Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-23
CHAPTER XIII-Continued.

CdAPIER A11I-COnClnueQ.
1t was a good plan. and might have
kept at bay an enemy of higher yalor
than the Alaculofs. provided they were
not armed with rifles. Against modern
weapons of long range nothing could be
done. If Suarez did not exaggerate,
therein lay the real danger. Courtenay
wished to make sure at the outset OF the
number Of guns carried by the savages; it
was also important to know whether their
marksmen were distributed, or crowded
together in one or two canoes. If the
latter, he would give those warriors his
special attention.
His binocular glasses we're not strong
enough, so he wa!ked Lack toward the
charthouse to procure IL telescope. Catch
ing Joey under his left arm, he climbed
the short ladder leading to the spar deck
and pulled it up after him. the bolts hav-
ing been already removed to permit OF
that being done. Walker was screwfng
tight the door of the engine room. IN order
to safeguard the fireman in attendance
on the donkey boiler Now that the screw
driving was actually in operation. it very
ur pleasantly reminded Courtenay Of the
fastening of coffin lid Neither Walker
nor the man inside could guess the grue-
some notion which held the captain in its
chilly grip for an instant; indeed, the
engineer looked UP with grin.
II suppose it's twue. sir. the-aw's goin'
to be a fight?" he asked.
There's a fair chance of one, Walker"
Walker winked sugges lively.
THAT chap inside thinks he's out of it,"
he said. 80 that's all wight" An ener-
getic turn of the screwdriver signified
that the man from Newcastle held the
opposite view. Much as he loved his en-
gines. he preferred to be on deck when
the trouble came.
It happened that during this slight de-
lay Courtenay glanced at the northern
headland, which Elsie had christened
markable profile of knight In armor Of
fered by it's seaward crags Possibly, had
he gone straight to the charthouse, he
might not have noticed signal fire which
was in full blast on the summit Of the
cliff 1t had not been many minutes in
existence, and it struck him at once that
1t was a vehicle Of communication be-
tween the savages in the approaching
canoes and others, yet invisible, who were
expected to share in the attack.
He was quick to perceive how seriously
this new peril affected his calculations.
BY the time the nine canoes he had
counted We're alongside the ship, there
mig,.t be dozens of others ready to help
them. He leaned over the rail.
Did you test those flexible pipes this
morning." he inquired.
Yes, sir. they-aw in fine condition."
said Walker.
make sure. Our lives may depend on
them very. soon."
He saw Suarez watching the oncoming
canoes. By a touch on the shoulder he
| called the mans attention to the smoke
signal on Cape Templar. A voluble and
| perfervid explanation in Spanish was
useless. Here arose the unforeseen need
| of an interpreter. Without troubling to
| analyze his feelings. Courtenay was glad
| of the excuse which presented itself of
| n a
Bring the senorita," he said, and Elsie.
wondering why she had been summoned
| from the saloon, ran up the bridge COM
| panion. Her face was aglow with excite
/ ment. her heart going pit-a-pat. She
| hoped that Courtenay meant to keep her
near him during the fight; she almost
| doubted Christobars statement that the
| captain had given specific orders that she
| was to remain in the saloon. 1t was one
thing that she should wish to avoid him,
| but why should he wish to avoid her?
The joy in her eyes died away when she
| found that the captain merely required a
translator The restraint she imposed on
| herself made her tongue trip. She had
| to ask SuareZ to repeat his statement
twice before she was able to put it into
English.
He says that the Indians only kindle a
| fire on that point when they want the
signal to be seen from the sea-" she ex-
| planned at last. "They used 1t once, to
| his knowledge, when some of them had
| gone to the island out there to kill seals.
He cannot guess what 1t portends today,
but he is quite sure that they have many
| more canoes at command than those
which you now see up the bay"
Courtenay could not fail to notice her
agitation. His quick intent was to soothe
| her.
II am afraid my sending for you in
such hurry rather alarmed you. Suarez
strikes me a person Of nerves; he over
rates the enemy, Miss Maxwell. I think
you know me we'll enough to believe that
I would not mislead you, and 1 am quite
| in earnest when l tell you that we shall
| drive off these unfortunate wretches with
comparative ease. Why. I had it in my
heart to pity them moment ago
| She was glad he misunderstood the
cause of her agitation.
"Suarez is certainly rather dramatic"