DYNAMITE VALLEY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 88, 13 April 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

DYNAMITE VALLEY

A Thrilling Tale chapter xrrr. Waltham as Leader. feud Waltham, one of the members of the syndicate of treasure-seekers that had set out under tlie leadership of Ambrose Kenny, snarled dangerously as lie realised that Kenny was trying to show them all a dirty point. Ambrose was like that. He was never to be trusted. Waltham knew this of old. The boy had left them while he set out alone to secure the old pirate treasure. If he should be successful and find it, the others would not obtain a penny piece. Waltham determined to usurp the |>osition of loader of the party. He called the men together and told them. Mentioned that. in his opinion, Kenny had double-crossed them. Ho was unanimously voted leader, all swearing to do his bidding, and to deal summarily with Ambrose Kenny should they come upon him. For two days and two nights they had waited for Kenny to return. Either something had happened to him or. what was more likely, lie had decided to act on his own. having used the others for his own convenience. The valley they sought was directly in front of them. The first difficulty thev had to overcome was its dcscent. Kound and round it they walked, searching for a track that would lead them to the bottom. At last they decided to rope themselves together and attempt to climb down. They had found a place not quite so precipitous, and with a bit of luck they considered they could negotiate it. Waltham was in the lead, each of the others straining •hard on the rope to support him as lie blazed the trail, and digging their heels into the ground to offer what resistance they could. Once thev had started there was no turning back. It would lie impossible to retrace their steps. Still, tho thought of what thev might find below lnioycd them up. They were determined to reach the bottom of the valley and secure the Peruvian treasure. A huge fortune for each of them was worth braving many dangers for! What was more, they felt they could trust Bud Waltham. Kenny they had never liked. For one hundred, two hundred feet, they descended, picking and choosing each new foothold. At times their feet slipped and they were in danger of hurtling to the bottom. Miraculously they always seemed to find some slight projection that would Mop their downward progress ami rekindle the hope that they would reach the valley in safety. Above them were overhanging trees that served to screen the vallev from sightseers. Not even a blade of gra«s was growing on the side of the cliff they were now negotiating. Waltham was at the end of the rope, 30ft helow the top man. He had reached an almost vertical stretch, with not a foothold of any description. He shouted hack to the nearest man. indicating that he was going to swing himself down, urging

Of Pirate Treasure. the man to warn the others farther back t-o be prepared to support his weight. He waited anxioufelv until the 5 message had been conveyed along the 5 line. Then with a grunt he eased himself from the ledge and began to slide down, nibbing his feet against the rough side of the cliff in ' an endeavour to take some of the 0 strain from the men above. Soon the '* soles of his shoes were worn through, ' leaving his thick stockings to bear 5 the brunt. Another few yards and * he would have reached a slight ledge > where he could support himself. He y had almost reached it when the rope seemed to slacken for a moment. He e breathed again as it was drawn taut e by those above. 1 Waltham was able to touch the s ledge lightly. A few seconds ticked i away, and his sore and bleeding feet were firmly set on the few inches of rock. From his position he could now i see right over the valley; could see e the old 6liip listed to one side lying in its century-old bed of sand. His f eyes took in the distance left for him i. to overcome. He could do it, he felt, n without any assistance. 0 His brain worked quickly. Probably " that rotting old ship sheltered a huge fortune! He would secure it all for himself! He would not divide it s with anyone! Just as Ambrose Kenny t had double-crossed his men, so would 5 Waltham play the same trick on 7 those who had solemnly sworn to be t true to him I

Reaching up a« as he could, he cut the rope. He untied the knots from the yard or two left him, and, without an upward glance, he bo<ran to make his way down the cliff to the valley. He grinned wickedly as he heard the shouts of protest from above him. What cared he? It was every man for himself when a fortune o*f over million pounds—nearer twenty millions, probablv—was the prize! (To be continued.)