Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

10 "Mr. Gallon, it's you I" Judith cried. "Thank goodness you're come. We're in great danger, and we've got to get away at once, douii the river. You'll help us, won't you?" Gallon stared at her, frowning. He knew that she had never seen him as anything else but a friend—after all, it was he who had arranged her trip uj)-river—and he knew that she trusted him. "Why, sine I'll help you," he said. "Get into the boat." She and her father climbed in quickly, and Gallon gave orders for the men to push off. At that moment Soledad came back along the bank and saw what had happened. "Hi.'v, tJallon!" he shouted. "Hallo, Soledad!" Gallon shouted back. "So yo;i catch her, eh?" Soledad said. "I've caught her all right,'' Gallon answi-ied. "What's happened, anyway? If these two escape we'll all be in jail." Judith swayed backwards and closed her eyes. "Oh!" sht cried. "Now I understand." A PLOT! GALLON stood in the stern of the boat for a while, looking at Soledad thought- fully. Then he made a sign to his men to run the boat towards the shore again and stepped out of it. He took Soledad by the arm and led him -out of hearing of the others. "How did this escape happen, my friend?" he asked. "If people are allowed to get away it v. ill be serious." Soledad looked a bit scaied. "It's all Scipio's fault," he grumbled. "Lie's getting loco, just like the professor. All he thinks about is books. I reckon he's no good for boss any more." "I see," Gallon nnuinuied gently. "Sole- dad, why don't you and me be boss? You be luunbcr one man at the camp, and I be number one man at Guamao. We'll run this business together." Soledad nodded vigorously. "Sure." he answered. "Why not? Then I marry jMaria. I like Maria plenty." Gallon held out his hand and Soledad took it. Solemnly they shook on their treachery. "We'd better be getting back there," Gallon said. "It won't do to have Scipio get- ting suspicious of us." And he turned and went back to the boat. Meanwhile Dan was standing at the stocks. His wrists were secm-ed between two huge hcfrizontal logs of wood lashod together. It was Scipio's idea of jiunishment. He left men out there like that in the full glare of the sun, and took a delight in thinking of their parched backs and throats. Dan had been there a couple of hovus when Maria appeared. She had a tin mug in her hand. She liked Dan. He was the handsome white, man that she had always dreamed about. She knew that he was not interested in her, but liked Judith better, but that did not worry her. Judith had been kind, and she liked them both. She was determined to help Dau. But she dared not do it openly, foi- Scipio had posted an armed guard close to the stocks to make sine that Dan would not escape. She sidled up to the stocks and held tho cmi)ty nnig out temptingly. "lie looks so thirsty," she said, and laughed. "I give him some water, eh?" She held the empty mug to Dan's mouth. The guard laughed. He could appreciate a joke like that. "The water is good, eh?" Maria went on. "Go on, drink. It is so cool, so refreshing." Dan did not move. He was regarding her steadily. Suddenly she stepped back. "No, I have a better idea," she said, and turned to the guard. "We must have real water. Get some. We are going to have fun." The guard chuckled and took the mug. He was getting bored with standing about, and welcomed the diversion. As soon as he was out of hearing !Maria said rapidly: "I would like to help you. What do you want me to do?" February 17t1i, 1940. BOY'S CINEMA Dan stared at her in astonishment. "You mean that, Maria," he exclaimed. "I send guard away so that I can talk to you," she replied. "But you must speak quickly. Soon he come back." Dan nodded. "Will you take a message to Tiny for me?" he asked. "Tiny?" " You know—the big, fat fellow who shares my hut—or used to share it, rather." "Oh, the nice, big one with the pale skin!" "Yes." Maria moved a little closer. "What shall I say to him?" she risked. "Tell him to-day is the day," Dan replied. "To-day is the day," she repeated slowly. "Yes. You'll do it, Maria? It means every- thing to me." "All right. I tell him." The guard came back just then. Maria took the mug of water from him and held it out temptingly. Dan tried to reach it with his mouth, and she deliberately turned it upside down and let the water pour away. Both she and the guard laughed. "A fine joke, eh?" she said. "He think he get drink, and I spill it. Too bad. I go to get more water. Maybe I not be so careless next time." And she hvirried out of the clearing towards the trees. It took her a little time to find Tiny. She came across him at last. He was busy tapping. "Hallo, Mister Tiny!" she said. "Plallo, there!" said Tiny cheerfully. "How's tricks?" "Tricks?" She frowned, not understanding. " I do not know any tricks. But I have a message. It is very important for Mister Dan." "Dan? I ain't seen him around to-day." "I know. He is in the stocks." "In the stocks!" Tiny stared at her. "That's pretty bad. But if you've a message for him, why didn't you take it to him there?" Maria sighed patiently. She was beginning to think that Tiny was stupid. "I just leave him there," she said. "I come to see you. Now, listen. You are a nice, big, fat fellow, but you aie very silly. You do not have much sense. But you can help Dan. He