Part 50 (1/2)

Froht followed the figure of the Italian Mascola leaped to cover behind a huge rock

The saory's ear As Snal to the men without, he cried: ”Hands up, men You're prisoners of the United States”

The flash-light fell fro shot echoed from the darkness across the cave Sasped, and tuory slid from the rocks and stuht fro to his knee, he shot at the flash of a gun ahead Di their way into the cave Soon the vaulted walls reverberated with the rattle of firearht of the signal flares burning at the entrances

Brought into bold relief by the weird glow froures could be seen leaping to cover behind the rocks Froh the cavern, clipping the walls and rattling the pebbles to the stone floor Flattening his body against the sliled foot by foot in the direction of the big rock which sheltered Mascola

The game was up Bandrist e deputies and drew cautiously away from Mascola The _Fuor d'Italia_ lay at anchor in the cove beyond the goose-neck The tunnel-like passage, which only himself kneould lead hi party would be his chance to take to the boat In the fog he could make his escape By daybreak he could make the Mexican coast Then he would be safe Of Mascola he thought but little, save as a ht

Mascola faced about a fewalone

Then he heard the rattle of loose stones dropping fro him The Italian's blood warmed at the islander's treachery Did Bandrist think he was the only one who knew the way out?

His anger h the narrow opening So Bandrist thought to give him the slip, did he? Well, he'd show him

When Bandrist reached the end of the tunnel he crawled out into the fog and listened intently So a fresh clip into his automatic he waited Then he silently replaced his revolver A shot would only draw pursuit Perhaps there wereclose to the cavern tunnel he waited for the figure of the e

When Mascola reached the end of the tunnel he felt hihly by the arm and twisted to the rocks Bandrist recovered his wits quickly when he recognized the Italian

”Quiet,” he whispered ”You were a long ti There may be men on the beach already Where is your boat?”

Mascola nodded his head in the direction of the beach

”My skiff lies close to rocks by the point,” he said ”The launch is close by”

Bandrist fingered his autoer,” he said

As he spoke he began to crawl forward toward the water

The blue light fronal flares flickered about the rock behind which Mascola had gone into hiding Gregory reached the shadow, revolver in hand Raising his body to his elbow, he leaned forward and looked up

The space which lay between the rock and the cavern as empty He was on his feet in an instant Mascola had escaped That h the main entrance to the beach He would have no chance that way The sound of the tumult at the mouth of the cavern told him that Neither could the Italian have taken the other passage He would have seen him as he passed

He searched the floor carefully for a possible hiding-place which would shelter the ht Then he raised his eyes to the cave wall It was lined with irregular niches, soh to hide the body of a nal flares, he climbed slowly upward until he felt a cool rush of air fan his cheek

The air was heavy with fog; laden with the breath of the sea The cavern held still another entrance

Forcing his body through a cleft in the rocks from whence the breeze cae The dry sticks snapped beneath his feet as he felt his way through the i at intervals to listen

That Mascola had preceded him only a few minutes before, he felt reasonably certain By the tiht have gained a place of safety Why had he not juht of his father's hts turned quickly to dickie Lang Perhaps the _Gray Ghost_ e in the cove adjoining the goose-neck Perhaps the speed-boat had been run down

Would the girl do as she was told and stay on the launch?

His ory crawled on through the darkness