10 Short Novels Magazine — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

- bomb it,” he told the man in the second cockpit. “But suppose—” “I’m supposing it’s necessary. I'll take the blame.” “Aye, aye, sir.” UGH ALLISON cut the boat loose and started for the cave. The light faded rapidly as he penetrated the rocky depths. The tide was running in, and he realized by its speed that an underground lake or bay of some size was ahead of him. At last he glimpsed a faint light ahead, and he eased the boat over until it was in the shadows. : The narrow stream he had been fol- lowing emptied into a lake fully half a mile across. On the right was a stone pier, to which several boats were moored. Al- lison peered through the half-light for some sign of a miniature submarine among them, but all the vessels were of sampan type. Hugh’s eyes narrowed when he saw these boats. Now he knew how Betty Barrow had reached the Blue Dragon Grotto. He himself did not dare tie up to the pier—he would be challenged be- fore he could set foot ashore—so he glid- ed up to a rocky point that marked one corner of a stone building. In another mo- ment, he was on land again, his pistol in hand. He dashed by a projecting ledge and stopped suddenly..Something dark and snakelike had shot through the air and wrapped itself around his right wrist. He felt a twisting jerk, and his pistol was snatched from his hand. The strangler again—the man who had murdered Conrow and had tried to kill him. The silken scarf was shooting through the air once more as Allison lunged forward and grappled with the man. The Thug was large-boned and sin- ewy, 2 man who from childhood had made a profession of murder. The Thug’s hand shot up, and his brown fingers grasped Hugh’s throat, but a driving blow into the man’s lean ribs made him relax his hold. There was a crashing fall, and they both rolled and twisted on the grotto’s rocky floor. The Thug had reached into his sash, and a knife appeared. Allison’s left shot out to grasp his ad- versary’s wrist, but in spite of his ef- Ten Short Novels Magazine | —_ forts, the knife descended slowly. Again — he rolled and twisted. There was a groan from the Thug —the first sound he had made—and a tin- kle as the knife fell to the floor. Allison fastened one hand upon the Thug’s outjutting shin. The other hand grasped the long hair at the baek of his neck. He. gave a swift, powerful jerk, and the Thug’s head went around. Alli- son heard a bone snap and the Thug fell backward, limp and lifeless. “That’s what you did to Conrow with your cloth. I used my hands.” Hugh growled, getting to his feet. Allison picked up his pistol and went toward the house that stood at the edge of the underground lake. Lights were burning inside. He pushed the door open and peered in. Seeing no one, he entered quietly. As he heard a low moan from the interior, he quickened his step, through one room and into the next. Then he sprang forward. A girl’s limp figure was bound to a chair. “Betty!” he called, as he darted to- ward her. Her eyes went wide with fright as she looked in his direction. “Hugh—Hugh!” she cried. “I’m—” A shot crashed out, and a bullet tore a ribbon of leather from Allison’s flying helmet. Hugh looked up to see a powerful Chi- nese level his revolver for a second shot. Beside the man was Dagmar Marsen— and behind the two were three tong men. UGH ALLISON’S hand jerked as his pistol fired. The huge Chinese spun crazily, and plunged into the room, to sprawl at the American’s feet. Allison dodged down to pick up the re- volver the Chinese had dropped. Now he had two weapons with which to stand off his enemies. One gun flamed, then another. Hugh saw Dagmar snatch a pistol from a yel- low hand and raise it. He fired, and the bullet tore the weapon from her grasp. He flung another blast into the yellow ranks, and the men threw up their hands. “Why don’t you shoot me!” Dagmar said, her dark eyes flashing hate. “I’m saving you for the British,” he told her. He turned to cut Betty’s bonds, keep- ing one weapon leveled on his prisoners, “The Squid?” he asked. Gomichbooks (E©)