THE GREY WOLFS EYE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GREY WOLFS EYE

Frank said: "The skipper has reached the end of the cave. In other words, he's up against a stone wall, and' he doesn't like to come back and admit the fact." Ten minutes ticked away, and still there was no sign of Captain Bob's return. "This," said George, "is getting serious. We had better see what has happened." "What could happen to liifn?" Thompson demanded. "You aren't thinking of ghosts, surely?" "I'm not," Jenkins answered shortly. "I'm thinking of Captain Bob's safety. He should have been back minutes ago. Come on, follow me, and we'll soon learn the reason for his prolonged absence."

8y.... Conrad Templefon

Again they walked to the end of the. cave; again they felt the solid wall. Of Captain Bob there wasn't a sign. "Well, that beats everything. Where could he have disappeared to? George, old gun, things are bad, I'm thinking. Without the skipper we are worse than sheep without a shepherd." He raised his voice. "Captain Bob!" he called. "Where are you?" Only the echoes of his voic,e came back to him. The two boys held their breath and listened. "He couldn't have passed us in the darkness," George suggested. "So, I'm sure he couldn't. The cave is too narrow for that. It was as much as we could do to walk abreast." "Then where has he gone?" Frank demanded. "We must find him. He couldn't have vanished in thin air. And I'm sure he wouldn't wilfully desert us." Again they called his name, and again they were favoured by the cclioes of their voices And then, when they had given up hope of seeing the light-hearted, genial skipper again, tliev heard the measured tramp, tramp of his feet coming toward them.

"Well, I'm jiggered! Where could he have been hiding? And what a senseI less joke to play on us."'

"Hello, me lads! Here I am. Thought you had lost me, I bet. No, sire! You can't lose old Captain Bob so easily as that. I've been doing a spot of exploring. And I've found something." "What?" demanded both boys.

"Don't shout, unless you want those guards to visit us and spoil everything. Listen! I have found a way out of this cave. A storm is brewing outside, and it's for you to say whether we remain here or brave the elements. Me? I'm for leaving at once. What is it to be?"

"The sooner we are free of this awesome cave the better," said Frank. "Isn't that right, George?"'

"You won't find me far behind you," Jenkins said briefly. "I'm ready to leave now."

"Then now, it is, me lads. You'd better get a grip of my waistband, young Frank. And you, George, keep a" tight hold of your friend. We have a tricky sea to sail before we are out in the

open again."

'"But we examined the cave," Frank protested.

"Thought you did. young fellow. Yon merely walkec#itraight ahead'. Me? I examined every inch of the rocky walls. Found a small opening, I did. Squeezed through, nearly knocked my old toppiece to bits, fell into an unexpected hole and was winded, and tiien got a glimpse of the sky. It is quite dark outside. Was nearly tempted to leave

you young 'uns l>ehind and remain outside. Thought better of it, though, and toddled back."

They soon found the little opening in the rocky wall through which Captain Bob had squeezed a little before. They had forced themselves through when they heard the guards rush in to bring thorn out.

"Come on out, you three. Captain Trevalyn wants to speak to you." The captain and the two boys listened intently while the men examined the cave; listened while the report of their absence was made; and then, satisfied that they were comparatively safe, they pressed forward again. A warning whisper from Captain Bob made them duck their heads in time to escape the overhanging piece of stone on which he had suffered some time previously. But his sudden cry was too late to-prevent tliem from falling a few feet into a rough hole. From this they scrambled and, crawling, at last were able to secure a glimpse of the skv, ceilinged with low-hanging clouds. Heavy clouds that seemed to hang ominously. jJlack, threatening clouds!

"We're in for ;i wetting, captain. Who cares.? It won't hurt us; and anything is better than being in the hawls of those men. What do they call themselves again? The Moccos," that's it."

They had barelv time to reach the shelter of a tree when the storm buret. The wind blew and the rain fell. And then, from the top of the Grey WolC flashed a lieacon light.

"Well, I'll be pole-axed." Captain fiob was almost lost for words. "Wreckers!"

Coming straight for the guiding beacon was a large ship. And less than 100 yards from it was a rough. rocky seabed. (To he continued next week.)