Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-25
CHAPTER xIv-Continued.


But the captain had more important
things with which to bother his brains
than the fanciful laying out of corner lots
on the comparatively level bluff overlook
ing Otter creek. He saw to the reverent
burial Of poor Pietro Cana, entered full
details of the fight in the ships log, and
helped Walker to search the suspected
coal for a further supply Of dynamite, as
the utility of the surface mines had been
demonstrated beyond a doubt. He thought
it possible, given the necessary time, to
rig a device which would be practically
invisible A fresh set of dummy poles.
which the Indians would probably avoid
in the event of a second attack, might de-
fleet the canoes into the area of new
mines laid at sea level.
Their utmost diligence brought to light
no further supply of the explosive. Evil
IDENTIFY. the prepared Jumps of coal, each
containing a stick of dynamite, which
were placed in the bunker at Val
paraiso, had been conveyed on board by
one man, so 1t was more than likely
there was not another ounce of the stuff
on the ship except the three specimens
useless, were locked in a drawer in the
charthouse.
While scrutinizing the bunker Courte-
nay found grimy piece of paper, crushed
dust by means of the glue, or other sub
stance, which had been used for making
the bombs intended for the destruction of
the furnaces. He examined it carefully,
believing it had the appearance and tex
ture of cartridge paper He placed 1t in
his pocket, and, while changing his
clothes before joining the others at sup
per, came on it again with certain sur
PRISE He plunged it into basin of hot
water, and it yielded its secret 1t was
Nf fi0ly n 70
it bore the circular stamp of the manufac-
turers, the "Sociedad Anonyma de las
Costas del Pacifico." This. in itself. meant
nothing The same company proba bly,
supplied hundreds of mines with the flve-
pound boxes in which dynamite is packed.
and, If the stamp were the only clue. none
could possibly say when or where 1t had
been issued for use.
But miners are apt to be careless; men
accustomed to dynamite will handle it
with an astounding disregard for danger.
And here was a case in point. Some
Spanish overseer, evidently at a loss for
a memorandum tablet, had scrubbed
hieroglyphics with an indelible pencil on
this particular wrapper. 1t was clear
that the figures and abbreviated words re-
ferred to the development of a cross
heading and the position of certain lOdeS,
but Courtenay was quick to see that the
official who made those notes would
recognize them. Hence, the mine or store
from which the package had been stolen
or bought could be identified. Such evil
dence was of high circumstantial value.
Courtenay put the wrapper in the same
drawer as the cartridges, entered in the
log the time and manner of its discovery,
and forthwith dismissed it from his mind.
1t was almost dark when he went on
deck. The wind was keen and chilly. 1t
whistled through the broken windows of
| the wheelhouse, and seemed to have in it
a promise of bad weather. But a glance
| aloft and at the sky beyond the southern
| headland-Point Kansas, as it was called
on board-reaSSured him. The far-hung
| arc overhead was cloudless. The stars
| of the southern hemisphere, vivid and
| bright, though less familiar than those
| of the north, were reflected in the black
| water. The ship was so STILL the sur
roundings SO peaceful, save for the plash
of tiny waves created by the breeze, that
| he was almost startled when soft voice
came from the lower deck:
Where in the world have you been,
Capt. Courtenay? Joey is fretting for
you, and have carried him all over the
ship in vain search"
| His heart jumped with gladness. Elsie
was awaiting him at the foot of the COM
panion. Be sure he was by her side with
out needless delay. The dog wiggled in
her arms, she said:
II don't think he ought to run about.
| His dear little paw is rather badly cut,
and there may be more broken glass on
the deck
II hope not, for our Chileans' sake. -
laughed Courtenay. II heard Mr.. Boyle
telling them to sweep it up, and they
were hard at work when I went to my
| cabin
"Oh, is that where you hid yourself
| No wonder 1 could not find you. Of
course Joey knew where you were. How
stupid of me!'
please don't call yourself names, Elsie.
You don't deserve them. And, by the
way, may | address you by your Chris
tian name? 1t slipped out today I'M
awares. Not that I feel like apologizing,
because 1 don't. There are times when
the heart speaks. not the guarded
tongue
Luckily. the darkness covered the hot
blush which leaped to her cheeks. She
gave a nervous little laugh. and strove
desperately to parry this wholly unex-
pected assault.
II shall be delighted if you always call
me Elsie. 1t sounds friendly, and l think
our circumstances warrant true friend
| ship.
Excellent. I suppose you know that
my name is Arthur"
Yes. but had no notion of that sort