THE GREY WOLF'S EYE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 129, 3 June 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GREY WOLF'S EYE

By Conrad Templeton

Start And Read Our Thrilling Serial To-day

Then, when they were about to give in, when their tired arms almost refused to move, when their heads throbbed rhythmically with each .-hellful of water they tossed overboard, tliey rounded a turn and saw in the distance the welcome blue of the ocean.

The joyful shout that the boys were about to emit froze on their lips. A huge tree had fallen across the stream and over this the water was washing. Kaeh knew that it would be impossible to hurdle the obstacle. A heart beat and they were dashed agiin.-t the obstruction.

Tlie sound of the swirlinjr waters, was eclipsed by that of the sudden impact of the boat auainst the tree. Followed a wrenching aii< 1 tearing, and then complete blackness.

'J ]»' black cloud of insensibility lilted from tile lirain of Frank Thompsou to .-how 11im Captain Bob and (.'eorge • fenkins standing over him. He was lying on an improvised ln'<l of irrass and bracken tern. His head was throbbing as if a blacksmith were usini; it as a forge.

'J he boat. ' he whi-pered, subconsciously reaching for his >hcll to do Mime more baling.

'•iloora v! '• ' joyful shout ran out. His mate w,i.-n't seriously hurt. *] I<iw do you fee], ~l<l horse V Sorrv I wasnt able to see what Jiappened to \ on, but 1 was too busy with mv own troubles."'

I'rank tried to rdand up, swayed drunkenlv and collaj«-cd on the -rass. "I'm ;ill right." lie tried to Miv. forcing a smile. "The old boat suffered. 1 see. Jt can't lie helped. It served its purpose, thanks to the cleverness of Captain Boh."

"Who cares about the boat''"' Ceoriie la milled heartily. "Jt was a touch and po for the three of us for about ti() seconds. The skiji|H>r iindfl were hurled rijjht over the tree."

on '.M U'.'Cil thill as badly and struck your top-piece a bonzer thump oh the Fort unat-ely for you. the cushion of water broke the impact a little." Asa ill Frank tried to rise to his feet, 'his time lie was successful. Craduallv *he 7-ockiujr landscape became -till. Hi's throb 1 >ill head eased its mighty blows. "What Hex t. skipper?" he at-ked bravely. "I'm ready for anything that is doing. How far are we from our des*_ tina t ion ?" Haven t you recognised things yet, Frankie? Look, over there. Bevond that, point I think you'll find the cleared runaway «here we took oil on our sensational aeroplane flight." "By jimiuy. (Jcorgc, you're right. Afv arms are that heavy that it takes an effort to raise tl.cm. Captain Hob. you're a jolly autocrat, keeping us up to it like you did. I don't think L shall ever lorgive you." "Had to. my l,oy. \\Y couldn't have stopped it' we'd wanted to. Once we there was nothing el-e fop us to "hi but to l<c,.p until " "That, jolly old hi- blocked our passage," Frank suggested gaily. He was happy happy that his friend was not seriously injured—happv that thev had re,-amed the miles they" had lost. "

;"I«as well fur us that it did.' - Captain Bob pointed a few hundred yards aliead. The stream spread itself mil fiver a rocky flat. The water couldn't, have been more than a few in.-lies deep, while the sharp-pointed rocks stood up like menacing spikes, ready to wreck •iny era ft that was forced upon them. I'rank nodded comprehending!v. Thev had performed a miracle—traversing tliat, mountain stream. Captain Boh had proved himself a capable mariner Said Ceor;re: "We reallv rub out all that has rr.,,,0 lief«»re ami start a-ain nl l ' Ak 800,1 "S we have a bit of a lest. we are sroiny to proceed. ''The ski,,per doesn't like dallvin-r heieal.oni f,„. 5 ,,„ 1( . kllmvn ,i x to li i nisei I. He murmured somethin'"- " '""it da iiL'er wlien I questioned him

'•This here grey wolf mystery," Captain Jiolj said, slightly irritated. "Aiy we, or are we not - / That is what I want to know."' "\\ e are," Ccor-cg agreed, rising -lowly. "Jiow do you feel now, Frank ? J las t li.it mainbox of yours ceased to throb v ]lecovered your old equanimity I" "J-.ijiianiiuilyThompson repeated. "Good word that, George. iSkipper, we must remember it. \es, old gun, I'm as good as ever i was—or very nearly. I'm ready, captain. Lead oil'. WhereV" he asked. taptuin Bob waxed his hand in a sweep that took in the whole horizon. "Over there,"' he answered. "We'll lirst proceed to that cleared patch from which we took oli' on that there aeroplane jaunt of ours. From there we'll make our way nearer to that mighty rock. I can't tell you any more. What will follow depends entirely on what we "And the reception we receive, from those semi-wild smugglers, 1 ' George added. (To be continued on Saturday next.)

