarous spears of the savage head-hunting aborigines whose fierce blood coursed in their veins with that of the descendants of Taka-mi-musu-bi-no-kami
Three-quarters of the distance had been covered in safety before the sae of the trio Theriere, seeing the danger to the girl, dropped back a few paces hoping to hold the broarriors from her The fore his spear hand back of his shoulder for the throw Theriere's revolver spoke, and theover and over before he cae went up froe toward Theriere One of the weapons transfixed his thigh, bringing hie as the Frenchh, itnessed the catastrophe
”Stop!” she cried ”Mr Theriere is down”
The mucker halted, and turned his head in the direction of the French at the advancing eneirl to her feet
”Wait here!” he co back toward Theriere
Before he reached hi hi rapidly upon the wounded officer--it was a question ould reach him first
Theriere had been nipped in the act of reloading his revolver It lay beside hies Thethe weapon fro japanese Four of them went down before that deadly fusillade; but the mucker cursed beneath his breath because of his two misses
Byrne's stand checked the brownlull the man lifted the unconscious Frenchman to his shoulder and bore hile they laid hihtful wound in his chest must prove fatal within a few moments
Byrne, apparently unmoved by the seriousness of Theriere's condition, ree belt and buckled it about his oaist, replacing the six empty shells in the revolver with six fresh ones
Presently he noticed the bound and gagged Oda Iseka lying in the brush behind them where he and Theriere had left hie A sudden inspiration ca wit de chinks wen I hit de duirl, oddly, understood him She nodded her head, affiro den, eh?”
”A little”
”Tell dis gazimbat to wise his pals to de fact dat I'll croak 'iet-away Theriere says as how he's kink when his ole uy youse put to sleep in de chicken coop,” explained the mucker lucidly; ”so dis slob's kink hisself now”
Barbara Harding was quick to see the strength of the estion