Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TOTEM SIGNS. He cruised among the various inlets and coves in the vicinity of Fleming’s cabin first, then gradually widened the scope of his work until he had covered considerable area. He was trying to dig something out and at the same time kept close watch of passing craft. As a result he threw a bad scare into several gasboats whose owners boasted guilty consciences even if tempor- arily empty holds. One operator spent a lively half hour dumping his contraband over the side—an incident that livened the monotony of the cruise considerably. He had a clean bill when MacGregor boarded the craft. . For the most part the crews proved to be a silent, sullen lot, given to avoiding queries, or giving evasive replies. Limpy Ford had not been seen in two weeks one man told him, nor did he know where he operated from. ‘“ And if I did I wouldn’t tell you,” he added defiantly, “I’m enjoying good health and want to live my life out. Ford is dynamite. You should know that by this time.” “T do,” answered MacGregor; “ thanks and good day. Be careful and not get caught running booze. The sentence is stiff these days.” ‘““T won't!” rejoined the other with a grin. MacGregor had been out five days when this incident occurred and even his patience was exhausted. He was doubling back now for another look closer at the Fleming cabin. With good ‘fortune he could reach it some time early the following morning. The swaying mast of a gasboat caught his eye shortly before dark. But for the fact that he was dangerously close inshore, seeking small streams along which moonshiners were given to establish a base of operations, the craft would have been passed unnoticed. As he neared it certain outlines seemed familiar. He drew up alongside and an exclamation of delight escaped him. He had redeemed himself in part at least for there she rode in apparently as good con- dition as of old, the gasboat that had been stolen the day Edith Fleming wounded him. A few practical tests proved the craft un- harmed, and there was a fair supply of fuel in her tanks. 831 “Vd say she had been run from Flem- ing’s to this point and no other place,”’ he mused, “and that suggests that somebody brought her here and must be in the vicin- ity. Certainly Fleming did not steal her, for the craft is here and Fleming is in jail. He must have had some means of trans- portation back to town. His own boat no doubt. Well, that lets him out. And here is where I begin. But first I’ll secrete the old bucket as a sort of ace in the hole if something happens to the Taku.” He took the gasboat in tow and moored her in another cove three miles away, and he did it after darkness so that hostile eyes from the shore might not observe the move. Then he returned and waited for daybreak. The trip ashore early the following morn- Ing was not productive of results. There was not even a trail leading from the spot, unless bent twigs and broken bits of shrubbery marked the course taken by some lone person several days previous. But even this was so faint as to offer no im- mediate hope and he soon lost it. Bearing off in the general direction of the faint trail, MacGregor piloted the craft slowly through uncharted waters. A wall towered above him a sheer hundred feet, unbroken for perhaps a quarter of a mile. He was about to head for safer water when he saw for the first time the outward appearance of unbroken expanse became less pronounced. “ By jingo!” he exclaimed. ‘“ Here’s a real discovery. That wall does break and in- terlocks. Something is beyond.” Five minutes later he had the skiff over the side and was crossing a reef. Presently a tiny bay opened, and beyond that a nar- row channel that led into a landlocked bay, lined with tiny coves and beaches. It extended for fully five miles into the mountains that guarded it from the prying eyes of the world. Hanging glaciers smiled down from lofty peaks. It was a little bit of paradise that he had blundered into. He returned to the Taku, roughly sketch- ing a course through the reef, taking fre- quent soundings with an oar. Then he crawled over the rocky barrier and entered the bay at slow speed. Nor did he show himself, for a hundred spots along the COMIGD OOo! S (©