"Hanger i* righf. young fellow. We could be seen easilv this stream. We've -r,,t , ,1 , V f . . « '1 t lie rOldtor ■P., Jiv r n i- so,,n ,m y °" tw «»««■ *'"»<■ w jnst about up, I ' ( < ;V'"' < "" w - M'* move on." 'Was 1 here ever another such man?" 1 rank growled. "Wry , s| " r '■

"Vou ,|„„-t want to be carried," Cantain Mob remarked sarcastically. "Von •'"•en t a hahv."

Frank braced himself up and felt the better for ,t. "I'm not," he snapped. I am ready for anything that is coming to in,-, \' ou w, m 't find me lagging far behind."

throaty chuckle from tho skipper. He kne\y ihe temperament of the bovs who had joined him in the search for adventure.

In a short time they had reached the shelter of a thicket of trees. Here Captain l»ol> allowed them two full hours' rest. Moth hoys relaxed, Ceor-o even Closed his eyes in sleep. | t was vrrv comfortable reclining on the grass, eoxered ground after the gruelling time they had had.

'"Well, me lads, Rethinks 'tis time to he Tip doinpr." Captain H,,i, o ;1 ;'ed l"""i".-i> at the ocean sweeping in Inward him. Maybe he was loncring for the return of the Xancv Lee. A pause, and he spoke ajrain. "Hon on. Thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll," he quoted. "Shakespeare!" said Frank, with a

No, I'vron." t lie captain correct oil. "You can't, catch me like that. What about it':" 'About what?" CJcorne asked from his position 011 the pround.

Rae North—hou't forgot to write your name ami address "ii vour contributions I as well a - "II y.iiir letters, line. All illus- ' Ira I ions must lie drawn ill indian ink, .-o 1 am unable lo us.- !!i<- one you sent in. Connell Upfold—Yon forgot to lot mo know when your lorllnlay was, Connell. rut I I tiave this informal ion I cannot add your name to our liirlliday list. Barbara Smeeton—Thank you for taking the trouble to explain about your small sister's entry, Itarhara. It was quilu a goo.| attempt for a four-year-old. Audrey Oliver—l have not forgotten about your certitbate. Audrey, but 1 am waiting' for some more to be printed. Win n those arrive I .-hall send your- out. The prize you mention -comes in a pocket ,-izo. Dulcie Halcrow—So you were one of the unlucky ones who caught, the 'tin. Imbue. 1 hope you are quite better now. Mavis Panther—lioth sketches were good attempts. Mavis, but not quite up to publication standard. Your lines are rather scratchy and the little figures rather stilf. Sheila .McCracken—Jokes do not have to lie original, sheila, but remember to mark them "copied," won't you? Joy Muller Yes, Joy, you may choose a book you would like, and ir possible it will he sent out to you. Zoe Harris—l think "Sabu" is an excellent wmie for a liiile black kitten, Zoe, and quite an original ••ne. too. Tito drawins- were not quite good enough for me to publish. You have n tendency to make your 11:_■!ii-e s -1 jJT and wooden lit appearance. ITo\ ill ■ij t y should come with more practice, so keen mi trying. Marjorie Coles—l expect, you will lie. glad to in- hoiii" again alter being in hospital wMi app"ni!iejtj-. Marjorie. My bo-1 wi-!i es for a speedy return lo good health. June Hamill—livery fortnight I publish a si.]|.i-!:i,n ~f uvit-oih i orre-poiulents in my jieii ■ I rl'-nds" column. Juno, so porhapyoii may 11! id one to .-nil you. I have no pen friends in l-j'iiailor a: present. Eileen Potter—How ab ml calling your club the liortuouse C.ltili. after that uuainl. little character from "Alice in Wonderland," Kiloeti? Does the name ipjieal to you? Dorothy Shaw—l am always glad to receive vor-. - from my nicju'jors. Dorothy, and to help tlieni \vh:"i possible. "pi sttirlaud" is one of you" best poems, 1 think, and "Mushrooms" is al;» to be I'ommended. Flora Campbell—Yes. Flora, that was an error. Thank yon for pointing it out, but 1 think it is too late to do anythingabout, it now. Heather George—Good clean work, Heather, and very writ done, hut not quite the s| V |e for our pages. Please send in some more sketches of a more childish -übjel't.