346 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



Shan fell headlong, stunned. 



When he slowly struggled back to conscious- 

 ness, a couple of hours later, dawn was breaking 

 and it was light enough to see. The boy turned on 

 his elbow, hardly restraining a yell of pain as he 

 moved his wrist, which had been broken by the 

 first vicious blow. 



Thirty or more Japanese were busy on the 

 beach, unloading boxes and various killing and 

 skinning implements, evidently under the direc- 

 tion of a white man. His back was to Shan, but, 

 somehow, there was something about his pose that 

 was familiar. 



At the sound of the boy's groan he turned and 

 coming quickly to where Shan lay, looked down 

 at him with a satisfied smile. 



*'Ned!" gasped Shan, "Ned Thompson!" 



*'I reckon yo' didn't expect to find me here, aid 

 yo ' ? " the former game warden said, bitterly ; ' * yo ' 

 reckoned yo ' was done with me when yo ' friends 

 tarred an' feathered me an' rode me on a rail. 

 Well, that ain't a mite to what my yellow friends 

 are goin' to do to yo'!" 



"I wish I 'd aimed ! ' ' said Shan. 



"Last night, yo' mean? Yo' wouldn't be alive 

 now, if yo' had," was the cheerful reply. 