say so. And he say 1 am to teir you that to-day is the day." "To-day is the day," said Tiny, not realis- ing for the moment what she was getting at. Then he understood. "Gosh! This is where the fun starts !" He left the tree and moved on to the next, where one of the natives was v>orking. "It's to-day," he whispered. "Get moving, and pass the word, down the Jine. To-day is the day." The man nodded and hurried off, leaving Tiny to carry on work at the tree so as to allay suspicion. "To-day is the day," he repeated to several of his comrades. The word passed from man to. man qiiicklj', and they began to slink away to their huts. Presently they appeared again, this time armed with an as.sortment of weapons—picks, long knives, and, in one or two cases, a few old firearms. They crept upon the nearest guards and overpowered them, taking their rifles. Then they moved forward towards the compound and the house. In the meantime. Gallon, with Judith and Dr. Taylor, arrived at the house and were met by Scipio. "Hallo. Gallon!" said Scipio genially. "I have been expecting you for some time now. I want to talk to you about many things." Gallon was not listening. He was staring at Dan. "That is funny," ho said. "I understood from two of my men that yon were dead. In fact. I paid them liberally to kill yon." Scipio laughed. "There is no need to w^orry about that now, Gallon." he said. "Ho cannot get away. He is fmished. And now that you have captured the professor and the girl—well, perhaps they are finished, too. That i.s, if there is to be no wedding. Soledad, got some wine and take it to the library." Gallon was still glarin.ir at Dan. "Well, if they missed you at Guamao," he Every Tuesday ground out, "they won't miss you here. Scipio!" ',i Well ?" "This is the man who was sent down hero by the rubber company to investigate your plantation. I undovstand that you've made him your house guest." Scipio chuckled. "He certainly used to be my house guest," he said. " But he is not so any longer, as you can see. We will take care of him later." Gallon scowled. "Don't be a fool!" he said angrily. "We will finish them right away." A terrible scowl appeared on Scipio's face. Pleasant as he could be sometimes, he was a formidable opponent when roused. And he was roused now. He did not like people to argue with him. Was he not as great as Napoleon? And what happened if anyone argued with Napoleon? They died! "Who is the boss around here?" he said, dangerously quiet. "You or met I say it shall be later. Soledad, hurry with that wine!" Soledad appeared on the balcony, grinning. He had a bottle in his hand, and he deliberately lifted it to his; lips and drank from it. Scipio reached to Iiis belt for his pearl-Iiandled gun. It was only a tiny weapon, but he was a deadly shot. Quickly CJallon reached forward and struck down his hand. He dug his own revolver against Scipio's ribs and held him motionless while two of the men from the boat seized him. Gallon laughed triumphantly. "You are finished here, Scipio," he said. "And 1 am going to marry Maria!" bawled Soledad from the balcony. Gallon turned towards the stocks, his gun held low. At .that moment a shout went up, and the edges of the compound became alive with men. They were the natives, led by Tiny. Someone hurled a stone, and it hit Gallon on the side of the head. Gallon let out a shout and toppled over backwards, blood flowing from his temple. Soledad, still on the balcony, groped for the gun in his holster. At that moment Maria came out to see what the noi.se v.-«3 about. Soledad sjrabbed hold of her, held her in front of him as a shield, and took a snap shot at one of the natives. The fight was on with a vengeance! GENERAL ASSAULT THE natives swarmed over the compound, taking prisoner everyone they could sfot hold of. Tiny plucked a knife from his belt and raced to the stocks. Quickly he severed the bonds that held Dan fast. "Good work. Tiny!" Dan shouted above tho din. Something pinged past his ear. and ho looked up to see .Soledad shooting at him. He turned and raced towards the balcony. He climbed swiftly, while Tiny kept Soledad under cover with the rifle. Dan jumped over the balustrade. He found Soledad backing away, still hold- ing Maria in front of him. He thrust his gun forward and pressed the trigiter. Maria knocked his arm aside just as the gun kicked, and the bullet went wide. The next moment Dan was on him. Maria freed herself and £fot out of tho way. Dan planted his balled fist into Solodad's face and sent the man reeling backv/ards, his gun falling from his hand. He made a recovery and pulled a knife. Ho leapt at Dan with all the fury of a trapped animal, his lips drawn back over his teeth in a savage snarl. Dan caught his wrist as the knife flashed downwards and wrenched it sideways. Soledad let out a howl of pain, and the knife flew v.ide. The next second Dan's fist had ag.iio smashed home on Soledad's jaw, and the man went down with a crash. He struggled to rise, hut before he could do so, Dan had picJted him up by the seat of his pants and tho neck of his shirt, had lifted him over the edge of tho balcony, and had dronped him into the middle of the seethintr rrowa below. "Get inside, Maria, and stay there," he said. "You'll be all right. Take Soledad's gun, and use it if you have to. I'll send Tiny up to look after you."